Correction: The first sentence should have read " I could not disagree
more..."
Chi Jaama
Joe Sambou
>From: Joe Sambou <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: The Senegambian Football Crisis and its Implications (Forward)
>Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 21:47:10 +0000
>
>Pierre, I could not agree with you more on the root cause of this crisis.
>Economics and politics are the root cause. This crisis just happened to
>sprout during a football game, but it could have been sparked by something
>as understandable as a traffic accident. Folks on both sides have to be
>responsible in their language and tone in the days ahead, for the situation
>is very volatile. However, arrogance and vengence will not cut it. Both
>economies are a mess and both stand to loose big time and it serves both to
>address the underlying (real cause) reasons for this unwarranted outburst.
>
>Chi Jaama
>
>Joe Sambou
>
>
>>From: omar joof <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: The Senegambian Football Crisis and its Implications
>>(Forward)
>>Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 20:18:25 +0000
>>
>>Folks,
>>I must confess that I agree with most of what my brother and friend Pierre
>>Gomez has indicated in his write-up. Infact the two of us discussed these
>>issues a couple of weeks ago as a result of some recent ugly developments
>>in
>>the ties between The Gambia and Senegal. However, I most respecfully beg
>>to
>>defer with my brother Pierre, in his assertion that politics and economics
>>have nothing to do with the recent debacle between citizens of the two
>>countries. Perhaps this is a genuine Gambian perspective, but does it not
>>have characteristics reminiscent of Canadian attitudes towards Americans?
>>Or
>>even Irish attitudes towards the English?
>>Throughout the fourty year rule of the socialist party in Senegal,
>>development had been centred around the state. Some deliberate projections
>>were made in establishing agro-based industries.These industries needed
>>some
>>breathing space to perhaps catch up in growth and eventually compete
>>effectively on the international scene.The Gambia during this period was
>>liberalising its economy and developing re-export trade. This posed
>>challenges to the Senegalese which they were at great pains to live with.
>>And it must be noted that even though the socialist are out of power,
>>organised labour is still so powerful in Senegal that the Democratic Party
>>is bound to move about carefully in its policy of liberalisation. This
>>leads
>>me to the specific issue of why its no problem to take goods into The
>>Gambia
>>from Senegal, but one faces a big problem in the reverse. Goods available
>>in
>>The Gambia can effectively compete with goods from Senegal because in the
>>vast majority of cases, the former are of better quality. On the other
>>hand
>>if the Senegalese allow a free flow of goods available in The Gambia
>>across
>>their boarders, their products would loss market. This would have adverse
>>effects on employment and you can imagine what the powerful unions will
>>resort to.
>>The most difficult political issue in Senegal for many years has been the
>>Southern Senegal rebellion( or struggle for independence according to the
>>MFDC). It is obvious that the way the Gambia finely splits Senegal into
>>two
>>geographically, makes the concept of " A Republic of Cassamance" an
>>attractive option. Honestly speaking, there are many Gambians( like my
>>brother Pierre), who would give a sigh of relief, perhaps without
>>realising
>>it, if Senegal should break into two countries. I am very positive that
>>many
>>senegalese and the majority in their government are distrustful of the
>>Jammeh regime's mediation role in the Cassamance crisis. One particular
>>episode was deliberately belaboured in the Senegalese media, which could
>>only have accentuated their government's distrust of President Jammeh and
>>his government. This was during the last meeting of the MFDC in Banjul,
>>when
>>at one point the two factions which had emerged in the movement could not
>>come to terms. The Senegalese media emphasized that President Jammeh(a
>>Jola), Secretary of State Ousman Badjie(a Jola), GNA Chief of Staff
>>Babucar
>>Jatta(a Jola), National Guards Commander Momodou Badjie (a Jola), got
>>together with the leadership of the MFDC (all Jola), spoke in Jola and
>>resolved the differences.
>>It is obvious that both governments have their syndicates of thugs through
>>political party affiliations.What we saw at the Leopold Sedar Senghore
>>Stadium and environs in Dakar on Saturday June 7th and in Serrekunda and
>>other places on Sunday June 8th 2003, bear the trademarks of such thugs.
>>For a way forward it is sad to note that presently , there are no
>>bilateral
>>instutions in place to promote mutual co-existence and eventual
>>integration
>>between the two countries. The two embassies are irrelevant because our
>>realities demand something better than just that. The removal of the
>>Senegalo-gambia permanent Secretariat and the death of her successor
>>Senegambia confederation through the crucibles of political opportunism
>>and
>>parochial nationalism, have left our peoples without meanful institutions
>>to
>>take care of their common interests.Our current realities demand the
>>immediate creation of such institutions.
>>I am as good a patriot as my brother Pierre Gomez,but it is very important
>>that we try to deal with the entire background which led to the
>>unfortunate
>>incidence of June 7th and 8th. A broader perspective will always be a
>>better
>>one for us, particularly in terms of arriving at just and viable
>>conclusions.
>>Omar Joof.
>>
>>
>>>From: Momodou Buharry Gassama <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Reply-To: Momodou Buharry Gassama <[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>Subject: Re: The Senegambian Football Crisis and its Implications
>>>(Forward)
>>>Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 21:58:32 +0200
>>>
>>>Hi!
>>> I received this message from a Pierre Gomez who asked me to forward
>>>it to the L.
>>>
>>>'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
>>>
>>>I agree with you my brother. But take it from me that the problems
>>>between the two sister countries, is the sole making of Senegal.
>>>Senegal has over the years looked low on Gambians and have in many
>>>instances regarded us second class citizens in our country because we
>>>want to speak their own dialect, dance or listen to their music, etc.,
>>>etc. During the years following their occupation of the Gambia,
>>>brutality and immorality was the order of the day. They raided police
>>>stations and tortured policemen on duty; they took married women to
>>>mosques to have sex with them in religious places. Gambian travelers
>>>in transit through Senegal have over the years witnessed endless cases
>>>of pilferage and extortion. Equally, those who travel by land were not
>>>spared. You cannot travel with even a packet of cigarette from the
>>>Gambia to Senegal because they will seize it. But buying the commodity
>>>from Senegal and bringing it to the Gambia is not a crime. You have
>>>also read about cases ! of Senegalese security crossing into the
>>>Gambia to arrest or physically assault anybody with impunity.
>>>
>>>The aggregate sum of these provocations have reach their climax.
>>>Consequently, the ordinary Gambian was left with no option but to come
>>>out in this magnificant way to reply violence for violence. To be
>>>honest with you, my anger against these provocative neighbors got to a
>>>head during the 1992 African Cup of Nations. During that time, there
>>>was widespread violence in urban centers because Gambians were
>>>supporting Cameroon when they knock Senegal out in the second round.
>>>In the finals of that year, Gambians supported Ghana, but Senegal
>>>supported French speaking Ivory Coast.
>>>
>>>My brother, belief me, the reason for the rise of tempers has nothing
>>>to do with economics or politics, but the fact that Gambians ran out
>>>of patience. We played Senegal earlier and they were protected
>>>gallantly by our security forces. Why were the Senegalese forces
>>>beating up Gambians instead of separating the two sides. The simple
>>>reason was Gambia made a gallant comeback into the game with a crucial
>>>goal, which reduced the tally to 2-1. This was greeted with an uproar
>>>of support by Gambian fans. It was from this point according to Seyfo
>>>Soli, that the Senegalese hooligans and security forces began beating
>>>up Gambian fans to silence them.
>>>
>>>My brother, Senegalese fans are notorious for this type of behaviour.
>>>Anytime they are scored a goal, they will resort to tensions. Let me
>>>give you an example: During the semi-final match of CAN 2000,
>>>Senegalese players matched out of the field when Nigerian goal poacher
>>>Julius Agaohuwae (excuse me for spelling) scored and equaliser at the
>>>75th minute. At exactly the same time in Dakar, the hooligans went on
>>>the rampage ransacking Nigerian businesses. In short, as far as
>>>Senegal is concern, no one must score them when they are leading or
>>>else trouble.
>>>
>>>Take it from me, this is not an economic or political matter, Gambians
>>>are merely fed up and are simply out to give the Lions the food they
>>>like most "Violence".
>>>
>>>Pierre Gomez, A concerned Gambian
>>>
>>>PLEASE POST IT IN GAMBIA-L
>>>
>>>Have a nice Day Brother Barry.
>>>
>>>
>>>
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