The demonstration in London was a success, even though most people
came late. The NIA as usual, were using video cameras to intimidate
people, who may visit Gambia, this time though, the video was behind
the embassy windows. The petition was handed in to the High Commission
and later to the Senegalese Embassy. 
IMHO, the demo was not publicised enough, I saw it online only last
night, for instance. 
 
Kejau Touray

www.bfaml.com

________________________________

From: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list on behalf of Alhassan
Sisay
Sent: Thu 08/12/2005 04:11
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Gambia ever a colony of Latvia?-The essence of
documentary,oral and audio visual history.



        Well before the "wild geese" met around that table where the
Berlin conference took place,the hunger for expansion and control of
territory or economy has always been on top of the agenda as far as
"domination" and "exploitation" are concerned.The latter have always
been masked behind the word "exploration" during the times of famous
Mongo Park and other explorers.
  This is the very essence behind critical analysis from authors like
Basil Davidson.Basil's book was relayed on Planet TV in the early 90s.
I believe it is still being reviewed by other documentary TVs around
the world.In this documentary Basil touched on a variety of important
historical episodes and topics.These included pre-colonial,colonial
and post colonial Africa.In that very piece the real facts surrounding
the death of Patrice Lumumba under the harsh Belgian rulers have been
exposed beyond reasonable doubt. A similar story like the one being
depicted in this piece on Latvia-Gambia was narated by the Planet TV
commentator ie The French colonialists wanted to work out a deal with
the British colonial masters on the same small Gambia.It was narated
on that TV documentary ie they the French prefered The Gambia in
exchanged with Ivory Coast.  Interesting!
  This same vein stirred Walter Rodney's book...HOW EUROPE UNDER
DEVELOPED AFRICA? Seeing the so-called Rayal army come all the way
from Latvia to Gambia is a stark reminder!
  In history The Gambia has an important position regardless of its
size.I remember a renowned Gambian scholar selling the country's good
image by refering to the river as a "counter" which the British used
to conduct trade from Barra to other parts of Africa.Indeed there is a
reason why Mongo Park traversed our territory all the way to Niani
Karantaba at a time when yellow fever was taking its toll on European
colonial masters who came to conquer and control.
  The most recent thing between The Gambia and Latvia is when Banjul
decided to establish diplomatic relations with Latvia in 1997/98.There
may not be present day historical links between the two,however, as
far as diplomatic relations are concerned...yes The Gambia is linked
to Latvia.
  If history can reveal to us that the ancient phonaecians are the
ones who erected the stone circles in Wassu near Kuntaur, then hearing
something about our country having been colonised by Latvia can as
well be expected.Well thank God that Latvia was choked by the former
USSR all alone.The Gambia is lucky not to have been through a
stratified layer of colonialists!
  It is an interesting topic that we can explore.Revisiting the past
as anthropologists and historians can help develop both social and
physical science in our schools. Why not? Lest we forget that Cheikh
Anta Diop did his best to ascertain the fact that the Pharaons(past
powerful kings in Egypt or Misr) were BLACK AFRICANS.
  Have a good night.



Archibald Graham <[log in to unmask]> wrote:   Excuse my
ignorance, but it was news to me to learn that Gambia was once a
colony of Latvia and was wondering if anyone on the list can
substatiate or otherwise dispute the following assertions relating to
Gambia's history:

1:
"XVII Century

"In the Polish-Swedish war (1600 - 1629), Sweden wins northern Latvia,
while the provinces of Kurzeme and Zemgale are united into a duchy
loyal to the Polish-Lithuanian empire. In time the former unit becomes
quite powerful, especially during the reign of its most successful
leader, Duke Jacob Kettler (Jekabs Ketlers). Trade is expanded to all
corners of the world; Latvian pines become masts for English warships.
The duchy gains a colony: the island of Tobago in the Caribbean (later
exchanged for Gambia in Africa).........."

http://www.angelfire.com/ks/kristucitis/ks6.html

2:

"In 1651 the Duchy even gained its first colony in Africa, St. Andrews
Island at the Gambia River and established Jacob Fort there........."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courland

3.

"In 1641, JACOB KETTLER inherited the Duchy of Courland. He was a very
energetic man, built up a navy of 61 ships and pursued a colonial
policy; Courlanders built FORT JAKOB on the Gambia river in West
Africa (1651) and another colony on TOBAGO in 1652, attempting to get
a share in the African slave trade........."

http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/eceurope/courland16411795.html




---------------------------------
Yahoo! Cars NEW - sell your car and browse thousands of new and used
cars online search now
---------------------------------

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the
Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to:
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤




---------------------------------
Yahoo! Shopping
 Find Great Deals on Holiday Gifts at Yahoo! Shopping

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the
Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to:
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤