Ebrima,
We thank God that you are back. The rumour in Banjul was that you were
threatened/paid/bribed etc into silence by agents of the regime. Those of us
who defended you are indeed not dissappointed. We wish you the best in your
studies.


>From: Mori Kebba Jammeh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Where is Ebrima Ceesay?
>Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 21:27:59 -0500
>
>Ebrima, it's great to hear from you. Looking forward to hearing from you
>soon
>Good luck in your academic pursuits.
>
>Mori
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2001 12:37 PM
>Subject: Re: Where is Ebrima Ceesay?
>
>
> > Gambia-L:
> >
> >
> > I should like to thank all those who have written privately to me, as
>well
> > as those on the List who have been asking about my whereabouts of late.
> > Thank you for your concerns about my absence from Gambia-L.
> >
> > I have to reassure you that I am well, but that the pressures of my
>academic
> > work have meant that I have been unable to follow the Gambia L for over
>six
> > weeks now.
> >
> > It would be my dear wish to follow the List on a daily basis, but the
> > realities of being a full time research student and needing to keep up
>with
> > my family life have made it almost impossible.
> >
> > This Easter vacation has given me some free time and the opportunity to
> > check my E-mails - more than 500 of them, and I am still in the process
>of
> > reading them and catching up on Gambia-related issues.
> >
> > My mind is always on the Gambian struggle, and I have to express my deep
> > appreciation to the indefatigable Kebba Dampha, to Hamjatta Kanteh, to
>Ebou
> > Colley, to Ansumana Kujabi, to Jabou Joh, to Lameen Barrow, to Prof.
>Assan
> > and to Saul Khan for keeping the struggle alive and kicking.  I should
>also
> > like to thank Joe Sambou and Dr Saine for their contributions, direction
>and
> > guidance.
> >
> > As for myself:  well,  I should like to be contributing on a regular
>basis
> > to the Gambia L, as well as passing on information from my many sources
> > close to the heart of the Gambia government.  However, given my current
>work
> > commitments and tight academic schedule, this is not yet feasible.
>Those
> > who are engaged in full time, post-graduate research will confirm the
> > pressures !!
> >
> > As for my sources, I am happy to say that they are all fine, and that
>they
> > understand that I have had time constraints recently. We have spoken
> > together and have now decided that because this is such a crucial period
>in
> > the history of The Gambia, I shall resume forwarding their messages to
>the
> > List, not on a daily basis as in the past, but at least regularly once
>each
> > week (unless dramatic events unfold at home).
> >
> > Apart from my sources, there are also many concerned Gambians and
>friends
>of
> > The Gambia who have, in the past,  sent me invaluable information and
>news
> > on the regime at home.  My doors are always open to these people, and
>they
> > are always welcome to send messages for me to forward to the Gambia L.
> >
> > Could I ask these people to copy messages both to my Hotmail Account and
>to
> > my e-mail address at school ( [log in to unmask]) so that I do not
>overlook
> > them.
> >
> > Now that elections in The Gambia are fast approaching, we need to be
> > focusing on the pragmatics of change in our country.  We need to be
>looking
> > at how we can work to unseat Jammeh from the presidency, and what
>practical
> > steps need to be taken to ensure our success.
> >
> > To this end, I have decided to work directly with The Gambia's
>Development
> > Partners, with Political Parties directly on the ground, and with other
> > concerned Gambian groups in the Diaspora in order to expedite the
>necessary
> > changes in our dear country.
> >
> > All our debates (no matter how important it is to engage in discussion
>and
> > debate) have now got to be followed through with direct action.
> >
> > I spoke recently with a member of one of the Opposition parties in The
> > Gambia, and he says that although the idea of a United Opposition (or
> > Coalition) has been talked about, so far the practicalities of making it
> > happen have not arisen. The modalities have not been thrashed out.  It
>seems
> > to me to be acutely critical to start work on these at the first
> > opportunity.
> >
> > In Senegal, the Opposition alliance that was formed in the second round
>of
> > the elections, proved initially successful, but in recent weeks, Prime
> > Minister Niasse has been dismissed by President Wade and the alliance is
> > under some strain.
> >
> > Similarly, in Ghana, the Opposition alliance again formed in the second
> > electoral rounds, proved successful.  However, there are already some
> > accusations that the new Ghanaian government is pro-Ashanti, or
>pro-Akan,
> > and cracks in the alliance are becoming discernible.  I do have to say
> > however, that Elizabeth Ohene, the former Deputy Editor in Chief of the
> > BBC's Focus on Africa programme, who is now the Minister for Media
>Relations
> > in Ghana, is neither Ashanti nor Fanti, but from the Ebe tribe.
> >
> > The idea of a United Opposition in The Gambia is an excellent one, but
>it
> > does have to be well thought through, well documented and agreed.  It is
> > crucial that those of us calling for Coalition in order to unseat Jammeh
>and
> > the APRC, should spend time thinking and planning for the HOWs of making
>a
> > workable and strong alliance.  We need to be able to quell the fears of
> > those who are suspicious of alliance in order to persuade them to join
>one
> > wholeheartedly.
> >
> > I feel it to be my bounden duty as a concerned Gambian, to contribute as
> > fully as possible to the struggle for democracy in The Gambia.
>Therefore,
> > over the next bit of time, I shall be working on a document - a
>manifesto -
> > a blue print for a United Opposition, which will spell out the
>modalities,
> > both pre AND post election.
> >
> > My aim will be to have a draft document prepared by the end of this
>month,
> > which I shall submit to Opposition Parties in The Gambia, as well as to
>the
> > Gambia L.  I shall welcome constructive comments and suggestions before
> > submitting a final version.
> >
> > I am absolutely convinced that we have to initiate alliance in the very
>near
> > future, if we are to have success in our aim of overthrowing Jammeh and
>his
> > regime through the ballot boxes.
> >
> > Reading through postings on the Gambia-L, as well as private mails, I
>have
>
> > been amazed at some of the messages I have read, which raise doubts
>about
> > the reasons for my recent silence on the Gambia-List.  I have to assure
>all
> > those who have written to me, or contacted me by telephone, thinking
>that
>I
> > had been scared off the List by pro-Jammeh elements, that nothing could
>be
> > further from the truth !!
> >
> > Those who know me well, will know that this would NEVER be the case.
> >
> >
> > I am sending my best greetings to all my friends and colleagues on
>Gambia-L.
> >
> >
> > Ebrima Ceesay
> > Birmingham, UK
> >
> >
> > PS:  Brother George Sarr:
> >
> > In going through my e-mails, I read that you had been hospitalised some
>time
> > ago.  I send you belated get well greetings, and am pleased to know that
>you
> > are making a good recovery.  I hope to see you in person in your neck of
>the
> > woods before the end of the year !
> >
> >
> > Brother Buharry:
> >
> > I send you my belated and heart-felt condolences on the sudden death of
>Anna
> > Secka in London, UK.  Please convey my sympathies to her husband Adama
> > Crooks and son, small Yusupha.
> >
> >
>_________________________________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at
>http://www.hotmail.com.
> >
> >
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