Sister,

I am closing this case from my side with this.Off course sister you will
remain my sister.
However you are   wrong to say that I had to wait for another arrest to
respond to your mail.The person who called my attention to your mail is a
member of this list and following this debate.
Secondly  you wrote:

 "Believing in oneself and being incorruptible are responses to your sweeping
conclusion that we know who shot the students, when the fact remains that we
don't. "


I told you in my last posting that I was there when the students were shot
down and I did my best to help,that one of then was dying in my hands,did you
expect me to be a magic man and stop them from dying,what else do you expect
me to do ?.I know it was the paramilitary that shot,Gambians know that,the Pa
Dacosta you referred to said very clearly that it was a matter of trying to
fool the people by saying that students liberated guns and start shooting,did
you listen to that talk show programme ?How can you march up soldiers in the
street and gave them guns and bullets to shot,they did it and yet still  you
are insisting that the"fact remains that we dont`"know who did the shooting.
Yes about poor and dirty RVH and why I am not there to better the conditions
of that hospital.Sister did you visit the RVH in your last trip to the
Gambia?Did you talk to the many hard working frustrated workers there,do you
think it is left to the efforts of these people to better the condition of RVH
?No to better the condition of RVH is the responsibility of those collecting
tax monies for that purpose,whether I am there or not will not make any
difference as far as the willingness on the side of those responsible to do so
is still lacking.

You wrote;


"Reading your mail it seems you are having trouble to come out plain and say
what you want to say." 

What do you mean by this ?Sister you see I have developed my self beyond that
stage of fearing to say what is in my mind.If not for nothing the fascist
nature of this AFPRC regime demands that we do so,this is a critical moment in
the struggle of our people.

You wrote;

"A thank you letter sent to your boss does not tell me where I can locate your
individual contribution? It is true that these sporadic gestures are not the
answer, but they can do more good than harm under our present reality...."

And then ;

"....consciously makes a choice of returning to Oslo instead of staying and
improving the conditions at RVH. Wasn't the blood you washed away from your
hands and feet at the Red Cross grounds enough inspiration for you to stay and
continue the struggle from that end!....."

You see you did not get it clearly and I will say it very simply this time,my
contribution to anything as an individual is not what is important,but the
collective contribution ,no matter how little it is the only thing that is
going to make a difference.

To stay in the Gambia is not what is going to make a difference ,what has
inspired me most is the determination of the students to make the truth known
and be felt,the price they paid is great.Sister you see I am not finding it
very important,it is even not important to tell you or who ever it is that
this and this is what I did or doing.Dont you see now that the biggest
difference between me and you is the personalization of the struggle.
The contradictions within your statement speaks all about it,at one time you
will confine the struggle within that geographical limitations of the
Gambia,like here ;
"Isn't it obvious that General 'Domo' needs you by his side?"

and at another time beyound that,like here; 
 "A thank you letter sent to your boss does not tell me where I can locate
your individual contribution?"

Believed me sister this sounds very petty without any political substance.

Here too I did not even tell you what my boss did or did not do,I just
referred you to that letter to say that no matter how many hospitals one is
able to export to the Gambia,it will not make any difference as far this
fascist regime prefer the shooting of children,bunkers etc and not to  attend
to the problems of our nation.Again My individual contribution to the struggle
is not what is important.
And secondly what General "Domo"needs me for is perhaps not interested to you
or did he tell you that he "needs"me " by his side ?"thanking you for making
that known to me,but I could tell you also he is working with sincere and
dedicated brothers and sister down there who he needs much more.

To conclude,in your first postings,you referred us to Fanon,He was born in the
West Indies,became political active in Europe(France) and joined the struggle
in Africa(Algeria)and died in the hospital of the USA and you know what he
said,his experience as a soldier in the second world war teaches him that no
matter where he find himself ,he will never be a passive onlooker to
injustice.
And to James with the "men"is this a problem of language or that of
James.Think about that.

For Freedom

Saiks



I make time to read what is on The Gambia List. I gave my response based on
the assumption that you are seriously in this as I am. That together through
dialogue we can move forward towards our goal. Which is principally for our
country to be able to rise up from the tragedy that has befallen us as a
nation. I did not know that you were waiting for another incident, like
somebody's arrest to give your views on what we had on the table. I am happy
that you finally decided to send some lines even though my piece 'was too
personal, nothing political, nothing objective'. Thank you for the
accomodating spirit!

Saiks what you read as personal is just one way of bringing reality closer
home. Believe me there was no hidden agenda then and neither now.

Reading your mail it seems you are having trouble to come out plain and say
what you want to say. Please, don't say I am putting words in your mouth! May
I seize the opportunity to reiterate that  you'll always be my brother no
matter what. So, no fettered thoughts; feel free to say what you want to!
About General 'Domo' Saho's committment to what he believes in and his recent
arrest, please forward that information to Amnesty if you have not done so!

Believing in oneself and being incorruptible are responses to your sweeping
conclusion that we know who shot the students, when the fact remains that we
don't. Your dismissal of those people in the commission without bating an eye
means you do not have confidence in them.Can you tell me the name of each and
every soldier that took part during the demonstrations and who among these
soldiers fired the lethal shots? I am saying let us establish the facts
through those assigned that duty!

Mbading an army that can shoot and kill innocent students without people
knowing who gave the others is far from being 'ridiculous'. I whole heartedly
agree with you that it should be disolved. Those who have fallen should never
have!

About Soffie Ceesay and the Gamsu T-Shirts, I never meant it to sound like
Soffie owns them. I read in her a collective spirit and I know she is in a
collective that brought about the President Clinton letter and the T-shirts.
That was just figurative! About charities and struggles, who is giving charity
to whom? Do you want to tell me that contributing to a fund that is being set
up by responsible people in the memory of our fallen young ones is charity?
Being just a member of a collective is not enough Saiks. It is imperative to
forward results individually!

About 'poor dirty RVH', and the government diverting seriously needed funds is
not big time news. My toothache  is when you my brother having mastered 'The
Communist Manifesto',  knowing fully well that 'there are no short cuts to
victory, and that the belief that one can make a revolution through a military
coup being wrong', consciously makes a choice of returning to Oslo instead of
staying and improving the conditions at RVH. Wasn't the blood you washed away
from your hands and feet at the Red Cross grounds enough inspiration for you
to stay and continue the struggle from that end! Isn't it obvious that General
'Domo' needs you by his side? May I ask what hindered you from rendering your
services to the wounded after losing the others? A thank you letter sent to
your boss does not tell me where I can locate your indiviual contribution? It
is true that these sporadic gestures are not the answer, but they can do more
good than harm under our present reality.

> What  C.L R James said "The question of men who carry out
> certain progressive agitation and then betray the cause is a commonplace of
> history" 

I wish he had said " people" instead of men. Isn't it a fact that both men and
women throughout history have been and are still a reality of his uterance!
About the struggle continuing from your end ? I sincerely have my doubts!  
Good morning, 
Sister Jay.

To brother Kalilu; I am not dictating your feelings. All I am saying is that
you cannot hurt more than the mothers who lost their children. Brother, you
cannot be more radical than your reality!!! No matter how hot the water from
the well, it can never cook your rice! 
Thank you for a beautiful song. I am sure adding music to it will bring out
more vigour. Ajaarama! 
  
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