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Thank you Dr. Jaiteh for highlighting this issue again. I strongly believe Taiwanese government may need to be educated on what is going on in Gambia. Last year those of us in Seattle stormed the Taiwanese economic representative office in Seattle. We demanded to speak to the counsel representative, presented a letter and promised to follow up...

To our surprise the people in the office were shocked on what was written on our banners about the nine prisoners who were executed and some of other slogans about the government. They immediately contacted the home office in Taiwan and promise to get back to us. Although we could not meet with the rep we were promised that they have taken note of our demands and will communicate with us.

We are again contemplating going back to the rep and have audience with them. It appears they may not be well educated on Gambia's governing issues. Here is a link to our demonstration in Seattle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKCbueC-fj4

I believe that if Gambians take this issue up with the Taiwanese government across the world we may make a lot of difference. They care deeply about their

image... Just a thought..

Thanks again for bringing this issue up.

Demba

On Mon, Oct 7, 2013 at 10:25 AM, Malanding Jaiteh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

The saying, "show me your friends and I will tell you who you are" is a time tested in many quarters. Since 1995 the government of Yahya Jammeh has found in Taiwan what could easily be described a best friend forever(bff). While this relationship may have delivered a lot of good to both partners, from several-high profiled winning and dinning, to The Gambia government religiously pushing for Taiwan UN membership, to academic scholarships to Gambian and more recently regular cash disbursements to government departments and sectors.

At a ceremony in August 2013, the Taiwanese Ambassador presented a $300,000 "donation" to the head of the Civil Service and Minister for Presidential Affairs. The Ambassador was quoted saying, “We have presented the first part payment of US$300,000, which is to cover expenses of the beneficiaries from January to June this year. Today the presentation of the fund is for the second half of the year. The health sector is very important for the Gambian people. It also highly concerned His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh. My government makes this annual grant to assist The Gambia in boosting its medical services,”.

At a June 2013 ceremony the Daily Observer reported, "The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) through its Embassy in Banjul has given the sum of US$ 442,000 for the development of the Gambia national football team, the Scorpions." At the ceremony Ambassador Chen remarked "The donation, reflects Taiwan’s commitment to the development of Gambia’s sports sector. He further remarked that the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh, has a great vision, and is determined to lift the Gambia national football team to the top of the world. "

At other ceremonies in August alone, the Embassy of Taiwan donated, $500,000 to Higher Education, $3,000,000 to agriculture, 38 scholarships. And in September, funded visit by Gambian 16 military personnel.

Important to point out that these funds are directly managed at the Office of the President.

Little doubt that Taiwan is a regular contributor to the Jammeh government. At a time when EU, Millennium Challenge Corporations and the Commonwealth are expressing concern for rule of law in the Gambia why is Taiwan stepping up their funding? Are they not seeing what others see? Or they just do not care about what happens in the Gambia as long as we campaign for them at the UN? Perhaps it is time to tell the Taiwanese people all about their bff.

As they say in America its all about optics.

Malanding Jaiteh

VP Njie-Saidy visits Taiwan

africa » gambia

Monday, October 07, 2013

At the invitation of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), H.E. Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, recently led a delegation to Taipei from 6 to 11 October 2013.

According to information from impeccable sources, the Vice President is attending the ROC National Day celebrations and exchange experience in the field of food safety and quality control.

During her visit, her fifth to Taiwan, Vice President Njie-Saidy will meet with ROC President Ma Ying-jeou and attend banquets hosted by Vice President Wu Den-yih, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin, and Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Shiu Ming-neng.

In addition to attending the National Day Ceremony and 102nd National Day Reception, the VP and delegation will also call at the International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF) and meet with Gambian students studying at National Taipei University of Technology.

The Gambia is an important ally of the ROC in West Africa. Over the years, it has consistently supported ROC participation in the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other international organizations.

Moreover, after the devastation of Typhoon Marokot hit Taiwan in August 2009, Vice President Njie-Saidy donated US$700,000 on behalf of the government and people of The Gambia.

Since the ROC and The Gambia resumed diplomatic relations in 1995, the two countries have successfully undertaken many cooperation projects across a wide range of areas.

Author: Nfamara Jawneh

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