BY AN OBSERVER


  The administration of President Yahya Jammeh came under fire Sunday night, as Gambian journalists, Human Rights activists, and opposition figures took the air waives of the Senegalese US based online Radio Station "Radio Tam Tam,  accusing  President Jammeh of lying to President Abdoulie Wade in a bid to  incriminate  Gambia's newest opposition coalition NADD. The panelists messers Pa Nderry M'Bai, ALLGAMBIAN  Editor-in-Chief, Essa Bokarr Sey, former Gambian ambassador to the USA, Journalist Pa Samba Jow, Lieutenant Benneh Minteh, opposition figures such as Wassa Janneh and Saihou Mballow used the forum to register their opposition to Jammeh's move to detain Halifa Sallah, Hamat Bah and Omar Amadou Jallow.

  The program which was moderated by veteran Senegalese journalist and news presenter Modibou will be aired tonight Tuesday at eleven clock.  Gambians and friends of The Gambia can monitor the deliberations and presentations of these folks,  who hit hard on  Jammeh's  administration.

  IS WADE AWARE OF JAMMEH'S LIES


  Speaking at the talk show, which lasted for  over one hour, the concerned Gambians called on President Wade to disown Yahya Jammeh as soon as possible. "Jammeh is lying to Gambians and the world that it was President Wade who informed him that the country's opposition fed him with information about Yahya's government."  That the opposition were bent on provoking a war between The Gambia and neighbouring Senegal."said Pa Nderry M'Bai.

  Addressing the forum Mr.M'Bai said "There  is no grain of  truth in Yahya's  accusations against the opposition. Yahya Jammeh is a celebrated liar. The Senegalese government should be weary of  him. The accusations he brought against Halifa, Hamat and OJ are false and baseless.  He is using President Wade's name to   vilify the opposition.  To do justice to himself and the Senegalese people, President Wade should clear the air as soon as possible.  These  statements  being attributed to President Wade are disturbing and we need clarification from Dakar.  We respect President Wade as Africa's elder statesman and true pan Africanist. He should not allow Jammeh to use his name as a passport to vilify Gambians."

  Mr.M'Bai added that Gambians don't believe in Jammeh's story against the opposition, but in the interest of the two countries, it is important for President Wade to set the records straight. "Senegal and Gambia are one people. We should not allow Yahya Jammeh to divide us. The border problem is Yahya's own making and not the opposition."Mr.M'Bai noted.   He urged Yahya to preoccupy himself on how to help Senegal to mob out Casamance rebels, who are seen in the busy streets of SerreKunda and Banjul.

  For his part Essa Bokarr Sey recalled the days when Yahya was a poor student and was being supported by Halifa Sallah, who he detained today. Mr.Sey gave a historical explanation about  how poor students such as President Yahya Jammeh used to be supported by Halifa and Sam Sarr through a counselling program initiated by the two.  Mr.Sey said Yahya benefited greatly from such a program.   He added that  he cannot understand how Yahya can be so ungrateful to the extent of imprisoning people who contributed to his life and had not committed any crime.

  The former Gambian diplomat who opened his key note address with a  french literature accuses Yahya Jammeh of being an obstacle to Gambia's peace and Africa as whole. It was Essa contention that it was wrong for Yahya to lie to Abdoulie Wade just to cover up his dubious deals. He informed Jammeh that no amount of threats and intimidation that can shake Gambians.

  Also addressing the forum was Pa Samba Jow alias (Coach). Mr.Jow warns Yahya to spear the lives of  Halifa, Hamat and OJ. "Any attempt to take the lives of the said mentioned politicians will not be condoned. We are ready for anything. Yahya Jammeh is a liar and deceiver. All what he said against the opposition are false."said Mr.Jow.

  Mr.Jow also supported Pa Nderry's call that President  Wade should disassociate himself from Jammeh's lies and deception campaign. "We are asking President Wade to clear the air. The statements Jammeh is attributing to him are serious and should be clarified."he added.

  Jow said he knew Halifa Sallah for about twenty years and it  was a joke for Jammeh to bandit such accusations against his mentor. He urged Gambians to take to the streets and end Jammeh's madness.

  While tempers continues to get high, Lieutenant Benneh Minteh who escaped death in the hands of Yahya's trigger happy soldiers, following a so called foiled coup some years ago, said Banjul is a safe heaven for Cassamance rebels. Mr.Minteh charged that Yahya had long been aiding and abetting  Cassamance rebels. Recalling his military days, Minteh said armed  Cassamance rebels used to visit Yahya at the Fajara Barracks.  Minteh who was said he was in tears while talking to this forum, narrated how Gambian soldiers were murdered on November 11,  1994 by Yahya's errand guards.  "I want to inform President Wade that Yahya is a killer. He  had killed sons and daughters of The Gambia. I myself escaped from his hands. I was nearly killed. This is a government that lived and survived in lies."Minteh charged.

  He said President Wade should be mindful of Jammeh as "his intention is to mix the two sister countries. Wade should not accept that."

  Adding his voice on Minteh's statement Saihou Mballow a veteran politician said Jammeh had written a letter to the United Nations accusing President Wade of trying to take his life. Mballow told the forum that Jammeh had made serious charges against Wade in the said letter, which he promised to make available to Gambians soon. Mballow  said it was unfair and unacceptable for Jammeh to black mail his colleagues in the opposition. "It is on record that he Jammeh blames Senegal for the border impasse. He even lied to President Obasanjo of Nigeria that Wade was bent on undermining his government. He also lied to the UN that Wade wanted to kill him. we are not making empty pronouncements. These statements are from Jammeh's mouth."Mballow charged.

  Mr.Mballow also informed his listeners about atrocities committed by Yahya and his government since July of 1994. He cited the killing of former Finance Minister Ousman Koro Ceesay, journalist Deyda Hydara, the April 10 students massacre, killing of Lieutenant Almamo Manneh, Corporal Dumbuya,  the assassination attempt on the life of lawyer Ousman Sillah and a host of  others.

  For his part Wassa Janneh,  narrated past tortures and persecution he suffered under Yahya's government. Mr.Janneh said he had been arrested on numerous occasions by the NIA, whom he accused of undermining the rights and freedoms of Gambians. Mr.Janneh supported calls made by other speakers for President  Wade to  set the records straight. He branded Jammeh as a senseless leader bent on destroying the fabric of society in The Gambia. Wass says the time  has come for Gambians to disown Yahya and his government. He said Jammeh is a leader  with three different tongues, who oftens contradicts himself.

  In concluding his speech, Mr.Janneh made reference to the Brikama mosque case, which led to the arrest of Imam Touray and others. He accuses Yahya of  dividing Gambians. He said the opposition were accused of demolishing the said mosque, a charges he flatly denied.

  Mr.Janneh appealed to President Wade to advice his nationals not to allow Yahya to use them to vote in the pending 2006 elections. He said Gambians have respect for Senegalese and such moves will not be accepted.

  In a separate development, Radio Tam Tam has offered the said panel  a  weekly radio program show.









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