Gambia-L:

I am forwarding the unedited e-mail below on behalf of Sister Jabou whose
has exhausted her quota for the day. For the record: It is was not sister
Jabou who sent the unpleasant private e-mails to me. The private e-mails
actually came from The Gambia.

Ebrima

***************************************************************


>From: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask] (Ebrima Ceesay)
>Subject: Re: "asobis"/ Ebrima & sources
>Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 15:39:09 EDT
>
>Ebrima,
>
>Kindly forward this email to the L for me as my quota for the day is
>exhausted.
>
>Thanks.
>Jabou

_________________________________________________________________

Ebrima Ceesay & sources.

Ebrima, first, for the record, I am not one of the people who sent you any
private mails on this issue. If i wanted ot attack you for anything, i would
have picked up the phone and yell at you, but not for the purpose of
defending Yaya Jammeh.

I did not send my commentary to kindle a quarrel or to send a wrong message
about Darboe, but to ask for clarification on his part because Yaya Jammeh
has continuously  threatended civil servants with firing them, and if Darboe
says this, then it needs to be absolutely clear how he is capable of doing
this  and the context under which he made the statement and why. Very
important in view of what the civil service has endured under this regime.

His statements are for general consumption at a very frightening and
insecure time for our people, and if i was not aware of thelaws that allow
him to fire civil servants because they displayed party affiliations ON THE
JOB, then you can imagine how many others do not know of this provision, not
that I am an expert on anything mind you.

It goes without saying that most of us can guess that the open display of
party affiliations by civil servants such as wearing of "asobis" on the job
would probably be prohibited, but this statement did not actually say where
the "asobis" were worn, an important piece of information that is absolutley
essential, and the inclusion of which would have avoided the questions
raised, and  which was understood only after Haruna Darboe gave an
explanation of this provision.

Therefore, you can see the need for clarification of such a statement so
that it will not sound like another threat similar to Jammeh's many threats
and which would be definitley cause for concern for Gambians, as I clearly
pointed out in my respons..

I have always valued the contribution of your sources as have many on this
list. Yes, it is true that no Gambian papers have carried the report on the
burning of the ministry of local government, and infact, i called Gambia
yesterday, and was totally surprsed to be told that this news was not even
reported on the television. No doubt, another Jammeh cover up. The people I
spoke with said it was just a rumour they heard from a person or two.

Amazing.

Equally, your sources may have known that these civil servants were using
government vehicles and resources to campaign for the ARPC,  but those of us
not on the ground are not privy to this information like he is. If one is on
the ground and witnesses perhaps all of these actions by the said civil
servants on the job or using government resources to promote the APRC, and
that these "asobis" were worn on the job, then that is completely different
in view of the explanation rendered by Haruna Darboe.

Your sources need to be careful and make this distincrion so as not to
discredit Darboe of any candidate they quote. That is all, and tell them to
keep the info. coming.

Jabou Joh

__________________________________________________________________

> > In a message dated 10/14/2001 1:31:02 PM Central Daylight Time,
> > [log in to unmask] writes:
> > >
> > >
> > > >Coach,
> > > >
> > > >We thank Jabou for expressing her appreciation of the insights that
>your
> > > >sources bring to the debate. We have been providing information to
>the
> > > >Gambia-L for the past two years or so with the sole intention of
> > providing
> > > >the forum the other side of the story; granted with the biased
>inherent
> > in
> > > >being in the Opposition. Had it not been for the insights, many
> > subscribers
> > > >would have gone to bed a long while back thinking that the APRC had
>the
> > > >entire elections wrapped-up.  We may be wrong, but we believe that
>this
> > is
> > > >the first time that Jabou expressed concern about statements
>attributed
> > to
> > > >Ousainou Darboe and she has every right to do so. Jabou  can refer to
>the
> > > >archives as far back as she cares to, to ascertain that your sources
>are
> > > >usually a step ahead of the papers.  For instance, the Local
>Government
> > and
> > > >Tourism fires are yet to be reported in the Radio and Television,
>much
> > less
> > > >the newspapers which appear twice or thrice weekly, with the
>exception of
> > > >the Observer which everyboby knows is now the mouth piece of the
>ruling
> > > >party.  We live and practice democracy.  Now to the specific
>questions
> > > >raised concerning Ousainou's statement on civil servants who are not
>only
> > > >wearing "asobis" and attending APRC rallies - well, those cited in
> > > >Ousainou's statement are those who are unashamedly using 'state
> > resources'
> > > >to campaign openly for the APRC not because they believe in the
>policies
> > of
> > > >the Jammeh regime but to save their own positions. Some of these
>Managing
> > > >Directors and a few Permanent Secretaries are using government
>vehicles,
> > > >fuelled with tax-payers' petrol, absenting themselves from their
> > officials
> > > >duties for which tax payers are paying, providing other logistical
> > support
> > > >to a political party, denying public services to legitimate
>Opposition
> > > >parties by claiming that ferries are dys-functional to ferry Hamat
>Bah
> > and
> > > >Ousainou to Sandu.
> > > >
> > > >The due process referred to in our report specifically deals with the
> > > >provisions of the General Orders and the Service Rules governing the
> > > >behavior of civil servants and Managing Directors respectively.  As a
> > > >former civil servant, albeit briefly, Jabou should know these rules;
>at
> > > >least those governing civil servants. The rules allow every Gambian
>civil
> > > >servant or otherwise to support any party of his or her own choosing
> > > >without the fear of being victimized.  That is the right of every
> > Gambian.
> > > >The rules are almost exactly the same as those that obtain in the
>United
> > > >States and every civilized country. The civil servants that Ousainou
>is
> > > >referring to, are those that have contravened every rule in the book.
> > For
> > > >Jabou to equate Ousainou's statement with what Yahya would say is
>really
> > > >pushing the envelop a bit too far.  Ousainou has never been and will
> > never
> > > >be a vindictive person.
> > > >
> > > >The Public Service Commission reduced to zero under Jammeh will be
> > > >revitalized under Ousainou's Government and any one found wanting for
> > > >whatever reason will be considered by the PSC.  Under Ousainou's
> > > >administration, the post of the Secretary General and Head of the
>Civil
> > > >Service will be 're-activated' together with the associated terms of
> > > >reference to effectively guide the civil service.  Under Jammeh, this
> > > >position exists only on paper.
> > > >
> > > >While we assure Jabou and all and saundry that Ousainou Darboe and
>his
> > new
> > > >team will not be out on a witch-hunt, they will not also tolerate or
> > > >encourage civil servants to act as party militants, organizing,
>financing
> > > >political campaigns, speaking in political platforms (be it the
>Alliance,
> > > >APRC or any other political party for that matter) or actively
> > campaigning
> > > >on company time for the party of their choice.
> > > >
> > > >The UDP/PPP/GPP Alliance is a democratic party with democratic values
> > with
> > > >the strong conviction that the civil service should be insulated from
>the
> > > >partisan politics that is currently being displayed by the most
>senior of
> > > >civil servants.
> > > >
> > > >I hope that the above elaboration has shed more light on the issue
>and
> > also
> > > >allay the fears of Jabou in the process.


_________________________________________________________________
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