Hamadi Banna,

As you know, I write a lot for Gambia-L, and have received some private
e-mails from people who assume that the Mr Ceesay to whom you addressed the
posting below, is in fact me.

Please could I ask you to refer to Mr Momodou Ceesay by his full name in the
future, in order that there is no confusion between him and me.

Thank you.

Ebrima Ceesay
Birmingham, UK

PS: Abdoulaye Saine,

Welcome back ! It's been a while since we heard from you.


>From: Hamadi Banna <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Letter to President Abdoulaye Wade
>Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 14:47:53 GMT
>
>Mr. Ceesay,
>
>Some of the issues you raised in your letter are quite pertinent. However,
>I
>would like to draw your attention to a few points, which in my opinion
>should have been carefully examined before mentioned in your letter.
>
>You said:
>
>"For almost 30 years the country enjoyed continued peace and tranquility,
>respect for the rule of law and human rights. We enjoyed extremely good
>neighborliness and friendship unsurpassed anywhere in Africa."
>
>I beg to differ. Let's look back briefly at the Jawara era. I know most of
>us on this forum would remember the frequent arrests and detention of
>journalists, Dixon Colley, D.A. Jawo, Sana Manneh, etc. for expressing
>views
>critical of the PPP government or the torture and summary execution of some
>1981 putschists and innocent civilians. I hope we will not forget the
>arrest
>and torture of MOJA-G members and the summary and humiliating transfers of
>government employees who supported opposition parties especially the NCP. I
>just hope we will not forget the students who were denied a government
>scholarship in favor of those whose parents were PPP big wigs and other
>government cronies. Let's not forget also the countless number of rural
>women who died from labor pangs on a donkey cart while on their way to a
>hospital, maybe some fifty miles away, etc., etc., etc.
>
>You also said:
>
>"Unfortunately, the escalation of the conflict in Casamance is a direct
>results of Yaya’s blanket support for the rebels in Casamance.Unless your
>government ignores Yaya’s action in Casamance, there is ample evidence to
>show his personal involvement in fanning that conflict. Some independent
>journalists and reputable papers have proven the fact that some wounded
>Casamance rebels are being treated at local
>Gambian hospitals and clinics. Yaya is training the MFDC rebels at Dobong
>and Kanilai, not only for the Casamance insurgency but also for his
>personal
>protection in the event of an attack. We had furnished
>detailed information about Yaya’s arms supply to Casamance rebels to your
>predecessor. Unfortunately, He did not seem to care much, which has
>actually
>prolonged the conflict."
>
>Is this an attempt to pit Wade's government against that of Yahya Jammeh? I
>don't think it is wise to incite Wade's anger in this way against the
>APRC-led government as any subsequent armed conflict between the brotherly
>nations will have devastating consequences. Remember, The Gambia has for a
>long time been considered a thorn in Senegal's flesh. Observers would tell
>you that The Gambia's existence as a separate political entity within
>Senegal's has always been a major headache for our Francophone brothers.
>The
>crude attempt to confederate the two countries in the aftermath of the 1981
>abortive coup drove a wider wedge between their respective political
>classes.  When Abdou Diouf, on a morning of 1989? said "doyna sėk" and
>unilaterally declared an end to the Senegambia Confederation, those of us
>who were living in Senegal at the time bowed our heads in shame. Is this
>the
>way that a marriage should end, "doyna sėk"?
>
>The trans-border trade was immediately suspended by Senegal. Travelers from
>both sides of the border were subjected to humiliating searches and
>sometimes brief detention by Senegalese border guards and customs
>officials.
>The Senegalese "duane"/custom officials have seized even Chinese Green Tea
>and bedroom slippers from travelers. My new leather coat was stripped from
>my back because, as the Senegalese custom officials said, "I bought it in
>The Gambia?" That's funny! Many other Senegalese and Gambians have had
>their
>"yobal"/gifts seized at Senegalese customs posts. I know Gambian custom
>officials have treated Senegalese in a similar fashion. Is this the type of
>unity that our people were promised at the ECOWAS and OAU?
>
>Mr. Ceesay, in our strive to remove Yayha from power, I think we should
>avoid juxtaposing two equally corrupt and irresponsible governments: PPP
>and
>APRC. Even if we do, we should do so with sincerity. It is my opinion that
>we should call international attention to our plight without necessarily
>putting the lives of Gambians at risk by inviting the wrath and possible
>military intervention of a foreign government.
>
>Just a thought.
>
>Hamadi.
>
>
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