GAMBIA-L Archives

The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List

GAMBIA-L@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Abdoulaye Saine <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Date:
Mon, 15 Nov 1999 13:56:14 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (165 lines)
Ebrima:
Thank you for your kind comments and your suggestion to visit home in
order to get more material for my research.  You are right!  Researchers
can always benefit from visiting areas they write on. Besides, I miss
home, family and friends. Yet, there is only so much time and research
dollars I can devote to my research on Gambia. Gambia is but one aspect
of my research agenda. These not withstanding, your point is well taken.

I plan to attend the conference in January and develop the themes and
reactions to my earlier posting "It is time to Heal" as one of two
papers I plan to deliver. This is one way I benefit from my association
with the Bantaba, and I am grateful to all of you.

The ongoing debate is very useful and the contributions made by Jabou,
Cherno, Saul and others are healthy. All of us will not see a situation,
especially Gambia's, the same way.  This is the paradox, yet our
positions can indeed overlap on some key issues. It is these that we
need to build on as we seek solutions to the challenges at home.

Cheers!
Abdoulaye Saine

ebrima ceesay wrote:
>
> Dr Saine,
>
> You deserve a special commendation for raising such an important topic on
> the L: healing and reconciliation, and I am glad that it has generated a
> very healthy debate. The signs are very encouraging!!
>
> We are proud to have you on Gambia L, and needless to say that your advice,
> guidance and suggestions, here and there, are always most valued and
> appreciated by people like me. May God continue to protect you, so that we
> can continue to benefit from your vast knowledge.
>
> But I think it is about time you made a field trip to the Gambia, so as to
> up date the current state of research on the Gambia. I think the last
> researcher who made a trip to the Gambia was Dr John Wiseman.
>
> By the way, I saw a former student of Professor Arnold hughes yesterday, and
> she told me that Arnold Hughes, who is also a leading authority on Gambian
> Affairs, was planning to go to the Gambia for a visit.
>
> I am sure he'll up date the current state of research on Gambia if he
> returns home. I am interested in knowing how the economy is performing.
>
> Dr John Wiseman also intends to visit the Gambia next month. Let's see what
> their findings are going to be.
>
> By the way, Dr Saine, Muhammed Faal was telling me the other day, that a
> tentative date has been fixed for the Round Table Conference on the Gambia,
> to be organised by the London-based Centre for Democracy and Development
> (CCD). The tentative date is 19 January 2000. I understand that they want
> you to present a paper to the conference.
>
> However, the venue is yet to be confirmed, but the CCD, I am told, plans to
> hold it in the Gambia. The Jammeh regime, I understand, has no problem with
> the conference being held in the Gambia.
>
> Cherno Baba Jallow, it is very healthy to have disagreements from time to
> time. In any case, I did enjoy reading your piece. I also enjoyed reading
> Jabou's comments.
>
> By the way, I must say here, that I always enjoy reading Jabou's postings to
> the L. Sister, keep it up!! Who said Gambian women don't speak their minds?
> Not me, anyway.
>
> Cherno Baba, if I find time, these days, I'll explain myself again. I know
> things are far from being okay in our motherland. All I am saying, really,
> is that a badly flawed transition was preferable to a continuation of
> undiluted military.
>
> Take note that I did use the word UNDILUTED. In short, it is still a kind of
> a military rule, but one which has been diluted. This is also recognised by
> Amnesty International. Anyway, I'll try and expand on these points once
> again if time permits me.
>
> However, I must say here, that I am in a very uncomfortable position on this
> debate, because I don't want people to misunderstand my me: to think that I
> am holding a brief for Jammeh.
>
> As I warned in a previous posting, as a people, we should not allow Jammeh's
> actions to divide to us. We are not the problem, or the issue. The issue is,
> or should be, Mr Jammeh. We should engage in a process of trying to
> understand Mr Jammeh more, his tactics etc, so that we would be in a better
> to challenge him, if our needs and aspirations are not being addressed by
> him.
>
> Cherno Baba, before I forget, I must say that I am aware of the fact that
> the limited liberalism being enjoyed today in our country is not a gift from
> Mr Jammeh. It came about, as a result of the activism of the Gambian civil
> society.
>
> In fact, you and I played a vital role in this process. All I am saying,
> really, which is also Amnesty International's conclusion, is that a badly
> flawed transition was preferable to a continuation of UNDILUTED military
> rule.
>
> Anyway, I'll try and make another attempt to clarify my position if I find
> time.
>
> Ebrima Ceesay,
> Birmingham, UK.
>
> PS: Cherno Baba, with reagard to the article we talked about on the phone
> the other day, I am still going through volumes of old AFRICA NOW issues,
> trying to understand Abdul Rahman Babu's differences with the late President
> Nyerere, on Socialism and others vital issues.
>
> Once I finish the scanning of the AFRICA NOW issues, I'll write something.
> Don't forget to send your postal addresss to me so that I can send you
> photocopies of past AFRICA NOW issues, where Babu's articles are published.
>
> BY the way, Cherno, do you know Professor Samir Amin? I'll recommend him to
> you if you don't know him. He is Egyptian, but he now settles in Dakar,
> Senegal. The guy is great! He has a computer brain if you know what I mean!
> He has written over 20 books on the politics and economics of Africa. His
> working language is French, but, of late, he has been giving lectures in
> English. Also more of his works are now being translated into English.
>
> >From: Abdoulaye Saine <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Some useful comments/observations
> >Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 18:26:21 -0500
> >
> >Ebrima Ceesay, Musa Jeng, Jabou Joh, Bakary Sonko, Katim Touray and
> >Saiks Samateh:
> >
> >The ongoing debate is healthy and I commend you and all those who
> >responded to my earlier posting "It is Time To Heal." I have compiled
> >the responses to the posting and will provide a summary of the various
> >comments and suggestions.
> >
> >Regarding "some useful comments/ observations" by Ebrima Ceesay, I could
> >not agree more with his analysis. John Wiseman and I have made similar
> >comments elsewhere.  Wiseman, who is British, has written a lot on
> >Gambia.  It is this "opening" in Gambia's political landscape that we
> >must use as an entry point.  We can debate the modalities later. Ebrima,
> >keep up the good "comparative" analysis!
> >
> >Abdoulaye Saine
> >
> >Keep up the Good work!
> >
> >Abdoulaye
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
> Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATOM RSS1 RSS2