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Subject:
From:
ebrima ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 15 Nov 1999 08:55:15 PST
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (134 lines)
Dr Saine,

You deserve a special commendation for raising such an important topic on
the L: healing and reconciliation, and I am glad that it has generated a
very healthy debate. The signs are very encouraging!!

We are proud to have you on Gambia L, and needless to say that your advice,
guidance and suggestions, here and there, are always most valued and
appreciated by people like me. May God continue to protect you, so that we
can continue to benefit from your vast knowledge.

But I think it is about time you made a field trip to the Gambia, so as to
up date the current state of research on the Gambia. I think the last
researcher who made a trip to the Gambia was Dr John Wiseman.

By the way, I saw a former student of Professor Arnold hughes yesterday, and
she told me that Arnold Hughes, who is also a leading authority on Gambian
Affairs, was planning to go to the Gambia for a visit.

I am sure he'll up date the current state of research on Gambia if he
returns home. I am interested in knowing how the economy is performing.

Dr John Wiseman also intends to visit the Gambia next month. Let's see what
their findings are going to be.

By the way, Dr Saine, Muhammed Faal was telling me the other day, that a
tentative date has been fixed for the Round Table Conference on the Gambia,
to be organised by the London-based Centre for Democracy and Development
(CCD). The tentative date is 19 January 2000. I understand that they want
you to present a paper to the conference.

However, the venue is yet to be confirmed, but the CCD, I am told, plans to
hold it in the Gambia. The Jammeh regime, I understand, has no problem with
the conference being held in the Gambia.

Cherno Baba Jallow, it is very healthy to have disagreements from time to
time. In any case, I did enjoy reading your piece. I also enjoyed reading
Jabou's comments.

By the way, I must say here, that I always enjoy reading Jabou's postings to
the L. Sister, keep it up!! Who said Gambian women don't speak their minds?
Not me, anyway.

Cherno Baba, if I find time, these days, I'll explain myself again. I know
things are far from being okay in our motherland. All I am saying, really,
is that a badly flawed transition was preferable to a continuation of
undiluted military.

Take note that I did use the word UNDILUTED. In short, it is still a kind of
a military rule, but one which has been diluted. This is also recognised by
Amnesty International. Anyway, I'll try and expand on these points once
again if time permits me.

However, I must say here, that I am in a very uncomfortable position on this
debate, because I don't want people to misunderstand my me: to think that I
am holding a brief for Jammeh.

As I warned in a previous posting, as a people, we should not allow Jammeh's
actions to divide to us. We are not the problem, or the issue. The issue is,
or should be, Mr Jammeh. We should engage in a process of trying to
understand Mr Jammeh more, his tactics etc, so that we would be in a better
to challenge him, if our needs and aspirations are not being addressed by
him.

Cherno Baba, before I forget, I must say that I am aware of the fact that
the limited liberalism being enjoyed today in our country is not a gift from
Mr Jammeh. It came about, as a result of the activism of the Gambian civil
society.

In fact, you and I played a vital role in this process. All I am saying,
really, which is also Amnesty International's conclusion, is that a badly
flawed transition was preferable to a continuation of UNDILUTED military
rule.

Anyway, I'll try and make another attempt to clarify my position if I find
time.

Ebrima Ceesay,
Birmingham, UK.

PS: Cherno Baba, with reagard to the article we talked about on the phone
the other day, I am still going through volumes of old AFRICA NOW issues,
trying to understand Abdul Rahman Babu's differences with the late President
Nyerere, on Socialism and others vital issues.

Once I finish the scanning of the AFRICA NOW issues, I'll write something.
Don't forget to send your postal addresss to me so that I can send you
photocopies of past AFRICA NOW issues, where Babu's articles are published.

BY the way, Cherno, do you know Professor Samir Amin? I'll recommend him to
you if you don't know him. He is Egyptian, but he now settles in Dakar,
Senegal. The guy is great! He has a computer brain if you know what I mean!
He has written over 20 books on the politics and economics of Africa. His
working language is French, but, of late, he has been giving lectures in
English. Also more of his works are now being translated into English.

>From: Abdoulaye Saine <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Some useful comments/observations
>Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 18:26:21 -0500
>
>Ebrima Ceesay, Musa Jeng, Jabou Joh, Bakary Sonko, Katim Touray and
>Saiks Samateh:
>
>The ongoing debate is healthy and I commend you and all those who
>responded to my earlier posting "It is Time To Heal." I have compiled
>the responses to the posting and will provide a summary of the various
>comments and suggestions.
>
>Regarding "some useful comments/ observations" by Ebrima Ceesay, I could
>not agree more with his analysis. John Wiseman and I have made similar
>comments elsewhere.  Wiseman, who is British, has written a lot on
>Gambia.  It is this "opening" in Gambia's political landscape that we
>must use as an entry point.  We can debate the modalities later. Ebrima,
>keep up the good "comparative" analysis!
>
>Abdoulaye Saine
>
>Keep up the Good work!
>
>Abdoulaye
>

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