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Date: | Sun, 18 Jun 2006 13:00:44 EDT |
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Forwarded from the pages of the Freedom Newspaper:
U.S. suspends Gambia from key development fund
16 June 2006 18:43:15 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Sue Pleming
WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday suspended Gambia
from a key U.S. development fund because of concerns about a slide in
democracy and the slow pace of economic reform in the tiny West African country.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation announced Gambia's suspension, citing a
pattern of behavior inconsistent with the MCC's selection criterion after
Gambia was chosen last November as eligible for funds. A decision had not yet
been made about how much money to grant Gambia.
The MCC is a U.S. development fund which is dedicated to poor nations that
undertake political and economic reforms.
MCC's board said it based its decision on evidence of human rights abuses
and increased restrictions on political rights, civil liberties, and press
freedom by the government, as well as worsening economic policies and declining
anti-corruption efforts by Gambia.
"The board's decision was necessary given the disturbing pattern of
deteriorating conditions in eight of the 16 policy categories used to evaluate all
candidate countries including The Gambia," said MCC chief, John Danilovich.
Danilovich said the United States would consider reinstating Gambia only
after the government had taken "tangible and significant" actions to embrace
political and economic reforms.
The U.S. ambassador to Gambia informed the government of the decision on
Friday and the U.S. Congress was also notified and provided with documents
backing up the move.
Gambia's government has launched a crackdown against journalists critical of
its policies and of President Yahya Jammeh, who has ruled the former British
colony since a coup in 1994.
A local reporter from the British Broadcasting Corporation was released
earlier this month after being detained as part of a general crackdown on
critics.
Political tensions have increased in the run up to presidential elections
due in October. Nine army officers and eight civilians are on trial for treason
after being accused of taking part in an attempted coup in March.
While announcing Gambia's suspension from the program, the MCC said it would
fund anti-corruption initiatives in both the Philippines and Ukraine.
The Philippines was given $21 million while Ukraine got $45 million to
monitor and expose corruption and for judicial reform and other issues.
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