As Gambian I am seriously concerned by this story for a couple of reasons.
1. Weeks ago we were told that Mr. Taylor has accepted to go to Nigeria.
What has happened to that until Madame Taylor finds it easier to fly to the
Gambia instead to Nigeria? Given Mr. Taylors undoubted record, and Madame
Taylors relentless efforts over the years to stand by her man, the least we
could do for Liberia and Liberians is to throw her in jail(not in a hotel)
until Liberians find time to come for her.
2. As for the 135-member entourage. I am concerned by the news that the 134
member company of Mrs. Taylor did not include homeless Monrovia kids ophaned
by Mr. Taylor's 14 year's of "liberation war" but people like our very own
infamous sons who made it possible for Mr. Taylor become the moster he is.
These people have killed and mamed thousands of people as far as Farafenni.
They are criminals and must be treated just that.

It is not going to help the Gambia or Dr. Jammeh to be seen haboring
criminals in hotels. It is terrible offense to every human being
particularly thousands of Liberians refugees in the Gambia to learn that the
criminals and thugs who brought them that are now living in the hotel next
door. Even the Gambian members of the group must not be allowed to go free
without answering in a court of law their alledged involvement in the
Farafenni incident or their role in the 14-yr conflict. More importantly
these people are addicted to war and chaos and as they say old habits die
hard.

I believe they must not be trusted or allowed to live in our midst for it
would not be long before they find the hotel a boring place. Whenever that
happens there there are very few things to do.

I seriously hope and pray that Dr. Jammeh and his team are listening.


Malanding Jaiteh



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The Independent (Banjul)

August 1, 2003
Posted to the web August 1, 2003

Banjul

The Gambia is hosting the immediate family of Liberia's beleaguered
president Charles Taylor, as his government's grip on Monrovia hangs
precariously in the balance in the wake of the rebels' penetrating thrust
towards the city centre.

A West Coast chartered aircraft carrying Jewel Howard Taylor Liberia's first
lady, her children, and other Liberian refugees touched down at exactly 10
pm on Sunday (July 27) at the Banjul International Airport as observers
begin to ponder over the beginning of the end of Taylor's rule in West
Africa's oldest republic. 135 people were on board the aircraft, The
Independent can reveal.

The airport terminal was a fleeting flurry of activities as security chiefs
converged there to meet Mrs. Taylor and her entourage, which also included
Gambian returnees and other refugees fleeing the humanitarian crisis in
Monrovia, where recent days have witnessed a protracted military stalemate
as rebel advance to capture the whole city had been halted by Taylor's
ragtag army dug in and around the city centre.

Jewel Taylor who is a trained economist and had worked in various
international institutions had always defended the integrity of her
embattled husband who faces an international travel ban and an indictment
for his widely publicised support for rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
It is not clear whether the Liberian first lady and her entourage are using
The Gambia as a safe haven or a transit point as they sought refuge outside
war-ravaged Liberia. Mrs. Taylor was whisked off to the VIP lounge of the
airport, looking calm and serene despite the dreary report that her husband
was being hemmed in by the rebel advance. Jewel who is President Taylor's
third wife is being reportedly accommodated at the Paradise Inn along the
Senegambia highway.

Gambian returnees with her flight included notable dissidents allegedly
linked with the abortive November 8 armed attack on the second infantry
battalion in Farafenni.

They include Dodou Sanyang, Swandy Camara alias Swanby, Dawda Nyassi alias
Campaori and Almami Sabally alias John Rambo a native of Jangjangbureh.



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