Momodou
Denmark
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Posted - 18 Jun 2021 : 17:33:40
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GAMBIA-L Digest 20
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) New Constituency boundries by momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) 2) Re: constitution by binta@iuj.ac.jp 3) Re: constitution by L Konteh <L.Konteh-95@student.lut.ac.uk> 4) LIBERIA/REFUGEES by "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> 5) Re: My View by Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us> 6) Re: constitution by ABDOU <at137@columbia.edu> 7) Re: constitution by "A. Loum" <tloum@u.washington.edu> 8) Re: constitution by Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us> 9) Re: constitution by Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us> 10) Fwd: West Africa-Economy by momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) 11) Fwd: The murder of Abiola's wife by momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) 12) Re: constitution by ABDOU <at137@columbia.edu> 13) Re: constitution by "YaYa Jallow" <yaya.jallow@qm.sprintcorp.com> 14) Re: constitution by L Konteh <L.Konteh-95@student.lut.ac.uk> 15) Re: constitution by "A. Loum" <tloum@u.washington.edu> 16) Re: Nigeria and Abiola's Wif by mostafa jersey marong <mbmarong@students.wisc.edu> 17) Re: constitution by mostafa jersey marong <mbmarong@students.wisc.edu> 18) pan-africanism.html by Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us> 19) Re: constitution by SANKUNG SAWO <101573.1703@CompuServe.COM> 20) Re: constitution by L Konteh <L.Konteh-95@student.lut.ac.uk> 21) 96F11055.html by Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us> 22) NIGERIA/PROTEST by "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> 23) NIGERIA / PROTEST by "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> 24) Fwd: by momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) 25) Study project by Oumar Ndongo <ondongo@benfranklin.hnet.uci.edu> 26) Re: constitution by Gabriel Ndow <gndow@auc.edu> 27) new members by Gabriel Ndow <gndow@auc.edu> 28) VOA NEWS by "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> 29) VOA NEWS by "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> 30) VOA NEWS by "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> 31) VOA NEWS by "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> 32) new member by Gabriel Ndow <gndow@auc.edu> 33) Fwd: Images of Africa by momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) 34) Fwd: Re: SUBSCRIBE GAMBIA-L B... by SillahB@aol.com
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Date: 09 Jun 1996 10:07:04 GMT From: momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: New Constituency boundries Message-ID: <2034561022.1569266@inform-bbs.dk>
Hi Gambia-l! ******************************************************** 1. The chieftaincy districts have been transformed into constituency boundries and has brought inequalities in represantation among inhabitants of various chieftaincy districts. Below is a list of the constituencies, the projected inhibitants of each constituency and a possible voter roll acording to the 1993 census.
Constituency Projected inhabitants Posible voter roll _______________ ____________________ ___________________ Banjul North 20,552 8,210 Banjul Central 11,029 4,718 Banjul South 10,745 4,336
Serrekunda East 108,421 44,765 Serrekunda West 82,431 31,783 Bakau 37,362 14,591
Kombo North 80,478 32,651 Kombo South 39,694 14,623 Kombo Central 56,094 21,521 Kombo East 21,028 8,618 Foni Brefet 8,529 3,286 Foni Bintang 11,397 4,611 Foni Kansala 7,748 3,364 Foni Bondali 4,594 1,582 Foni Jarol 5,355 2,056
Kiang West 13,479 5,283 Kiang Central 7,282 2,540 Jarra West 20,673 7,551 Jarra Central 6,084 2,414 Jarra East 11,272 4,497
Lower Nuimi 35,147 12,505 Upper Nuimi 21,552 6,983 Jokadou 14,874 5,226 Lower Badibou 14,391 5,479 Central Badibou 15,060 5,579 Upper Badibou 55,438 20,473
Lower Saloum 14,179 5,584 Upper Saloum 12,552 4,973 Nianija 6,439 2,737 Niani 18,831 7,571 Sami 16,073 6,501 Jangjangbureh 2,813 1,199 Niamina Dangkunku 6,089 2,373 Niamina West 5,948 2,689 Niamina East 15,402 6,017 Fuladou West 57,995 24,575
Fuladou East 84,327 33,990 Kantora 26,502 10,726
Sandou 14,689 6,310 Wuli 29,541 12,340
One could see that Fuladou East with its 33,990 eligible votes being given one seat in parliment where five Foni districts with a combined voting strenght of 14,099 are given five seats. Jangjangbureh constituency has a population of 2,813 while Fuladou east has a population of 84,327.
It was best to retain the previous constituencies and further devide the growth centers into more constituencies. *****************************************************************
2. A number of promninant Gambians most of them former politicians have addressed an open letter to the AFPRC and the Provisional Independent Electoral Commission calling on the military regime to `honourably give way to a government of national unity to carry on the transitional process. The remind government that the two year transition programme is scheduled to come
to an end by July 1996 in acordance with the National consultative Committee's report.
***************************************************************** 3. It is reported that on Sunday, 19 May at around 5 p.m, two soldiers by the names of Ebrima Badji and Michael Dacosta who were armed with bayonets murdered a civilian Ebrima Jallow in Latrikunda Yiringanya, Kotu silo. Acording to a woman, the two soldiers found Ebrima and his family drinking green tea or "attaya". He was asked to produce his documents insisting that he was a foriegner, they also asked him to produce D300 which he did not have. He was stabbed to death in the presence of several by standers and his wife. The commander of the GNA in a press release gave assurance that "justice will be done and seen to done". The two soldiers are now at mile 2. **************************************************************** May Allah (God) save our country! --- OffRoad 1.9o registered to Momodou Camara
************************************** Sent via Inform-BBS -Denmark's leading alternative network Information: info@inform-bbs.dk **************************************
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Date: Sun, 9 Jun 1996 20:29:03 JST +900 From: binta@iuj.ac.jp To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <199606091127.UAA21669@mlsv.iuj.ac.jp> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Hi Gambia-l,
I am also in Tony's situation. Could someone kindly post the draft constitution on the List for our sake?
Lamin Drammeh (Japan)
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Date: Sun, 9 Jun 96 18:27:27 BST From: L Konteh <L.Konteh-95@student.lut.ac.uk> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <9606091727.AA15949@hpl.lut.ac.uk>
Hi Tony, I have a copy of the new constitution, but i don't know how to go about posting it it on the list. Can someone help? Yours sincerely. A computer novice. Lang Ps: I could make a copy and send it to a postal address in US, but that may be a bit expensive. Any Suggestions? > > > Does anybody have a copy of the constitution and be willing to post it on > Gambia-l ? I have not yet seen or read it. > Thanks > Tony > >
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 09:18:45 EDT From: "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: LIBERIA/REFUGEES Message-ID: <10JUN96.10057702.0051.MUSIC@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU>
DATE=6/9/96 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198428 TITLE=LIBERIA / REFUGEES (S&L) BYLINE=PURNELL MURDOCK DATELINE=ABIDJAN CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
// OPTS OUT FOR LONG CR //
INTRO: GHANA HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT A RUSSIAN CARGO VESSEL CARRYING LIBERIAN AND OTHER AFRICANS FLEEING FACTIONAL FIGHTING IN LIBERIA. THE SHIP, THE "ZOLOTITSA," HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR A PORT IN WEST AFRICA SINCE LEAVING THE BESIEGED LIBERIAN CAPITAL IN LATE MAY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS FROM OUR WEST AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT: NEWS REPORTS QUOTE GHANAIAN PORT OFFICIALS AS SAYING THE "ZOLOTITSA" WAS TOWED INTO INTERNATIONAL WATERS AFTER ANCHORING OFF THE COAST OF GHANA LATE FRIDAY.
THEY SAID GHANAIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMED IBN CHAMBAS HAD WARNED ANY VESSEL THAT DOCKED AT ANY GHANAIAN PORT WITHOUT PERMISSION WOULD BE SEIZED AND THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP ARRESTED AND PROSECUTED.
IN GENEVA, THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SAID THE RUSSIAN VESSEL HAD BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO DROP ANCHOR OFF THE GHANAIAN PORT OF TAKORADI, WHERE LAST MONTH A NIGERIAN FREIGHTER WAS ALLOWED TO OFF LOAD ABOUT TWO THOUSAND LIBERIAN REFUGEES.
HOWEVER, GHANA STATE RADIO QUOTED THE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER AS SAYING GHANA HAD NOT BEEN APPROACHED BY THE U-N-H-C-R.
GHANA AND SEVERAL OTHER WEST AFRICAN NATIONS HAVE BEEN UNDER PRESSURE TO TAKE IN REFUGEES FLEEING FACTIONAL FIGHTING IN THE LIBERIAN CAPITAL, MONROVIA. HOWEVER LIBERIA'S NEIGHBORS HAVE EXPRESSED RELUCTANCE SAYING THEY FEARED REBEL SOLDIERS MIGHT INFILTRATE THEIR COUNTRIES POSING AS REFUGEES.
// REST OPT. //
THE "ZOLOTITSA" LEFT MONROVIA WITH LIBERIAN, GHANAIAN AND OTHER WEST AFRICAN PASSENGERS ON MAY 26TH. IT TRIED DOCKING AT THE GHANAIAN PORT OF TEMA FOUR DAYS LATER BUT WAS TURNED AWAY. IT LATER TRIED ENTERING NEIGHBORING TOGO, BUT WAS TOWED OUT TO SEA AFTER TAKING ON FUEL AND FOOD SUPPLIES.
IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHERE THE RUSSIAN VESSEL WOULD GO NEXT.
THOUSANDS OF LIBERIANS HAVE PAID LARGE SUMS OF MONEY FOR THE CHANCE TO BOARD SHIPS BOUND FOR NEIGHBORING WEST AFRICAN NATIONS. IT HAS BEEN THE ONLY RELATIVELY SAFE WAY FOR LIBERIANS TO ESCAPE THE LATEST VIOLENCE.
THOSE WHO CAN NOT AFFORD THE PRICE FOR PASSAGE ON THE SHIPS HAVE BEEN SEEKING SHELTER AT A MAKESHIFT DISPLACEMENT CAMP IN MONROVIA THAT WAS FORMERLY THE HOUSING COMPLEX FOR AMERICAN DIPLOMATS STATIONED IN LIBERIA.
LIBERIA'S NEIGHBORS HAVE STEPPED UP SECURITY ALONG THEIR BORDERS TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF REFUGEES INTO THEIR COUNTRIES. THROUGHOUT LIBERIA'S SIX-YEAR CIVIL WAR THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CROSS-BORDER INCIDENTS INVOLVING FACTIONAL FIGHTERS. SIERRA LEONE'S CIVIL WAR WAS FUELED, IN PART, BY REBEL INCURSIONS FROM NEIGHBORING LIBERIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/WPM/BD/LWM
09-Jun-96 8:19 PM EDT (0019 UTC) NNNN
Source: Voice of America ..
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 10:30:18 -0500 (EST) From: Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: My View Message-ID: <01I5QO2IL8CC000MXZ@PSTCC6.PSTCC.CC.TN.US> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT
Mostafa: I agree! I must have misinterpreted or misread your statement!
"Yangfa nyeh!" Amadou
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 12:53:43 -0400 (EDT) From: ABDOU <at137@columbia.edu> To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.93L.960610123426.11852A-100000@vanakam.cc.columbia.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Hey Folks, First some house business. Dr. Sallah is not available right now to answer email messages. He has a vacation program on. What this means is that all of his messages will be accumulating waiting for his return. He has made his telephone number available; you can ask me for it. Secondly, Lang, what you will have to do is to scan the constitution. The cost varies from place to place. If I remember correctly, someone had volunteered to that for free. But I think the quicker solution is to go to your comp. sci. dept. and scan it in. I am willing to pay a percentage of the cost in relation to any other voluteers in the list. When you scan it in, ask to scan it in ASCII and then in your attachment field, include the file and then you can send it to the list directly. Another solution is to send it to me so that I can correct any kinks in the formatting and then send it to the list. Heidi, welcome to the list. I think Lang said all that I wanted to say. In addition, I think this debate points to the lawless nature of military "governments" . Ordinarily, such questions are the purview of the judiciary. But the irony, as Lang pointed out, is that the very changes being debated are themselves illegal. It is a classical case of no one being willing to say that the Emperor has no clothes. Maybe Jammeh will just pass one of decrees and settle the question. The whole exercise is a joke and only Jammeh will come out the winner. I also think that it is interesting that Jammeh and his cohorts are resorting to blatant tribalism. By gerrymandering the districts to give Foni an ethnic advantage, he announces to the world what kind of politics people should expect henceforth. I hope the Gambian people will reject such ugly and destructive politics. -Abdou. ******************************************************************************* A. TOURAY. (212) 749-7971 MY URL ON THE WWW= http://www.cc.columbia.edu/~at137
A FINITE IN A LAND OF INFINITY. SEEKING BUT THE REACHABLE. I WANDER AND I WONDER. ALL RESPITE IS FINAL. *******************************************************************************
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 11:15:18 -0700 (PDT) From: "A. Loum" <tloum@u.washington.edu> To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.92a.960610111154.21312A-100000@saul2.u.washington.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
My sister Sarian in California has volunteered to scan the document and make it available to Gambia-l at no cost, if she can get hold of the document. Thanks Tony
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 14:24:15 -0500 (EST) From: Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <01I5QW8L5TEY000R03@PSTCC6.PSTCC.CC.TN.US> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT
Abdou, I have only read excerpts of the draft constitution published by local Gambian papers, but I share most of your concerns.
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 14:26:29 -0500 (EST) From: Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <01I5QWBCAPZ8000R03@PSTCC6.PSTCC.CC.TN.US> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT
Compatriots: I have only read excerpts of the draft constitution published by local Gambian papers, and I believe Jammeh and his group may be setting the stage for their own overthrow.
My concerns: (1) The Constitution was written with Jammeh in mind. It is designed to suit his political aspirations. (2) The document includes measures to effectively prevent Gambians abroad from effectively participating in the political process through the use of irrelevant and extended residency requirements. (3) Limiting the term of the chief executive has had overwhelming support in the country. Why is it left out? (4) The preamble makes veiled references to three decades of misrule under the PPP and the sacrifices of the AFPRC. That is not the place for political propaganda. Such a preamble is likely to shorten the life of the entire document. (5) Why hold presidential elections well ahead of legislative polls? Jammeh loses; Swiss bank accounts for AFPRC officials fatten in the meantime; the president-elect faces constant harassment; or even the legislative elections are postponed, further delaying the transition. Jammeh wins; opportunists effectively rally to create a one-party legislature--candidates compete for Jammeh's party's nominations. (6) Who says that overthrowing Jammeh or whoever comes to power would be a treasonable offense? If a coup succeeds, a new constitution comes to force; also making it a treasonable offense to seize power. The AFPRC could have launched an effective democratization process, but that opportunity, I am afraid, has already been lost. It would not now be difficult to justify the overthrow of the current regime or whatever it transforms itself into. (7) The tribal/ethnic gerrymandering (as already explained) should be a matter of grave concern to all Gambians.
I have said enough!
Salaam! Amadou Scattred-Janneh
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Date: 10 Jun 1996 19:19:36 GMT From: momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Fwd: West Africa-Economy Message-ID: <1989214174.560561@inform-bbs.dk>
---forwarded mail START---
Date: 10/06/96 19:57 Subject: Fwd: WEST AFRICA-ECONOMY: Ready To Do Business - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Copyright 1996 Inter Press Service. All rights reserved. Distribution via MISANET.
*** 07-Jun-96 ***
WEST AFRICA-ECONOMY: Ready To Do Business
by Melvis Dzisah
ABIDJAN, Jun 7 (IPS) - Agriculture has been the backbone of most African economies, but what lies below the ground is a whole new area of opportunity that governments are eagerly inviting foreign investors to come in and exploit.
By and large, so far, the investors have been leery.
Mineral extraction is capital intensive, long term, and mining companies need to be assured of the political and econ omic stability of the countries in which they sink their money.
Cote d'Ivoire, in laying out its stall of an array of under- exploited minerals to potential investors, is pointing to its economic liberalisation programme -- which has won plaudits from the Bretton Woods institutions -- as well as its r ecord as one of the few trouble-free spots in West Africa.
''We have the mineral resources and political goodwill, coupled with investment climates now, which should merit the attentions of any serious investor,'' declared Ivoirian Prime Minister, Daniel Kablan Duncan.
He was addressing potential partners attending a mining sector investment forum in Abidjan this week and assured the participants that Cote d'Ivoire meant business in creating an enabling environment for investment to flourish.
The truth of the matter is though, despite some of the best returns on investments in the world, out of 60 billion do llars invested by the private sector in developing countries in 1993, only 700 million dollars (1.2 percent) came to Afr ica, according to the World Bank.
''As private investors, we look out for four things before putting our monies in; resources, political and economic s tability and infrastructure,'' points out Turner Garven of GENCOR, the South African-based mining giant.
GENCOR, which is exploring for gold and diamonds in Cote d'Ivoire, is one of a number of South African mining compani es who are however sampling West Africa's potential.
Anglo American and Randgold also have a strong presence in the sub-region, buying mineral rights in Ghana, Guinea and Mali.
Cash-crop dependent Cote d'Ivoire experienced years of economic recession due in part to the over-valuation of the CF A franc which discouraged foreign investment. A 50 percent devaluation in 1994 of the CFA, the common currency of the se ven sub-regional francophone countries, has boosted competitiveness.
According to the African Development Bank's (AfDB) 1996 development report, the CFA zone registered the best economic performance last year among all the regions of the continent growing at 4.7 percent.
''The devaluation and economic liberalisation of early 1994 were clearly having a positive impact,'' noted the Abidja n-based multinational development and financial institution.
Cote d'Ivoire's economy experienced the single highest growth rate in the region in 1995 according to the AfDB at 6.8 percent of gross domestic product.
The government regards the minerals sector -- gold, diamonds, manganese -- as a potentially lucrative area to cement that growth and points out it is currently exploiting less than one percent of its mineral reserves.
But it is not the only country in the sub-region blessed with hidden wealth and an investor-friendly economic liberal isation programme.
Invited to the investor forum this week were delegations from the seven member West African Economic and Monetary Uni on, which along with Cote d'Ivoire, includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Each country, painfully aware of the l ow levels of investment flows, was lobbying hard for prospective partners to examine their particular list of goodies an d incentives.
Ghana, the only anglophone country present at the meeting, is a keen competitor with an established gold mining indus try in addition to diamonds, manganese and bauxite. Its delegation announced that apart from hard minerals, it had ide ntified more than 850 million barrels of exploitable crude oil reserves.
''As at now only one U.S. firm, Houston Oil Company, is exploring for oil in the country. But we need more investment to tap all these potentials,'' said a member of the delegation.
Mali, which has an abundance of gold pointed to its new mineral laws in place offering rewards to foreign investors.
''We want our partners to study these laws, which are very attractive,'' said Amadou Sanoussy Dafe, president of Mali 's mining firms.
''Africa is endowed with similar geological landmarks in which exploitable minerals are found elsewhere. What is need ed is the investment capital especially from the private sector,'' notes Adrien Reynolds of Randgold.
The World Bank's Vice-President for Africa, Jean-Louis Sarbib, attributed investor shyness to Africa's lingering imag e of a continent in perpetual turmoil rather than a land of opportunity.
''Investors have long memories and short visions, and the image they have of Africa is children brandishing machine g uns in conflict zones on the continent,'' he reminded government officials at the forum.
What is overlooked is that governments have instituted painful reform programmes, thrown their doors open to foreign capital, and are still waiting for the returns. (end/ips/md/oa/96)
************************************************************* [c] 1996, Inter Press Third World News Agency (IPS) All rights reserved
May not be reproduced, reprinted or posted to any system or service outside of the MISANET without permission from IPS or MISA. For more information, send a message to <cohen@wmail.misanet.org> or <dlush@ingrid.misa.org.na>. For information about print or broadcast reproduction, or about IPS, send a message to <ipspdc@gn.apc.org>. *************************************************************
---forwarded mail END---
Momodou Camara --- OffRoad 1.9o registered to Momodou Camara
************************************** Sent via Inform-BBS -Denmark's leading alternative network Information: info@inform-bbs.dk **************************************
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Date: 10 Jun 1996 20:49:26 GMT From: momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Fwd: The murder of Abiola's wife Message-ID: <613740510.884255@inform-bbs.dk>
---forwarded mail START--- From: Amnesty_International@io.org,Internet To: Amnesty International Date: 10/06/96 19:32 Subject: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This News Service is posted by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 8DJ (Tel +44-71-413-5500, Fax +44-71-956-1157) Sender: Amnesty_International@post.io.org Precedence: bulk AMNESTY-L: ******************** News Service 104/96 AI INDEX: AFR 44/10/96 7 JUNE 1996 NIGERIA: THE MURDER OF KUDIRAT ABIOLA - A POLITICAL KILLING?
This week~s assassination of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, senior wife of prisoner of conscience Moshood Abiola, may have been a political killing carried out by government agents acting with or without the knowledge of the authorities, Amnesty International said today.
~It is imperative that the Nigerian government carries out a thorough, prompt and impartial investigation with the aim of bringing to justice those found to be responsible,~ the human rights organization said.
~Otherwise Kudirat Abiola~s death will reinforce suspicions that the government has been involved in killing its opponents unlawfully, whether or not there is ever conclusive evidence.~
Amnesty International is demanding that any inquiry into the killing satisfies the United Nations~ (UN) 1989 Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions
Kudirat Abiola and her driver were shot at point-blank range by unknown assailants near her home in Lagos on 4 June 1996. She died later in hospital; the driver was reportedly wounded. Police have denied reports that they detained a personal assistant, Michael Adesina, who was unhurt in the incident. The military head of state, General Sani Abacha, expressed his condolences to the family, describing the killing as the work of armed bandits. However, other reports suggested that the killing was not motivated by robbery. The police have announced an inquiry by a senior officer and offered a reward for information.
Amnesty International fears that other government critics may become victims of political killings by government agents, under the cover of growing violent crime in Nigeria. Many opposition leaders have had their homes and property attacked since 1994, and some recent killings also appear to have been politically-motivated
They include the murder by gunmen of Chief Alfred Rewane, 79, a financial backer of the opposition National Democratic Coalition, at his home in October 1995. In February 1996 Alex Ibru, a former minister in General Abacha~s government and publisher of the liberal Guardian newspaper -- under government proscription in 1994 and 1995 - - was shot and wounded; an unknown group later claimed they carried out the shooting to protect the interests of the predominantly northern military government
Kudirat Abiola was a persistent and courageous critic, continuing to call for her husband's release despite constant and vindictive harassment of her family and supporters by the government. Moshood Abiola was the winner of the 1993 presidential elections whose annulment by the military government has generated Nigeria~s most serious political and human rights crisis in decades. He has been imprisoned since June 1994 on treason charges.
Since October 1994 Kudirat Abiola had been refused all access to Moshood Abiola; he has been held virtually incommunicado and in poor health. No lawyer has been allowed access to him since October 1995. The government has also interfered in his case, ignoring court rulings in his favour. Kudirat Abiola gave interviews on several occasions to the foreign and Nigerian press in which she called for his release and accused the government of destroying her family financially. On 8 May 1996 the Lagos High Court acquitted her of charges of conspiracy and making false statements. She was charged again with these offences on 28 May 1996 and the Lagos High Court ordered her release on bail to await trial on 17 July.
Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian government to demonstrate its willingness to implement the human rights reforms which it promised the UN Secretary- General in May 1996 by immediately and unconditionally releasing Moshood Abiola.
~The political crisis in Nigeria cannot be resolved while Moshood Abiola remains imprisoned and his release would be a positive step towards restoring respect for human rights in Nigeria,~ Amnesty International said. ENDS/
**********
You may re-post this message onto other sources but if you do then please tell us at AINS@GN.APC.ORG so that we can keep track of what is happening to these items.
If you want more information concerning this item then please contact the Amnesty International section office in your own country. You may also send email to amnesty-info@igc.apc.org, an automatic reply service. A list of section contact details is posted on the APC <ai.news> conference. If there is not a section of Amnesty International in your country then you should contact the International Secretariat in London.END **********
---forwarded mail END---
--- OffRoad 1.9o registered to Momodou Camara
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 17:23:12 -0400 (EDT) From: ABDOU <at137@columbia.edu> To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.93L.960610165754.19339A-100000@ahnnyong.cc.columbia.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Hey Folks, I just finised reading about three weeks' worth of Gambian newspapers (the Observer and The Point). I also share Amadou's concerns. The greatest concern I have is that the so-called draft constitution does not allow people to run as presidential candidates if they were "terminated or retired" from previous government service. This, I believe, prevents all the viable politicians in The Gambia from running. This, coupled with other things I have read, indicates to me that Jammeh will be around, elections or no elections, for a long time to come. The "Jammeh forever" crowd seems to be getting their wish. The observer also talked about the spate of armed robberies in the country. The paper thought that the robberies were either the work of soldiers or rebels from neighbouring countries. It urged the military to stop the harrassment of foreigners; i.e the deportation foreigners irrespective of their legal status. The Point talked about a new Gambian phenomenon called "fural" where young people gather in its words, "to partake in night-long feasting and dancing" and to engage in sex. This appears to be very common in the Greater Banjul area. Can anyone enlighten me on this ? Bye for now, -Abdou. ******************************************************************************* A. TOURAY. (212) 749-7971 MY URL ON THE WWW= http://www.cc.columbia.edu/~at137
A FINITE IN A LAND OF INFINITY. SEEKING BUT THE REACHABLE. I WANDER AND I WONDER. ALL RESPITE IS FINAL. *******************************************************************************
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Date: 10 Jun 1996 16:21:40 -0500 From: "YaYa Jallow" <yaya.jallow@qm.sprintcorp.com> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <n1377698444.93757@qm.sprintcorp.com>
6/10/96 4:04 PM RE>>constitution
Fellas, It appears that the debate on the constitution is already picking up on the list. Great except for those of us who have not seen the document yet are at bay. So Tony I submit that you coordinate with your sister and have it scanned on the list at earliest convenience. Meanwhile, just reading some of the postings, I am particularly disturbed with the ethnic meddling. Since I have not read the actual print yet, I will pause till then. However, I am suggesting that Gambian members on this list take a position on the constitution. I other words, once all of us have read and vigorously debated on it, we should have an ad hoc voting on it and adopt a statement that we may wish to communicate. Remember guys, we have got to weigh in on this. Adios and look forward to your feedback. Yaya ------------------------------ Date: 6/10/96 1:59 PM To: Jallow, YaYa From: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Compatriots: I have only read excerpts of the draft constitution published by local Gambian papers, and I believe Jammeh and his group may be setting the stage for their own overthrow.
My concerns: (1) The Constitution was written with Jammeh in mind. It is designed to suit his political aspirations. (2) The document includes measures to effectively prevent Gambians abroad from effectively participating in the political process through the use of irrelevant and extended residency requirements. (3) Limiting the term of the chief executive has had overwhelming support in the country. Why is it left out? (4) The preamble makes veiled references to three decades of misrule under the PPP and the sacrifices of the AFPRC. That is not the place for political propaganda. Such a preamble is likely to shorten the life of the entire document. (5) Why hold presidential elections well ahead of legislative polls? Jammeh loses; Swiss bank accounts for AFPRC officials fatten in the meantime; the president-elect faces constant harassment; or even the legislative elections are postponed, further delaying the transition. Jammeh wins; opportunists effectively rally to create a one-party legislature--candidates compete for Jammeh's party's nominations. (6) Who says that overthrowing Jammeh or whoever comes to power would be a treasonable offense? If a coup succeeds, a new constitution comes to force; also making it a treasonable offense to seize power. The AFPRC could have launched an effective democratization process, but that opportunity, I am afraid, has already been lost. It would not now be difficult to justify the overthrow of the current regime or whatever it transforms itself into. (7) The tribal/ethnic gerrymandering (as already explained) should be a matter of grave concern to all Gambians.
I have said enough!
Salaam! Amadou Scattred-Janneh
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 96 22:44:59 BST From: L Konteh <L.Konteh-95@student.lut.ac.uk> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <9606102145.AA15417@hpl.lut.ac.uk>
Hi Abdou,
Consider it done. Tommorrow i will try my best to do what you suggested. Photocopying the document and posting it by ordinary mail would have cost me a lot. But this brilliant suggestion of yours could work out cheap and maybe very little cost involved which i could afford with my meagre stipend.
Amadou,
Your points are well put.Here is an addendum to your second point on residential qualification. This will actually show you the absurdity of the document. Chapter 7, Part 1, clause 89c: is refferred here. All aspirant MPs should have resided in their respective constituencies for a length of time prior to the elections. My view here is for most cases (outside of the few urban areas) it will rule out good materials leaving the field open for only the lowest in calibre, mainly school drop-outs, forced by circumstances to remain in the local areas. The result will be a much lower calibre of MPs and a much lower calibre parliament. Without being regionalist here, it will leave we provincial chaps worst-off if you understand what i mean.
Or by the way, the new constitution has provided immunity for the soldiers. Please refer to Schedule 2 clause 13 and 14. Read it together with Chapter 4, part 1, clause 69.
It makes me wonder, did a real judge actually presided over the drafting of this constitution?
As Ronald Reagan would have said, 'You'aint seen nothing yet'
Remember rejecting the new constitution could easily be interpreted by the soldiers that Gambians don't want civilian rule. Think about the No Election campaign from certain quarters then you will make sense of this scenario.
Peace.
Lang
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 15:00:10 -0700 (PDT) From: "A. Loum" <tloum@u.washington.edu> To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.92a.960610144635.7913C-100000@saul6.u.washington.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Similar to Yaya, it will be difficult to comment and take a position on the constitution, not having read it yet. The comments seemed to have justified my suspicions and fears that the entire process would be skewed and manipulated to benefit Jammeh and The AFPRC, which should come as no susprise to anyone. Unfortunately, this has been the norm in our continent where leaders in power would go to all means to consolidate their positions while crushing opponents. Regarding the scanning of the actual document to Gambia-l, my address is listed after this message for anybody interested in sending me the document and I will deliver it to my sister. Thanks Tony
========================================================================
Anthony W Loum tloum@u.washington.edu Supervisor, Business Administration Library 206-543-4360 voice 100 Balmer Hall 206-685-9392 fax University of Washington Box 353200 Seattle, Wa.98195-3200
=========================================================================
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 18:26:20 -0500 From: mostafa jersey marong <mbmarong@students.wisc.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Nigeria and Abiola's Wif Message-ID: <199606102326.SAA11402@audumla.students.wisc.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
DR Sallah, Thank you very very much. I adore the responsible, professional manner you treated this issue.I am vindicated.MY GOOD FRIENDS TONY AND ABDOU PLEASE TAKE NOTE.I NOW REST MY CASE.
Now let us all be aware that this list is composed of intelligent, educated people only (Amadou, no I am not one of them).When we are 'saying' anything, let us try as much as possible to put sentiments and emotions away. Fact, just plain facts. When we do not know we should ask. Like the way I asked TONY and ABDOU to help me learn my first steps in cyberspace. They took me by the hand until I was able to 'walk' (and now even dared to exchange 'punches' with them). LAUGH!(ain't life good)! ( again in the spirit of a friendly,informed discourse).
Mostafa Kaira Ning Haira
At 10:45 PM 6/7/96 +0000, you wrote: > > Compatriots, > > In response to the request by Mostafa, I wish to shed some > light on the issue he raised concerning the Gambia government > revenue situation. > > 80 percent of the Gambia's revenue coming from international > aid appears to me quite high, and would mean almost universally a > near totally aid dependent country. Based on the available time > series data at this end, we have a different picture. > International aid as a percentage of total revenues is high but > not nearly as high as 80 percent. The historical trend of the > share of international aid in total revenue is around 20%. It > was highest in 1991/92 at about 24% and lowest in 1982/83 around > 13%. Some clarification needs to be made, however, that > international aid here means only grants to the government and > does not include loans (bilateral and/or multilateral) to the > government. > > I hope this answers your question. But if there is better > data from someone on the ground in the Ministry of Finance in the > Gambia, I shall welcome any correction. > > Best Wishes, > > Tijan M. Sallah > > >
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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 19:02:45 -0500 From: mostafa jersey marong <mbmarong@students.wisc.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <199606110002.TAA40816@audumla.students.wisc.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Amadou, It cannot be put any better but I want to add a few things;
3) term limitations:Mr G. J. Roberts of the CRC revealed in the DAILY OBSERVER (i dont know how to underline the name of the paper) issue of May 10 or May 17 (i do not have the paper with me right now so pardon me) that the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) wrote a limit of two terms for any future president in the draft.The AFPRC refused to accept that and no mention of it is even made. Really this thing now looks like it is tailored to suit Jammeh.
4) preamble: indeed that is not the place to talk about AFPRC sacrifices. Jawara with all his 'crookedness' never insist that we mention the sacrifices he made in the Independence Talks.
At 02:26 PM 6/10/96 -0500, you wrote: >Compatriots: >I have only read excerpts of the draft constitution published by local >Gambian papers, and I believe Jammeh and his group may be setting the >stage for their own overthrow. > >My concerns: >(1) The Constitution was written with Jammeh in mind. It is designed >to suit his political aspirations. >(2) The document includes measures to effectively prevent Gambians abroad >from effectively participating in the political process through the use of >irrelevant and extended residency requirements. >(3) Limiting the term of the chief executive has had overwhelming support >in the country. Why is it left out? >(4) The preamble makes veiled references to three decades of misrule >under the PPP and the sacrifices of the AFPRC. That is not the place >for political propaganda. Such a preamble is likely to shorten the >life of the entire document. >(5) Why hold presidential elections well ahead of legislative polls? >Jammeh loses; Swiss bank accounts for AFPRC officials fatten in the >meantime; the president-elect faces constant harassment; or even the >legislative elections are postponed, further delaying the transition. >Jammeh wins; opportunists effectively rally to create a one-party >legislature--candidates compete for Jammeh's party's nominations. >(6) Who says that overthrowing Jammeh or whoever comes to power would >be a treasonable offense? If a coup succeeds, a new constitution comes >to force; also making it a treasonable offense to seize power. The AFPRC >could have launched an effective democratization process, but that >opportunity, I am afraid, has already been lost. It would not now be >difficult to justify the overthrow of the current regime or whatever it >transforms itself into. >(7) The tribal/ethnic gerrymandering (as already explained) should be a >matter of grave concern to all Gambians. > >I have said enough! > >Salaam! >Amadou Scattred-Janneh >
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Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 15:12:39 -0500 (EST) From: Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: pan-africanism.html Message-ID: <01I5SC7XGY4I000KQ9@PSTCC6.PSTCC.CC.TN.US> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT
[Previous Section] [Contents] [Next Section] Peace and Reconciliation in Africa A Preliminary Survey of Ecumenical Perspectives and Initiatives
PAN AFRICANISM: CONTINENTAL POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE It is now nearly one century since Henry Silvester Williams laid the intellectual foundations of what later came to be known as the Pan Africanist Movement. As an ideology, it took shape, initially, amongst the African diaspora in the Caribbean region of the Americas and eventually attracted a train of articulate intellectuals and ideologues. Names such as Du Bois, Garvey, Padmore, James, and later in Africa, Kenyatta of Kenya, Nkrumah of Ghana, Sobukwe of South Africa, Makonnen of Ethiopia and Nyerere of Tanzania were associated with the movement. Beginning in l900, the Pan Africanist Movement organized a series of Congresses which effectively led the way toward the political independence of Africa in the l960s and beyond. While only the last of these conferences was held on African soil, the founding in l963 of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) gave embryonic institutional form to the original Pan Africanist vision. Pan-Africanism was premised on the understanding that the emancipation, development and prosperity of African peoples everywhere could only be achieved by an appeal to the African sense of "wholeness". Latter day Pan Africanists note that Africa's potential for unity is even today frustrated by the colonial legacy. Examples are myriad and pronounced; since the l960s, the Somali people have been living in five different nation states; the Bari-speaking people of Sudan spill over into several neighboring states while the Herero people of southern Africa are found in multiple countries--across the continent, the list could be extended indefinitely. Moreover, advocates of Pan Africanism insist that African cohesion could successfully be premised upon an embrace of the Africa's language aggregates. How, they ask, can Africa move forward on the basis of adopted imperial languages?[3] If the Pan-Africanist vision left troubling questions in its wake, it must nevertheless be conceded that the whole of the political independence saga is to a significant extent a fulfillment of that original vision, however partial or truncated. Indeed, the Pan-Africanist project has unfolded in dramatic sequence with the largest number of African countries achieving their political independence in the l960s; in the mid-l970s it was the turn of the former Portuguese colonies; Zimbabwe's statehood in l980; Namibian independence in l990 and today it is South Africa undergoing radical change toward more equitable forms of governance. By any comparison, the Pan Africanist Movement proffered a remarkable vision. No other continental vision has been so carefully planned and so successfully executed. Both the AACC and the Organization of African Unity are in some sense heirs to the Pan Africanist vision; but both are now challenged by events in the world and in Africa to imagine continental visions commensurate with the demands of the times. _________________________________________________________________ [Previous Section] [Contents] [Next Section] _________________________________________________________________ Return to the top of this document. Return to the Table of Contents. Return to the Occasional Papers index. Return to the Mennonite Central Committee home page. _________________________________________________________________
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Date: 12 Jun 96 09:51:54 EDT From: SANKUNG SAWO <101573.1703@CompuServe.COM> To: L Konteh <L.Konteh-95@student.lut.ac.uk> Cc: "\"GAMBIA-L: The Gambia an" <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU> Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <960612135154_101573.1703_IHK94-2@CompuServe.COM>
Boyo,
do you mean that you have an electronic copy of the constitution? Otherwise you have to scan the book and convert it into text using an OCR software. Then to post it on G-L you must compress it, say with pkzip or use Unix zipping tool in your system, and then send as an attachment; please do not forget to include a description of the file so that recepients would know how to process it.
If you have it as an html page then you may consult your local experts.
Thanks sankung
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Date: Wed, 12 Jun 96 15:07:26 BST From: L Konteh <L.Konteh-95@student.lut.ac.uk> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <9606121407.AA21353@hpl.lut.ac.uk>
Boyo, No, i don't have an electronic copy of the constitution. I tried to scan it here but i ran into a small difficulty. I was asked whether it was my original work or have permission for copyright. In the end they came up with a stupid excuse and refuse. You know a University with caution . What i did was to post a copy to Seedy NY, Abdou can get a copy from him and scan it so that we all can have it on G-L.
Lang
> Boyo, > > do you mean that you have an electronic copy of the constitution? Otherwise you > have to scan the book and convert it into text using an OCR software. Then to > post it on G-L you must compress it, say with pkzip or use Unix zipping tool in > your system, and then send as an attachment; please do not forget to include a > description of the file so that recepients would know how to process it. > > If you have it as an html page then you may consult your local experts. > > Thanks > sankung > >
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Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 11:38:28 -0500 (EST) From: Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: 96F11055.html Message-ID: <01I5TJ0QF9AA000QHU@PSTCC6.PSTCC.CC.TN.US> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT
Panafrican News Agency News Stories | Environment | Economics | Science and Health | Sports | Africa Press Review Copyright 1996 Panafrican News Agency and Africa News Service. All rights reserved. Material may not be redistributed, posted to any other location, published or used for broadcast without written authorization from the Panafrican News Agency. B.P. 4056, Dakar, Senegal. Tel: (221) 24-13-95 | Fax: (221) 24-13-90 | E-mail: quoiset@sonatel.senet.net 11 JUN 96 - AFRICA-LIBERIA Gambians, Malians and Senegalese Flee Liberia
DAKAR, Senegal (PANA) - Ninety Senegalese nationals, 77 Malians and 43 Gambians arrived at the port of Dakar Tuesday after fleeing strife-torn Liberia. They returned on board Le Joola, a Senegalese government vessel which usually operates a coastal service between Dakar and the largest town in southern Senegal, Ziguinchor. A government official on board the ship said some 50 Senegalese nationals had opted to remain in Liberia, in spite of continued fighting in Monrovia, the Liberian capital. He said others had left the country before the repatriation. Some men had sent back their families while staying on to continue with their businesses. A few cases of malaria were diagnosed during the trip although they were quickly treated by the medical team of two doctors and three nurses on board. The Malians are to return to their country by train and the Gambians on two buses. _________________________________________________________________ AFRICA NEWS Home Page | AFRICA NEWS CENTRAL | The Nando Times
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Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 13:38:06 EDT From: "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: NIGERIA/PROTEST Message-ID: <12JUN96.14726120.0017.MUSIC@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU>
DATE=6/12/96
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Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 14:17:47 EDT From: "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: NIGERIA / PROTEST Message-ID: <12JUN96.15440315.0061.MUSIC@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU>
DATE=6/12/96 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198589 TITLE=NIGERIA / PROTEST (L-ONLY) BYLINE=PURNELL MURDOCK DATELINE=ABIDJAN CONTENT= VOICED AT:
INTRO: HEAVY RAINS AND HEIGHTENED SECURITY IN NIGERIA'S LARGEST CITY, LAGOS, APPEAR TO HAVE DETERRED OPPOSITION PLANS TO HOLD PROTESTS MARKING THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANNULLED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE RESTORED CIVILIAN RULE IN THE COUNTRY. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS FROM OUR WEST AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT: BY MID-AFTERNOON, RESIDENTS IN LAGOS SAID THEY HAD SEEN NO SIGNS OF DEMONSTRATIONS PROMISED BY THE OPPOSITION "CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY". SCHOOLS, BANKS, AND OTHER BUSINESSES WERE OPEN DESPITE OPPOSITION CALLS TO REMAIN CLOSED.
TRAFFIC, NORMALLY CONGESTED IN THE HEAVILY-POPULATED CITY, WAS WORSENED BY FLOODING FROM DAYS OF TORRENTIAL RAINS. RESIDENTS SAID ANY KIND OF STREET DEMONSTRATIONS WOULD BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING.
MEANWHILE, POLICE IN ARMORED VEHICLES DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT LAGOS TO PREVENT ANY PROTESTS. RESIDENTS SAID THE POLICE AND MILITARY PRESENCE WAS ESPECIALLY HEAVY IN STRONGHOLDS OF OPPOSITION LEADER MOSHOOD ABIOLA.
MR. ABIOLA WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE WON THE JUNE 12TH, 1993 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AND HAS BEEN JAILED FOR TWO-YEARS AFTER PROCLAIMING HIMSELF PRESIDENT IN DEFIANCE OF THE MILITARY.
MR. ABIOLA'S SUPPORTERS AND OPPOSITION GROUPS HAD PLANNED TO USE WEDNESDAY TO PROTEST THE ABORTED ELECTION AND ALSO TO CONDEMN THE SLAYING JUNE FOURTH OF THE JAILED OPPOSITION LEADER'S WIFE, KUDIRAT ABIOLA. HER MURDER HAS BEEN WIDELY SEEN AS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED BECAUSE OF HER OUTSPOKEN CAMPAIGN FOR THE RELEASE OF HER HUSBAND.
BUT, POLICE TUESDAY ANNOUNCED A BAN ON ALL DEMONSTRATIONS, AND STATE-RUN RADIO WEDNESDAY BROADCAST APPEALS FOR NIGERIANS TO IGNORE PROTEST CALLS.
MEANWHILE, THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COALITION LAUNCHED CLANDESTINE RADIO BROADCASTS WEDNESDAY TO KEEP ITS STRUGGLE WITH THE MILITARY ALIVE. SPEAKING ON "RADIO DEMOCRAT INTERNATIONAL NIGERIA", EXILED OPPOSITION-LEADER ANTHONY ENAHORO CALLED FOR AN INTERNATIONAL OIL EMBARGO AGAINST NIGERIA TO FORCE THE MILITARY TO HAND OVER POWER TO AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT.
NIGERIA HAS BEEN IN CRISIS SINCE THE ARMY ANNULLED THE ELECTIONS IN 1993 THAT WOULD HAVE RESTORED CIVILIAN RULE TO THE COUNTRY. MILITARY-RULER GENERAL SANI ABACHA HAS PROMISED TO HOLD NEW ELECTIONS BY 1998, ACCORDING TO A TIMETABLE HE ANNOUNCED LAST OCTOBER. SO FAR, HIS GOVERNMENT HAS STUCK TO ITS TIMETABLE. BUT CRITICS SAY THE CLIMATE OF POLITICAL OPPRESSION HAS CONTINUED.
/// REST OPT ///
NEWS PUBLICATIONS CONTINUE TO FACE POSSIBLE CENSURE BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT. OPPOSITION GROUPS HAVE BEEN OUTLAWED AND THEIR LEADERS FORCED INTO EXILE. LAST NOVEMBER, THE GOVERNMENT SANCTIONED THE EXECUTION OF NINE MINORITY-RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, INCLUDED RENOWNED AUTHOR KEN SARO-WIWA, ACCUSED OF ORDERING THE MURDER IN 1994 OF FOUR PRO-GOVERNMENT POLITICIANS. THE EXECUTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT DESPITE INTERNATIONAL APPEALS FOR AMNESTY.
GENERAL ABACHA HAS REJECTED INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO FREE POLITICAL PRISONERS AND RETURN NIGERIA TO CIVILIAN RULE, SAYING HE WILL STAY IN POWER UNTIL OCTOBER 1998.
TWO-YEARS AGO, OPPOSITION GROUPS LAUNCHED A CRIPPLING OIL AND GAS STRIKE AROUND THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANNULLED ELECTION TO DEMAND MR. ABIOLA'S RELEASE AND THE IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION OF THE ELECTION RESULTS.
OPPOSITION LEADERS CALLED FOR NIGERIANS TO PROTEST DURING LAST YEAR'S ANNIVERSARY, BUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS WERE STIFLED, IN PART, BECAUSE OF HEIGHTENED SECURITY AND RAINS. (SIGNED)
NEB/WPM/JWH/RAE
12-Jun-96 9:40 AM EDT (1340 UTC) NNNN
Source: Voice of America ..
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Date: 13 Jun 1996 15:00:00 GMT From: momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Fwd: Message-ID: <7358.447755@inform-bbs.dk>
Forwarded by Momodou Camara.
---forwarded mail START--- From: Amnesty_International@io.org,Internet To: Amnesty International Date: 12/06/96 19:58 Subject: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This News Service is posted by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 8DJ (Tel +44-71-413-5500, Fax +44-71-956-1157) Sender: Amnesty_International@post.io.org Precedence: bulk AMNESTY-L: ******************** News Service 105
FOR RELEASE 1400 HRS GMT 12 JUNE 1996 AI INDEX: AMR 51/48/06
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: ELECTRO-SHOCK STUN BELTS -- TORTURE AT THE PUSH OF A BUTTON
The introduction of a remote controlled electro-shock stun belt for use on prisoners in the United States of America (USA) appears designed to degrade and could be used to torture detainees, Amnesty International said today as it called on the US government to ban the use and export of the belt.
~This belt could allow prisoners to be tortured at the push of a button,~ Amnesty International said. ~Not only has this belt been activated accidentally as many times as on purpose, but there is a real possibility that it can be misused by officials to deliberately inflict pain, intimidate, humiliate and degrade prisoners.~
The Remote Electronically Activated Control Technology (REACT) belt inflicts a powerful electric current through the wearer~s left kidney which then passes through the victim~s blood and entire nervous system. The shock causes severe pain rising during the eight seconds and instant incapacitation in the first few seconds.
The REACT belt has been proposed for use on prisoners working in chain gangs in Wisconsin, and is now increasingly being used on prisoners during judicial hearings. Both of these uses are in direct contravention of international standards on the treatment of prisoners, the human rights organization said.
~Given the willingness of US companies and the US government to approve the sale of electro-shock technology to other states where there is clear evidence of the use of this type of equipment to torture prisoners, we are also extremely concerned that these belts will now fall into the hands of torturers,~ the organization added.
Literature distributed by the belt~s manufacturers clearly indicates how using the belt can result in cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment: ~After all, if you were wearing a contraption around your waist that by the mere push of a button in someone else's hand, could make you defecate or urinate yourself, what would you do from the psychological standpoint?~
Wearers are warned that the belt could be activated, from a distance of up to 300 metres, after ~any outburst or quick movement ... any tampering with the belt ... failure to comply with a verbal command for movement of your person ... [and] any loss of visual contact by the officer in charge~.
So far, neither the manufacturers nor the users of the belts have conducted strictly independent medical studies of effects on humans of the belts. In fact, the company cites a doctor in Nebraska who stated that he tested the company~s devices on anaesthetized pigs and they are therefore safe to use on people ~under circumstances of proper usage~.
Data from other electro-shock weapons indicate that the high pulse 50,000 volt shocks lasting eight seconds at a time could result in longer term physical and mental injuries. Although the belt is described as non-lethal, other similar electro-shock weapons used by law enforcement officers in the USA, such as the ~taser~ gun have contributed to deaths.
Despite this, it is reported that the US Bureau of Prisons, as well as the US Marshals~ service and more than 100 county agencies have obtained belts, as well as sixteen state correctional agencies including Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Ohio and Washington.
Amnesty International~s report cites examples of prisoners appearing in US courts wearing such belts which have been activated, including:
~ November 1993: Edward Valdez was incapacitated in front of waiting jurors after he left the courtroom -- ~he screamed and crashed into the wall and fell down, and was out for about a minute...~ -- said the California prosecutor.
~ November 1994: it was reported that a police officer had activated a belt worn by a defendant charged with murder, from outside a courtroom in Florida.
~ December 1994: defendant Bruce Sons was accidentally incapacitated by the belt while talking to his defence attorney during a break in a pre-trial hearing in California.
~ April 1995: James Oswald, a defendant in Wisconsin, was made to wear a stunbelt and shackles despite appearing in court in a wheelchair. Oswald claimed he was stunned twice and his attorney claimed that the belt was part of an attempt by police to torture his client.
Amnesty International is calling on the US government to immediately establish a full, independent and impartial inquiry into the use of stun belts other electro-shock weapons, and to immediately suspend their use until independent medical evidence can clearly demonstrate that their use will not contribute to deaths in custody, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The organization is also calling on the US government to halt the transfer of electro-shock stun technology to governments where there is clear evidence of electro-shock torture -- such as China, the Lebanon, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Zaire. It is reported that in the Netherlands, Scandinavian countries, Switzerland and the United Kingdom electro-shock weapons other than cattle prods are treated as prohibited weapons.
ENDS.../
**********
You may re-post this message onto other sources but if you do then please tell us at AINS@GN.APC.ORG so that we can keep track of what is happening to these items.
If you want more information concerning this item then please contact the Amnesty International section office in your own country. You may also send email to amnesty-info@igc.apc.org, an automatic reply service. A list of section contact details is posted on the APC <ai.news> conference. If there is not a section of Amnesty International in your country then you should contact the International Secretariat in London.END **********
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Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 11:49:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Oumar Ndongo <ondongo@benfranklin.hnet.uci.edu> To: Gambia-L@u.washington.edu Subject: Study project Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960613110448.2692A-100000@benfranklin.hnet.uci.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Dear friends, I am informing those who may be interested that a group of Senegalese scholars is initiating a projet to make an in-depth examination of "the Military and Politics in Democratic Regimes".The Group is open to other nationalities and expect to overcome language barriers to integrate different inputs and experiences across the African continent or the West African sub-region.As probably the assigned coordinator of this Group called "Progres et Democratie", I am interested in finding resource persons or anybody interested in joining the group,to help set orientations and basic bibliography. The project seeks to go beyond the nuts and bolts of militarism by mapping up the "military coup "phenomenon in the region and the context of our democratic institutions.The Group will try not only to explain but also to define a political and judicial space within which,our Armies should be confined to best accomplish their fundamental missions as well as their contributions to strengthening democratic values.The reflection will be publicized to influence positively current trends.Outreach methodologies will be examined to ensure practical implementation of measures taken.Close contacts with military institutions will be favored to foster understanding the issues from within without compromise with regard to democratic imperatives. I will be pleased to receive remarks ,support and bibliographical references.I would appreciate documents found on the topic to be sent to me to the following address: Dr Oumar Ndongo 43, Smokestone( Woodbridge) Irvine,CA 92714(USA) My expected date of return is the first week of September, with God's Grace.
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Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 15:41:04 -0400 From: Gabriel Ndow <gndow@auc.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: constitution Message-ID: <199606131941.PAA24650@auc.edu>
Greetings: I am back. To say that I have been busy would be an understatement. The Gambian July Reunion, the Conference, Celebrate Africa Festival, along with my teaching load for the summer are just some of the reasons. However, I take full responsibility for not posting the Draft Constitution (Please take note of the` word "Draft") as promised. I still do not have the time to scan more than 100 pages ASAP, so I will mail Tony a copy (priority mail) first thing tomorrow morning for her sister to put on the net.
I will put the July Reunion Program on the net tomorrow too. The Conference is still on. As for the ALD one, (which incidentally was a successful one and lasted for six and a half hours!), I would appreciate it if Siga, Tijan, Sulayman, Mbaye or Soffie could give their impressions of the conference to the group. I gather that Ous Mbenga is back in the country (he recorded the entire conference), perhaps those in D.C. could work on a transcript of the proceedings...
I must leave now to pick up the "Reunion" Program.
LatJor
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Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 15:56:42 -0400 From: Gabriel Ndow <gndow@auc.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: new members Message-ID: <199606131956.PAA24691@auc.edu>
Before I leave, I have just added three more names to the list: Baboucarr Sillah (Atlanta), Francis Njie (Chicago) and Nyang Daddy Njie (who is back with us. Now from New York). The intros from the first two will be coming shortly.
Welcome guys. Latjor
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 17:00:29 EDT From: "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: VOA NEWS Message-ID: <13JUN96.18368892.0188.MUSIC@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU>
DATE=6/13/96 TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-33552 TITLE=AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BYLINE=GIL WEINREICH DATELINE=WASHINGTON CONTENT= VOICED AT:
INTRO: ACADEMICS, POLICYMAKERS AND POLITICIANS CAME TOGETHER THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON TO EXCHANGE MANY THEORIES ABOUT HOW TO FOSTER ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA. AFTER A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE V-O-A'S GIL WEINREICH REPORTS NO EASY SOLUTIONS WERE UNVEILED.
TEXT: THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORM. BENIN'S FORMER PRESIDENT, NICEPHORE SOGLO, LED HIS COUNTRY FOR FIVE YEARS AS ITS FIRST DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT AFTER 17 YEARS OF MARXIST DICTATORSHIP.
AN ECONOMIST BY TRAINING, MR. SOGLO REVERSED HIS COUNTRY'S SEVERE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, AND BY THE TIME HE LEFT OFFICE THE COUNTRY HAD A SIX PERCENT ANNUAL GROWTH RATE -- UP FROM NEGATIVE THREE PERCENT WHEN HE TOOK POWER IN 1989. DESPITE WHAT SOME MIGHT CONSIDER TO BE AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD IN OFFICE, MR. SOGLO WAS DEFEATED IN APRIL ELECTIONS. HIS SUCCESSOR IS MATHIEU KEREKOU -- THE FORMER MARXIST DICTATOR HE OUSTED AT THE POLLS IN 1989.
BENIN WAS ONCE THE DARLING OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS AN EXAMPLE OF DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT, BUT SOME FEAR THE COUNTRY RISKS TURNING BACK TOWARD AUTOCRATIC RULE AND ECONOMIC STAGNATION.
HOWEVER, FORMER PRESIDENT SOGLO SAYS HIS COUNTRY'S PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER SHOWS DEMOCRACY IS WORKING:
// SOGLO ACT //
WE MAY NOT ALWAYS LIKE THE RESULTS, BUT WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT ELECTIONS ARE BEING HELD AND POWER IS BEING PEACEFULLY TRANSFERRED.
// END ACT //
MR. SOGLO SEES HIS NEW ROLE AS LEADER OF HIS COUNTRY'S LOYAL OPPOSITION AS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE STRENGTHENING OF DEMOCRATIC RULE IN BENIN. NEVERTHELESS, THE FORMER PRESIDENT CITED AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES WITH SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIES IN ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA AS EVIDENCE THAT DEMOCRACY IS NOT NECESSARY TO BRING ABOUT SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH. STILL, HE BELIEVES THAT HAVING A POPULARLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT IS HELPFUL TO LEADERS WHO MUST ASK CITIZENS TO ENDURE SACRIFICES.
IF DEMOCRACY IS NOT AN IMPEDIMENT TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, SOME WOULD SAY REGIONAL INSTABILITY IS. ANOTHER CONFERENCE PARTICIPANT, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE MOOSE, SAYS CONFLICT IN AFRICA HAS BEEN A REAL OBSTACLE TO DEVELOPMENT.
// MOOSE ACT //
AS PRESIDENT SOGLO WELL KNOWS, YOU CAN BE DOING GREAT AT HOME, BUT IF YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE IS ON FIRE, IT'S GOING TO BE AWFULLY HARD TO ENCOURAGE SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND INVEST IN YOUR ECONOMY.
// END ACT //
THE U-S DIPLOMAT CITED LIBERIA AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE FIRE THAT WEST AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE HAVE TRIED HARD TO PUT OUT FEARING FACTIONAL VIOLENCE WILL SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS ALSO DISCUSSED THE ROLE OF OUTSIDE FORCES IN SHAPING AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS. THERE WAS MUCH TALK ABOUT AID, AND HOW ITS DELIVERY COULD BE IMPROVED; AND TRADE, AND HOW IT SHOULD BE EXPANDED.
U-S CONGRESSMAN JIM MCDERMOTT HAS SPEARHEADED AN INITIATIVE TO OPEN UP U-S-AFRICA TRADE. HIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION CALLS FOR LIFTING QUOTAS ON AFRICAN-MADE TEXTILES AND APPAREL AND THE START OF NEGOTIATIONS TO FORM A U-S AFRICA FREE TRADE AREA. MR. MCDERMOTT SAYS SIMILAR APPROACHES WERE HELPFUL IN ACCELERATING GROWTH IN ASIA IN THE 1950'S. BESIDES BEING BENEFICIAL TO AFRICA, HE ALSO BELIEVES AN APPROACH FOCUSSED ON TRADE IS REALISTIC.
// MCDERMOTT ACT //
THE MONEY FOR AID TO AFRICA IS NOT GOING TO INCREASE. IT IS ONLY GOING TO GO DOWN. NOBODY IN HIS RIGHT MIND LOOKING AT THE CONGRESS THINKS IT'S GOING TO GO UP. SO, IT'S A QUESTION OF HOW DO WE MOST EFFECTIVELY USE THE MONEY AND OUR EFFORT AND HOW DO WE SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD AFRICA.
// END ACT //
CONGRESSMAN MCDERMOTT'S MESSAGE IS THAT REAL, LASTING CHANGE WILL COME WHEN AFRICA MAKES THE NECESSARY ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORMS THAT SUPPORT PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH. HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES CAN HELP BY EXPANDING AFRICA'S ACCESS TO U-S MARKETS, TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE AND CAPITAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/GW/CF
13-Jun-96 10:40 AM EDT (1440 UTC) NNNN
Source: Voice of America ..
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 17:00:37 EDT From: "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: VOA NEWS Message-ID: <13JUN96.18371355.0188.MUSIC@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU>
DATE=6/13/96
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 17:00:45 EDT From: "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: VOA NEWS Message-ID: <13JUN96.18373598.0188.MUSIC@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU>
TYPE=ON THE LINE
NUMBER=1-00435
TITLE=THE UNITED STATES AND NIGERIA
EDITOR=OFFICE OF POLICY - 619-0037
CONTENT=
THEME: UP, HOLD UNDER AND FADE
ANNCR: ON THE LINE -- A DISCUSSION OF UNITED STATES POLICIES AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES.
THIS WEEK, "THE UNITED STATES AND NIGERIA." HERE IS YOUR HOST, ROBERT REILLY.
HOST: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ON THE LINE.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN NIGERIA CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE. OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. JOURNALISTS AND PUBLISHERS HAVE BEEN HARASSED. HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN DETAINED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS. CHIEF MOSHOOD ABIOLA, THE PRESUMED WINNER OF THE 1993 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, REMAINS IN PRISON, AS DOES FORMER PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO. AND EARLIER THIS MONTH, CHIEF ABIOLA'S WIFE WAS MURDERED BY UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN IN THE STREETS OF LAGOS. AS U.S. UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE PETER TARNOFF SAID, "THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY SERIOUS."
JOINING ME TODAY TO DISCUSS NIGERIA AND U.S. POLICY IS JOHN SHATTUCK, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR. WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.
YOU WERE RECENTLY IN NIGERIA, MR. SHATTUCK. WHAT DID YOU DISCOVER DURING THIS TRIP THAT CONFIRMED WHAT YOU PUT IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ABOUT THE DETERIORATING SITUATION?
SHATTUCK: NIGERIA IS A COUNTRY IN SERIOUS CRISIS IN TERMS OF BOTH DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS. THREE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS AN ELECTION AND IT WAS GENERALLY REGARDED AS FREE AND FAIR. AND IT WAS THOUGHT THAT MR. ABIOLA, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, HAD WON THE ELECTION. BUT SOON THEREAFTER, A MILITARY GROUP CAME AND INVALIDATED THE ELECTION AND, BASICALLY, TOOK CHARGE OF THE GOVERNMENT, SAYING THAT NIGERIA WAS NOT READY FOR DEMOCRACY. AND THE RESULT IS THAT OVER THREE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN A STEADY DETERIORATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. WE'VE SEEN SECRET TRIALS. WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE ARRESTED, DETAINED WITHOUT CHARGE. WE'VE SEEN GROUPS IN OPPOSITION WHO HAVE BEEN BASICALLY DECAPITATED, IN TERMS OF HAVING THEIR LEADERS THROWN IN JAIL. WE'VE SEEN JOURNALISTS CONSTANTLY HARASSED AND, IN MANY CASES, PUT IN JAIL FOR WRITING THINGS ABOUT DEMOCRACY. BUT, MOST TRAGICALLY, WE'VE SEEN THAT DEMOCRACY ITSELF, IN THE FORM OF AN ELECTION WHICH WAS WIDELY REGARDED AS FREE AND FAIR, WAS TRAMPLED UPON.
HOST: WHAT ABOUT THE CONTENTION OF THE MILITARY JUNTA THAT NIGERIA IS NOT READY FOR DEMOCRACY, IN TERMS OF THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA. FROM A HORRIBLE CIVIL WAR THIRTY YEARS AGO TO A SUCCESSION OF FIVE MILITARY DICTATORSHIPS, ARE THE SEEDS OF DEMOCRACY FIRMLY ENOUGH ROOTED IN NIGERIA THAT YOU THINK IT'S AT THE STAGE WHERE DEMOCRACY CAN TAKE ROOT?
SHATTUCK: WELL, I THINK FIRST OF ALL, THE '93 ELECTION SPEAKS FOR ITSELF: THE FACT THAT IT WAS WIDELY REGARDED AS FREE AND FAIR AND THE PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN IT. BUT, BEYOND THAT, NIGERIA IS SUCH A WONDERFUL COUNTRY IN TERMS OF THE VIBRANCY OF ITS CIVIL SOCIETY, THE VERY STRONG HISTORY THAT IT HAS OF A RELATIVELY FREE PRESS, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, DEMOCRACY-HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS. YES, IT'S ETHNICALLY VERY DIVERSE AND VERY LARGE. AND POTENTIALLY A TREMENDOUS PLAYER ON THE WORLD STAGE, IN TERMS OF ITS REGIONAL AND EVEN INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE. BUT TO HAVE MILITARY LEADERS COME IN AND BASICALLY MAKE A DECISION CONTRARY TO THE POPULAR WILL IS JUST A FUNDAMENTAL DENIAL OF EVERYTHING THAT DEMOCRACY SHOULD STAND FOR.
HOST: WELL, THE MILITARY RULERS ARE CALLING THEMSELVES THE "PROVISIONAL RULING COUNCIL." HOW PROVISIONAL ARE THEY?
SHATTUCK: WELL, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THEY ARE THE RULING COUNCIL. AND, INDEED, THEY'VE ISSUED DECREES WHICH ARE NOT CHALLENGEABLE IN ANY CIVILIAN COURT, WHICH IS ANOTHER WAY IN WHICH, I THINK, THE MILITARY IS TRYING TO IMPOSE ITS WILL ON BASIC CIVILIAN SOCIETY IN NIGERIA. I THINK THERE IS A TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY THAT THE MILITARY CLAIMS IS UNDERWAY. IT IS VERY SLOW, AND IT IS ALSO MUCH TOO LONG A SCHEDULE. AND, IN OUR VIEW, DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE REESTABLISHED VERY, VERY SOON. ELECTIONS SHOULD BE HELD. AND THE MILITARY SHOULD MAKE WAY FOR THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
HOST: I BELIEVE THAT THE TARGET DATE THAT THE JUNTA HAS SET FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IS OCTOBER 1ST, 1998. AND, PURPORTEDLY, THEY HAVE A SERIES OF ACTIONS THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE TO REACH THAT GOAL. ARE THEY TAKING THOSE ACTIONS? ARE YOU TAKING THEM SERIOUSLY?
SHATTUCK: WELL, THEY'VE TAKEN SEVERAL ACTIONS, BUT I'M AFRAID THE ACTIONS SPEAK IN TWO DIRECTIONS AT ONCE. THERE WERE ELECTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE, NON-PARTY ELECTIONS -- THAT IS, NO POLITICAL ACTIVITY AROUND THOSE ELECTIONS -- IN MARCH FOR LOCAL OFFICES. BUT, MANY OF THE CANDIDATES WERE INVALIDATED BY THE MILITARY, IN THAT THEY WERE SEEN NOT TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE MILITARY REGIME. AND SOME OF THE CANDIDATES WHO WERE ELECTED, WHO HAD BEEN SELECTED AS ACCEPTABLE, WERE LATER DETERMINED NOT TO BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE OFFICE. THAT DOES NOT SEND A VERY GOOD SIGNAL.
HOST: WHY WOULD THIS MILITARY JUNTA OVERRULE A GENERALLY DEMOCRATIC ELECTION, AND THEN TURN AROUND AND SAY, "WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF RESTORING DEMOCRACY." THREE YEARS LATER?
SHATTUCK: WELL, I THINK THE CONCERN ABOUT STABILITY IS CERTAINLY THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN ASSERTED BY THE MILITARY -- AND THE NEED TO STABILIZE THE COUNTRY. BUT, THE TRAGEDY IS THAT, BY REPRESSING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, AND THROWING MANY IN JAIL WHO WERE ENGAGED IN LEGITIMATE POLITICAL ACTIVITY, THERE IS EVEN GREATER INSTABILITY, I THINK, AS A RESULT. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN SOME VERY HIGH-PROFILE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. THE WORLD KNOWS OF THE EXECUTION OF KEN SARO-WIWA AND THE OGONI EIGHT WHO WERE EXECUTED FOR ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY, IN A TRIAL THAT WAS WIDELY REGARDED AS FUNDAMENTALLY LACKING IN DUE PROCESS, BEFORE A MILITARY TRIBUNAL WITH NO LAWYERS AND NO RIGHTS TO APPEAL. SO, THE WORLD WILL NEVER KNOW THE TRUTH IN THE SARO-WIWA CASE. BUT, THIS IS EXACTLY THE EARMARK OF THIS MILITARY JUNTA, I'M AFRAID.
HOST: IT MAY SPEAK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE HEALTH OF INDIGENOUS INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA THAT THE JUNTA HAS HAD TO GO AROUND THE NORMAL COURT STRUCTURE IN NIGERIA TO PROSECUTE THESE PEOPLE WITH THESE SPECIAL TRIBUNALS, WHERE, OF COURSE, THERE IS NO RECOURSE TO DUE PROCESS. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF OTHER BASIC, FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS, LIKE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS? AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY HAVE A VIBRANT PRESS IN NIGERIA. IS IT ABLE TO OPERATE?
SHATTUCK: WELL, THERE IS A HISTORY OF A VIBRANT PRESS, AND THERE ARE SOME BRAVE PEOPLE CONTINUING TO TRY TO FUNCTION IN THAT CAPACITY. BUT, AGAIN, IT IS A HIGHLY RISKY ENTERPRISE. REPORTERS HAVE BEEN THROWN IN JAIL. I MET WITH THE FAMILIES OF A NUMBER OF PRISONERS WHILE I WAS THERE. REPORTERS THROWN IN JAIL FOR WRITING ARTICLES ABOUT A COUP PLOT THAT WAS ALLEGED BY THE GOVERNMENT, WHERE SOME GOVERNMENT SOURCES HAD SAID THERE WAS NO COUP PLOT. AS A RESULT OF WRITING AN ARTICLE THAT THERE WAS NO COUP PLOT, THE REPORTERS WERE IMPRISONED FIRST FOR LIFE IMPRISONMENT, AND THEN THEIR SENTENCES HAVE BEEN REDUCED. ANOTHER CASE INVOLVED SOMEONE WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR FAXING INFORMATION OUT OF THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE PRISON CONDITIONS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS AND HERE ON THE GROUND THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY. I MEAN, WE HAVE A TRAGIC AND ORWELLIAN KIND OF JUSTIFICATION TO A LOT OF THESE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT THE MILITARY CLAIMS ARE TO STABILIZE THE COUNTRY, BUT IN FACT, HAVE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE IMPACT.
HOST: YOU SPOKE A MOMENT AGO ABOUT THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF NIGERIA FOR THE FUTURE OF AFRICA, AFTER ALL IT IS THE LARGEST COUNTRY IN TERMS OF POPULATION -- OVER A HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE -- AND HAS TREMENDOUS RESOURCES IN OIL AND GAS. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO THE FUTURE OF AFRICA IN TERMS OF THE KINDS OF DEMOCRATIC TRENDS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE?
SHATTUCK: NIGERIA IS ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT AS A LARGE COUNTRY, A DIVERSE COUNTRY, A COUNTRY WITH TREMENDOUS NATURAL RESOURCES AND A COUNTRY THAT CAN PLAY AND HAS PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN PEACEKEEPING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION AND INDEED, AROUND THE WORLD. FOR THAT REASON IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THE TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY BE ACCELERATED AND THAT THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES THAT I HAVE BEEN DESCRIBING BE ELIMINATED AND THAT THE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA BE ALLOWED TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN CIVIL SOCIETY IN PEACE AND TRANQUILITY.
HOST: IN RESPONSE TO THE EXECUTION OF KEN SARO-WIWA AND THE OTHER OGONI ACTIVISTS, NIGERIA WAS PUT ON PROBATION OR DISMISSED FROM THE COMMONWEALTH FOR TWO YEARS. THE EUROPEAN UNION CALLED FOR AN ARMS EMBARGO. WHAT OTHER ACTIONS WERE TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO THAT FLAGRANT ABUSE AND HAS IT HAD AN EFFECT ON THE RULERS OF NIGERIA?
SHATTUCK: THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASINGLY TOUGH SET OF SANCTIONS OF THE KIND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DESCRIBING THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED. THE UNITED STATES HAS JOINED WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN PREVENTING LEADERS OF THE NIGERIAN PROVISIONAL RULING COUNCIL FROM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES AND FROM GETTING VISAS HERE. WE'VE ALSO APPLIED AN ARMS EMBARGO OURSELVES AS WELL AS MANY OTHER COUNTRIES. IT'S NOW VERY MUCH ON THE AGENDA OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THOSE SANCTIONS TO SEND A VERY STRONG MESSAGE TO THIS RULING REGIME THAT IT MUST FULLY TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY. THIS WILL BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE EUROPEAN UNION WHEN IT MEETS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON IN THE COMING WEEK AND ALSO AT THE G-7 SUMMIT IN LYONS, FRANCE.
HOST: AND OF COURSE, AT THE TIME THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I BELIEVE, PASSED A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THOSE EXECUTIONS. ECONOMICALLY, ASIDE FROM AN ARMS EMBARGO, IS ANYTHING BEING CONTEMPLATED?
SHATTUCK: WE HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE RULING NOTHING OUT, WE THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT'S ALSO BEEN MADE CLEAR BY OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH GROUP, ETC. ALL ECONOMIC MEASURES WILL BE CONSIDERED, BUT I THINK IT'S MOST LIKELY THAT ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT ARE AIMED PRECISELY AT THOSE IN THE REGIME THEMSELVES SO THAT IT WILL NOT HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE, THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF MEASURES THAT THE WORLD IS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF INCREASED SANCTIONS.
HOST: THE UNITED STATES, I BELIEVE, IS THE LARGEST PURCHASER OF NIGERIAN OIL. HAVE WE CONSIDERED A BOYCOTT OF NIGERIAN OIL?
SHATTUCK: WE HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT NO ISSUE IS BEING RULED OUT, AND WE'RE CONSULTING WITH OUR ALLIES AND OTHER VERY CONCERNED COUNTRIES ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO TAKE.
HOST: WHAT IS THE NEXT THING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NIGERIAN REGIME DO?
SHATTUCK: I THINK RELEASING POLITICAL PRISONERS IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. THERE IS WHAT EFFECTIVELY AMOUNTS TO A NIGERIAN GULAG RIGHT NOW. POLITICAL PRISONERS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE NORTHERN PART OF NIGERIA, MANY OF THEM VERY FAR FROM THEIR FAMILIES, BEING HELD WITH NO CHARGES IN SOME CASES, AND IN OTHER CASES WITH VERY LIMITED AND FALSE CHARGES. THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE RELEASED AS AN INDICATION THAT THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY OF ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY AND THEN POLITICAL PARTIES BE ALLOWED TO BEGIN TO FORM.
HOST: ASIDE FROM THE HIGH PROFILE PRISONERS WE'VE MENTIONED, SUCH AS CHIEF ABIOLA, HOW MANY POLITICAL PRISONERS ARE THERE? DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA?
SHATTUCK: WE KNOW OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST FIVE-THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER SO-CALLED DECREE NUMBER TWO AND WE OFTEN DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY'RE HELD, BUT THEY'RE HELD FOR SOMETIMES PERIODS OF MORE THAN A YEAR. SO THERE ARE CERTAINLY THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS IN NIGERIA WHO ARE CAUGHT UP IN THIS POLITICAL REPRESSION THAT WE'VE BEEN DESCRIBING.
HOST: I HAVE A RATHER STARTLING STATEMENT FROM THE NIGERIAN NOBEL PRIZE WINNING AUTHOR, WOLE SOYINKA. LET ME READ IT TO YOU. HE SAID, "NIGERIA HAS BECOME A REGIONAL MENACE, A CONTINENTAL MENACE." DO YOU AGREE WITH THA,T THAT THIS IS NOT JUST AN INTERNAL PROBLEM THAT THERE COULD BE A SPILLOVER?
SHATTUCK: THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH NIGERIA THAT COULD SPILL OVER. I MEAN THERE IS NOT ONLY THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. BUT NIGERIA WAS RECENTLY NAMED BY A GROUP, AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION CALLED TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL, AS THE MOST CORRUPT COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF DOING BUSINESS. IT'S ALSO THE SOURCE OF A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DRUG TRAFFICKING, NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING AND CRIME. THE TRAGEDY IS THAT THE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA ALL WANT TO BE FREED FROM THESE SCOURGES AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO ALLOW DEMOCRACY TO TAKE ROOT.
HOST: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HIGH-PROFILE AMERICAN BUSINESSES OPERATING INSIDE NIGERIA, MAINLY IN THE ENERGY SECTOR. HOW ARE THEY BEHAVING IN THIS SITUATION?
SHATTUCK: I THINK THEY'RE CERTAINLY CONCERNED AND THEY, I THINK, HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN THE TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY THAT MUST BE ACCELERATED AND THEY'VE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR THEMSELVES. OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE THERE FOR ECONOMIC REASONS.
HOST: HOW DID THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT RESPOND TO YOUR CONCERNS WHEN YOU MET WITH THEM DIRECTLY IN NIGERIA? DID YOU MEET WITH GENERAL ABACHA?
SHATTUCK: I DID NOT MEET WITH GENERAL ABACHA. HE HAS NOT MET WITH FOREIGN VISITORS FOR SOME TIME NOW. I MET WITH MANY OTHER HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS AND I THINK THE MEETINGS WERE VERY POSITIVE IN THE SENSE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL FROM THE UNITED STATES HOW SERIOUS WE VIEW THE CRISIS IN NIGERIA OF HUMAN RIGHTS. I MET WITH ONE OFFICIAL WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME CHARACTERIZED NIGERIA AS HAVING POLITICAL PRISONERS. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO HAVE MADE THAT POINT PUBLICLY.
HOST: MOVING TO ANOTHER AREA OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT WHERE I KNOW YOU VISITED PRIOR TO GOING TO NIGERIA WHERE, OF COURSE, THERE IS A LOT CONCERN AND FOCUS ABOUT NOW, IS BURUNDI AND THE POTENTIAL FOR ETHNIC STRIFE TO EXPLODE AND HAVE A REPLICATION OF THE HORROR IN RWANDA FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO. WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THAT SITUATION?
SHATTUCK: BURUNDI IS A COUNTRY WRACKED BY VIOLENCE AND TRAGICALLY BEING PRESSED BY POLITICAL EXTREMES ON BOTH SIDES, PEOPLE WHO ARE MANIPULATING ETHNIC DIFFERENCES FOR THEIR OWN ADVANTAGE. WE'VE SEEN SPIRALING VIOLENCE IN RECENT MONTHS. I VISITED A REFUGEE CAMP OUTSIDE OF BUJUMBURA WHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT A MACHINEGUN HAD BEEN SET UP BY A PRESUMED MILITIA ORGANIZATION AND THEY HAD FIRED POINT-BLANK DIRECTLY INTO THE REFUGEE HOUSING, KILLING EIGHT PEOPLE AND WOUNDING THIRTY-TWO. AND THIS WAS APPARENTLY IN RETALIATION FOR AN ATTACK BY EXTREMISTS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A HOSPITAL IN BUJUMBURA WHERE TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A MATERNITY WARD. THESE ARE THE HORRORS OF CIVILIAN VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS.
HOST: I KNOW THE RED CROSS WORKERS HAVE NOW FLED BURUNDI BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING KILLED; U-N AGENCY PEOPLE ARE PULLING OUT. IS THERE ANYTHING THE U.S. CAN DO TO STOP THIS SPIRAL OF VIOLENCE?
SHATTUCK: THE UNITED STATES IS VERY DEEPLY ENGAGED IN SEEKING TO DO SO. MOST IMPORTANTLY BY SUPPORTING THE PEACE PROCESS THAT FORMER PRESIDENT JULIUS NYERERE OF TANZANIA IS HEADING UP BUT ALSO BY STRENGTHENING THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING ACTIVITIES IN BURUNDI AND ALSO PLANNING, DOING CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A MISSION THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO END THE VIOLENCE. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE THROUGH VERY HIGH-LEVEL DIPLOMATIC MEANS MOST RECENTLY TONY LAKE, THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO BURUNDIAN LEADERS ABOUT THE NEED TO PULL BACK FROM THIS TERRIBLE SCOURGE OF VIOLENCE THAT IS GRIPPING THEIR COUNTRY.
HOST: I'M AFRAID THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS WEEK. I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR GUEST -- JOHN SHATTUCK, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR -- FOR JOINING ME TO DISCUSS NIGERIA AND U.S. POLICY. THIS IS ROBERT REILLY FOR ON THE LINE.
13-Jun-96 3:37 PM EDT (1937 UTC) NNNN
Source: Voice of America ..
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Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 17:00:53 EDT From: "BOJANG,MAMBUNA" <MBOJANG@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU> To: <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: VOA NEWS Message-ID: <13JUN96.18376224.0188.MUSIC@MUSIC.TRANSY.EDU>
DATE=6/13/96 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-198687 TITLE=NIGERIA/ABIOLA BYLINE=PURNELL MURDOCK DATELINE=ABIDJAN CONTENT= VOICED AT:
*INTRO: NIGERIAN POLICE HAVE DETAINED THE ELDEST SON OF JAILED OPPOSITION LEADER MOSHOOD ABIOLA. THE SON IS BEING QUESTIONED IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE MURDER LAST WEEK OF MR. ABIOLA'S WIFE, KUDIRAT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS FROM OUR WEST AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT: ARCHIBONG NKANA, DEPUTY INSPECTOR-GENERAL FOR NIGERIA'S FEDERAL INTELLIGENCE AND INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU, SAYS KOLA ABIOLA HAS BEEN HELD SINCE TUESDAY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS FAMILY.
INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOT CHARGED THE 33-YEAR-OLD SON OF MOSHOOD ABIOLA WITH ANY CRIME, BUT SAY HE WILL REMAIN IN CUSTODY FOR AS LONG AS HE IS NEEDED. THEY SAY THE INFORMATION HE CAN PROVIDE ABOUT THE FAMILY IS USEFUL TO THE INVESTIGATION.
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ABIOLA FAMILY ARE ALSO BEING QUESTIONED. INVESTIGATORS SAY IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO QUESTION FAMILY MEMBERS IN A MURDER INVESTIGATION.
POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE MURDER LAST WEEK OF KUDIRAT ABIOLA, THE SENIOR WIFE OF DETAINED OPPOSITION LEADER MOSHOOD ABIOLA. MRS. ABIOLA WAS SHOT DEAD BY UNKNOWN GUNMEN WHILE RIDING IN HER CAR. THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE CASE.
MR. ABIOLA, A MUSLIM, HAS SEVERAL WIVES AND MANY CHILDREN. KOLA ABIOLA'S MOTHER WAS THE OPPOSITION LEADER'S FIRST WIFE. BUT AFTER HER DEATH IN 1992, KUDIRAT BECAME THE SENIOR WIFE.
OBSERVERS SAY ATTENTION MAY HAVE FOCUSED ON THE ABIOLA FAMILY BECAUSE OF THEIR OFTEN PUBLIC DISAGREEMENTS REGARDING THE HANDLING OF MR. ABIOLA'S LEGAL AFFAIRS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, KOLA ABIOLA, THE ELDEST STEPSON, ASKED THE COURT TO DISMISS THE LAWYER CHOSEN BY HIS STEPMOTHER. BUT KUDIRAT ABIOLA'S REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE DISMISSAL CAUSED SQUABBLES. AMONG THE FAMILY MEMBERS.
BEFORE HER DEATH LAST WEEK, MRS. ABIOLA HAD CHAMPIONED THE CAMPAIGN TO FREE HER HUSBAND AND TO INSTALL HIM AS PRESIDENT BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE 1993 ELECTION.
MOSHOOD ABIOLA IS WIDELY BELIEVED TO HAVE WON THE POLL, WHICH WOULD HAVE RESTORED CIVILIAN RULE IN NIGERIA. HOWEVER THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT ANNULLED THE ELECTION, CHARGING WIDESPREAD FRAUD IN THE POLLING. MR. ABIOLA, A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN, HAS BEEN IN DETENTION FOR TWO YEARS FACING TREASON CHARGES FOR PROCLAIMING HIMSELF PRESIDENT IN DEFIANCE OF THE MILITARY. (SIGNED)
NEB/WPM/KL
13-Jun-96 3:55 PM EDT (1955 UTC) NNNN
Source: Voice of America ..
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Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 15:25:04 -0400 From: Gabriel Ndow <gndow@auc.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: new member Message-ID: <199606141925.PAA27264@auc.edu>
Greetings:
I would like to introduce our newest member, Moe Jallow who lives in Atlanta. He will be introducing himself shortly to the group.
LatJor
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Date: 14 Jun 1996 20:14:02 GMT From: momodou@inform-bbs.dk (Momodou Camara) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Fwd: Images of Africa Message-ID: <1261961215.677176@inform-bbs.dk>
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dansk version: (English version below) * * * * NB: You are welcome to forward this announcement: * * * *
Images of Africa
Danmarks stoerste festival, Images of Africa, starter fredag den 14. juni kl 12.00. Festivalen er verdens stoerste afrikanske kulturfestival i 1996.
Bor du i Koebenhavn eller omegn, saa kom til Images of Africa festivalens markedstelt pa Frue Plads. Her har Djembe og Dapamda en stand med tre computere, hvor du kan surfe gratis pa World Wide Web. Markedsteltet er aabent i tre uger - fra den 14. juni til den 6. juli.
I Aarhus stiller Kulturambulancen ligeledes tre computere op i markedsteltet ved Musikhuset, i ugen fra den 20. juni-31. juni
Hvis du selv har en web-forbindelse, saa besoeg os paa http://www.djembe.dk/ioa/ - hvor du ogsa finder det fulde program for festivalens mange arrangementer og aktiviteter - eller "Surf Afrika" paa http://www.djembe.dk/afrika/
Bedste hilsner,
Djembe-redaktionen
* * * * * * * * * * Images of Africa - the largest African cultural festival in the world - is opened on Friday the 14th of June in Denmarks capital, Copenhagen. Prominent guests and artists from all over the African continent has arrived to the international airport in hundreds, and during the next three weeks, several hundred concerts, conferences and events are going to take place all over the country.
If you live near Copenhagen, then come to the Images of Africa market tent at Frue Plads. Here, Djembe and Dapamda has opened an "online service" with three computers where you can surf on the World Wide Web for free. The market-tent is opened for three weeks - from the 14th of June to the 6th of July. We expect app. 200.000 visitors in this period.
In Aarhus, Kulturambulancen also places three computers in the market tent at Musikhuset, in the week from the 20th of June til the 30th of June.
If you have a connection to the Web, please come and visit us at http://www.djembe.dk/ioa/ - where you will also find the full programme for concerts, performances, lectures, etc. - or visit our springboard to Africa on the net, "Surf Afrika", at URL: http://www.djembe.dk/afrika/
With regards,
Djembe Magazine, editorial staff
---forwarded mail END---
--- OffRoad 1.9o registered to Momodou Camara
************************************** Sent via Inform-BBS -Denmark's leading alternative network Information: info@inform-bbs.dk **************************************
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Date: Sun, 16 Jun 1996 00:31:08 -0400 From: SillahB@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Fwd: Re: SUBSCRIBE GAMBIA-L B... Message-ID: <960616003107_415089632@emout18.mail.aol.com>
--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Re: SUBSCRIBE GAMBIA-L Babouc... Date: 96-06-15 02:09:39 EDT From: SillahB To: listproc@u.washington.edu
I am finally glad to come on board...procrastinated for too long because of lack of time. I am on my 11th year in the States, living in the Olympic city for most it....degreed about six years ago, stopped about midway to graduate degree completion to pursue a goal of opening a grocerey store...achieved that goal about ten days ago in East Point, Ga$$$$JAMAAH GROCERIES$$$$ I am married to a wonderful lady Absa, we have a four year old boy called Musa, and we are expecting our second in Nov., hopefully a girl. Currently, I am the Secretary of the Gambian Organization in Atlanta, and with the upcoming July 4th festivities in addition to the store you can imagine how busy I gotta be. I love soccer with a passion, as I also co-ordinate the Dodou Mbye Memorial Tournament during the July 4th weekend. I will give you the results later. Feel free to drop a mail at any time...I am not embarassed to discuss anything and I'm very open minded....Nice to meet you all!
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End of GAMBIA-L Digest 20 *************************
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