Daily Observer </publishers.html?passed_pub=Daily%20Observer>  (Banjul)
August 24, 2000
PK Sanyang and Matida Kanteh
Banjul
The clerk of the National Assembly, Saikou Jobe has dispelled speculations that
the Senegalese president, Abdoulaye Wade, has invited President Jammeh and
representatives of the opposition parties in The Gambia for talks in Dakar.
Reacting to the rumours in his office yesterday, Mr. Jobe said the speaker of
the Senegalese parliament has invited five members of the National Assembly to a
seminar on ways to resolve the Casamance crisis to be held in Dakar from
September 1 to 3. He said parliamentarians from Guinea Bissau have also been
invited to take part in the discussions but would not name those who have been
identified to represent The Gambia.
When contacted, the majority leader of the National Assembly, Tamsir Jallow,
corroborated the clerk's explanation and equally deviated from dilating on the
issue, saying it was supposed to be a confidential matter as at now. "I am
disappointed it has been revealed to you in the first place," he queried. The
Daily Observer was however able to gather that the minority leader Kemeseng
Jammeh; PDOIS leader and member for Wuli, Sidia Jatta; and NRP leader and member
for Upper Saloum, Hamat Bah are three of the five selected to represent the
Gambian legislature at the three-day session.
Meanwhile, observers close to the National Assembly have expressed scepticism
that the legislative initiative to douse the Casamance conflict may undermine
mediation efforts at executive levels if the required modalities are not
properly channelled. Another observer said the Casamance issue is a "delicate
and complicated" one that needs to be approached cautiously without emotions or
sentiments in order not to derail achievements already made.
This positive outcome has been achieved through successive talks held in Banjul
under the mediation of the Gambia government.

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