Saul, this is fantastic. Thank you very much. We also thank Katim. It is a
refreshing feeling to read about someone representing us in this august
forum and not think that he will disgrace us like morons Taal and Jobe keep
disgracing Gambians when they represent super-moron yaya.
When i read about meetings these morons attend or briefings they give to
journalists, i always end up feeling nothing but shame and anger. I have a
great feeling reading your report. Makes me feel proud. i assure you that
Clinton will hear what you had to say. if anyone can deliver the goods, you
can. And if i might add, you do not need to pay lobbyist $500K in order to
get the politicians' ears. Keep up the great job you are doing.
KB

>From: saul khan <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: ADNA  August 1st Meeting
>Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2000 13:59:15 GMT
>
>Folks,
>
>I attended the Advocacy network for Africa (ADNA's) monthly meeting in Wash
>DC on Tuesday. I distributed copies of Katim Touray's article "Another
>African tragedy in the making" to provide the meeting with a background on
>the Gambian situation.(I did modify the Jammeh/APRC won the elections parts
>by putting them in quotes. Otherwise, except for formatting, everything was
>passed on intact.) I've been in touch with Katim about the editing.
>
>There were about forty people present at the meeting, mainly
>representatives
>of various US agencies and NGOs: World Relief, Africa Trade & Policy,
>TransAfrica, Amnesty Intl, and many other church groups I can't remember.
>And I learnt that the ADNA infact has 200 orgs affiliated with it around
>the
>US. But, even more impressive is the seriousness of the group regarding
>making a difference in US policy towards Africa. It's a far cry from the
>usual patronizing view of Africa here.
>
>The main focus of the meeting was to agree on the contents and format of
>two
>letters regarding Nigeria specifically, and West Africa in general. The
>first is to provide an overview of the Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone
>situations, and how further complications there will affect the US. The
>intended audience for this document is Presidential and Hill staffers. And
>there is a second and shorter letter that would be more precise in
>identifying priority areas for the President's attention. This effort is in
>antipation of Pres. Clinton's visit to Nigeria in three weeks. The meeting
>has agreed to impress upon him the importance of certain issues, and why he
>needs to highlight them on his trip. The letters will be sent to Clinton
>this week, and each member of Congress (both houses) will be hand-delivered
>copies the same time that the president gets his.
>
>I gave the group a five minute overview of the Gambian situation, and how
>it
>all ties in with what is going on in Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Thankfully,
>the guy from Amnesty Intl, who was a co-facilitator of the meeting, is very
>familiar with the situation, and he added some valuable points. While,
>we're
>not guaranteed a mention in Clinton's letter, our situation is now on the
>radar screen of this group. Hopefully, we'll make the agenda in the next
>meetings. I'll push for that, and see how far we get.
>
>But overall, this was one African meeting I don't regret
>attending. Even the "wonderful" DC traffic, and chronic parking situation
>didn't dampen my spirits. I look forward to attending coming meetings. Will
>keep y'all informed.
>
>Saul.
>
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