Mr. Colly, I am quite glad that you have come forward to rescue us.Such a sensitive information should not be taken so lightly.Though my comments might be considered by some to be "myopic" questions/comments/statements,you have taken the trouble to use your broom to clear the dust.Thanks for this. MARK >From: ebou colly <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: GAMBIA WITHDRAWS FROM CASAMANCE PEACE PROCESS >Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2000 19:37:45 -0700 > >Hi Mr. Taylor, > >I cannot but respond on this one as a one-time member >of Jammeh's inner circle of military consultants >To say that Yaya harbors sympathy for the MFDC rebels >and gives them all kinds of support in the face of his >pseudo- mediation efforts is the absolute fact as far >as my experience taught me. >Anyway before getting into the very specifics, I would >like to make some real reflections on an incident that >should best show what I am trying to say. If you can >recall, in 1994, immediately after the AFPRC seized >power, Yaya started an unnecessary negative campaign >against former President Joof's government, accusing >the Senegalese of being responsible for the first mass >graves in The Gambia, when in 1981 they illegally >intervened militarily to restore the PPP government >"after Kukoi Samba Sanyang successfully overthrew the >unwanted Jawara Regime". I wonder whether you could >remember that period of Yaya's negative political >campaign against Senegal. The whole thing was so >embarrassing to the Joof government that by early >1996, former President Joof delegated one of his most >trusted aides General Wane to quietly work out a means >of getting Kukoi from exile back to the Gambia. Yaya >accepted and immediately stopped the verbal attack on >Senegal. > >For a while, the Senegalese General shuttled back and >forth from Senegal to the Gambia until Kukoi was >smuggled into Senegal with some of his battle-hardened >mercenaries. They were seventeen in number all >mobilized from the battlefields of Liberia >All were Gambians except one Essa Baldeh who >originally came from Kolda Senegal. >Mark you the negotiations were so kept in secret by >Yaya that even Edward Singhateh who was the Defense >Minister at the time was completely kept out of the >picture. > However, in July 1996, the Senegalese Defense >Minister Khan together with General Wane made an >urgent visit to The Gambia to report a major setback >in the negotiation. Yaya was on a political tour of >the provinces. But it was so urgent that the two >messengers after landing at Yundum Airport in their >special plane traveled all the way to the provinces to >deliver the special message they had for Yaya from >Joof. >The message was comprehensive and clear. But to cut a >long story short, the Senegalese delegations simply >came to explain to Yaya their discovery of kukoi"s >intent to use forceful means to overthrow The Gambia >government. Kukoi and eight of his combatants were >arrested at Tambakunda, eastern Senegal where they >were making attempts to acquire arms to launch the >attack. The special Senegalese team therefore met him >to also get his opinion on what to do with Kukoi. But >since Yaya could not explain that to anybody, >Gambians, Senegalese or anyone after talking so well >about the rebel leader for so long, he simply >surrendered everything to the Senegalese government to >cover it up. >The Senegalese government on the other hand could not >allow the Senegalese public to know anything about >their clandestine involvement with Kukoi and Yaya who >were both repulsive in their books. As a result >everything was handled so badly that the Senegalese >missed the presence of the remnants of Kukoi's >fighters in Senegal (Sokone Village) when they allowed >the rebel leader to leave their country in the same >manner that he entered it-silently. >Jammeh also was so foolish in the way he received or >treated the information delivered by the Senegalese >Minister that he even hid the attack blueprint >designed by Kukoi and his men targeting Farafenni >barracks as their first objective of assault. >On the 26th of November, four months after Yaya was >warned of the attack by the Senegalese but kept the >information from the military authorities including >the Defense Department, the eight remaining >mercenaries not jailed by the Senegalese, attacked >Farafenni Barracks under the leadership of one >Abdoulie Sonko. Six soldiers were killed and several >wounded thanks to the idiot's foolishness and >incompetence. >Anyhow for a while after the attack, Yaya put up a >serious pretence of not knowing anything about the >attackers or where they came from, insisting that the >whole matter was masterminded by Abdou Joof's >government to commit the same kind of genocide they >were doing against the people of Cassamance. He had >tried everything in his usual stupid ways to make us >believe that the Senegalese were just maniac when it >came to taking innocent lives. >We had argued with him based on the logic of the >operation, showing him that if Senegal was to >organized anything like such attacks in The Gambia it >would not have been so unprofessional and badly done >and would have certainly been a success. The National >Ignorant Agency NIA was on his side that Senegal was >behind the attack. Even when the Senegalese government >captured the attackers-John Dampha, Sulayman Sarr and >Essa Baldeh- and handed them over within 48hours after >they fled to Senegal, Yaya still insisted that Abdou >Joof was behind the assault against his government. >But when Edward started contemplating a retaliation by >having the GNA attack a part of Senegal, the coward >finally relented producing for the first time the >attack-plan that the Senegalese gave him months ago. >With that special information, we made it clear to him >that a great deal of what led to the death of our >innocent soldiers should be blamed on why that >document was hidden from the military authorities. But >with all that clear evidence, he was still blaming >Senegal. And for that reason, he vetoed the press >release that was written on the case thanking Senegal >for their cooperation. >He in fact seized that opportunity to condemn >Senegal's barbaric tendencies in Cassamance, swearing >that when next time he spoke to Nkrumah Sanneh the >fanatical Cassamance rebel based in France then, he >would give him a program of retaliation for the MFDC >to carry out in Senegal. Whether he was only bluffing >or not Jammeh had always maintained that he is in >direct contact with the armed wing of the MFDC the >only organization he found worthwhile in the struggle >for independence of Senegal. Take it from me Yaya's >support for the Cassamance Rebels bent on fighting for >their own state is deeply rooted in his unfair mind. >The ordinary person may not know but for some of us >who were around him during his natural or "artificial" >moods, we knew he was only playing the fool with poor >Abdou Joof. >Having made that reflection, I want to now give you >some specific evidences that I talked about in the >past. On several occasions Cassamance rebels wounded >in action have been quietly treated at the RVH on >Yaya's knowledge and blessing. Yaya with all his >pretence in championing the Cassamance peace process, >he has never been heard saying anything about his >solution plan on the issue. This conflict is one with >two uncompromising antagonists in the ultimate >solution they each desire. The Senegalese government >would not in anyway let go of Cassamance for >independence, while Jammeh's friend Nkrumah Sanneh >with his fighters calls for nothing less than total >independence. That is why Yaya had never been heard in >public saying where he stands on the issue. Yaya could >be on any side depending on whether he was speaking to >Abdou Joof or Nkrumah Sanneh. >The peaceful negotiators who used to converge in The >Gambia were the Seedy Badgie group. Yaya hates this >group with serious bitterness calling them puppets of >Abdou Joof in his private moments. That was why the >peace process could not achieve anything with Yaya >handling it in the Gambia. Every time a meeting was >held in the Gambia an armed attack by the MFDC would >follow a day after the meeting was ended. >MFDC rebels have been captured with Gambian ID cards >thanks to Yaya's tricks. The Atlantic Hotel in Banjul >is virtually an MFDC administrative headquarters. They >give press conference there and plan whatever they >want there. >Abdou Joof may have chosen to accept Yaya's elementary >manipulative tendencies but Wadda might not. After all >Joof's downfall has a lot to do with his naïve >relationship with Yaya. >Just look at it this way: since Wadda kept Yaya away >from the Cassamance issue, the rebel's military >activities have been virtually contained. So Wadda >should be glad that Yaya's meddling hand in the >Cassamance business has been cut at last .It was a >filthy hand after all. >Ebou Colly > > >--- Mark Taylor <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > "CORRECTION" > > > > Dampha Kebba, > > Thanks for your note.You have indeed > > shown your sincere > > concern for peace in the Senegambian soil.But your > > last few lines doesn't > > help much to create peace.You are coming up with > > interesting and substantial > > allegations that The Gambian government harbors the > > MFDC rebels and give > > them all kinds of moral support.If these are > > allegations can be proven to be > > true then the smooth tie that existed between The > > Gambia and Senegal will be > > SOILED.It is very essential for one to avoid relying > > too much on hear say > > without having conduct a concrete > > investigation.Facts without proof can > > yield to misleading CONCLUSIONS.I think it is much > > better to let the other > > party to prove that The Gambian government harbors > > their rebels.If this > > other party should buy such allegations and decides > > to retaliate then none > > of us will stand to benefit from this.Well,this is > > just a contribution. > > > > MARK > > > > > > > > >>From: Dampha Kebba <[log in to unmask]> > > >>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing > > list > > >><[log in to unmask]> > > >>To: [log in to unmask] > > >>Subject: GAMBIA WITHDRAWS FROM CASAMANCE PEACE > > PROCESS > > >>Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2000 09:18:12 EDT > > >> > > >>The article below was culled from the Gambian > > Daily Observer. Reading > > >>between the lines of a demoralized Sedat Jobe > > press conference, I detected > > >>that the Senegalese finally smelt the coffee and > > kick Yaya out of the > > >>negotiations. The Senegalese have fine soldiers > > like Ebou Colly to thank > > >>for > > >>their government's decision to send Yaya packing. > > I look forward to > > >>Colly's > > >>reaction to this pivotal news. I hope and pray > > that the Senegalese > > >>government will not ascribe Yaya's illegal and > > slimy actions to the > > >>peace-loving Gambian people. We have no quarrel > > with Senegal. People like > > >>Sedat Jobe are gutless vermin that will follow a > > moron like Yaya to Hell > > >>if > > >>need be. We will hold Yaya and MFDC responsible if > > they make it necessary > > >>for Senegalese soldiers to pursue them into > > Gambian territory and put > > >>Gambian villagers in jeopardy. The reckless > > government we have back home > > >>should cease all contact with and support for the > > MFDC. The Yaya > > >>government > > >>should stop harboring rebels in Gambian hotels and > > treating them at > > >>Gambian > > >>hospitals. The government should also stop being a > > conduit for supplying > > >>arms to the rebels. In other words, Gambians > > should stay out of a war that > > >>does not concern us. > > >>KB > > >> > > > >>________________________________________________________________________ > > >> > > >>GAMBIA WITHDRAWS FROM CASAMANCE PEACE PROCESS Mfdc > > Calls For Sanctions On > > >>Senegal > > >>The Gambia government yesterday announced its > > withdrawal from the > > >>mediation > > >>role in the Casamance conflict. Following > > instructions from President > > >>Jammeh, the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs > > called a press > > >>conference > > >>to brief the media on the development. > > >>Before the press conference, Foreign Affairs > > secretary, Dr ML Sedat Jobe, > > >>held a 52 minute closed door meeting with the > > diplomats, including UN's > > >>Malika Akrouf, USA's George Haley, Britain's John > > Perrott, Nigeria's Jacob > > >>Ngbako, Sierra's Leone's EM Fofana, Unicef's > > Teresa Hevia, WHO Mwanzia, > > >>FAO's Mikkola and Mauritania's Mohamed. At the > > press conference, SoS Jobe > > >>told journalists, "We are withdrawing to avoid > > indecent atmosphere in > > >>which > > >>our role has been misunderstood." > > >>He explained that following his inauguration as > > president of Senegal, > > >>Abdoulaye Wade had pleaded with the Gambia > > government to continue to play > > >>a > > >>pro-active role in the Casamance peace process > > begun during President > > >>Abdou > > >>Diouf's regime, but that Wade has neither created > > a new mediation team nor > > >>other enabling factors for the negotiations. "When > > we first mediated, our > > >>intention was to withdraw but there were a lot of > > reactions in Senegal by > > >>the people who think that The Gambia should > > continue with her role," Jobe > > >>recalled. Dr Jobe said The Gambia has been > > marginalised in all the recent > > >>meetings on Casamance and that Wade's government > > does not recognise the > > >>Abidjan code nor The Gambia's mediation role in > > the peace process. > > >>However, Dr Jobe said "withdrawal (from the peace > > process) does not mean > > >>hostility (to Senegal). I do not think this will > > pose any negative impact > > >>in > > >>The Gambia's relationship with Senegal." Asked > > about the reaction of the > > >>diplomats to the Gambia government's decision, Dr > > Jobe said they expressed > > >>sadness over the incident "but they understand The > > Gambia's situation." > > >>Gambia, he added, does not derive any monetary > > gains from the peace > > >>process, > > >>"instead, the country is spending from its meagre > > resources, still that is > > >>not moral...to the government of Wade." Dr Jobe > > passionately appealed to > > >>the > > >>media to stress that the withdrawal has no > > negative connotation. > > >>Sanctions on Senegal Meanwhile, Alexandre Djiba, > > the MFDC spokesman, has > > >>called on the international community to freeze > > all financial assistance > > >>to > > >>the government of Mr Wade "until he decides to > > engage effectively and > > >>concretely in the search for peaceful settlement > > towards lasting and just > > >>peace in Casamance." Mr Djiba told Daily Observer > > yesterday, "the silence > > >>of > > >>all democrats of the world does nothing but > > reinforce the feeling of > > >>impunity of the Senegalese policy in Casamance. > > >>He (Wade) tries to undermine the war in Casamance > > which has been going on > > >>for nearly 20 years by saying the crisis is > > internal and should be solved > > >>among Senegalese. Wade is preparing for the > > restart of hostilities in > > >>Casamance. The Movement of Democratic Forces in > > Casamance is appealing to > > >>the International Community to renounce the crime, > > which Mr Wade is > > >>willing > > >>to foster in Casamance," he concluded. > > >> > > > >>_________________________________________________________________________ > > >>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at > > http://www.hotmail.com. > > >> > > >>Share information about yourself, create your own > > public profile at > > >>http://profiles.msn.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 > > >>You may also send subscription requests to > > >>[log in to unmask] > > >>if you have problems accessing the web interface > > and remember to write > > >>your > > >>full name and e-mail address. > > > >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > >=== message truncated === > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Yahoo! 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