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Screensize: 640 x 480 800 x 600 1024 x 768 1280 x 1024 UserName: Password: Format Mode: Basic  Help  Prompt  Format: Videos: Font Andale Mono Arial Arial Black Book Antiqua Century Gothic Comic Sans MS Courier New Georgia Impact Lucida Console Script MT Bold Stencil Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana   Size 1 2 3 4 5 6   Color Black Red Yellow Pink Green Orange Purple Blue Beige Brown Teal Navy Maroon LimeGreen Message: * HTML is OFF * Forum Code is ON Smilies [quote][i]Originally posted by Momodou[/i] [br] ----------------------- Headers -------------------------------- Return-Path: <GAMBIA-L-owner@u.washington.edu> Received: from relay02a.mail.aol.com (relay02a.mail.aol.com [172.31.160.2]) by air04a.mail.aol.com (v38.1) with SMTP; Mon, 09 Feb 1998 21:29:18 -0500 Received: from lists2.u.washington.edu (lists2.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.1]) by relay02a.mail.aol.com (8.8.5/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) with ESMTP id VAA14261; Mon, 9 Feb 1998 21:28:02 -0500 (EST) Received: from host (lists.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.13]) by lists2.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with SMTP id SAA18487; Mon, 9 Feb 1998 18:27:53 -0800 Received: from mxu2.u.washington.edu (mxu2.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.9]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP id SAA21254 for <gambia-l@lists.u.washington.edu>; Mon, 9 Feb 1998 18:27:24 -0800 Received: from mailhost.cyberramp.net (root@mailhost.cyberramp.net [207.158.64.11]) by mxu2.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.09) with ESMTP id SAA13282 for <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>; Mon, 9 Feb 1998 18:27:22 -0800 Received: from hpcustomer (dal-tsa7-7.cyberramp.net [207.158.98.7]) by mailhost.cyberramp.net (8.8.7/8.8.7/oak-0209-1327-NR-RBL5) with ESMTP id UAA00740 for <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>; Mon, 9 Feb 1998 20:27:18 -0600 (CST) Message-Id: <199802100227.UAA00740@mailhost.cyberramp.net> Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 20:08:24 -0800 R >> ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 22:41:51 EST From: JENGFANNEH@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: African Americans and US Policy Toward Africa (fwd) Message-ID: <3b5be993.34dfcc81@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Thank you Mr.Sall for the information. You seem to be a very smart and reasonable person, and I am sure you will agree that the position of the Boston Centre is an extremist, out of character, baseless and unfounded view. Sir, what only puzzle me is why would you even waste your time to think that this view deserve to be heard, and don't get me wrong,every position can be fair game as long as it is atleast within the realm of constructiveness. Jesse Jackson, to be used by the Clinton Administration to exploit Africa............This is a riduculous statement. Musa Jeng ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 23:11:54 -0600 From: Francis Njie <c3p0@xsite.net> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: CITIZEN FM CLOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19980209231154.0075e368@xsite.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" If the freedom and livelihood of the detained proprietor and news editor of Citizen FM were not at stake, I would probably not have acknowledged the ridiculous justifications for their summary arrest. What exactly is the legal basis of government-sanctioned summary detention for libel? - Francis ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 23:54:25 EST From: JENGFANNEH@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: CITIZEN FM CLOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT Message-ID: <5d0cd03c.34dfdd83@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Thanks again for the information about the hot issue between Citizen FM and the Government. Time is rather scarce but I can't help to throw in a word or two. My daughter told me not to trust most Gambians over thirty years old. It would be unfair to judge you, bit I am trying to reconcile the Tombong of the early eighties and the one that sometimes sound like someone playing survival politics. As a media person, one would have expected you to be on the same fense with Baboucarr. Close down for not paying taxes, and you for a moment think anyone would belive that. Musa ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 01:17:58 -0800 From: Anna Secka <secka@cse.bridgeport.edu> To: GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Condolences Message-ID: <34E01B46.DE69079F@cse.bridgeport.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hello All, I would like to thank everyone for being supportive at a time like this. It was indeed a shock for all the family and most of their peers. It is hard for people to accept the loss of a loved one in their prime. Nevertheless, it is Allah's rule so we cannot do anything about it but pray for them. Once again, thanks a lot for all the support. ----- Anna Secka secka@cse.bridgeport.edu * Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. -- Salvor Hardin ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 03:52:34 EST From: TSaidy1050@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: CITIZEN FM CLOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT Message-ID: <788843f7.34e01554@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Musa, Your daughter might be right and you should start by trying to reconciling yourself first. Why not try to reconcile the Musa Jeng of Mr. Faal's days at Kaur from Musa Jeng of today. You better go back to my posting and read it carefully before assuming on which side I am. I reported what happened, and not stating an opinion on the matter. PEACE Tombong Saidy ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 08:04:05 -0000 From: "archibald.graham@commit.gm" <gambia-l@commit.gm> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: African Cup of Nations' Results Message-ID: <B0000051334@south.commit.gm> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sent by "Archibald H. R. Graham" <archibald.graham@commit.gm> via Commit King Solomon You earlier wrote: > I have been panning east to west on our satelite system, to see if I can > find anything from the European satelites in regards to this tornament > in Bokina Faso, but no luck. I have even tried the cable companies, who > I know can arrange to get this event. But their response a question of > interest, marketability, and sponsors. Oh dear, sorry about that. What a world we live in with little regard for events other than War in this part of the world!! You can try CFI - Canal France International. Your chances of viewing the events with them throughout are high. Otherwise some of us here like Tombong Saidy may have to fill you on the events as they unfold. Regards Archi ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 13:43:05 +0100 From: momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Fwd: Africa: Regional Executives Statement Message-ID: <3634212767.9168292@inform-bbs.dk> ---forwarded mail START--- From: apic@igc.apc.org,Internet To: apic@igc.org,Internet Date: 09/02/98 15:04 Subject: Africa: Regional Executives Statement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Africa: Regional Executives Statement Date distributed (ymd): 980209 Document reposted by APIC +++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++ Region: Continent-Wide Issue Areas: +economy/development+ +security/peace+ Summary Contents: This posting contains the text of the Joint Statement made by the Chief Executives of the Organisation for African Unity, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and African Development Bank at the end of their meeting in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire, on 23 January 1998. +++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ JOINT STATEMENT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES OF THE OAU, ECA AND ADB Introduction 1. We, the Chief Executives of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the African Development Bank (ADB), met in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire on 23 January, 1998, for our 8th Consultative Meeting. We set out below our views on recent developments in the region, and also indicate the measures we believe our countries should consider to assure the economic and social development of the people of Africa in peace and stability. Political Developments 2. In reviewing the political, social, and economic progress in the region in the last few years, we note, with satisfaction, the strong commitment to political stability, pluralism, and democracy by an increasing number of countries. Nonetheless, we are concerned by the continued instability and conflict in some of our countries and their cost in human and material terms, as well as their adverse impact on economic and social progress. We are, however, heartened by the efforts being made by African leaders to take action to find African solutions to the various conflicts in the region. We are also greatly encouraged by the role that the institutions of civil society are playing. 3. We wish, in this connection, to underscore the need to take measures to avoid the recurrence of conflicts, provide humanitarian assistance, and mobilize resources for post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation. This is, in particular, the case with the Great Lakes Region. We wish to emphasize here the importance of adequate support by the international donor community to help this region, as well as other regions emerging from periods of severe strife and conflict. With a view to coordinating our efforts, and bringing to the attention of the international community the need for action in this area, we have decided to establish a committee to recommend practical measures for our consideration. 4. Sustaining the political, economic, and social progress that our countries have made calls for promoting the practice of good governance. We are, in this respect, encouraged by the increasing commitment in the region to this goal. We, nonetheless, urge our countries to continue to promote good governance, uphold the rule of law, and fight the scourge of corruption, as an integral part of their efforts to promote socio-economic progress in the continent. Economic and Social Trends 5. We are pleased to note that, in comparison to the first half of this decade, the economic performance of a large number of African countries has, in the past few years, been quite encouraging. While in part underpinned by a favourable external environment, the progress being made is, nonetheless, mainly a reflection of the major economic reforms undertaken by a large number of countries. We urge our countries to deepen and sustain these reforms, as difficult as they sometimes are. 6. We also urge our countries to pursue policies to accelerate economic growth, as this is essential to improve the social conditions of the large number of Africans who live in absolute poverty. In this regard, our countries will also need to create an environment conducive to private sector development, as well as for attracting foreign capital flows, which still account for less than two percent of global flows. 7. An issue of great concern to our three institutions is the external debt of African countries, which is hampering their growth. This is estimated to have reached $315 billion in 1997, with the debt service of countries accounting, on average, for a quarter of export earnings. We are encouraged by the start in the implementation of various debt-reduction initiatives, including the Highly Indebted Poor Countries' Initiative (HIPC) -- a joint initiative of the Bretton Woods Institutions, the African Development Bank (ADB), and bilateral donors -- as well as the Special Financing Mechanism (SFM) of the ADB. Nonetheless, we urge the international community to adopt a more flexible stance, and to consider additional initiatives, as well as ensure that adequate resources are made available to resolve the debt problem of African countries. 8. With respect to regional co-operation and integration, we note the encouraging steps recently taken by countries and sub-regions. Nonetheless, much needs to be done to make this goal a reality. Accordingly, we have renewed our commitment to jointly work together to assist our countries in the rationalization of the activities of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the harmonization of policies at the regional level, the mobilization of resource for regional integration, and the promotion of a greater role for the private sector. We have also decided to establish a joint working group to coordinate the activities of the three institutions in this area. 9. And in the light of the important role of air transport (and the transport and telecommunication infrastructures in general) to regional integration efforts, we have agreed to sensitize our governments on the importance of taking various measures to bring about a reform of the industry and to develop safe, accessible and affordable air service. There is also a need to gradually liberalize traffic rights within Africa and to promote cooperation in the air transport industry. With a view to achieving this goal and mobilizing the requisite resources, we have agreed to work closely with other concerned regional and international organizations. 10. While urging our countries to pursue domestic economic policies conducive to rapid economic growth and poverty alleviation, we wish to stress the continuing important role of external concessional resources. We thus urge the international donor community to continue to provide adequate replenishment to such funds as the African Development Fund (ADF), the International Development Association (IDA), and the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF). And, cognizant of the need to ensure that African countries have adequate access to existing resources, such as the European Development Fund (EDF) under the Lome Convention and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), we have agreed that our three institutions will cooperate to provide the requisite technical assistance, as well as initiate capacity-building measures, to enhance the negotiating capability of African countries. 11. We are encouraged by the increasing interest shown in the development of Africa as reflected in such initiatives as the System-Wide Special Initiative for Africa of the United Nations as well as those of the OECD countries. In this context, we note that Africa's developmental needs will be discussed at the second Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD II). We expect the Conference to be open to all African countries and to take up a number of important issues relating to the development prospects of the region. We have also agreed that our three institutions will undertake preparatory work in four important areas, namely, the continued availability of concessional resources to African countries, international market access for African goods and products, private sector participation in infrastructural development, and conflict management, peace, and development. Joint Secretariat 12. To enhance coordination and a better exchange of information between our three institutions, we have agreed to strengthen our Joint Secretariat. In addition, we have agreed to deepen our working relations by setting up working groups, by encouraging contacts between our various organizational units, and promoting co-operation at the expert level. 13. In conclusion, we reaffirm our commitment to develop further a common approach, as well as deepen our collaborative efforts, to assist our countries meet better the challenges of economic and social development. Signed: - Salim A. Salim, Secretary General, OAU - K.Y. Amoako, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary, ECA - Omar Kabbaj, President, African Development Bank Abidjan 23 January 1998 For more information, please contact: Peter K.A. da Costa, Senior Communication Adviser UN Economic Commission for Africa P.O. Box 3001 (official) or 3005 (personal) Addis Ababa Ethiopia Tel: +251-1-51 58 26 (direct) or: +251-1-51 72 00 ext. 35486 Fax: +251-1-51-22-33 E-Mail: ipspdc@harare.iafrica.com, daCosta@un.org,ecainfo@un.org Web: http://www.un.org/depts/eca ************************************************************ This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC), the educational affiliate of the Washington Office on Africa. APIC's primary objective is to widen the policy debate in the United States around African issues and the U.S. role in Africa, by concentrating on providing accessible policy-relevant information and analysis usable by a wide range of groups and individuals. Auto-response addresses for more information (send any e-mail message): africapolicy-info@igc.apc.org (about the Africa Policy Electronic Distribution List); apic-info@igc.apc.org (about APIC); woa-info@igc.apc.org (about WOA). Documents previously distributed, as well as the auto-response information files, are also available on the Web at: http://www.africapolicy.org To be added to or dropped from the distribution list write to apic@igc.apc.org. For more information about material cited from another source please contact directly the source mentioned in the posting rather than APIC. For additional information: Africa Policy Information Center, 110 Maryland Ave. NE, #509, Washington, DC 20002. Phone: 202-546-7961. Fax: 202-546-1545. E-mail: apic@igc.apc.org. ************************************************************ ---forwarded mail END--- --- OffRoad 1.9v registered to Momodou Camara ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 15:10:36 +0100 From: "Housainou Taal" <Housainou.Taal@wfp.org> To: Gambia-L@U.Washington.edu Subject: Africa/Economy. Asia, Europe and Africa's CFA Franc. 2 Feb 98 Message-ID: <C12565A7.004DB5F0.00@wfp.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii List Manager, Please forward for info. only. Housainou. ---------------------- Forwarded by Housainou Taal/OD/WFP on 10-02-98 15:07 --------------------------- From: To: cc: Subject: AFRICA/ECONOMY - CFA ZONE Asia, Europe and Africa's CFA Franc [FEATURE ARTICLE] 01:08 a.m. Feb 02, 1998 Eastern By Alan Raybould ABIDJAN, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The dramatic falls in Asian currencies have added a new twist to the debate over the future of Africa's CFA franc after the likely demise of the French franc to which it is linked. The CFA franc is used by 14 African states, former French colonies for the most part and competitors of southeast Asian countries in markets such as cocoa, coffee, timber and palmoil. The finance minister of Ivory Coast -- the world's biggest cocoa producer -- said in January that Europe's move to a single currency would not affect the CFA franc, which would be fixed against the euro at a rate ``mechanically'' derived from its current fixed parity of 100 per French franc. However, N'Goran Niamien added: ``What's happening in Asia concerns us to the highest degree.'' Other observers recognise the new factor in the equation. ``The Asian crisis is going to pose a problem of competitiveness for our economies, and that's where the real debate on any adjustment of the CFA franc in the context of the euro will be situated,'' said Michel Abrogoua, manager of the new West Africa Growth Fund which is committed to the Franc Zone. The CFA franc is used by Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo in West Africa, and Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in Central Africa. The Comoros Islands also belong to the Franc Zone but do not use the CFA franc. AN AFRICAN HARD CURRENCY -- IN THEORY The French Treasury guarantees to exchange the CFA franc for French francs, making it -- in theory -- a rare African hard currency. Its parity went unchanged for 45 years until 1994 at 50 to one French franc, a source of stability for the mostly French firms that did business in the Zone. But by the 1980s, low commodity prices and high external debt burdens had brought stagnation into the Franc Zone, and that stability was no longer such a virtue for countries that needed to diversify their exports and their trading partners. The African countries were forced to swallow a devaluation by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and France, whose about-turn was seen as a betrayal in Africa. Rumours are rife in the Zone that the advent of the euro could be the occasion for another parity adjustment. Bankers in Africa say some businesses are switching funds into French francs as a precaution, and the central banks of the Zone -- the BCEAO in West Africa, the BEAC in Central Africa and the Bank of France -- are tightening the screws. It has become increasingly difficult to get even small amounts of French francs in exchange for CFA francs in Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abidjan. Sometimes banks demand a flight ticket to Paris as proof the need is ``genuine.'' ``The BCEAO is supposed to change CFA into French francs on demand, but it says there aren't any, come back in a month. It's a deliberate policy on the part of the Bank,'' the treasurer of one Abidjan bank said. In fact, full convertibility of the CFA franc was never really established after it was halted in 1993 to stop capital flight when devaluation began to look inevitable. THEORY DIFFERS FROM PRACTICE Alain Le Noir, who heads a club of francophone African bank chiefs, said this made a nonsense of the Franc Zone edifice. ``Recently, a French consultant, paid in CFA francs for work done in Ivory Coast, was unable to exchange his CFA francs for French francs, not only at the best banks in France, but more seriously at the Bank of France itself,'' he said. The crunch may come at the beginning of May, when European countries meet to decide which of them will be eligible to join European economic and monetary union (EMU) in 1999, and to set bilateral exchange rates as a basis for their euro parities. Some European countries are unhappy about the CFA franc being attached to their new currency, but French ministers and officials have travelled to Africa to promise that both the link and value of the CFA franc will be assured when the euro comes. HOW MUCH LONGER WILL SYSTEM LAST? However, one African financier, with experience of both the private sector and the multilateral agencies, doubted the system would stay as it is for very much longer. ``The French Treasury's guarantee might be given for now, but I don't think the French are going to accept this situation over the medium term, because they don't have the means,'' he said. ``What you might see, as a kind of half-way solution, is a link with the euro but with a margin of manoeuvre, so the CFA franc will no longer be tied into a too rigid system.'' The two parts of the Zone may even split in two -- officials in West Africa, moving fast towards economic union, increasingly qualify their support for the CFA franc rate to their own area. But in the meantime Antoine Pouillieute, head of French development agency Caisse Francaise de Developpement, dismisses rumours of devaluation in either region linked to the advent of the euro as ``flights of fancy.'' ``The economies of the Franc Zone, whether in Central or West Africa, are going in the right direction,'' he said in Cameroon in January. ``The rate...poses no problem of competitivity in the zone. Technically, unlike in 1994, there is no economic reason to justify a devaluation.'' ($ - 600 CFA francs) Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 15:34:21 +0100 From: "Housainou Taal" <Housainou.Taal@wfp.org> To: Gambia-L@U.Washington.edu Subject: France Revises African Relationship. WashPost. 6 Feb 98 Message-ID: <C12565A7.004F8B5B.00@wfp.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii List Manager, Please forward to members for info. only. Housainou. ---------------------- Forwarded by Housainou Taal/OD/WFP on 10-02-98 15:27 --------------------------- Housainou Taal 10-02-98 15:08 To: Gambia-L@U.Washington.edu cc: Subject: France Revises African Relationship. WashPost. 6 Feb 98 List manager, Please forward for infor only. Housainou ---------------------- Forwarded by Housainou Taal/OD/WFP on 10-02-98 15:05 --------------------------- From: To: cc: Subject: FRENCH FOREIGN POLICY/AFRICA 30 January - 6 February 1998 1. France Revises African Relationship. Washington Post. 6 Feb 98 2. France overhauls aid policy for developing nations. Reuters. 4 Feb 98 [adds different details] 3. Abidjan asks France to clarify African cooperation programme. AFP. 30 Jan 98 **************************************** 1. France Revises African Relationship Reform Plan Abolishes Ministry, Separate Policy for Former Colonies By Charles Trueheart Washington Post Foreign Service Friday, February 6, 1998; Page A40 PARIS, Feb. 5?The government of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin today outlined a potentially far-reaching reform of France's relationship with its African "back yard," a sphere of influence dating from the colonial era that once guaranteed France the support of a major bloc of African votes at the United Nations. Since the French colonial empire in Africa gave way to independence nearly 40 years ago, France has maintained close ties to most of its former colonies through a de facto ministry for African affairs known as the Ministry for Cooperation, a powerful agency virtually independent of the rest of France's diplomatic apparatus. Over the years, French leaders, beginning with President Charles de Gaulle in the 1960s, have yearned to drive a stake through the heart of the Cooperation Ministry. But they have always surrendered to pressures from the bureaucracy and its constituency -- African leaders who saw the ministry as their special conduit to political influence and foreign aid. The new reform plan reflects France's continuing retrenchment in Africa as the United States becomes more active there and Paris's desire to forge economic relationships in English-speaking African countries, notably South Africa. It represents a new phase in France's efforts to break out of almost four decades of quasi-colonialism and another step in the rejiggering of global relationships in the post-Cold War era. Jospin's eight-month-old Socialist government from the beginning has signaled its desire to break with past policy toward Africa. France's military presence on the continent is being cut by one-fourth, and this month it will participate with the United States and Britain in training French-speaking African soldiers for peacekeeping operations on the continent -- a tacit relinquishment of France's exclusive military domain that would have been unthinkable even five years ago. Thus far, Jospin's government has worked effectively on the African dossier with President Jacques Chirac, whose Gaullist party was defeated in legislative elections last year. Although he swore three years ago on a visit to Benin that the cherished Cooperation Ministry would exist as long as he was president, Chirac gave his blessing to the Jospin plan. The machinery of the reform is bureaucratic: The Cooperation Ministry will be absorbed into the Foreign Ministry, where, at least in theory, Africa will be a world region like any other. Charles Josselin, the incumbent cooperation minister, said France will cease to have a separate foreign policy for French-speaking African countries. When the reforms are refined and put in place later this year, Josselin will become a junior minister under Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine. But he will keep a place at the cabinet table to reassure African leaders who fear they will lose their clout and privileged access. Such are the sensitivities regarding this move that every official effort has been made to stress that France is not abandoning its special friends. Because of its high levels of poverty, French-speaking Africa will continue to constitute a "priority zone of solidarity" for French development assistance, officials said today. "No one will lose," Vedrine said at a news conference. At stake for developing countries is French foreign aid that amounts to almost $8 billion a year -- on a per capita basis, more than three times the U.S. foreign aid budget. About two-thirds of it goes to African countries. The change also will enable France to act in concert with other donor nations and organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. France's aid to African nations and others in Asia and the Caribbean has been heavily redirected in recent years through those organizations, limiting its direct largess to favored countries. French officials today spoke of "coherence" as the objective of the reform, but the relationship between France and Africa will continue to operate at several levels. In addition to the newly reconstituted Foreign Ministry, rival centers of power remain at the presidential palace, which has long regarded Africa as a special preserve, and at the Finance Ministry, whose power over foreign aid funds has been enhanced under the new scheme. ? Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company ____________________________________________ Some added details: 2. France overhauls aid policy for developing nations By Francois Raitberger PARIS, Feb 4 (Reuters) - France announced a major overhaul on Wednesday of aid to developing countries that reflected world economic changes and a new approach towards its former colonies. Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin said development aid would remain focused on Africa and would not shrink, but would be "concentrated on those countries which most need it". State aid units, which have often carried out their work shrouded in secrecy as France clung to a fading aura as an African post-colonial superpower, will be merged under the foreign ministry into "a large diplomatic body" to make them more open and efficient. "Africa has moved. Despite historical handicaps, and such scourges as AIDS, it now has higher economic growth rates and stronger aspirations to democracy," Jospin told the National Assembly. "We had to take this evolution into account," he said. The reform, announced at a cabinet meeting, is part of wider plans by Jospin's seven-month-old government to review relations with Africa, including almost halving French troops which have often acted as kingmakers there. The State Secretariat for Cooperation, which has sometimes been dubbed "ministry of the colonies", will be turned into a ministry under the direct authority of Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, with a single budget for both. Under plans approved on Wednesday in a cabinet meeting chaired by President Jacques Chirac, a committee grouping representatives of nine ministries will aportion aid under finance ministry control. It will define which countries qualify as members of a "Priority Solidarity Zone" which will get the bulk of the aid, set to remain at a total 38 billion francs ($6.3 billion) or 0.45 percent of gross domestic product. Jospin said the zone would include all the countries which are now members of France's Aid and Cooperation Fund -- most of France's former African colonies, some of the continent's other poorest states as well as Haiti and Cambodia. But membership could change in the future as economic conditions evolve. Government officials said cooperation had to adapt to recent economic changes, which left some poor countries dependent on foreign state aid while others could rely more on private investment. Conservative Gaullist Jacques Baumel, head of the National Assembly Defence Committee, launched a blistering attack on the reform as spelling the end of France's traditional links with Africa "at a time when some countries make no mystery of their determination to edge us out". France has suffered recent setbacks in Africa as it backed the overthrown Hutu government blamed for the genocide in Rwanda, and its ally, Mobutu Sese Seko, was ousted in Zaire by the Rwanda-backed rebels of President Laurent Kabila. "(The reform) will weaken the exceptionally close links between the continent and our nation by drowning French aid to Africa into the funds we grant to all kinds of countries in the world," Baumel said. He said that scrapping the State Secretariat for Cooperation was "a bad blow to an essential part of Gaullist policy" towards Africa. Under a practice set under the late president Charles de Gaulle, France's African policy was often conducted in discreet deals made with African presidents by secretive French presidential envoys. Jospin said defence accords with African countries would remain in the hands of the French defence council that groups the president, the prime minister and the foreign and defence ministers. France announced last July it would cut troops in Africa by 40 percent to 5,000 from 8,350. Copyright (c) 1998 Reuters Received by NewsEDGE/LAN: 04-02-98 17:31 gmt+2 ____________________________________________ 3. Abidjan asks France to clarify African cooperation programme by Adnane Zaka ABIDJAN, Jan 30 (AFP) - Ivory Coast, once one of France's leading political and economic partners in Africa, took advantage Friday of a visit by French junior cooperation minister Charles Josselin to ask for details of planned reforms. The French secretary of state for cooperation had talks in the economic capital Abidjan with Ivorian Minister of Foreign Affairs Amara Essy, who later said he had asked for clarification of the reforms due early in February. The French plan, which has been delayed on several occasions, notably provides for the merger of the cooperation ministry, considered by many French-speaking countries as "the African ministry", into the foreign ministry. Without going much further, Essy said of he had been told: "It is what we had expected." "France is a sovereign country and it is up to us to see where our own interests lie," Essy added, stressing that "there is no problem between Ivory Coast and France." Francophone African leaders of former colonies have shown fears that the extension by the Socialist Party government in Paris of the foreign ministry's activities, henceforth expected to deal with nations of the continent as equal partners, would leave them high and dry and end long-standing "special relations" with Africa, On general politics, Essy said he and Josselin had discussed developments across the continent, notably in the ethnically troubled Great Lakes region, where Rwanda and Burundi are swept by conflcit between the mainly Tutsi armies and extremist Hutu rebels, and the English-speaking countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone, in which Ivory Coast has major regional interests. Liberia is emerging from a brutal civil war and Sierra Leone is currently run by a military junta allied to former rebels, who have promised to restore power to elected civilian authorities next April. Fighting continues in Sierra Leone, whose economy has been savaged by the conflict. Josselin, who arrived in Abidjan on Thursday evening, was also received by Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie and took part in a meeting of a steering committee on the "Franc Zone initiative for investment" at the Ivorian headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States. The Franc Zone groups African nations whose CFA currency is pegged to the French franc. Josselin stated that "investment remains insufficient in the zone" in spite of the 50 percent devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994, which took the rate to 100 CFA for one French franc, and regardless of "numerous and important institutional reforms in the past five years". The French minister blamed the investment shortfall mainly on a lack of communication. He proposed to provide "the necessary technical means in coming months to launch a promotion campaign: the opening of an Internet web-site, the production of an investment guide and market atlas and a major campaign in the media and in the marketing network." "If Africa wants to avoid being sidelined by the modernisation of trade and exchange, it must give itself modern and dynamic means of communication," he said. On Friday night, Brosselin is due to go to an "Africities 98" exhibition, part of a series of events on African town and community life. He is expected to emphasise the need for more decentralised cooperation between France and the continent. az-mle/fxh/nb/hl Copyright (c) 1998 Agence France-Presse Received by NewsEDGE/LAN: 30-01-98 15:08 gmt+2 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 13:37:46 -0500 From: Solomon Sylva <ssylva@emory.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: African Cup of Nations' Results Message-ID: <34E09E7A.4A2@emory.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Archi, Is this crazy or what? Even the Canadian satelites that capture alot of international soccer events, could not even pull this off. They do show alot of French football games every week, and I am not sure if Canal France International is one of them or not. But I thank you for hint. I will give it a try. Also did found out that the YAHOO Brothers do update the scores thru the REUTERS fairly quikly. Oh well, heading back to our satelite room to do more searching. See you guys are luckier than some of us out here. Hope someone is recording the games so far. Cheers King Solomon archibald.graham@commit.gm wrote: > > Oh dear, sorry about that. What a world we live in with little regard for > events other than War in this part of the world!! > > You can try CFI - Canal France International. Your chances of viewing the > events with them throughout are high. Otherwise some of us here like > Tombong Saidy may have to fill you on the events as they unfold. > > Regards > Archi ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 13:37:32 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Thousands flee Freetown fighting Message-ID: <9802101837.AA32856@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Gambia-Lers, Have you been keeping up with the war in Freetown? Seems like there has been fierce fighting going on between the security forces (ECOMOG and CDF) and the Junta forces (AFPRC/RUF) over the past few days. It is really sad to note that the OAU and the UN have allowed the war in this area to degenerate to such a level. A Rwandan and Somalian type situation seems unevitable if these organisation do not step in to bring about peace. The security forces have vowed to remove the Junta, at all cost, this time, in order to satisfy the Conakry accord of restoring Ousted President Tejan Kabba as the democratically elected leader. Whether the security forces archieve their goal of restoring Kabba or not, my question is, couldn't there have been an alternte way of bringing peace without the massacre of innocent civilians? It is ironic that innocent civilians would have to die in the process of restoring one man to power. I guess that's what sacrifice is all about. As someone with relatives in the region, my heart continues to bleed terribly for all the victims and those entrapped with a "no way out". Regards, Moe S. Jallow **************************************************************************** Thousands flee Freetown fighting Thousands of people are fleeing eastern Freetown in Sierra Leone as heavy shelling and fighting continues between Nigerian troops and forces loyal to the military regime. The Nigerians are clashing with the military government's troops on several fronts in the outskirts of the city. Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds wounded in five days of fighting. Some of the wounded have been taken to hospital in wheelbarrows. Since dawn on Tuesday the sound of shelling has boomed around the hills above the capital and in the eastern suburbs. Thousands of people have been moving through the narrow streets of the city trying to escape the artillery and small arms fire. The Nigerians say they are determined to flush out Sierra Leone's military regime, which was condemned by the international community for seizing power in a coup last May. The Nigerian commander, Colonel Maxwell Khobie, said he was intending to take Freetown on Tuesday. But forces loyal to the military government are resisting fiercely. A spokesman for the regime said the fighting would continue to the end. --------------------------- Source: Associated Press ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 14:10:57 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Thousands flee Freetown fighting Message-ID: <9802101910.AA46854@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Correction.... > > Gambia-Lers, > > Have you been keeping up with the war in Freetown? Seems like there has > been fierce fighting going on between the security forces (ECOMOG and CDF) > and the Junta forces (AFPRC/RUF) over the past few days. The last line should read: .... and the junta forces (AFRC/RUF) over the past few days. ^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 15:08:26 +0100 From: "Housainou Taal" <Housainou.Taal@wfp.org> To: Gambia-L@U.Washington.edu Subject: France Revises African Relationship. WashPost. 6 Feb 98 Message-ID: <C12565A7.004D7767.00@wfp.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii List manager, Please forward for infor only. Housainou ---------------------- Forwarded by Housainou Taal/OD/WFP on 10-02-98 15:05 --------------------------- From: To: cc: Subject: FRENCH FOREIGN POLICY/AFRICA 30 January - 6 February 1998 1. France Revises African Relationship. Washington Post. 6 Feb 98 2. France overhauls aid policy for developing nations. Reuters. 4 Feb 98 [adds different details] 3. Abidjan asks France to clarify African cooperation programme. AFP. 30 Jan 98 **************************************** 1. France Revises African Relationship Reform Plan Abolishes Ministry, Separate Policy for Former Colonies By Charles Trueheart Washington Post Foreign Service Friday, February 6, 1998; Page A40 PARIS, Feb. 5?The government of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin today outlined a potentially far-reaching reform of France's relationship with its African "back yard," a sphere of influence dating from the colonial era that once guaranteed France the support of a major bloc of African votes at the United Nations. Since the French colonial empire in Africa gave way to independence nearly 40 years ago, France has maintained close ties to most of its former colonies through a de facto ministry for African affairs known as the Ministry for Cooperation, a powerful agency virtually independent of the rest of France's diplomatic apparatus. Over the years, French leaders, beginning with President Charles de Gaulle in the 1960s, have yearned to drive a stake through the heart of the Cooperation Ministry. But they have always surrendered to pressures from the bureaucracy and its constituency -- African leaders who saw the ministry as their special conduit to political influence and foreign aid. The new reform plan reflects France's continuing retrenchment in Africa as the United States becomes more active there and Paris's desire to forge economic relationships in English-speaking African countries, notably South Africa. It represents a new phase in France's efforts to break out of almost four decades of quasi-colonialism and another step in the rejiggering of global relationships in the post-Cold War era. Jospin's eight-month-old Socialist government from the beginning has signaled its desire to break with past policy toward Africa. France's military presence on the continent is being cut by one-fourth, and this month it will participate with the United States and Britain in training French-speaking African soldiers for peacekeeping operations on the continent -- a tacit relinquishment of France's exclusive military domain that would have been unthinkable even five years ago. Thus far, Jospin's government has worked effectively on the African dossier with President Jacques Chirac, whose Gaullist party was defeated in legislative elections last year. Although he swore three years ago on a visit to Benin that the cherished Cooperation Ministry would exist as long as he was president, Chirac gave his blessing to the Jospin plan. The machinery of the reform is bureaucratic: The Cooperation Ministry will be absorbed into the Foreign Ministry, where, at least in theory, Africa will be a world region like any other. Charles Josselin, the incumbent cooperation minister, said France will cease to have a separate foreign policy for French-speaking African countries. When the reforms are refined and put in place later this year, Josselin will become a junior minister under Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine. But he will keep a place at the cabinet table to reassure African leaders who fear they will lose their clout and privileged access. Such are the sensitivities regarding this move that every official effort has been made to stress that France is not abandoning its special friends. Because of its high levels of poverty, French-speaking Africa will continue to constitute a "priority zone of solidarity" for French development assistance, officials said today. "No one will lose," Vedrine said at a news conference. At stake for developing countries is French foreign aid that amounts to almost $8 billion a year -- on a per capita basis, more than three times the U.S. foreign aid budget. About two-thirds of it goes to African countries. The change also will enable France to act in concert with other donor nations and organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. France's aid to African nations and others in Asia and the Caribbean has been heavily redirected in recent years through those organizations, limiting its direct largess to favored countries. French officials today spoke of "coherence" as the objective of the reform, but the relationship between France and Africa will continue to operate at several levels. In addition to the newly reconstituted Foreign Ministry, rival centers of power remain at the presidential palace, which has long regarded Africa as a special preserve, and at the Finance Ministry, whose power over foreign aid funds has been enhanced under the new scheme. ? Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company ____________________________________________ Some added details: 2. France overhauls aid policy for developing nations By Francois Raitberger PARIS, Feb 4 (Reuters) - France announced a major overhaul on Wednesday of aid to developing countries that reflected world economic changes and a new approach towards its former colonies. Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin said development aid would remain focused on Africa and would not shrink, but would be "concentrated on those countries which most need it". State aid units, which have often carried out their work shrouded in secrecy as France clung to a fading aura as an African post-colonial superpower, will be merged under the foreign ministry into "a large diplomatic body" to make them more open and efficient. "Africa has moved. Despite historical handicaps, and such scourges as AIDS, it now has higher economic growth rates and stronger aspirations to democracy," Jospin told the National Assembly. "We had to take this evolution into account," he said. The reform, announced at a cabinet meeting, is part of wider plans by Jospin's seven-month-old government to review relations with Africa, including almost halving French troops which have often acted as kingmakers there. The State Secretariat for Cooperation, which has sometimes been dubbed "ministry of the colonies", will be turned into a ministry under the direct authority of Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, with a single budget for both. Under plans approved on Wednesday in a cabinet meeting chaired by President Jacques Chirac, a committee grouping representatives of nine ministries will aportion aid under finance ministry control. It will define which countries qualify as members of a "Priority Solidarity Zone" which will get the bulk of the aid, set to remain at a total 38 billion francs ($6.3 billion) or 0.45 percent of gross domestic product. Jospin said the zone would include all the countries which are now members of France's Aid and Cooperation Fund -- most of France's former African colonies, some of the continent's other poorest states as well as Haiti and Cambodia. But membership could change in the future as economic conditions evolve. Government officials said cooperation had to adapt to recent economic changes, which left some poor countries dependent on foreign state aid while others could rely more on private investment. Conservative Gaullist Jacques Baumel, head of the National Assembly Defence Committee, launched a blistering attack on the reform as spelling the end of France's traditional links with Africa "at a time when some countries make no mystery of their determination to edge us out". France has suffered recent setbacks in Africa as it backed the overthrown Hutu government blamed for the genocide in Rwanda, and its ally, Mobutu Sese Seko, was ousted in Zaire by the Rwanda-backed rebels of President Laurent Kabila. "(The reform) will weaken the exceptionally close links between the continent and our nation by drowning French aid to Africa into the funds we grant to all kinds of countries in the world," Baumel said. He said that scrapping the State Secretariat for Cooperation was "a bad blow to an essential part of Gaullist policy" towards Africa. Under a practice set under the late president Charles de Gaulle, France's African policy was often conducted in discreet deals made with African presidents by secretive French presidential envoys. Jospin said defence accords with African countries would remain in the hands of the French defence council that groups the president, the prime minister and the foreign and defence ministers. France announced last July it would cut troops in Africa by 40 percent to 5,000 from 8,350. Copyright (c) 1998 Reuters Received by NewsEDGE/LAN: 04-02-98 17:31 gmt+2 ____________________________________________ 3. Abidjan asks France to clarify African cooperation programme by Adnane Zaka ABIDJAN, Jan 30 (AFP) - Ivory Coast, once one of France's leading political and economic partners in Africa, took advantage Friday of a visit by French junior cooperation minister Charles Josselin to ask for details of planned reforms. The French secretary of state for cooperation had talks in the economic capital Abidjan with Ivorian Minister of Foreign Affairs Amara Essy, who later said he had asked for clarification of the reforms due early in February. The French plan, which has been delayed on several occasions, notably provides for the merger of the cooperation ministry, considered by many French-speaking countries as "the African ministry", into the foreign ministry. Without going much further, Essy said of he had been told: "It is what we had expected." "France is a sovereign country and it is up to us to see where our own interests lie," Essy added, stressing that "there is no problem between Ivory Coast and France." Francophone African leaders of former colonies have shown fears that the extension by the Socialist Party government in Paris of the foreign ministry's activities, henceforth expected to deal with nations of the continent as equal partners, would leave them high and dry and end long-standing "special relations" with Africa, On general politics, Essy said he and Josselin had discussed developments across the continent, notably in the ethnically troubled Great Lakes region, where Rwanda and Burundi are swept by conflcit between the mainly Tutsi armies and extremist Hutu rebels, and the English-speaking countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone, in which Ivory Coast has major regional interests. Liberia is emerging from a brutal civil war and Sierra Leone is currently run by a military junta allied to former rebels, who have promised to restore power to elected civilian authorities next April. Fighting continues in Sierra Leone, whose economy has been savaged by the conflict. Josselin, who arrived in Abidjan on Thursday evening, was also received by Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie and took part in a meeting of a steering committee on the "Franc Zone initiative for investment" at the Ivorian headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States. The Franc Zone groups African nations whose CFA currency is pegged to the French franc. Josselin stated that "investment remains insufficient in the zone" in spite of the 50 percent devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994, which took the rate to 100 CFA for one French franc, and regardless of "numerous and important institutional reforms in the past five years". The French minister blamed the investment shortfall mainly on a lack of communication. He proposed to provide "the necessary technical means in coming months to launch a promotion campaign: the opening of an Internet web-site, the production of an investment guide and market atlas and a major campaign in the media and in the marketing network." "If Africa wants to avoid being sidelined by the modernisation of trade and exchange, it must give itself modern and dynamic means of communication," he said. On Friday night, Brosselin is due to go to an "Africities 98" exhibition, part of a series of events on African town and community life. He is expected to emphasise the need for more decentralised cooperation between France and the continent. az-mle/fxh/nb/hl Copyright (c) 1998 Agence France-Presse Received by NewsEDGE/LAN: 30-01-98 15:08 gmt+2 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 10:22:28 +1200 From: Thomas Forster <T.Forster@mang.canterbury.ac.nz> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Fighting in Sierra Leone Message-ID: <7186621F54@mang.canterbury.ac.nz> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Hi , below is some news from the happenings in S/Leone. For more details over the events of the past days the site is: http://www.sierra-leone.org/slnews.html 9 February: Pro-junta forces and ECOMOG battled on at least two fronts to the south and east of Freetown Monday, while ECOMOG Chief of Staff Brigadier-General Abdul-Ome Mohammed vowed "utter retaliation" in response to what he termed an "unprovoked attack" on his troops on Thursday. "They initiated the attack and we'll carry it to the logical conclusion to ensure vantage positions where our soldiers would not be attacked," he said. Mohammed said the clashes started Thursday after an ECOMOG patrol vehicle hit a landmine in Kissy, then came under "concentrated fire" from junta soldiers and RUF fighters. "We can't tolerate this unprovoked attack or unnecessary killing of Nigerians," Mohammed told reporters in Lagos, adding that ECOMOG has mounted an all-out offensive to overthrow Sierra Leone's military government. "As I am talking to you our troops are moving. We are not far away from the city center," Mohammed said. "We're tired of this and want to finish it, as it's an opportunity to bring some sanity into the system and implement the Conakry Accord. Our troops have advanced to Wellington, Calabar, Waterloo, and Bengwema Training Center. These are strategic areas on the outskirts of Freetown. We are now working hard to capture Kissy, which is the base from which the junta gets its supplies." A junta spokesman said ECOMOG troops were meeting stiff opposition in their attempts to enter the capital. "We have received military intelligence via their radio that they are to enter Freetown today," the spokesman said. "There is no end in sight to the fighting, as both sides are determined to come on top." By late Sunday, ECOMOG troops were reported to have reached Grassfields, about five miles from the city center. Junta military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel John Milton acknowledged that property damage had been considerable, especially in the satellite towns of Wellington, Kissy, Regent, Rokell, Waterloo, and Devil Hole. Milton denied a claim by the opposition pro-democracy Radio 98.1, which reported an ECOMOG advance on Freetown from three fronts. BBC West Africa correspondent Mark Doyle reported Monday that the Nigerians are approaching the city from the east and the south, with the key battles being fought to control the road leading out of Freetown and the hills behind it. "If the Nigerians succeed in cutting the main roads out of Freetown, they will effectively trap the military government and half a million people in the Freetown peninsula," Doyle said. After a morning lull in the fighting, Nigerian ECOMOG troops resumed long-range artillery bombardments from their base at Lungi International Airport. Nigerian Alpha jet fighters bombed targets in Freetown, including Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service's transmitter on Leicester Peak. Staff were evacuated, and there was no immediate word on casualties or damage. SLBS radio and television have not been broadcasting since Sunday night. Radio 98.1 reported Sunday that junta soldiers were massing at Fourah Bay College in preparation for an attack on Gloucester and Regent, as well as Leicester Peak, all of which are reportedly now under ECOMOG control. In the first official announcement of casualties for the Sierra Leone side, Director of Military Health Services Brigadier James Kanu said Monday that 13 soldiers had died since the fighting started on Thursday, and that 109 people had received shrapnel wounds. "The civilian casualty continues to increase because of the bombardment by Nigerian ECOMOG Alpha jets," he added. "The civilian casualties have been very high, especially in the areas which have been hit by heavy bombardment," military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel John Milton told reporters. He gave no figures, but hospital sources say scores of people have been killed since Thursday. Medical ward officer Sillah Dumbuya said more than 80 wounded were admitted to Freetown's Wilberforce Military Hospital, while medical officials said that over 100 others, many of them civilians, have been admitted to Connaught Hospital. ECOMOG force commander Major-General Timothy Shelpidi said there were heavy casualties on the Sierra Leonean side, but put the blame on the junta. "They are not only losing in terms of men and territory, they are now arming school children," he said. He accused the junta of killing people whom they accused of taking sides with ECOMOG. ECOMOG Chief of Staff Brigadier-General Abdul-Ome Mohammed acknowledged casualties on the ECOMOG side, but gave no numbers. "There is no doubt that in a war zone there must be casualties," he said. "There are some wounded and some killed, but I don't have the numbers yet." The BBC reported Monday that Freetown has become a "dead city." Schools and shops are closed, food is scarce, and prices have increased drastically. ECOMOG force commander Major-General Timothy Shelpidi on Monday denied claims by the junta to have shot down a Nigerian Alpha fighter plane on Sunday. "All of my planes and pilots are accounted for," he said. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 16:47:30 EST From: TSaidy1050@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: African Cup of Nations' Results Message-ID: <68857ca4.34e0cb02@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit There was only one match today and the results are: Egypt Vs Mozambique 2 - 0 Peace Tombong ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 17:25:25 -0800 From: "Morro krubally" <jamba@cyberramp.net> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Can't we just be honest? Message-ID: <199802102332.RAA03988@mailhost.cyberramp.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Alpha: I must say what a pleasure it is to catch you on the net. The last I saw you, since Muslim High, was 1990 on a visit to Gambia. In 1996 I was in Hanover visiting with Samsudeen Colley, In inquiring If there were any other members of our class in Germany, He acknowledged that you were around somewhere in the Bremen area. And that Sheriff Manneh(Do you have any recollection of him?) was also in the Hanover area. Are you still based in Duechland? On a different note, I caught your exchange with Bass on the Bantaba. I noticed that you are not on the same wavelength. It is quite all right to have diverging views on the issues. I am not sure if it is prudent to allow your exchanges to escalate to a state of irritation. To the extend that Bass is unable to discern the principles of PDOIS(If this is your view) then, the task is yours to enlighten him on the real stand of PDOIS. I think the fundamental purpose of this Bataba is to creat a suitable medium for the purposes of exchanging ideas, thus providing intellectual stimulation, meeting and making new friends so on, and soforth. so lets make it a pleasant experience. Keep up the good contribution!! I am glad to be able to say hello. Its been a while. Morro Krubally ---------- > From: Alpha Robinson <garob1@cip.hx.uni-paderborn.de> > To: GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> > Subject: Can't we just be honest? > Date: Tuesday, February 03, 1998 1:57 AM > > Bass wrote, > > >I find it > >terribly amusing that you and Mr.Robison tend to think that all those > >Gambians who disagree with what Pdois have to say do so because they don't > >know what Pdois is talking about.But maybe some do precisely because they > >know so very well what Pdois is talking about. > > Bass I am beggining to get irritated by your capacity to twist around > facts. I mentioned your lack of knowledge about PDOIS' programme > simply because it was so obvious that you have not read PDOIS' > writnings on its economic programme before. Proof of this is found in > your statement "as a result, the economic > strategy it is NOW putting forward and confidently portraying as the > only cure of the economic ailments of our nation". I underline now > because reading through your writing critically I understood you to > be saying that PDOIS which is after all a Semi-socialist or socialist > party which after all is hostile (by default) to market forces, has > NOW turned around to pretend to us that they are open to private > ownership. That is just not true, period. > See the point! For that reason alone have I made my contentions. > Let me make this clear Bass, I do not at all expect everyone to > embrace PDOIS' ideas for that would be very naive. What I wish to see > though is an honest stand on what they say IN PRINCIPLE and not just > slander and distortions based on one's own imaginations. Any politically mature person will know that > people affiliate with parties which either best serve their own > personal interests or the collective interest of society as they see > it. Of course > those who wish to continue to live at the expense of the people, > those who do not wish to make any sacrifice for the country cannot > accept PDOIS' programme. On the other hand, those in whose interest > PDOIS speaks will be more receptive to PDOIS' ideas. I can hear you > saying, but why are they not in government, that's another matter. > Once they manage to free themselves from the Shackles of the criminal > vices of post colonial politics, it will become obvious to a > farmer that he/she has nothing to gain by enriching a few Gambians at > his/her own expense. If you ask the farmer with a liberated mind or > one of those Gambians out in the streets he/she > will tell you that nothing has changed since independence. Their > lives remain miserable. The same colanuts they recieved from Jawara > they recieve from Jammeh today. Such people who have not tasted the > honeys of independence are logically (once free) bound to think > different from educated ones like you. You have the chances to live a > decent life and you do not want to loose those standards which you > have aquired simply by virtue of your education. See, if you were a > poor farmer you are bound to react differently to financial > discipline, for that would have improved your life and give you > dignity! > > So to cut the story short yes, some Gambians do not understand PDOIS' > programme, some on the other hand disagree with it because it refuses > them the previledge to live like kings. But in any case we must be > honest about it and simply disagree in principle, INFORM and EDUCATE the > Gambian people, those who were less fortunate, those who were > deliberately and still are deliberately kept ignorant, who should be the final judges. > Simple! > > much respect, > Alpha ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 18:11:34 -0500 From: sjennings@gardner-webb.edu (Sharon Jennings) To: MKCORRA@VM.SC.EDU Subject: [Fwd: [Fwd: Happy V-Day!]] Message-ID: <34DF8D26.4571@gardner-webb.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Return-Path: <thoyle@gardner-webb.edu> Received: from FAC_22963.GARDNER-WEBB.EDU ([152.44.8.106]) by gwu-mail-srv.gardner-webb.edu (Netscape Mail Server v1.1) with SMTP id AAA212 for <sjennings@gardner-webb.edu>; Mon, 9 Feb 1998 11:50:13 -0500 Message-ID: <34DF3210.186B@gardner-webb.edu> Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 11:42:56 -0500 From: thoyle@gardner-webb.edu (Tammy Hoyle) X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0Gold (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Sharon Jennings <sjennings@gardner-webb.edu> Subject: [Fwd: Happy V-Day!] Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Message-ID: <34DF2D7D.1301@gardner-webb.edu> Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 11:23:25 -0500 From: Tammy Hoyle <thoyle@gardner-webb.edu> X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0Gold (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: pcanupp@gardner-webb.edu Subject: Happy V-Day! Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sending this, not for good luck, but to share a really neat story!! ---------- John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose. His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. "You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel." So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen. I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened: A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat.. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?" The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go and tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!" It's not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell's wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive. "Tell me whom you love," Houssaye wrote, "And I will tell you who you are." Send this to 3 people.... You will have good luck for an entire day. Send this to 8 people .... You will have good luck for all of next week. Send this 11 or more people......You will know your true love and be happy for a long, long time. Send this to 20 or more people ...... You and your true love are going to be happily married for ever after. Send this to nobody...... You will have bad luck for at least 5 years. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 20:05:18 EST From: JENGFANNEH@aol.com To: Gambia-L@U.washington.edu Subject: Poor choice of words Message-ID: <4b52eb02.34e0f950@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit I will have to admit that the Baboucarr Gaye's ordeal affected me to utilise poor choice of words, and reading from your respond it has offended you presonally and unfortunately that was not the intent. I have gone back and re-read your statement, and to some extent might have jump the guns, but I will have to say your last statement is an implication of an opinion. But all the same, I never intended it to be personal, and talking about Mr.Fall good old days in Kaur brought some good feeling, and I hope that was the intention.(laugh).... Mose ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 20:21:23 -0500 (EST) From: "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: GRA, Univ. of Washington, Seattle (fwd) Message-ID: <199802110121.UAA20351@hemlock.ffr.mtu.edu> Content-Type: text Forwarded message: > From owner-forgrad-l-outgoing@mtu.edu Tue Feb 10 16:24:45 1998 > X-Received: MTU Resend v1.3 for forgrad-l > Message-Id: <199802102124.QAA17849@hemlock.ffr.mtu.edu> > X-Sender: ajlondo@141.219.149.237 > X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 1.5.2 > Mime-Version: 1.0 > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 16:24:40 -0500 > To: forgrad-l@mtu.edu > From: "Andrew J. Londo" <ajlondo@mtu.edu> > Subject: GRA, Univ. of Washington, Seattle > Cc: forestry-l@mtu.edu > Precedence: list > > > >Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 12:30:17 -0700 > >Reply-To: robh@u.washington.edu > >Sender: FORSOILS-owner@u.washington.edu > >From: Rob Harrison <robh@u.washington.edu> > >To: "Forest Soils" <forsoils@u.washington.edu> > >Subject: GRA, Univ. of Washington, Seattle > >X-To: forsoils <forsoils@u.washington.edu> > >X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN > > > >Greetings list members, > > > >A Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) is available to a qualified > >student interested in pursuing a master's or doctoral degree in > >Quantitative Resources Management within the College of Forest Resources > >at the University of Washington. The successful candidate will perform > >research on early growth and development in young, managed stands of > >Douglas-fir, concentrating on stand dynamics, growth and yield > >relationships, and population structure relationships. Opportunities > >for > >research on other biometrical topics are also available. A strong > >quantitative background is desired. To be considered for this GRA, > >students must be admitted (or must be in process of applying) to the > >University of Washington's Graduate School. For further information > >about > >stipend amounts (including tuition waivers) and duration of research > >assistantship, contact Dr. Eric Turnblom through one of the means > >provided > >below. > > > >Thanks for your consideration! > > > >Eric C. Turnblom, Asst. Prof.---------------------------------------- > >University of Washington ect@u.washington.edu > >College of Forest Resources > >232 Bloedel Hall FAX (206) 685-3091 > >BOX 352100 > >Seattle, WA 98195-2100 VOICE (206) 543-2762 > >===================================================================== > > > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 22:52:03 EST From: MJagana@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: The Embassy & Other matters Message-ID: <688649ea.34e12066@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 98-02-08 18:54:30 EST, you write: << Some of you may remembered that before 1994 Gambians did not need visas to visit the United Kingdom as long as one is staying for less than 90 days and even when visas were required, Dear Tombong, This 90 days policy was under the Commonwealth Nations, which I believe The Gambia is part of. However during the Prime Minsiter Maraget Thacher, some of the commonwealths policy agreements where changed. The UK use this policy agreement to close the loop hole on Gambians. However other commonwealth conutries are still given the 90 days privilage. Jagana ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 03:15:05 -0000 From: "archibald.graham@commit.gm" <gambia-l@commit.gm> To: "GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List" <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Wanted urgently: Starker Program Message-ID: <B0000051882@south.commit.gm> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sent by "Archibald H. R. Graham" <archibald.graham@commit.gm> via Commit Does anyone on the list uses Starker program? I would be grateful to get in contact with anyone who is currently or had been previously using Starker (disk compression) Program. A lead to someone who has got or uses it would also be greatly appreciated. I had a crash on a computer with a hard disk originally compressed using Starker without a backup. I have scouting around for about 2 weeks now for this program but to no avail so any assistance would be really appreciated. Looking forward to any assistance. Regards to all, Archi e-mail address: archibald.graham@commit.gm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 23:03:19 EST From: MJagana@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: The Embassy & Other matters Message-ID: <7539e90d.34e1230b@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 98-02-09 03:40:06 EST, you write: << One of the main reasons why I was identified to head this important > institution was the make it more of a national radio and television and make > it accessibly to all Gambians and to serve all political views. From my own > judgement (I could be wrong) we are now doing that. We are reporting the views > of the opposition and other views. We covered PDOIS' congress and we also > covered a UDP workshop on Youths. Since I came to GRTS, these were the only > two times that a request for coverage was made by the opposition. >> Dear Tombong. Just as suggestion " I hope you are open for Suggestion". As head of the GRTS why not offer to each political an OPINION TIME. This could be about five minutes after the news a member of any political party will be given FIVE MINUTES to view their opinion with no SENSOR on a particular event that happened over the week or so. Just a Suggestion. Jagana ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 23:37:43 -0500 From: M W Payne <awo@mindspring.com> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Wanted urgently: Starker Program Message-ID: <34E12B16.A35B5D3B@mindspring.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mr. Graham, I have not used the program (I believe you mean Stacker) for quite some time, because it tended to precipitate some problems. Among other things, Stacking tends to slow down the access time, which is amplified on larger drives. I would have to look for the documentation to address your problem (if I can find it.) MWP archibald.graham@commit.gm wrote: > Sent by "Archibald H. R. Graham" <archibald.graham@commit.gm> > via Commit > > Does anyone on the list uses Starker program? > > I would be grateful to get in contact with anyone who is currently or had > been > previously using Starker (disk compression) Program. > > A lead to someone who has got or uses it would also be greatly appreciated. > > I had a crash on a computer with a hard disk originally compressed using > Starker without a backup. > > I have scouting around for about 2 weeks now for this program but > to no avail so any assistance would be really appreciated. > > Looking forward to any assistance. > > Regards to all, > Archi > > e-mail address: > archibald.graham@commit.gm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 00:30:30 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Artillery Shells Pound Sierra Leone Message-ID: <9802110530.AA46236@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit They called it "one of the bloodiest days yet". Brothers and sisters...there is really a fierce battle going on out there, according to this report. Regards, Moe S. Jallow ************************************************************************ Artillery Shells Pound Sierra Leone By Clarence Roy-Macaulay Associated Press Writer Tuesday, February 10, 1998; 4:45 p.m. EST FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) -- A West African intervention force advanced on Sierra Leone's capital Tuesday while artillery shells pounded the seaside city, killing civilians and scattering frightened residents. Although no casualty figures were available, it was clearly one of the bloodiest days yet in the Nigerian-led force's renewed campaign to oust a coup-installed military regime and restore Sierra Leone's elected government. Residents running for shelter said at least a dozen civilians were killed in shelling. It was unclear who was firing, but witnesses said it appeared the intervention force was shelling junta forces. In New York, the U.N. Security Council called for an immediate end to the fighting. Source: The Associated Press ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 00:52:38 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: The first ugly moment of the Olympics Message-ID: <9802110552.AA42060@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit They say, "you reap what you sow". I wonder how true that is. Seems to happen almost always. Maybe, it is always true then (though not statistically proven by me). Regards, Moe S. Jallow ****************************************************************** Canadian tests positive for marijuana NAGANO, Japan - Canadian gold medallist Ross Rebagliati of Whistler, B.C., has tested positive for marijuana use, the International Olympic Committee said tonight. Richard Pound, IOC vice-president and a Montreal native, said the snowboarder had failed both parts of the drug tests medallists go through at the Olympic Games. The Canadian Olympic Association says it plans to mount an appeal to an independent court of arbitration. That body would have to make a ruling within 24 hours of the appeal. A positive drug test, if it stands, would result in the stripping of the gold medal for the Canadian. Source: Unknown ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 16:13:25 +0330 From: "malang maane" <langjr@worldnet.att.net> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: CITIZEN FM CLOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT Message-ID: <19980211060107.AAA27036@kansala.avana.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I quite agree with Ousman Gajigo on this issue..I am about 99% sure that the main reaon this station was shut down is bcos of the information they gave out. The NIA; whatever it stands for I believe is denying the people the freedom to express themselves. Without criticism, I don't see how anybody can rectify their mistakes. The people must be allowed to say what they have and feel like saying. Every tom dick and harry works for NIA..what is this about. Please help those who are trying to do something for the nation. Lang Jr. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 16:29:45 +0330 From: "malang maane" <langjr@worldnet.att.net> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Unwarranted Mail Message-ID: <19980211061337.AAA5305@kansala.avana.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi guys, I have a couple of suggestions. I would like to ask you guys to please direct individual mails to whoever they are supposed to go to instead of sending it to the whole list.Please use the right means of subscribing people to the list..I would kindly ask the list administrators to send out a message explaining the procedure. I believe this will eliminate a lot of unwarranted messages. Your cooperation in this matter is highly appreciated. Lang Jr. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 01:58:52 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Sierra Leone and west Africa Message-ID: <9802110658.AA31888@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Gambia-Lers, Please allow me to say that if this message sounds provocative and unmanneredly, kindly excuse my ignorance, for that is not an intention on my part. I forwarded two articles about the situation in Sierra Leone with the hope that we can engage in dialogue about the state of Sierra Leone (as our neighbours, brothers and sisters) and the west african region. To surprise, however, no one seems to talk about it. Even though I will assume that most of you have acccess to information about the war, I still feel that we need to exchange our different views on this issue, as we are, either directly or indirectly, connected to Sierra Leone since it is also in West africa. I am surprised that we are not talking about the Sierra Leone war. I am surprised too that we are very much concerned and has talked about the showdown between the US and Iraq, but not about the killings and associated suffering that is going in our own back yards. I am also surprised that we have not addressed the issue of the fact that a turmoil (instability) in Sierra Leone is a problem for the whole of West Africa. If you think that the discussing the "stability of west africa" is worth your time, then let me say to you "thank you". When I read about what's happening in/to Sierra Leone, I always fear that the consequences of this war will have a lasting and devastating influence on the stability of West Africa. Some rumour I heard is that Charles Taylor of Liberia is siding with the Junta in Sierra Leone, and has reportedly sent some troops to aid the falling Junta forces. Now even if the above is untrue, and Kabba gets reinstated as president, what feelings will he (Kabba) harbour towards (for) his neighbour, Liberia and Charles Taylor? I see this as a state of instability in that region of Sierra Leone, Liberia (and possibly Guinea). We are talking about three major components of West Africa here. Even if the Nigerian (and other west african) forces, (ECOMOG) decide to stay, will they be very effective, and how long will forces remain in effect? Finally, who will be paying for the existence of the ECOMOG forces, and how long will they maintain the peace? I pray that it doesn't get too outrageous a condition of degredation. Even if my prayers were answered, when will Sierra Leone completely recover from the evils of destruction? And, at what cost? So please, let's put up a debate on this Sierra Leonean crisis. Remember, eventhough it is so far way from Gambia, Sierra Leone is still part of West Africa. Anything that happens there will impact the Gambia in a negative fashion. Thank you for your time. Regards, Moe S. Jallow ======================================================================= mjallow@sct.edu mjallow@hayes.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 10:24:33 -0000 From: "foroyaa@commit.gm" <gambia-l@commit.gm> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: ON THE ARREST OF BABOUCARR GAYE AND EBRIMA SILLAH OF CITIZEN FM Message-ID: <B0000052144@south.commit.gm> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sent by "Foroyaa" <foroyaa@commit.gm> via Commit The President of the Republic, State House, Marina Parade, BANJUL 9 February, 1998. THE WISE ACT ACCORDING TO THE DICTATES OF THE SECOND THOUGHT Re: On The Closure Of Citizen FM And The Arrest Of Baboucarr Gaye And Ebrima Sillah There are three approaches to a problem. One is to shy away and grumble in safe corners. The other is to ignore it as if it does not exist, and the third is to face it and take part in solving it. The latter is the objective of this letter. You would agree with us that it is usually an act of great folly to act in accordance with the dictates of the first flash in the mind. First impression usually speaks the language of the heart. The wise listen to the language of the second thought and act according to its dictates. We hope these words would prove instructive. Mr President, this letter should have been addressed to the Secretary of State for Works, Communication and Information. However, when the crisis broke out on Thursday, 5 February, 1998 we tried to get in touch with the Secretary of State and discovered that he has travelled. We tried to get in touch with the Secretary General, Office of the President, to find out who was acting in the place of the Secretary of State, but he was at a meeting. We, therefore, contacted other authorities to ring the alarm bell which is an important crisis or tension prevention and management strategy in a country where leaders respect and are open to public opinion. Since the Secretary of State has not been at his desk up to the time of drafting this letter, it was conceived appropriate to address this letter to you so that it may be an ingredient for strategic thinking on how to handle a simple matter which can become complex by wrong handling. Mr President, all those who exercise direction and control over the affairs of the state have sworn and have been heard swearing to do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. This accords with the principle of impartial justice. It affirms that a person who is to decide the faith of others must fight his or her own human frailties which may tend to push him or her to act because of fear, favouritism, affection or ill-will. A leader of people must rely on second thought and the principle of impartial judgment to decide the faith of those placed under their jurisdiction. A leader who cannot abide by the fairness principle cannot possibly ensure the proper administration of a state on the basis of justice. Before leaping into the heart of what is of major concern not only to us but to many of our compatriots here and abroad, as you may have gathered from the e-mail, if you are really monitoring public opinion, it is necessary to make certain things abundantly clear. We do not see this matter as a partisan one. We are not out to appear as the defender of Citizen FM or score political points. We are sure that all of us have now realised that Citizen FM has become a very independent media establishment. The interview with Mr Ousainou Darboe when he came from his foreign tour; the interview with Mr Hamat Bah after his provincial tour, and the interview with Halifa Sallah after a letter was addressed to Secretary of State Dominic Mendy confirm that no political party can use the station as a propaganda tool. Those who sit on the hot stool and questioned by the Citizen FM staff know that one has to have something to say to come out without one's integrity being questioned. We do not expect that this letter will make Citizen FM less vigorous in the scrutinization of whatever we say in the future. In fact, the Gambian media so overwhelmed the US Ambassador to the UN, during his press conference, that he could not avoid saying "you have a free press". In deed! In deed! a free press is one which asserts its objectivity in searching for the truth in spite of whether it is tolerated by the power that be or not. All democratic governments learn to ensure decency in journalism by exercising the right to reply. Of course, just as one does not have a perfect legislature, judiciary and executive, one should not expect to have a perfect media. All professionals, irrespective of their works of life, may behave responsibly or irresponsibly. What is, therefore, important is for the aggrieved to have the right to redress via the right to reply or through court action according to the dictates of laws which are reasonably justifiable in a democratic society. We ourselves have utilised this right to reply very recently when allegations were made by a politician through the Daily Observer and was broadcast over Citizen FM. This right to reply was also exercised by the Secretary of State for Interior in connection with allegations of torture of the UDP Candidate for Kombo South. We are sure that each political party has had something said by one media or the other that it does not agree with, but then there must be tolerance. As far as we are concerned, the independent media and the executive are like the teeth and the tongue. If both act in the public interest they will operate independently but in harmony to enhance development. If there are shortcomings, there will be tensions without one being able to get rid of the other. Tolerance is the key. In short, there was a day, during the transition period, when all newspaper editors were taken to court and no private owned newspaper found itself in the streets. How did it appear to you? Allow us to paint the picture this way. Suppose all the pens in a country were broken; all the books torn; all the computers crushed; all the radio stations closed; all the ears plugged; all the eyes closed; all the mouths sealed, except for occasional right to eat food to survive, what would be the state of affair? We would all live in a world of silence and emptiness in misery. No country can have integrity where people do not have the right to express their views freely and be restrained so as to do so responsibly by just laws administered by independent and impartial courts. Pardon us for the long preamble which is designed to draw valuable lessons just to help the mind and heart to be more fertile to envelope what is to follow. Mr President, the delivery of impartial justice may be fettered by the commission or omission of an act. This is why those who act on behalf of the state should have their actions grounded on what is legally provided. You would agree with us that the media should not act as a prosecutor and judge, and the executive also should not act as a prosecutor and judge. Hence, when there is reason to believe that any media practitioner has violated the law, he or she should be taken to a police station and told the offence he or she is suspected to have committed, charged and then taken before a court for hearing. This is a simple process which does not require any alarm. What we cannot comprehend is why the arrest of baboucarr gaye was done by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and not the police and why he was detained at the NIA headquarters in ex-communicado, instead of being taken to police headquarters. It is important for you to know that his wife was going through emotional strain when we spoke to her after she tried to take lunch to his husband on Thursday 5 February, 1998 without being able to trace him. No one could know the place of detention of Mr Gaye and Ebrima Sillah at that time as if they were security threats. This, Mr President, leads to psychological torture for a wife, children and loved ones. It was not until Friday, 6 February, 1998 that the wife could see her husband when they escorted him to Citizen FM to pick up some documents. On that same day, armed paramilitary troops were brought to take over the radio station. The workers were sent away and the station occupied as if the country was in a state of war. Mr President, we were monitoring Citizen FM on Friday. All of a sudden the Focus on Africa programme went to an abrupt halt. After sometime, strange programmes in a different language could be received, then a BBC programme came on again. Bear in mind that the station does not only broadcast news; it broadcasts social and religious programmes on Fridays. You may wish to imagine the number of people who cannot tune and get BBC and who rely on Citizen FM for international news. We tried to call the station, but the phone kept ringing. No one took it. Can you imagine the psychological state one is put in to have a phone ringing without any answer. Mr Sam Sarr went to the station and found it occupied. No one was allowed in. The people in the neighbourhood were peeping to know what was happening. Sam Sarr tried to talk to some of them, but they would not entertain discussion about what they saw. Mr President, many people tried to bail Baboucarr Gaye and Ebrima Sillah on Saturday. Ebrima Sillah was granted bail, but Baboucarr, for some strange reasons, continued to be in detention until Monday morning, 9 February, 1998, exceeding the seventy-two hours limit established by the Constitution. We hope, Mr President, that you will have reporters who will go about to find out what the public opinion is on the closure of Citizen FM. We can assure you that it has not put your government in a favourable light. Clearly, what your government hopes to achieve by the measures used does not permit easy comprehension. If the action was meant to combat what it deems to be irresponsible journalism, one must say that the measures can scarcely be judged prudent. The disadvantages of the action far outweigh the advantages, if there are any. The reason of this is simple. Gambians are becoming a very constitutional people. Section 19 of the constitution states categorically that: "(1) Every person shall have the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his or her liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedures as are established by law. "(2) Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any case within three hours, in a language that he or she understands, of the reasons for his or her arrest or detention and of his or her right to consult a legal practitioner. "(3) Any person who is arrested or detained - "(a) for the purpose of bringing him or her before a court in execution of the order of a court; or "(b) upon reasonable suspicion of his or her having committed, or being about to commit, a criminal offence under the law of The Gambia, "and who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a court and, in any event, within seventy-two hours. "(4) Where any person is brought before a court in execution of the order of a court in any proceedings or upon suspicion of his or her having committed or being about to commit an offence, he or she shall not thereafter be further held in custody in connection with those proceedings or that offence save upon the order of a court. "(5) If any person arrested or detained as mentioned in subsection (3) (b) is not tried within a reasonable time, then without prejudice to any further proceedings which may be brought against him or her, he or she shall be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions, including, in particular, such conditions as are reasonably necessary to ensure that he or she appears at a later date for trial or proceedings preliminary to trial. "(6) Any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained by any other person shall be entitled to compensation from that other person or from any other person or authority on whose behalf that other person was acting." The mind of the constitution is clear. No one can be held in ex-communicado for more than three hours. Within three hours after one's arrest one's legal counsel should be able to know where one is detained. Furthermore, one cannot be detained for more than seventy-two hours without being taken before a court. Mr President, any attempt to utilise psychological warfare to counter what may be deemed to be irresponsible journalism is counter productive. A security officer cannot use torture without violating the law. One cannot use long detention without violating the law. Hence, any attempt to utilise strong arm measures simply leads a government to forfeit a lawful image. Such measures are therefore practically, legally and morally indefensible. It is our view that the government should adopt it as a policy to exercise the right to reply to counter anything it deems incorrect in newspapers or as broadcast by the electronic media and pursue the due process of law where it believes the laws have been violated. This is the limit of its powers. A step beyond this bound is to move into abuse of authority and illegality. Suffice it to say, a government which goes beyond the law to ensure compliance with the law cannot be said to have moral authority to safeguard the law. Such a government puts the viability of its integrity into question. It is hoped that your mind, as President, shall be the depository of the ideas regarding governance that are entrenched in the constitution and thus enable your government to enforce and defend the law within the law and thus avert miscarriage of justice. This is what is demanded by the situation. We hope all of us will be able to learn from the development and help Gambia to have a responsible government and a responsible media and thus make us an enlightened people living in liberty and dignity rather than dafts living under tyranny. While anticipating that you will accord this concerns your consideration, we remain, Yours, ........................................... Halifa Sallah For: The Editorial Board. cc: Secretary of State for Works, Communication and Information, Attorney General, Chief Justice, The Media. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 07:39:46 -0800 From: "Morro krubally" <jamba@cyberramp.net> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Sierra Leone and west Africa Message-ID: <199802111400.IAA19608@mailhost.cyberramp.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Moses: I can only suspect the lack of response or the seeming lack of interest in the Sierra Leone issue, is not out of indifference to their plight, but perhaps one of lack of information. In contrast to Iraq, the Sierra Leone issue has been only scantly reported by the U.S. media. To find information about issues unrelated to the Western hemisphere, one, more often than not, needs to have a vested interest in order to find news on regions outside. CNN is notably,and reputably the source we have all come to rely on for international news. But even CNN report on the said issue has been relatively scanty. I am not sure if the European media has had what one might deem a significant coverage either. I might be incline to feel perhaps that the Sierra Leone and regional issues might have received a better coverage had there not been a midia frenzy about the Manaca luwinsky fiasco. To a large extend, the Iraq/ US standoff has casted an indomitable cloud over the equally important global issues. So Moses the story would have been different, had the media kept the people abreast of the development in that part of the globe. And finally, I join in prayers that the problem will not escalate into an other catastrophic civil war. Good day. Morro Krubally ---------- > From: Modou Jallow <mjallow@st6000.sct.edu> > To: GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> > Subject: Sierra Leone and west Africa > Date: Tuesday, February 10, 1998 10:58 PM > > Gambia-Lers, > > Please allow me to say that if this message sounds provocative and > unmanneredly, kindly excuse my ignorance, for that is not an intention on > my part. > > I forwarded two articles about the situation in Sierra Leone with the hope > that we can engage in dialogue about the state of Sierra Leone (as our > neighbours, brothers and sisters) and the west african region. To > surprise, however, no one seems to talk about it. Even though I will > assume that most of you have acccess to information about the war, I still > feel that we need to exchange our different views on this issue, as we > are, either directly or indirectly, connected to Sierra Leone since it is > also in West africa. > > I am surprised that we are not talking about the Sierra Leone war. I am > surprised too that we are very much concerned and has talked about the > showdown between the US and Iraq, but not about the killings and > associated suffering that is going in our own back yards. I am also > surprised that we have not addressed the issue of the fact that a turmoil > (instability) in Sierra Leone is a problem for the whole of West Africa. > > If you think that the discussing the "stability of west africa" is worth > your time, then let me say to you "thank you". When I read about what's > happening in/to Sierra Leone, I always fear that the consequences of this > war will have a lasting and devastating influence on the stability of West > Africa. Some rumour I heard is that Charles Taylor of Liberia is siding > with the Junta in Sierra Leone, and has reportedly sent some troops to aid > the falling Junta forces. Now even if the above is untrue, and Kabba gets > reinstated as president, what feelings will he (Kabba) harbour towards > (for) his neighbour, Liberia and Charles Taylor? > > I see this as a state of instability in that region of Sierra Leone, > Liberia (and possibly Guinea). We are talking about three major components > of West Africa here. Even if the Nigerian (and other west african) forces, > (ECOMOG) decide to stay, will they be very effective, and how long will > forces remain in effect? Finally, who will be paying for the existence of > the ECOMOG forces, and how long will they maintain the peace? I pray that > it doesn't get too outrageous a condition of degredation. Even if my > prayers were answered, when will Sierra Leone completely recover from the > evils of destruction? And, at what cost? > > So please, let's put up a debate on this Sierra Leonean crisis. Remember, > eventhough it is so far way from Gambia, Sierra Leone is still part of > West Africa. Anything that happens there will impact the Gambia in a > negative fashion. > > Thank you for your time. > > Regards, > Moe S. Jallow > > ======================================================================= > mjallow@sct.edu mjallow@hayes.com > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 08:01:32 -0800 From: "Morro krubally" <jamba@cyberramp.net> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Unwarranted Mail Message-ID: <199802111400.IAA19618@mailhost.cyberramp.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lang: Your suggestion of directing personal Email to the intended party cannot be said any better. this suggestion is long overdue. Some of the Email I've come across are abundantly unimportant to the Bantaba; they are personal and should have been directed to the intended recipient. Some of the mails are sent in duplicates and even in multiples of the same message. By not staying inacordance with the intended purpose of this forum, we are taking away from its importance. Often It takes me considerable length of time to combat the barrage of email to delete those I find in duplicates and personal. this could lead to a possible negative impact on the Bantaba, hence reduction of listed membership. I hope the list managers will take note. Good day, Morro Krubally ---------- > From: malang maane <langjr@worldnet.att.net> > To: GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> > Subject: Unwarranted Mail > Date: Tuesday, February 10, 1998 4:59 AM > > Hi guys, > I have a couple of suggestions. I would like to ask you guys to please > direct individual mails to whoever they are supposed to go to instead of > sending it to the whole list.Please use the right means of subscribing > people to the list..I would kindly ask the list administrators to send out > a message explaining the procedure. I believe this will eliminate a lot of > unwarranted messages. > Your cooperation in this matter is highly appreciated. > Lang Jr. > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 17:24:04 +0100 From: "Housainou Taal" <Housainou.Taal@wfp.org> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Sierra Leone and a Poem about Africa Message-ID: <C12565A8.005406B3.00@wfp.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Gambia-L and Moe, Your info. on Sierra Leone is well appreciated and silence does not mean lack of concern. In fact I was very keen to contribute to the debate on the Gambian economy but time! time! time! I will not give up though and will surely respond. I think, the debate on the Gambian economy could be looked at from both the global context and from the need to deepen it much further in the Gambian context. Anyway, let's get back to S/Leone. I think the tragedy there is very sad and reflects the current dilema in African politics. Should Kabah be back and at what cost? How does it relate to other countries such as Congo where Ngessou also seized power recently. We can understand the Zaire situation when Kabila also marched to Kinshasha. All these developments tend to set a precedence. The main question is, when will military coups end in Africa? In Latin America of the 1960s, for example, a coup was announced often so frequently but one rarely hears of coups in that region nowadays. Some Latin American and Asian countries may have survived the Coup disease? although some of those countries still have problems of geniune democratization. What are the answers then? I think the answers must come from Africans ourselves especially at the regional and at the levels of OAU etc. OAU must be adequately equipped to deal with such issues but there is always the dilemma of the right to intervene issue. Most coups centre around corruption although in the S/Leone case, Kabah was hardly in power before he was overthrowened. Ofcourse, in Sierra Leone, we also know there are still substantial diamond deposits which inevitably attracts a lot of vested interests. May be some day a convention could be organised in Africa on corruption and military coups where our leaders would make declarations and say no to both corruption and future coups. The people must them ensure that they keep their word. The UN could assist but ofcourse, we all know the limits of the UN particulary in light of the New International Economic Order and the continous decline in UN resources for development issues. It is much too easy these days for UN organisations to get resources for "?mergencies" (e,g. assisting refugees, drought victims etc) but development assistance is almost becoming a taboo. Yet ironically, development is what should bring about an assault on those underlying problems that cause poverty and affect our livelihood. I wish to go on but I must quit now, let me leave you with a poem I wrote as a frustrated African during the Rwandan crises: IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST Where am I in this dark early morning? I feel I am somewhere very dark, cold and HOT. Yes, cold, hot, but so much else. I can't illuminate this dark room but I can feel the energy, the potential, the magic, the mischief, the canine of the dogs, and everything. Perhaps I am in the belly of the beast, perhaps I am in Africa. But what beast?, What Africa? Can I smell anything? I am blind yet I can feel the outcry of the destitute, the humiliated, the defeated and even the dead in their shallow graves. But what about the innocent? What about women and children? What about the truth, or is it all virtues and vanity? Perhaps I am in the belly of the beast. Perhaps I am in Africa. I know I am blind but I smell the outcry of the innocent, the silent and explicit of violence of former friends and neighbours for the sake of land and power. The politicians are laughing, some are shocked at the horror, terror and error of human massacre and torture. But what am I? I know I am blind but is that all? Perhaps I am in the belly of the beast. Perhaps I am in Africa. Africa, where civil strife is coating the belly of the beast. Is it opportunism that yields torture, anger, and death? Or is it the way we simply are? I am blind but I feel human love even out of the naked, the battered housewife, the limbless war veteran, and even the butcher. May be we are something but shame punishes our emotions and conscience. The excuse that other creatures are feeding the belly is getting thinner. Love, dignity and respect for all is the only cure for my blindness. By Housainou Taal Khartoum, 19 July 1994 Poem written as tribute to the massacred victims in Africa, especially the victims of ethnic fighting in Rwanda. Regards, Housainou. mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) on 11-02-98 07:58:52 Please respond to gambia-l@u.washington.edu To: "GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List" <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> cc: (bcc: Housainou Taal/OD/WFP) Subject: Sierra Leone and west Africa Gambia-Lers, Please allow me to say that if this message sounds provocative and unmanneredly, kindly excuse my ignorance, for that is not an intention on my part. I forwarded two articles about the situation in Sierra Leone with the hope that we can engage in dialogue about the state of Sierra Leone (as our neighbours, brothers and sisters) and the west african region. To surprise, however, no one seems to talk about it. Even though I will assume that most of you have acccess to information about the war, I still feel that we need to exchange our different views on this issue, as we are, either directly or indirectly, connected to Sierra Leone since it is also in West africa. I am surprised that we are not talking about the Sierra Leone war. I am surprised too that we are very much concerned and has talked about the showdown between the US and Iraq, but not about the killings and associated suffering that is going in our own back yards. I am also surprised that we have not addressed the issue of the fact that a turmoil (instability) in Sierra Leone is a problem for the whole of West Africa. If you think that the discussing the "stability of west africa" is worth your time, then let me say to you "thank you". When I read about what's happening in/to Sierra Leone, I always fear that the consequences of this war will have a lasting and devastating influence on the stability of West Africa. Some rumour I heard is that Charles Taylor of Liberia is siding with the Junta in Sierra Leone, and has reportedly sent some troops to aid the falling Junta forces. Now even if the above is untrue, and Kabba gets reinstated as president, what feelings will he (Kabba) harbour towards (for) his neighbour, Liberia and Charles Taylor? I see this as a state of instability in that region of Sierra Leone, Liberia (and possibly Guinea). We are talking about three major components of West Africa here. Even if the Nigerian (and other west african) forces, (ECOMOG) decide to stay, will they be very effective, and how long will forces remain in effect? Finally, who will be paying for the existence of the ECOMOG forces, and how long will they maintain the peace? I pray that it doesn't get too outrageous a condition of degredation. Even if my prayers were answered, when will Sierra Leone completely recover from the evils of destruction? And, at what cost? So please, let's put up a debate on this Sierra Leonean crisis. Remember, eventhough it is so far way from Gambia, Sierra Leone is still part of West Africa. Anything that happens there will impact the Gambia in a negative fashion. Thank you for your time. Regards, Moe S. Jallow ======================================================================= mjallow@sct.edu mjallow@hayes.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 11:53:26 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Wanted urgently: Starker Program Message-ID: <9802111653.AA56410@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit > Sent by "Archibald H. R. Graham" <archibald.graham@commit.gm> > via Commit > > > Does anyone on the list uses Starker program? Do you mean STACKER instead Starker? If so, let me know. Regards, Moe S. Jallow ==================================================================== mjallow@sct.edu mjallow@hayes.com ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 10:31:49 -0800 (PST) From: Sarian Loum <Sarian.Loum@Corp.Sun.COM> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Unwarranted Mail Message-ID: <libSDtMail.9802111031.3205.sarian@groucho> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-MD5: OB9wnCglL0NoyMH99n1YPA== Gambia-L, This issue of personal mails being directed to the entire list has been addressed over and over again. Please send private mails to the individuals intended for and not to the entire list. If one needs to find out private mail accounts please direct your request to any of the list managers and we'll be more than happy to be of service. Your cooperation in this matter is and will be greatly appreciated. Here are the list owners/managers addresses that you can send your requests to: List Owners Abdou Touray at137@columbia.edu Katim S. Touray dekat@itis.com Tony Loum sambabalangarr@classic.msn.com List Managers Amadou Janneh amadou@mail.lig.bellsouth.net latjor ndow latjor@hotmail.com Momodou Camara momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk Sarian Loum sarian.loum@corp.sun.com kind regards, sarian > Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 16:29:45 +0330 > From: "malang maane" <langjr@worldnet.att.net> > To: "GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List" <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> > Subject: Unwarranted Mail > MIME-Version: 1.0 > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > X-To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> > X-MSMail-Priority: Normal > X-Priority: 3 > X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN > > Hi guys, > I have a couple of suggestions. I would like to ask you guys to please > direct individual mails to whoever they are supposed to go to instead of > sending it to the whole list.Please use the right means of subscribing > people to the list..I would kindly ask the list administrators to send out > a message explaining the procedure. I believe this will eliminate a lot of > unwarranted messages. > Your cooperation in this matter is highly appreciated. > Lang Jr. > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 19:48:27 +2000 From: mmjeng@image.dk To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Sierra Leone and west Africa Message-ID: <199802111851.TAA26578@mail.image.dk> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Gambia-Lers, It is sad that the Nigerian-Led ECOMOG pound Freetown with artillery shells and nobody knows the exact number of death toll. It must be very serious. There was a report that about 50 people trying to escape to neighboring Guinea drowned when their boat capsized Does it mean that if there is any coup again in West Africa Nigeria will do the same. Where is the OAU and what are they doing. Where is the African Ladies Mission On Peace And Humanitarian Issues. I am sure they have something to tell their husbands. How does President Kabbah feel about the pounding of his country and people, the thoundands of civilians fleeing, the unknown death toll and those trap in the city. All for him one person to be back to rule. Is Abacha democratic enough to led ECOMAG to restore democracy in Sierre Leone. Lets pray for our people in Sierre Leone and may God rescue them immediately. Greetings Matarr M. Jeng P/S Housainou, Your poem is just but great. Keep it up. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 14:28:04 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Sierra Leone and a Poem about Africa Message-ID: <9802111928.AA54416@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Housainou Taal, you wrote: > > Gambia-L and Moe, > > Your info. on Sierra Leone is well appreciated and silence does not mean > lack of concern. > > [...] > > Some Latin American and Asian countries may > have survived the Coup disease? although some of those countries still have > problems of geniune democratization. Thank you very much for your response. You brought up a very good point about the eradication of coups in Latin America. Perhaps, what Africans need to do is to study and understand the history behind such an accomplishment by Latin American countries. Without a solution to end repetitive coups on our continent, Africa and Africans may as well be doomed forever. Let's continue to keep hope alive. > > IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST > > Where am I in this dark early morning? I feel I am somewhere very dark, > cold and HOT. Yes, cold, hot, but so much else. I can't illuminate this > dark room but I can feel the energy, the potential, the magic, the > mischief, the canine of the dogs, and everything. Your poem was wonderfully done! It was a great read! Thank you for sharing it. Regards, Moe S. Jallow ====================================================================== mjallow@sct.edu mjallow@hayes.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 15:27:19 -0500 (EST) From: "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Cc: msjaiteh@mtu.edu (Malanding S. Jaiteh) Subject: Re: Sierra Leone and a Poem about Africa Message-ID: <199802112027.PAA27949@hemlock.ffr.mtu.edu> Content-Type: text Moe and others, Personally I believe that Africa will have a few more of Sierra Leone before we can call ourselves survivors of the Coup disease. I say this for one resaon that is dictators, corrupt leaders like the Mobutus and their adversaries, Warlord and Coup leaders all survive in societies with the majority uneducated, underfed, underemployed poor with a minority elites and no middleclass. Unfortunately the only way to lead such a weird group is to use the carrot and stick policy. The carrot for the poor and the stick for the few elites. sadly this does works well to bring changes, but does not serve to ensure longevity of regimes. To be free from the Coup disease we must pass through the long route of making people read and write to create more skeptics. The more skeptics the more difficult for a bunch of hooligans to hooligans to ransack our countries coffers in hte name of bringing what??? It is a catch 22 situation. You make people read and write you close all cheap entrants to the seat of power you leave them illiterate the doors for every Samba Lamin and Pateh remain open. > Housainou Taal, you wrote: > > > > Gambia-L and Moe, > > > > Your info. on Sierra Leone is well appreciated and silence does not mean > > lack of concern. > > > > [...] > > > > Some Latin American and Asian countries may > > have survived the Coup disease? although some of those countries still have > > problems of geniune democratization. > > Thank you very much for your response. You brought up a very good point > about the eradication of coups in Latin America. Perhaps, what Africans > need to do is to study and understand the history behind such an > accomplishment by Latin American countries. Without a solution to end > repetitive coups on our continent, Africa and Africans may as well be > doomed forever. Let's continue to keep hope alive. > > > > > IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST > > > > Where am I in this dark early morning? I feel I am somewhere very dark, > > cold and HOT. Yes, cold, hot, but so much else. I can't illuminate this > > dark room but I can feel the energy, the potential, the magic, the > > mischief, the canine of the dogs, and everything. > > Your poem was wonderfully done! It was a great read! > > Thank you for sharing it. > > Regards, > Moe S. Jallow > ====================================================================== > mjallow@sct.edu mjallow@hayes.com > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 21:21:00 (GMT) From: h.pflueger@gam-line.win.net (H Pflueger) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: RE:Neo-Nazi/"WhitePower" Message-ID: <39400969@gam-line.win.net> Greetings: I think you might be interested in the following forwarded message: ------------------------------------ >Please give this >message your attention. IMPORTANT!!!!! Ultra rightwing (Nazi) groups >once again are trying to establish a Usenet discussiongroup on >internet under the name "white power". It is of great *importance* >that these groups are not allowed any more helpin organizing their >mission of hatred. However *YOU* Take part in the job of stopping >this discussion/ newsgroup from being established. Before such a >group can establish itself on the Usenet, there will have to be an >electronic poll, and then it will be important with as many no-votes >as possible. Anyone with an email address can take part in the ballot >VOTE ONLY ONCE - OTHERWISE THE VOTE WILL BE DECLARED NON_VIABLE!!! > >The discussiongroup's name is: rec.music.white-power >THIS IS WHAT YOU MUST DO: > >1. Send this message to everyone you know whom has an email address, >so that they can also vote. > >2. Send an email to the following address: >music-vote@sub-rosa.com >Write nothing under "subject", but send the following message: > >I vote NO on rec.music.white-power > >BECAUSE THE VOTES ARE COUNTED AUTOMATICALLY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT >YOU FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY: SO USE ONLY THE ABOVE EMAIL >ADDRESS AND NOTE YOUR VOTE ONLY IN THE MESSAGE FIELD ITSELF. NOTHING >ELSE, NOT EVEN YOUR NAME! > >AND: REMEMBER TO SEND THIS MESSAGE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!! -- > ( O O) >-ooO--(_)--Ooo---------------------------- >Dieter Kirchner >dieter@roko.goe.net > > > > >-----------This message was brought to you by-------------- >Informationszentrum fuer Rassismusforschung / D.I.R. e.V. >Postfach 1221, 35002 Marburg, http://www.uni-marburg.de/dir >Listserver: dir-ml-request@lists.uni-marburg.de (subscribe) > Tel:06421-37722 FAX 06421-37794 > > * PowerEdit 2.5 I believe in The Divine Right of SysOps. [/quote]   Check here to include your profile signature.