to list managers,
please unsubscribe me.. I no longer wish to be a member of the list

thanks
Jainaba Sissoho

>From: Saikou Samateh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Coming in from the cold ...
>Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 00:05:18 -0000
>
>Dear Katim,
>
>Too cold here too !!!!!
>Lastly I have been reading here about the DR decoration of President A JJ
>Jammeh and one thing I have been thinking of was that, we need to get in
>touch with this university in Canada and  the human rights organisations
>there to parcel to them some of the records of the president  and see what
>the possible reaction might be from them,your self and Dr Saine might be a
>very good force to lead such a champagne.And I have no doubt that if there
>is the need to invade them with protest letters from Gambians,members of
>the
>GL will  do a good job.No stone must be left unturned on the way to
>victory,Or any other better idea ?
>
>For Freedom
>Saiks
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Katim S. Touray <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2001 1:06 AM
>Subject: Coming in from the cold ...
>
>
> > Hi folks,
> >
> > It's been so long since I've said anything much about goings on in The
>Gambia
> > that I thought I should title this one after Bob Marley's song "Coming
>in
>from
> > the cold."  It's been indeed very cold in Wisconsin, given that it's
>Winter, and
> > we are now paying the price for having rather warm ones for the past few
>years.
> > The snow really came down hard in December, causing all manner of
>problems, and
> > making me as why in the world they just don't shut the whole place down
>...
> >
> > My relatively long silence, and reduced participation in the debates and
> > campaigns on Gambia-L has been deliberate, and caused by the combination
>of a
> > busy schedule, and a need to put things in perspective.  I am no more
>busy
>than
> > many of you are, but I felt it important to disengage for a while, to
>prove that
> > the affairs of Gambia-L, talk less of The Gambia, do not, and should not
>depend
> > on the efforts and activities of no one person.
> >
> > It's fairly common in our national psyche for one to be tempted into
>believing
> > that he or she is indispensable to a cause or our nation.  For me, the
>long
> > break from sending postings was a delight; it proved to all that the
>opposition
> > to the dictatorial President Jammeh is very deep, and wide.  It is not
>based on
> > the effort of just one person, or a few people.  For this reason, a
>successful
> > campaign was waged to expose Mr. Collins for what he is, and also to
>bring
>Rust
> > College to cancel an invitation extended to Yankuba Touray and Tombong
>Saidy to
> > attend a conference there.
> >
> > My break has also enabled me to ponder and turn a number of issues in my
>head,
> > for whatever it's worth. In particular, I have been making a mental
>tally
>of the
> > increasing cost of the Jammeh government to the Gambian nation.  We are
>paying
> > an incredible price, and an increasing one at that because of the
>continuation
> > of the incompetent, corrupt, and bloody rule of President Jammeh.  This
>heavy
> > price is manifested in a number of ways, and illustrated by a variety of
> > examples of the terribly inadequate capacity of Jammeh and his group to
>lead our
> > nation.  I'll try to point out a couple of these examples now.
> >
> > 1.  A lorry load of missed opportunities
> > Last October, 34 sub-Saharan African countries were designated to
>benefit
>from
> > the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) of the United States
> > (http://www.agoa.gov/About_AGOA/about_agoa.html).  This act is aimed at
> > strengthening US-Africa relations through trade, and provides incentives
>for
> > African countries that have achieved political and economic reforms.
>Countries
> > benefiting from AGOA will also be able to export virtually all products
>duty-
> > and quota free to the US market.
> >
> > In particular, AGOA lifts all existing quota on textiles and apparel
>(clothing)
> > products from Sub-Saharan Africa, to a maximum ranging from 1.5% to 3.5%
>of the
> > US apparel import market, which totaled about $18 billion in 1999 (see
> > http://www.ita.doc.gov/industry/otea/usfth/tabcom.html).  This means
>that
>the
> > value ($250 million) of current imports of African apparel made with
>African
> > fabric/yarns is less than the 1.5% lower limit of the quota above.
>Furthermore,
> > at 1999 trade levels, African textile imports into the US can reach
>$630
> > million (3.5%) of $18 billion before being subject to tariffs.
> >
> > Despite the problems some people have with AGOA, there is no doubt that
>it
>at
> > least represents an opportunity for African countries to increase their
>access
> > to the US market, thereby reducing their dependence on traditional
>export
> > markets such as Europe.  Sadly, the Gambia is not one of the 34
>countries
> > designated to benefit from AGOA.  Although the Gambia is eligible to
>benefit
> > from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, we will only
> > participate in the program if certified by the US Trade Representative.
> >
> > The fact that the Gambia is not a beneficiary of the AGOA bill is not
>only
>sad
> > because of the lost opportunities, but also because of the reasons why
>we
>are
> > not, in the first place, eligible to benefit from the Act.  There is no
>doubt
> > that the development of a textile industry  geared toward the US market
>(and
> > indeed the rest of the world) would have meant a employment for a lot of
> > Gambians.  This would have also reduced our dependence on industries
>like
> > tourism that are yet to deliver all their promises to our people.
> >
> > The 34 sub-Saharan countries designated to benefit from AGOA include
>Senegal,
> > Guinea, Cape Verde, Ghana, Mali, Guinea Bissau, and Mauritania.  In
>short,
> > almost all countries in our sub-region, with the exception of Sierra
>Leone
> > (because they are at war), as well as Liberia, Burkina Faso, The Gambia,
>and
> > Cote d'Ivoire.  It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out why we
>are
> > grouped with the likes of Liberia, because we all have dictatorial
>regimes.  I'm
> > pretty sure Cote d'Ivoire will soon be eligible for participation in
>AGOA,
>given
> > the recent transition, despite the problems, to civilian rule.
> >
> > Criteria for participating in AGOA include making progress toward a
>market-based
> > economy, the rule of law, and elimination of barriers to US trade and
> > investment.  Additional criteria are listed in the AGOA factsheet
>available at
> > http://www.state.gov/www/issues/economic/001002_fsustr_agoa.html  From
>all
> > indications, it will be a while before President Jammeh puts the
>national
> > interest before his own, and starts effecting a leadership that
>positions
>The
> > Gambia to benefit from programs like AGOA.
> >
> > 2. Greed that knows no bounds
> > Please allow me to bring the issue of the Nigerian crude oil deal to the
>fore.
> > It was last July or so that the Gambian parliament turned down a motion
>to
>set
> > up a commission of inquiry into the Nigerian crude oil deal in which
>20,000
> > (twenty thousand) barrels of Nigerian crude oil were lifted, sold for
>$0.20
> > (twenty cents) per barrel, and the proceeds deposited in a Swiss bank
>account.
> > In a judgment in the London High Court, the Gambia government was fined
>half a
> > million pounds sterling for breaching the contract that was entered into
>with
> > Chantrils SA, the company that sold the oil on behalf of Jammeh.
>Despite
>the
> > fact that the facts of the case are now a matter of public record,
>President
> > Jammeh's cronies in parliament have refused to further investigate the
>matter
> > because, they say, this would not be in the national interest.
> >
> > The facts are that this is a government that has gone to great lengths
>to
> > disgrace and humiliate people who have been alleged to embezzle public
>funds.
> > Somehow, President Jammeh and his cronies continue to think that they
>are
>above
> > the law, and can indulge in all manner of corrupt practices more serious
>than
> > they have jailed people for.
> >
> > But it seems that Jammeh's lust for money cannot be satisfied with
>Gambian
>funds
> > and Nigerian crude oil proceeds alone.  Recently, the Gambian government
>has
> > been denying UN reports of it's (namely Jammeh's) involvement in the
>trade
>of
> > conflict diamonds from Sierra Leone.  This would be a logical step for
>President
> > Jammeh to take, in the aftermath of the loss of his Nigerian crude oil
>deal.
> > What he fails to realize is that the world is changing fast, and the
>thin
>ground
> > his is standing on is shrinking fast under him.  It was just yesterday
>that the
> > BBC reported that Liberia is cutting off support for the RUF rebels of
>Sierra
> > Leone, in the face of increasing pressure from the international
>community.
> > President Jammeh, despite his delusions of grandeur is really a small
>fry
>in the
> > global scheme of things that will, and in good time, catch up with him.
> >
> > 3.  Our pariah nation
> > It is sad to observe that The Gambia has slowly evolved into a pariah
>nation
> > because of nothing other than the leadership of President Jammeh.  The
>last I
> > checked, Gambians have essentially remained the same, and the only major
>change
> > in their relationship with the world is in the fact that we now have
>President
> > Jammeh at the helm of our national affairs.
> >
> > Without a doubt, Gambian foreign policy under Jammeh has been a
>disaster,
>and
> > self-serving.  As I pointed out on this list a few months back,
>President
>Jammeh
> > used his opportunity to address the world at last years' Millennium
>Summit
>at
> > the United Nations to speak on behalf of Cuba and the Republic of China
> > (Taiwan).  Not once did he bother to mention The Gambia by name as if
>we,
>as a
> > nation, really have nothing to say to the world.
> >
> > Our relationship with Taiwan is just one example of the way President
>Jammeh has
> > forged a foreign policy centered on his own personal agenda, rather than
>the
> > best interests of our country.  Thus, rather than working to foster
>peace
>in the
> > sub-region, President Jammeh identified himself strongly with the late
>Gen. Mane
> > of Guinea Bissau.  So much so that his Vice President thought it fit to
>pay
> > official condolences to the Mane family in Sukuta, and presented them
>with
> > 50,000 dalasis when Gen. Mane was recently killed in a gun battle in
>Guinea
> > Bissau.  Never mind that there are Gambian students lying down in
>hospital
>after
> > being returned from Egypt because there were no more funds to pay for
>their
> > medical treatment for injuries sustained in last Aprils student
>demonstrations,
> > when Jammeh's troops killed 12 or so of them.
> >
> > Jammeh's closeness with the late Gen. Mane no doubt contributed to the
>suspicion
> > with which he was viewed in the sub-region as being a destabilizing
>force.
>For
> > this reason, we have now become a pariah nation, and this, in addition
>to
> > President Jammeh's inferiority complex (well-founded, I might add) has
>resulted
> > in a foreign and domestic policy based more on whim, than on serious
>thought
> > about what's best for our nation.
> >
> > For example, a recent announcement that the Gambia would go Sharia was
>followed
> > by an almost apologetic speech about tolerance and such.  Furthermore,
>the
> > refusal to allow the bodies of two members of parliament to lie in state
> > following a tragic accident was followed by an attempt to appease their
>families
> > with money.  I wonder whose money it was that was given away to
>compensate
>for
> > the short-comings and short-sightedness of President Jammeh?
>Fortunately,
>I am
> > proud to say that the families of the deceased had the pride and courage
>to
> > refuse the money offered them by Jammeh's cronies.
> >
> > 4.  We are still waiting ...
> > Finally, I would like to point out that we are still waiting the
>official
>report
> > about the student demonstrations of last April, and the resulting death
>of
>a 12
> > or so people.  Furthermore, we are yet to hear the final word on the
>"case"
> > against Ebrima Yarbo, Dumo Saho and Co. who it seems were jailed purely
>on
>the
> > basis of someone's fertile imagination and paranoia.  Also, we are yet
>to
>hear
> > any response whatsoever to calls from the late Ousman "Koro" Ceesay's
>family for
> > a full investigation of the circumstances surrounding his death.
> >
> > You might recall a posting
> >
>(http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind0001&L=gambia-l&F=P&S=&P=8445
>8)
> > from one Ebou Colly about the death of soldiers accused of involvement
>in
>a coup
> > plot against the Jammeh government.  I think it would be in the interest
>of
> > these people accused of being responsible for death of Koro and these
>soldiers,
> > as well as in the interest of justice for the victims, their families,
>and
>our
> > nation that the matter be put to rest.  After all, Koro for example, was
>a
> > Minister at the time of his death, and if he swore to serve our nation,
>we
> > should endeavor to give him the justice he deserves.
> >
> > As you know, there are other unsolved killings and/or disappearances
>that
> > continue to plague our national conscience.  These are issues that also
> > contribute to the increasing cost of the leadership of President Jammeh
>and his
> > cronies, and reasons for asking when we will begin to put our national
>interests
> > before President Jammehs'.
> >
> > Let's not forget that President Jammeh is in power precisely because
>President
> > Jawara got to the point where no one was willing to put his or her life
>on
>the
> > line to defend his regime. The point that every Gambian should bear in
>mind is
> > that we are now under the leadership of a person, and his cronies, who
>has
> > turned into someone who treats the nation as his personal property, and
>thinks
> > nothing of wasting our resources in the name of his own personal
>aggrandizement.
> >
> > Fortunately, this is a terrible time to be a dictator, as I always say.
>For
> > this reason, it's only a matter of time before history catches up with
>the
>likes
> > of President Jammeh.  You only have to listen to what's happening in the
>world
> > around you to see what I'm talking about.  From Chile to Cote d'Ivoire
>to
>the
> > Philippines, people all the over the world are rising to say "enough" to
> > dictators who never thought they would never come down.
> >
> > I will end this with an excerpt from a recent publication "Global Trends
>2015: A
> > dialogue about the future with nongovernment experts" from the United
>States
> > National Intelligence Council.  I strongly recommend you download and
>read
>the
> > publication because it is not only eye-opening, it is also provides free
>access
> > to the thoughts and thinking some of the best minds in the US.  Get it
>at:
> > http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/globaltrends2015/index.html
> >
> > And here's the excerpt for President Jammeh and all of us to consider:
> >
> > "National and International Governance
> > States will continue to be the dominant players on the world stage, but
> > governments will have less and less control over flows of information,
> > technology, diseases, migrants, arms, and financial transactions,
>whether
>licit
> > or illicit, across their borders. Nonstate actors ranging from business
>firms to
> > nonprofit organizations will play increasingly larger roles in both
>national and
> > international affairs. The quality of governance, both nationally and
> > internationally, will substantially determine how well states and
>societies cope
> > with these global forces.
> > · States with competent governance, including the United States, will
>adapt
> > government structures to a dramatically changed global
>environment-making
>them
> > better able to engage with a more interconnected world. The
>responsibilities of
> > once "semiautonomous" government agencies increasingly will intersect
>because of
> > the transnational nature of national security priorities and because of
>the
> > clear requirement for interdisciplinary policy responses. Shaping the
>complex,
> > fast-moving world of 2015 will require reshaping traditional government
> > structures.
> > · Effective governance will increasingly be determined by the ability
>and
> > agility to form partnerships to exploit increased information flows, new
> > technologies, migration, and the influence of nonstate actors. Most but
>not all
> > countries that succeed will be representative democracies.
> > · States with ineffective and incompetent governance not only will fail
>to
> > benefit from globalization, but in some instances will spawn conflicts
>at
>home
> > and abroad, ensuring an even wider gap between regional winners and
>losers
>than
> > exists today.
> > Globalization will increase the transparency of government
>decision-making,
> > complicating the ability of authoritarian regimes to maintain control,
>but
>also
> > complicating the traditional deliberative processes of democracies.
>Increasing
> > migration will create influential diasporas, affecting policies,
>politics
>and
> > even national identity in many countries. Globalization also will create
> > increasing demands for international cooperation on transnational
>issues,
>but
> > the response of both states and international organizations will fall
>short in
> > 2015."
> >
> > Please pardon this rather long posting.  Have a great week, and best
>wishes in
> > your endeavors.
> >
> > Katim
> >
> >
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