Hamadi, with all due respect, I think you are being unfair on the Senegalese
journalists in this case. The Paper is NOT implying any falsehood. Of course
Yaya is in bed with the rebels. The problem is NOT with the papers that
report that. The problem is with the moron that is putting our people in
jeopardy. Is it the journalists' fault that Casamance rebels come to Gambia
and give press conferences; go to our hospitals for treatment; are caught
with Gambian identity documents? It is the DUTY of the press to report these
shenanigans and more. And the DUTY of the citizens of The Gambia to get rid
of this moron before he puts us to war with our neighbors because of his
sick ideas about Jola dominance. How would Yaya and his cohorts feel if
Senegal allowed us to form a rebel movement and go to Dakar every week and
give press conferences? Do you think if that were to happen Observer and
GRTS will spare the Wade regime from blame? It is high time the Senegalese
and Gambian press call it as it is as far as Yaya and Casamance is
concerned. He is clearly on the side of the rebels and not a neutral
peace-maker.
KB



>From: Hamadi Banna <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Senegal growing impatience with Gambia
>Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 14:35:08 -0500
>
>Personally, I think there should be serious mediation between the
>Senegalese
>government and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) before
>any peace is to come to this embattled region of Senegal.  When I say
>'serious', I mean the type of negotiation that is not done simply to
>satisfy
>the negotiator's self-proclaimed image of a peace broker as Jammeh has
>recently added to his ever-growing resume.
>
>Any serious negotiations would have to look at the Casamance issue not only
>as an independence matter, but also as a struggle for the cultural and
>economic freedom of a people who for a long time have felt marginalized in
>their own country.  I don't believe though that it's uniquely through armed
>struggle that such recognition can be won. The balkanization of Africa is
>not what will save us in this age of big unions and economic blocs.
>However, it is an economic paradox that the region that is considered the
>breadbasket of Senegal is also the most underdeveloped. Casamance has for a
>long time been used as a backyard of tourism, a hotbed of cultural identity
>to satisfy the curiosities of Western tourists eager to see a mamaparang,
>kakurang or to dance bukarabo.  President Jammeh himself foolishly displays
>this cultural affinity during sindola programs for his astounded Western
>guests.  Essentially, he is telling them, "you don't have to go to
>Casamance
>(rife with war) to see our African culture!"
>
>As regards Wal Fadjri, it has even in the past not failed to fan the fires
>of anger in matters of national interest.  The narrow nationalist tones of
>such yellow journalism as expressed by this newspaper is what transforms
>human beings into animals and pushes them into uncontrolled violence and
>self-annihilation. The role of the media in the Rwanda genocide is what
>comes to mind in this instance. I remember how, after the unilateral
>dissolution of the SeneGambia Confederation by former President Diouf, Wal
>Fadjri caricatured The Gambian as a safe haven for illegal traders and
>called for strict economic measures against what it considered a non-viable
>Gambian economy.  A similar approach was adopted by the paper during the
>clashes between Senegal and Mauritania that led to the massacre of hundreds
>of people on both sides of the Senegal River.
>
>It is a dangerous precedence for Wal Fadjri to imply that President Jammeh
>is conniving with the MFDC.  Equally, President Jammeh should re-think the
>involvement of his government in this conflict, and realize that he is
>treading on dangerous ground.  He could easily be accused of sympathizing
>with his Jola folk, considering the close nature of ethnic relations in
>Africa.  Irresponsible remarks such as calls for a limited autonomy for
>Casamance or the withdrawal of Senegalese forces could raise eyebrows
>within
>the Senegalese bureaucracy.
>
>It beats all logic that President Jammeh is obstinately involved in
>peacekeeping missions when his own house is not in order.
>
>Hamadi.
>
>
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