President Jammeh Defends Baba Jobe, Accuses Critics of Malicious Propaganda



The Independent (Banjul)

August 6, 2001
Posted to the web August 6, 2001

PK Jarju
Banjul, the Gambia

Reacting for the first time since Baba Jobe APRC strong man was banned by UN
Resolution 1343 from travelling outside The Gambia, President Jammeh has
expressed disappointed over it. The Gambian leader who was speaking at the
commissioning of a 6-megawatt generator at Kotu, July 28 said the travel ban
was masterminded by critics of his regime.

President Jammeh stated that countries that tried but failed since 1994 to
undermine the efforts of his government have now resorted to using the UN
for propaganda purposes to tarnish the image of the country.

"Even the crocodiles in the River Gambia know The Gambia is a peace-loving
nation, which has done everything in its powers to maintain peace and
stability in Africa and other parts of the world" he remarked. He argued
that this prompted the accusation by the UN of The Gambia in the blood
diamond trade. He posited that European countries that benefited directly
from the cheap and exploitative relations with people of countries affected
by war and whose economies benefited from the blood diamonds should have
been accused.

President Jammeh therefore urged the UN to prove to Gambians that the
allegations are true. According to him no proof has been forwarded,
connecting The Gambia with the export of blood diamonds. He accused the UN
of attempts to tarnish his image, which he said was impossible. "It would
take them a billion years to succeed" he claimed.

President Jammeh added that they are hypocrites who preach peace and at the
same time encourage wars. He also accused Western countries of double
standard for advocating democracy and human rights yet impose dictatorship
in Africa, which his government would not accept. He added that the position
Baba Jobe was thought to be holding is not in the New Millennium Airline,
which he said is not a commercial enterprise. According to him it is used to
transport pilgrims as well as Cuban medical personnel to and from Cuba.

He added that Baba Jobe's accusers did not know that he has never travelled
with the airline he was thought to be heading.


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