Gambia-L: I am forwarding the e-mail I sent today to Robin Cook, the British Foreign Secretary, for your information. Ebrima Ceesay _______________________________________________________________________ AN OPEN LETTER TO ROBIN COOK, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY Rt. Hon Robin Cooke MP, British Foreign Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH 10th February 2001 Sir, I am a Gambian Journalist, who has been resident in the UK since December 1996, having left The Gambia when members of the independent press there were being severely harassed and persecuted by the military authorities. I am now undertaking Post-Graduate research into Third World Politics and the process of "democratisation" in The Gambia since 1994. I am sending you this letter on my behalf and on behalf of many Gambians in The Gambia and throughout the world, concerning the deteriorating political, social and economic situation in The Gambia. We are deeply worried about the direction in which The Gambia is heading under its current leader, Yahya Jammeh. The Gambia is now a country beset with acute problems ranging from malpractice in government, poor governance, massive high-level corruption, poverty and malnutrition, harassment and persecution of citizens, gross violations of human rights (including arbitrary arrest, illegal detention without charge, torture and murder), economic stagnation, government interference with the Judiciary, and government manipulation of the electoral process. Jammeh seized power in a military coup d’etat on July 22nd 1994, and then "civilianised" himself and his military junta – the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council – to "win" both the Presidential and National Assembly elections of 1996 and 1997 respectively. These elections, and in particular the Presidential election, were described as being "deeply flawed" by both the Commonwealth and the European Union. The outcomes of the elections did not represent the true wishes of the Gambian people, since the electoral process and the polling were tailor-made to ensure that the incumbent leader, Jammeh, won. A number of irregularities ranging from the banning of the major pre-coup opposition parties, the banning of certain politicians who had served in the First Republic, the detention of potential political opponents, the monopoly of the national media by Jammeh, the tampering with the draft Constitution by the military, meant that the elections and the electoral process were deeply flawed and grossly unfair. The elections were supposed to pave the way for a return to civilian rule and democracy, but because of their fraudulent nature, a number of international organisations including the National Democratic Institute in the USA, the European Union and the Commonwealth, boycotted them and refused to send international observers. Therefore, when the results were announced (some would even allege first from State House in Banjul, before the Independent Electoral Commission offices), it surprised no one that the incumbent leader and his now "civilian" APRC party "won" a majority. Since Yahya Jammeh assumed leadership of the country, first as a soldier and now as a "quasi-military leader", The Gambia has been degenerating into chaos, and its government is presently embroiled in a range of illegal activities such as involvement in the Blood Diamonds trade, the illegal hard drugs trade, illegal arms dealing, money counterfeiting etc. The situation in The Gambia is so bad that we concerned Gambians and friends of The Gambia feel obliged to call on you, through your good offices, for help in our struggle to return our beloved country to dignity, integrity and genuine democracy. Sir, we are calling on you, because Britain and The Gambia have had very close ties for many, many years. Our two countries are members of organisations such as the UN and the Commonwealth, and through these bodies, we have strengthened our relationship with each other. Indeed, despite the dreadful years of slavery, and the colonialist "scramble for Africa" to which The Gambia and other parts of Africa were subject for so long, we have moved on into a world where countries are increasingly dependent upon each other, and we are duty bound to be working together both bilaterally and multilaterally through the UN and the Commonwealth. However, it needs to be pointed out that there is now an increasing trend in international politics for the major "players" in the world to turn their backs on Africa. Surely, in the medium and long term, this trend will work against the best interests of us all, because the more Africa is allowed to deteriorate into chaos, the more continental Africans will seek refuge in the developed world. If Africa is isolated and ostracised, then there will be an even greater exodus of Africans, searching for sanctuary in other countries; and we know that this has its negative side. In fact, the current debate in the UK and in Europe is on how to stem the tide of refugees from the African continent and other parts of the world. It seems to me that the best and most effective way of preventing the exodus in the first place, is to concentrate efforts on helping to make Africa a better place for Africans to live. If Africa was a continent where people’s needs and aspirations were being met, and where repression was not widely encountered, then Africans would not be seeing the need to seek exile. Of course, there would still be some movement, but not by any stretch of the imagination in the numbers that we see today. Many Africans who have fled their homelands and sought refuge in the developed world, are anticipating the day when it will be safe to return home, and when it will be possible to make a good future for themselves and their families there. Again, I shall stress that Africa has a lot to offer: its potential is enormous, and its future will be bright if and when it receives the vital support from the developed world which it needs to progress and develop. We are of course, aware that Africans themselves need to be taking the lead in finding solutions to their enormous problems, and the good news is that in fact, there has recently been a paradigm shift in attitudes amongst Africans who are now determined to be proactive in this recovery. However, in this world where globalisation is becoming increasingly both necessary and desirable, we should be tackling our problems together, building solid relationships which are mutually beneficial. The twentieth century saw Africa very much as a "lost continent" because of its destruction by so many of its despotic and corrupt leaders, and also because of the meddling in African politics by the developed world.. However, the good thing is that the twenty-first century is seeing a new crop of African leaders emerging, who are committed to transforming their nations, with the support of the international community. These emergent leaders have Africa’s image and interests at heart, and more importantly, are committed to mapping out blueprints for sustainable development , and for national and international peace. It is also true to say that the whole world is in crisis – not just Africa – but there is hope for us all, because there are up and coming, talented people who are taking the wider view, who are recognising and knowing the problems which have traditionally divided us (xenophobism, narrow nationalism, regionalism, chauvinism and patriarchalism). The emphasis is now on globalisation, cooperation, interdependence, joint responsibility, mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual understanding. We are beginning to recognise more fully that we are citizens of one increasingly small world, and one people linked by a range of common bonds. Britain could do a lot to help Gambians to restore genuine democracy in The Gambia. The situation there is desperate and we need the goodwill of countries like the UK to use their influence to bring about the necessary change. There are a whole range of political, economic and diplomatic strategies which Britain could use to put leverage and pressure on the regime in The Gambia to move towards true democracy. For instance, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Britain could be calling for an imposition of sanctions on the regime should Jammeh and his government continue in the current despotic and corrupt rule of The Gambia. At least, in my view, Britain’s position on The Gambia is not yet clear, and it seems to be characterised by inconsistency. The Foreign Office appears not to have been fully or accurately briefed on the tragic situation in The Gambia, and still makes reference to The Gambia as a "functional democracy", when this is patently not the case at all. It may well be that the British High Commission did not brief the Foreign Office in full, or it may be that the Foreign Office is choosing, for whatever reason, to convey less than the truth of the matter. What is becoming clear, Sir, is that British Government officials are making contradictory statements on the political situation in The Gambia. Some make favourable comments about the regime there, and others do not. On Thursday 8th February 2001, the Deputy British High Commissioner in The Gambia, Mr Bharat Joshi, was quoted in the Point Newspaper as expressing serious concerns over the governance situation in The Gambia. He went so far as to say that the presidential elections of 1996 were neither free nor fair, and expressed some concerns that the forthcoming presidential elections of 2001 would follow this pattern - "...have created great concern in our country and other donors about the prospects of free and fair elections in October". I urge you to read this interview in full in The Point Newspaper. Ironically, and very worryingly indeed, the British government resumed military aid to the regime in The Gambia, directly in the wake of the murder by government forces of fourteen young students who were engaged in a peaceful demonstration over the murder of a fellow student, Ebrima Barry, and rape of a young school girl. Britain’s action in resuming military assistance, shocked the world and at the same time, gave an implicit and very strong message of support to the Gambian regime who had perpetrated this atrocity. Dozens of young Gambians were seriously injured and many are still in hospital, while Britain offers military aid to Jammeh !! It is an extraordinary situation. According to the British High Commission in The Gambia, the decision to resume military aid to The Gambia, was recommended by them because The Gambia was now playing an important role in peacekeeping in the world ! Many Gambians and friends of The Gambia registered their protests over the British government’s decision, and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office will confirm to you, Sir, that this diplomatic blunder resulted in many angry letters. Sadly, many of these protesters have not yet received a response from your Department. Sir, we therefore anticipate that this sort of blunder will not be repeated, and that you personally will be monitoring events as they unfold in The Gambia, especially given the fact that presidential elections are slated for October 2001. The purpose of this letter is therefore to: 1. Acquaint you with the deteriorating situation in The Gambia 2. Seek your support in returning The Gambia to genuine democracy in the forthcoming elections there. 1. The Deteriorating Situation in The Gambia Domestically, our country is in a perilous state: unemployment is high and escalating; agriculture is in the doldrums; both the health and education sectors are finding it increasingly difficult to provide an effective service, particularly in the rural areas; the civil service is virtually non-functioning; sackings and premature retirement are the order of the day for any people who do not toe the government line; electricity is an increasingly rare commodity which an increasing number of people cannot afford anyway. Our postal and telecommunications systems are in disarray; roads are crumbling away; social services are non-existent. Much of the population is living below the poverty line and life is a constant daily struggle. The crime rate is escalating, as some people resort to theft in order to feed, clothe and shelter their families. Government interference in the Judiciary increases daily: there is constant series of dismissals of Attorney Generals, Judges and Magistrates. Court decisions are ignored or openly flouted by the government. The Constitution is constantly being contravened by the government, and is now hardly worth the paper it is written on. There is gross violation of human rights, ranging from harassment and persecution of citizens, arbitrary arrest and kidnap, detention incommunicado without trial, torture and murder. Innocent citizens like Dumo Saho, Ebrima Yarboe, Lt Lalo Jaiteh, Momodou Mareneh are still being held illegally behind bars. The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) uses brutal techniques and torture when "interviewing" citizens, and has become a modern day Gestapo-like organisation. People are living in fear of their, and their families’ lives, and families are divided quite deliberately by the machinations of the government and its agents. Corruption and mismanagement are the key words to describe domestic governance and our foreign policy. The Gambia’s foreign policy is becoming increasingly inconsistent and erratic, and is usually dependent on a cheque-book diplomacy. The Gambian government is courting Cuba at the same time as it appeases the USA; it is also playing Iran and Iraq against each other while actively touting for expensive loans from these and other countries. In the sub-region, Jammeh has become renowned as a man whose word is not to be trusted, and who will do all in his power to create chaos and confusion for his own ends. Even in matters of religion, Jammeh is fomenting strife with his announcements that he will introduce Shariah law in The Gambia in the near future. I urge you to read Professor Arnold Hughes’s audit of democracy in The Gambia in a special issue of the Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, November 2000. I also urge you to read the country reports on The Gambia of Amnesty International, and to study the US State Department’s Country Reports on The Gambia since 1994. These reports will provide you with hard and incontrovertible evidence of the situation in The Gambia. 3. The Restoration of Democracy in The Gambia Yahya Jammeh has in fact, amended the Draft Constitution so that presidential term is no longer limited to two terms of five years each. He is determined to remain in power, and is using every trick in the book to ensure that his ambitions are fulfilled. Recently, he unlawfully dismissed Bishop Johnson, the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), and has replaced him with a person of his (Jammeh’s) own choice. Jammeh is now talking about votes being counted away from the polling stations, against the best advice of the international community and the IEC. Last year, the leader of the United Democratic Party, Mr Ousainou Darboe, was charged, along with forty of his party, with the alleged murder of one Alieu Njie: the case is still pending. The Independent media is being subjected to constant harassment: journalists have been deported, radio stations set on fire or destroyed in arson attacks. The prospects of free and fair presidential and National Assembly elections for 2001 and 2002 respectively, are receding at an alarming rate. Most Gambians, like myself, are committed to seeking political change in The Gambia, through the ballot box. We want a peaceful solution to our nation’s problems and a return to the rule of law and to democracy. We are averse to violent conflict as a means of overthrowing the current corrupt regime, and we shall do all in our power to win the battle against Jammeh peacefully. We urgently need your help to ensure that the forthcoming elections are free and fair, and that the electoral process is transparent and free from government manipulation and skew. Please, Foreign Secretary, we need the British Government to play its part in ensuring that the elections are held on time, that the entire process is above board and impartial, that opposition parties area free from harassment and persecution, that the IEC remains neutral and is allowed to undertake a full monitoring role, that the actual voting and the counting of votes is conducted with propriety and in the open. On behalf of Gambians at home and abroad, I urge you to: 1. Cut off military aid to The Gambia forthwith. 2. Acquaint yourself with the true situation in The Gambia at present. 3. Do all in your power to ensure free and fair elections in 2001 and 2002. 4. Do all in your power to ensure that the Gambian Government upholds human rights. 5. Urge the Gambian Government to stop illegal harassment, torture, kidnapping, illegal detention, arbitrary arrest. 6. Urge the Gambian Government to uphold the independence of the press, the media, and the Judiciary, and to cease harassment of former politicians, of former security forces personnel, of ordinary citizens. 7. Exert the strongest pressure on the Gambian Government to release forthwith all those who are held illegally, in particular Dumo Saho, Ebrima Yarboe, Lt. Lalo Jaiteh, Momodou Mareneh.. 8. Urge your representatives in The Gambia and throughout Africa to provide you with full and up-to-date information in order that you may make sound judgements based on facts. 9. Seek meetings with Gambian groups in the UK and listen to their comments. 10. Attend the meeting which has been set for 7pm on 28th February 2001 at the House of Commons, organised by the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy in The Gambia (UK), and during which there will be a full briefing on the Gambian situation to MPs. If you are unable to attend, send one of your representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 11. Do all in your power to help us to restore genuine and full democracy in The Gambia at the earliest opportunity. We have noted the assurances of the British Government that it will do all in its power to ensure that it maintains and practices an ethical foreign policy. We trust that you will listen to our concerns, and give us whatever help and support you can, to ensure that The Gambia once again becomes a functioning democracy in West Africa. We Gambians are awaiting the opportunity to take our small country forwards into the future, on the foundations of truth, justice, peace and freedom for all. We need your help to make our dreams for The Gambia, a reality. Thank you. Yours truly, Ebrima Ceesay Birmingham, UK. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail 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 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------