Dear all,

The following is an open letter I drafted for us to review, suggest corrections, and
send on to Gambian religious leaders.  As the campaigning heats up, it is becoming
increasingly evident that violent incidents are becoming more common.  Needless to
say, this situation can have very grave and unpredictable consequences, if unchecked.

In a conversation a few weeks ago, with a Senegalese friend about their last
elections, she mentioned to me how much they benefited from prayers.  She also
suggested that we should embark on a letter writing campaign to our religious leaders
asking them to pray for peace in The Gambia during the campaigning.  I thought that
we can write an open letter, and collect signatures online before sending the letter.

I wrote the first draft of the letter about a few days before the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks on the US, and shortly thereafter, we lost our connection to St. Johns.  For
this reason, it was held back, and I never got around to updating it until over last
weekend.  Given the time constraints we have, I'd like us to move fast on the review
and revision process, so that we can get the letter out by this weekend.

I'd appreciate any suggestions and ideas to make the letter better.  Furthermore, I
am thinking we should send a copy to both the Imam of the Banjul mosque, and also to
the leaders of the churches (e.g. Anglican, Roman and Catholic)   Please let me know
if you have any suggestions about who else we should send the letter to.  Also,
should we send copies to the leaders of all political parties?

Once we have the final draft ready, we can start collecting signatures online, and
send out the letter as soon as possible.  So please send in your comments as soon as
you can so we can get the ball rolling.

Thanks in advance for your help, and best wishes.

Katim

----------------------------------  Start of draft open
letter -------------------------------------
Dear Sirs/Madams,

AN APPEAL FOR PRAYERS FOR PEACE

We are writing to appeal for your prayers and help in ensuring that the coming
presidential and National Assembly elections will be conducted in peace.  Given your
stature and important roles as religious and spiritual leaders, you can make
significant and positive contributions toward peaceful by educating your
congregations about the need for tolerance and mutual respect, and leading them in
prayers for peace in our country as we head into the elections.

We are in a period when many poor and ignorant Gambians are susceptible to the empty
promises of politicians courting their votes.  For this reason, we would appreciate
it greatly if you help educate your congregations and followers to be especially
careful not to engage in deceiving people, and taking advantage of their poverty and
ignorance.  In particular, we appeal to you to, in your sermons, remind people to be
truthful in their campaigns.

Far too often, public figures have spoken obvious lies in public, to the detriment of
our nation.  It is utterances like these that, if left unchecked, will ultimately
destroy our country.  We only have to look around our neighbourhood to see what
destruction and deprivation has been brought upon Sierra Leone, and Liberia when they
failed to engage in frank, truthful, and constructive dialogues about their nation's
affairs.  For this reason, you will be doing our country, and God, a great service by
reminding your congregations that the lies that public figures tell not only destroy
our country, but they also will have to answer to God for them.

In addition, we would like you to work with each other, and Gambian media outlets to
organize a national campaign of prayers for peace.  Such a campaign will include
prayers for peace in the country whenever people congregate in churches and mosques.
The prayer campaign should include announcements in the Gambian media encouraging
people to include in their daily prayers, prayers for peace in the country.  It would
also help immensely to have regular, non-partisan programs on radio and TV whereby
Gambian religious leaders can help foster an atmosphere of peace, tolerance, and
mutual-respect in the coming campaign season, and elections.  Such programs should be
non-partisan, and should not be used to forward the agenda of any political party, or
candidate.

Sirs/Madams, we trust that in the coming weeks and months of the election season, you
will, as a matter of priority, actively engage in educating your congregations about
their obligations to our country, and to God.  Fortunately, these obligations are
seldom in conflict, and for this reason, no Gambian will have to choose between God
and our country in serving the best interest of the Gambian people.  Furthermore, we
urge that you remind your congregations that the interests of our country are far
more important that those of any person.  For this reason, people should refrain from
starting fights, and leading the nation down the slippery slope of violence and
destruction.

Thank you very much for your consideration, and we pray that your blessings from, and
guidance by God as you discharge your duties.

Sincerely,

(signed)
----------------------------------  End of draft open
letter --------------------------------------

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