EDITORIAL
THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD BE WEARY OF DICTATOR JAMMEH'S PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN
FOR TAIWAN
September 13, 2005
As civilised and democratic Nations are preparing to attend the United
Nations General Assembly meeting scheduled to take place in New York City,
the dictatorial administration of President Yahya Jammeh is here by
cautioned to desist from using Gambia's name to sell the image of Taiwan, a
nation identified with "check book diplomacy."

It's our contention that Taiwan should be genuine in its drive to rally
international support. Pumping millions of dalasis to Yahya Jammeh's coffers
without ensuring to put serious mechanism to coordinate the activities of
such funds is the height of diplomatic hypocrisy.

Just imagine a GRTS news announcer Yahabiss Njie reporting that the
Taiwanese government had presented a check of D2million dalasis, to Gambia's
president Yahya Jammeh, prompted Jammeh to issue a decree banning all junior
GRTS reporters from covering State House Functions. The television
management were ordered to assign senior producers to cover the State House
activities. Kebba Dibba, Momodou Joof and Neneh Macdowl, now the minister of
Trade were later attached to the State House in Banjul.

The reporter's crime was for merely informing Gambians about Taiwan's gift
to The Republic of The Gambia. The questions that comes to mind are: Why
should Jammeh be angry over the GRTS news story? Why expelling Yahabiss and
others from our State House? Was Jammeh trying to use the D2Million for his
personal use? Why inviting the public media, when you don't want them to
report the cheque in question? Was this reported cheque by Yahabiss the tip
of ice berg? Does this state of affairs suggested that, other millions of
dalasis might have secretly find its way into Yahya's pockets?

One thing is evident however, Taiwan is not bothered about how Yahya spent
such gifts. All what it is concerned about is getting an admission at the
United Nations. Poor countries like The Gambia are being used to drum up
support for such an isolated country. Form 1994, to date Taiwan had spent
millions of dollars in The Gambia, just to market its name at the UN. Little
did they know that, the World body is comprised of civilised and democratic
Nations, who will not support a regime, bent on corrupting impoverished
African countries, such as The Gambia.

Taiwan should realise that The Gambia had little hands in the decision
making of the global body. Jammeh's rantings and propaganda campaigns are
usually not taken seriously. We all know that Taiwan's diplomatic
relationship with The Gambia is purely based on "commercial venture." As our
colleague Timbuktu rightly puts it recently in one of his write ups "We will
not sit around looking at a Renegade Island showing seeds of discord in our
country. Taiwan should not use our UN card to sell their political war
against Beijing. We as a nation have a lot to lose in the long run. Yaya is
using our country as a "political super market". who works through very
shameless methods."

Indeed, Yahya is using our country's name for his own selfish interest. The
mere fact that he is censoring the media from reporting Taiwan's gifts to
The Gambia, suggested that he had something to hide. If it was in other
democratic countries, Jammeh had long been impeached for abuse of office.
His actions suggested that he is a corrupt leader, bent on exploiting the
impoverished Nation.

We can comfortably say that Mainland China was far better than Taiwan. The
Gambia benefited greatly from Mainland China, under Jawara's rule. Across
the country, Chinese doctors, agriculturalists, road workers could be seen
scattered. This was the time we used to have "Chinese town" near radio
Gambia at Mile Seven.

Our break off with Mainland China, was a major diplomatic blunder
perpetrated by the then military junta headed by Chairman Jammeh. They have
deprived Gambians a great deal of development. Due to greed and selfishness,
Jammeh decided to enter into "check book" diplomacy with Taiwan. Taiwan
supported the military through out the transition period when the junta was
sanctioned by Britain and the United States.

Military takeovers are illegal, but Taiwan was hell bent on supporting the
junta. How can such a country be admitted in the United Nations? We also
gathered that Taiwan financed APRC's last presidential elections.

Taiwan should stop meddling in our politics. The Gambia is bigger than Yahya
Jammeh, let alone your isolated country. By this editorial, we are appealing
to other civilised Nations not to listen to Yahya Jammeh's propaganda
campaign to lobby for Taiwan's admission into the World body. Taiwan must
change its dubious diplomatic policies if it should win the confidence of
the civilised world. The UN should be weary of Yahya's propaganda campaign
for Taiwan.

The average Gambian will be more than happy to see our country
reestablishing diplomatic relationship with Mainland China. Our diplomatic
relations with China was based on truth, sincerity and common interest. Both
countries benefited immensely from each other.

Shame to Taiwan. Shame to diplomatic prostitution. Shame to check book
diplomacy. We rest our case.



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