Hi!
The Senegalese Transport Union should not be able to unilaterally
close the border between the two countries despite any grievances its
members have. A day or so after Freedom Newspaper reported the border
closure, I saw the Senegalese Foreign Minister deny on Senegalese tv
reports that the border was closed. I also saw representatives of the
Senegalese Transport Union say that they had unilaterally chosen to
boycott Gambia and would travel to Casamance through Senegalese
territory no matter how long it took them.
We should approach Senegambian relations from a realistic point of
view. The Senegalese authorities would not look after the interests of
Gambia because it is not their responsibility. The Gambia should look
after its interests. We all know that the people of Senegambia are one
people but the reality is that we are two states and realpolitik
dictates that we approach things not from an ideal world viewpoint as I
cautioned less than two months ago, but from a realistic viewpoint.
Have a good day.
Buharry.
----Original Message----
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: 2011-05-09 14:40
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subj: Gambia-Senegal border reopens tonight - THANK YOU OGA PATA PATA
Gambia-Senegal border reopens tonight
<http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/gambia-senegal-border-reopens-tonight#map>
Africa <http://observer.gm/africa/news>»
Gambia<http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/news>Monday, May 09, 2011
The Gambia-Senegal border will reopen today, Monday May 9th, 2011 at
mid-night.
This was disclosed Sunday at a press briefing
organised by the Gambia
Transport Agriculture Food and Industrial Workers Union (GTAFIWU) in
collaboration with the Gambia National Trade Union Congress (GNTUC) at
GTAFIWU office in Kanifing. The decision to reopen the border came
following
substantial efforts by GTAFIWU together with Gambia Transport Control
Association (GTCA) in ensuring that the unnecessary closure has to come
to
an end in the interest of both countries.
Ousman Drammeh, president of GTAFIWU disclosed that they came to terms
with
their Senegalese counterparts to reopen all borders between the two
countries in a meeting held on Friday 6th May, 2011, in Kerr Aeab a
Senegalese border village near Farrafenni in the North Bank Region. He
explained that the meeting followed his fact finding mission to Senegal
on
the 24th of April, 2011, during which he found out the reasons for
closing
of the border. According to him, the authorities there complained about
the
unfair treatment meted to their workers particularly drivers at the
numerous
checkpoints and various ferry crossing points in The Gambia, something
they
described as unjustified.
He further explained that after the reasons that led to the closure of
the
boarder came to light, the two transport unions in The Gambia then
began
consultation with the transport union of Senegal to end the border
closure.
He said they finally came to an agreement at a meeting held in Kerr
Aeab,
Senegal. He further told journalists that the agreement to open the
border
also followed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that would enhance
both
countries circumventing such a closure in the near future.
Drammeh dilated on how the border closure impacted on the economy of
both
countries. According to him, during the closure, infrastructural
advancement
among a host of other development issues were affected. He added that
the
price of basalt also increased dramatically. He said that The Gambia
and
Senegal equally depend on import materials, and that the closure led to
an
increase in prices of many things. He finally gave assurances that such
would not happen again.
Arrest of GTAFIWU officials
During the press briefing, Drammeh disclosed that eight GTAFIWU
officials
including himself were arrested by the police in Farrafenni acting on
the
orders of the Police Commissioner, Baboucarr Sowe. He said this
happened
shortly after the Kerr Aeab meeting which was attended by both GTAFIWU
and
GTCA. The GTAFIWU prezy said the police arrested them on the grounds
that
they were inciting violence in Senegal. He added that they were
detained for
24 hours without charge and later released on bail.
Also speaking at the press briefing, Ebrima Garba Cham, secretary
general of
(GNTUC) said the GNTUC was greatly dismayed with the arrest of the
GTAFIWU
officials. He pointed out that they were not criminals, but went to
Senegal
in the interest of The Gambia for the sake of peace and security,
something,
he said, is in the forefront of the country?s agenda. He added that
GNTUC
demanded the reasons for the arrest of the GTAFIWU officials from the
Farrafenni police.
Cham described the bilateral relationship between the GTAFIWU and the
Senegalese transport union as long and outstanding. He also stated that
the
border closure affected both countries economically, considering the
level
of export materials they depend on. According to him, the demands of
the
Senegalese have been met regarding the constraints they claimed to have
been
facing in The Gambia in accordance with the Ecowas protocol that seeks
to
transform the Ecowas of states to the Ecowas of people, which cannot be
achieved without substantial regional integration.
Author: *by Bekai Njie*
--
*
*****************************************************************************
GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA.
LET US JOIN HANDS AND SUPPORT SHEIKH PROFESSOR DR. ALH YAHYA JAMMEH
(NASIRU
DEEN) TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY. *
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