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Momodou
Denmark
11507 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Jun 2021 : 15:39:40
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GAMBIA-L Digest 59
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: Africa-How bad is it ?
by binta@iuj.ac.jp
2) Re:Domestic violence from CNN
by binta@iuj.ac.jp
3) Re: Female Genital Mutilation.
by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
4) Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
by binta@iuj.ac.jp
5) apology
by "ALPHA ROBINSON" <garob1@cip.hx.uni-paderborn.de>
6) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
7) RE: Female Genital Mutilation.
by Ebrima Jawara <aeujawra@reading.ac.uk>
8) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT/ LONG
by Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU>
9) Fwd: NIGERIA-ECONOMY: Keeping Out the Dirty Laundry
by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
10) Fwd: DEVELOPMENT: Governments Lag in Social Commitments
by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
11) Fwd: SIERRA LEONE: Donors Hesitate to Fund
by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
12) (Fwd) Update on Daily Observer Online (strat. com)
by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
13) (OLD) INVITATION TO OUR NEW MEMBERS!!
by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
14) Re: Gambian/Malian Businessman jailed
by Lamin Camara <masada@octonline.com>
15) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT/ LONG/COMMITTE MEMBERS
by MJagana@aol.com
16) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT/ LONG/COMMITTE MEMBERS
by binta@iuj.ac.jp
17) FGM
by Muwanaidi Syonya Abdalla <9420057@talabah.iiu.my>
18) Re: Tobaski
by KBadjie338@aol.com
19) Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
20) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
21) Re: Africa: How bad is it?
by Serigne Mamadou <9220373@talabah.iiu.my>
22) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by J GAYE <J.Gaye@Bradford.ac.uk>
23) The banking question
by "Per E. Grotnes" <perg@nfh.uit.no>
24) Re: ISSUE OF PRIVATE MAILS
by "M'BAI OF" <O.F.M'Bai@icsl.ac.uk>
25) Re: ISSUE OF PRIVATE MAILS
by "M'BAI OF" <O.F.M'Bai@icsl.ac.uk>
26) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by Abdou Gibba <Abdou.Gibba@smr.uib.no>
27) new member
by Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu>
28) Re: Female Genital Mutilation.
by Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu>
29) RE: Female Genital Mutilation.
by Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu>
30) Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
by "Dr. S. G. Kamara" <73244.2701@CompuServe.COM>
31) Re: Tobaski
by umjawara@cc.UManitoba.CA
32) Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
33) New Member
by sarian@osmosys.incog.com (Sarian Loum)
34) Re: Female Genital Mutilation. (fwd)
by "E.Semega-Janneh" <E.Semega-Janneh@law.hull.ac.uk>
35) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by "PA-MAMBUNA O. BOJANG" <paomar@iglou.com>
36) Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
37) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by Abdou Gibba <Abdou.Gibba@smr.uib.no>
38) Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
by Abdou Gibba <Abdou.Gibba@smr.uib.no>
39) Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
by "ALPHA ROBINSON" <garob1@cip.hx.uni-paderborn.de>
40) Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
by "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu>
41) Re: New member -Reply
by Yaikah Jeng <YJENG@PHNET.SPH.JHU.EDU>
42) Fwd: SIERRA LEONE-POLITICS: Peace Process Under Siege
by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
43) New Member
by sarian@osmosys.incog.com (Sarian Loum)
44) New Member
by Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us>
45) Fwd: Opposition says Gambian cabinet unconstitutional.
by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
46) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU>
47) Re: Opposition says Gambian cabinet unconstitutional.
by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
48) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by ahmed tijan deen <tijan@wam.umd.edu>
49) Re: NGO/Initiative Info Request
by ahmed tijan deen <tijan@wam.umd.edu>
50) Re: Opposition says Gambian cabinet unconstitutional.
by Tamsir Mbai <mba4224@etbu.edu>
51) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
52) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
53) Jammeh's Cabinet/ Lattir-Downes & Tamsir
by "Dr. S. G. Kamara" <73244.2701@CompuServe.COM>
54) FWDing an Intro
by ABDOU <at137@columbia.edu>
55) Fwd: Mugabe's Vision of New Africa
by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
56) Meningitis in West Africa.
by Mbk007@aol.com
57) Fwd: Man Pays for School Band Trip
by Mbk007@aol.com
58) Re: NGO/Initiative Info Request
by "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu>
59) ZIMBABWE / ILLEGALS (L ONLY) By LAWRENCE BARTLETT/HARARE
by Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us>
60) Re: NGO/Initiative Info Request
by Andrea Klumpp <klumpp@kar.dec.com>
61) Re: FWDing an Intro
by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
62) Re: Fwd: Man Pays for School Band Trip
by "Inqs." <nfaal@is2.dal.ca>
63) Re: Female Genital Mutilation.
by Andrea Klumpp <klumpp@kar.dec.com>
64) MAN PAYS FOR SCHOOL BAND TRIP
by Mbk007@aol.com
65) circumcision once again
by =?iso-8859-1?Q?Asbj=F8rn_Nordam?= <asbjorn.nordam@dif.dk>
66) Re: circumcision once again
by Francis Njie <francis_njie@il.us.swissbank.com>
67) Re: Tobaski
by MANSALA@aol.com
68) Re: circumcision once again
by Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu>
69) Re: Tobaski
by ABALM@aol.com
70) Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
by Yaya Jallow <yj0001@jove.acs.unt.edu>
71) Self Intro
by fjanneh@juno.com (Fatou K Janneh)
72) (Part1) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED
by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
73) RE: Self Intro
by MAKE THAT VISION A REALITY <ABARROW@rr5.rr.intel.com>
74) circumcision
by =?iso-8859-1?Q?Asbj=F8rn_Nordam?= <asbjorn.nordam@dif.dk>
75) FWD:SENEGAL
by "Jobarteh, Momodou" <Momodou.Jobarteh@hordaland.vegvesen.telemax.no>
76) Re: circumcision once again
by Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu>
77) Fwd: F.Y.I
by sarian@osmosys.incog.com (Sarian Loum)
78) Fwd: UNITED NATIONS: UNDP Unearths Six-Million-Dollar Fraud
by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
79) Subscribing for the Daily observer
by "PA-MAMBUNA O. BOJANG" <paomar@iglou.com>
80) THE BUCK, THAT IS THE QUESTION!!!!!!
by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
81) New member
by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
82) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by Andrea Klumpp <klumpp@kar.dec.com>
83) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by "William O'Donnell" <billod@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu>
84) position announcement
by "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu>
85) FWD:Rex looks up to diamonds
by "Jobarteh, Momodou" <Momodou.Jobarteh@hordaland.vegvesen.telemax.no>
86) Transfer of presidential powers.
by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
87) Gambians at University of Michigan??
by "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu>
88) How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
by Senessie Turay <9210077@talabah.iiu.my>
89) Re: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
by Yaya Jallow <yj0001@jove.acs.unt.edu>
90) Re: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
by TOURAY1@aol.com
91) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
by Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU>
92) Re: Transfer of presidential powers.
by Tamsir Mbai <mba4224@etbu.edu>
93) Re: Transfer of presidential powers.
by Mbk007@aol.com
94) Re: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
by Mbk007@aol.com
95) Subscribe Daily Observer
by iscorr@total.net (Ebrima Sama Corr)
96) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED (PART1)
by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
97) Re: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
by "NJIE OMAR E" <964NJIE@alpha.nlu.edu>
98) (PART2) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED
by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
99) African women and peace (fwd)
by mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 17:09:14 JST +900
From: binta@iuj.ac.jp
To: Yaya Jallow <yj0001@jove.acs.unt.edu>
Cc: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Africa-How bad is it ?
Message-ID: <199703090804.RAA09144@mlsv.iuj.ac.jp>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Yaya,
Thanks for a good piece. I can see that you are a good advocate of
private-sector led growth. A paradigm that continues to pervade the
international economic circles as a 'panacea' to our problems.
Coincidentally, I worked in the Ministry of Trade and Industry in
the Gambia where the catch phrase was this same 'private sector growth'
thing. I have always subscribed to it, while taking due cognisance of
my country's social, economic and political structure. It is true that
the private sector can serve as an engine of growth, especially if the
necessary institutional mechanisms are in place. But here is where the
problem is,and it's here that the imperfections of the market mechanism
manifest themselves. In a bid to encourage foreign(private)investment,
the government put in place an Investment code' that gives tax and
import duty privileges to a whole set of industries, some of which I
believe do not deserve it. Take for example that a dealer in gold and
other precious metals could be given import duty exemption. Tell me,
what sort of economic linkages does this have with the nation? Put
differently, how does this aid in national development? While the
role of government must be well defined and curtailed to the rational
minimum, perhaps our state of development necessitates government
intervention.
On the issue of education, maybe I failed to communicate well. But how
could I criticise the acquisition of education for personal well-being
if I myself is engaged in that very act? Wouldn't that be ridiculous?
My contention is that if we seek education only to fill our pockets
without the realisation that our education is more a means to bettering
the lot of our people, then that education is defective. In the
process of serving our people, it is but fitting that we maintain a
lifestyle commensurate to our contribution. Unfettered personal
greed may foster development, but I wish to maintain that greed is not
a virtue. A system that feeds on greed will inevitably implode. In
this situation, the addition of the parts produces a sum that is far
less. Equally put, in that society, the riches of those individuals
will not manifest itself in a better society. Let me state my position
on education more succinctly: Even religion has enjoined on us the
acquisition of 'education even unto China'. Education is the backbone
of development and it must be seen as such. But if we take it to be
merely a means to personal enrichment and stop there, then that
education is not as useful to society as one that is more a means to
both personal and societal enhancement. Oh! Maybe I have made my
point even more hazier! A practical Gambian example is the way
students (educated people) are visualised by our older people.
I am sure you must have once done something 'wrong' while you were
young and an elder retorted by saying ' oh, these students'. You
know what that means. Sorry if my statement is still unclear....
Once again, thank you for your illuminating views.
Lamin.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 18:10:04 JST +900
From: binta@iuj.ac.jp
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re:Domestic violence from CNN
Message-ID: <199703090905.SAA09585@mlsv.iuj.ac.jp>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
The issue of domestic violence rages on even in monogamous Russia!
Lamin.
Domestic abuse:
Russia's tragic,
hidden secret
>From Moscow Bureau Chief Eileen O'Connor
MOSCOW (CNN) -- For police officers at militia station No. 118,
responding to complaints of domestic abuse is a nightly, often
fruitless drill.
On a recent evening, they arrive at an apartment to find a frightened
woman, threatened by a drunken husband. Police lead him away.
The wife, however, refuses to file a complaint and there is no arrest.
And no guarantee the situation won't happen again.
"We get two or three calls a night," Officer Victor Ivanovich said.
"Usually it's tied to alcohol." But severe housing shortages also make
tempers flare. Because of the scant supply of apartments, even many
divorced couples are forced to live together -- often with tragic
results.
It is estimated that 60 percent of the women murdered in Russia every
year are killed by their husbands. Domestic violence occurs in 25
percent of Russian families. Yet it is rarely discussed.
At a recently opened crisis center, workers don't field many calls,
because not many women know they can or should get help.
"There is no awareness yet that violence is not allowed. I mean,
legally it is not allowed. Very often, even neighbors, they would
rather blame a woman, a battered woman, than help her," said Marina
Besplokhova, director of the center.
Help came too late for Natalya Ivanovna, convicted of killing her
husband. She says she acted in desperation after complaining for years
of abuse. Ivanovna went to thepolice and, ultimately, the courts for
relief but got nowhere. She was refused a divorce.
"This went on for 10 years. And during the entire 10 years, no one
tried to help her," said Ivanovna's attorney, Vera Strebizhe.
Strebizhe, who carries around Ivanovna's journal of abuse, is once
again appealing to the courts on her client's behalf. But this time she
is appealing for the woman's freedom.
Ivanovna was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her husband's death.
It was her way of finding an answer.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 09 Mar 1996 15:10:48 +0300
From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Female Genital Mutilation.
Message-ID: <31417548.6435@QATAR.NET.QA>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Ebrima Jawara wrote:
>
> FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
>
> Or female circumcsion as it is sometimes called, is widely practised in
> The Gambia. The 'operation' is rarely performed with surgical tools,
> skill, any knowledge of anatomy or the use of anaesthetics.
>
> Its aim is to prepare girls for marriage by helping to ensure their
> premarital purity. It lessens sexual desire, and so reduces the temptation
> for girls and women to have intercourse before marriage - very important
> where virginity is an absolute prerequisite for a bride-to-be. Some Moslem
> groups beleive it is demanded by the Islamic faith. Any proof of this?
> Other groups hold beliefs about human biology and use circumcision as
> contraception. In some cultures, female genitals are considered unclean,
> and circumcision serves literally to smooth and ritually purify them.
>
> Genital Mutilation has staggering physical and mental health consequences
> for women. Infections (frequently fatal), haemorrhage, and other extreme
> long-term physical complications are common. The extent and degree of
> sexual and mental health problems can only be guessed at, because
> circumcised women are often hesitant to discuss a subject that means
> little to them, or is embarrassing - their sexuality.
>
> THE ABOVE WAS TAKEN FROM WOMEN IN THE WORLD.
>
> I do believe that: Female Genital Mutilation is PRIMITIVE and BARBARIC.
> With no real place in a modern society. However one's culture should be
> respected and preserved,
> But at what cost? Is it good for the society as a whole? The whole act of
> female circumcision is a strain on already stretched medical services. The
> women have to see gynaecologists for horrendous complications brought
> about by the primitive butchering of their private parts. The celebrations
> cost a lot of money. The families have to give sacrifices as well as pay a
> fee to have their daughters ciurcumcised. Costing more money. Any type of
> development must include increases in life expectancy and the general
> welfare of the whole of the society. By mutilating women are we not
> depriving them of their own development, and thus the development of the
> country? I will do my bit to eradicate this primitive act by ensuring that
> any daughters I do have in the future will not be subjected to any forms
> of genital mutilation. If one other person reading this long and perhaps
> boring piece, should decide that their daughters will not be mutilated, I
> think some good would have been done.
>
> I HOPE I HAVE NOT OFFENDED ANYONE, AND IF I HAVE, I DO APPOLOGISE. ANY
> FEEDBACK, NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
>
> GOD BLESS,
>
> EBRIMA JAWARA.
MR.JAWARA!!
THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR ANALYSIS IS THAT YOU TOLD US ONLY
THE BAD ASPECTS OF FEMALE CIRCUMCISION.THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE BEST
QUALIFIED TO EXPLAIN OUR CULTURE TO THE WORLD ARE WE OURSELVES.YOU AND I
KNOW THAT THE LAST REMAINING BASTION OF AFRICAN PEDAGOGY IS THE SCHOOL
OF CIRCUMCISION.NOWADAYS,THE ONLY TIME THAT OUR ELDERS COULD TEACH US
PURE AFRICAN VALUES NOT DISTORTED EITHER BY ISLAM OR CHRISTIANITY IS
WHEN WE GO TO THIS SCHOOL.THAT IS WHY I AM SOMEWHAT SAD
THAT YOUR ANALYSIS SOUNDS LIKE THE AUTHOR WAS BORN IN OTTAWA OR GENEVA
OR .... IT IS TOTALLY UNFAIR TO REDUCE THE ENTIRE THREE OR SO MONTHS OF
INTENSIVE SCHOOLING TO JUST THE CHOPPING OFF OF THE CLITORIS OR THAT
ADDITIONAL FLESH AROUND THE PENIS.ITS MUCH MORE THAN THAT,AND YOU KNOW
IT.SO,AS A GAMBIAN AND AN AFRICAN,PERHAPS YOU OWE IT TO ALL OF US TO
FIND TIME AND TRY TO RETELL US THIS STORY IN A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE
MANNER.AND ITS ALSO CONFUSING TO ME THAT NONE OF THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN UP
THIS SUBJECT IN THE PAST MADE ANY MENTION OF THE MALE ONE,AS IF THAT IS
A PICNIC!! WELL,MINE WAS NOT;AND I KNOW A LOT OF MEN WHO FEEL THE SAME
ABOUT IT.
REGARDS BASSSS!!
--
SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 23:42:29 JST +900
From: binta@iuj.ac.jp
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
Message-ID: <199703091438.XAA11575@mlsv.iuj.ac.jp>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
At least a new cabinet is now in place---a good move in the right
direction. Can anyone on the List enlighten me on the issue of
the presidency in a situation where the president is incapacitated.
What does the Constitution say about succession? In the absence of
the President, who takes over? Vice President, Secretary General,
Speaker of the House, or Minister to the President? I remember
that just a few weeks ago Ecuador had a problem of succession.
Lamin.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 16:33:02 + 0100 MET
From: "ALPHA ROBINSON" <garob1@cip.hx.uni-paderborn.de>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: apology
Message-ID: <4CA54EB471D@cip.hx.uni-paderborn.de>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 11:29:04 -0500
Reply-to: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
From: Ceesay Soffie <Ceesay_Soffie@ems.prc.com>
To: GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: RE: polygamy, violence, troublemakers ...
X-To: "'gambia-l@u.washington.edu'" <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
TRANSLATE, PLEASE.
SOFFIE.
>----------
>From: ALPHA ROBINSON[SMTP:garob1@cip.hx.uni-paderborn.de]
>Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 1997 11:38AM
>To: GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List
>Subject: Re: polygamy, violence, troublemakers ...
>
>Hi Du,
>
>Das hier ist eine Friedensnachricht (keine Violence, keine
>Troublemakers .
Dear list members,
I am terribly sorry for this mail which somehow found its way to the
list. It was really meant to be a personal mail to Andrea Klummp and
certainly bears no meaning whatsoever to Gambia-L. Sorry.
Alpha
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 17:51:14 +0000
From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <19970309165211.AAA18338@LOCALNAME>
On 8 Mar 97 at 9:17, ASJanneh@aol.com wrote:
> How does one contribute to the organization(s) that you already
> have?
The organizations I have in mind are:-
a) GaSTech (Gambians in Science & Technology)
b) The Gambia Islamic Organisation For Technical Training
c) The Gambian Organization in Bergen (Norway)
I am sure there must be some one here on the list who is a member of
GaSTech who can answer your question of how to become a member and
contribute.
As for the Islamic Organisation For Technical Training, it
is planning to open an institute called " THE GAMBIA ISLAMIC
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY." Of course, it would be open to all Gambians
regardless of their creed.
Here are some of the disciplines the Organization envisages for the
Institute:-
1) Computer Science
2) Nursing plus health studies and Pharmacology
3) Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
4) Carpentry and furniture making
5) Sewing and Embroidery
6) Research and techniques in development issues
This is very ambitious and by no means conclusive and other
suggestions are welcome.
Just write to Bass ( KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA) if you need more
information.
I have also read here on the list, that there is an organization in
Bergen which is sponsoring the schooling of at least one person and
you should be able to get more information of how to contribute
through Abdou or Famara.
As for the Danish / Gambian Friendship Society (Gambias Venner) ,
perhaps that is irrelevant for the list except those living here in
Denmark and Gambia but I can name a few of their activities. The
number of school children in The Gambia being sponsored by the
associations members was 278 last year (as at May 1996). They collect
hospital beds, Handicap chairs and other materials, school furniture
etc. here in Denmark and a total of 13 containers of 40 feet were
sent to The Gambia last year. Last year the assistance to clinics
with materials and hospital beds was extended to Sukuta (W.D) and
Njarba-kunda (NBD).
On the list here, you already know that we are trying to get a
Gambian news paper on the WWW. The committees responsible are working
on things right now. I have already mentioned that there was a
suggestion that " a small percentage of the revenues go to a
development fund managed by ourselves that will be used for
development-oriented activities in the Gambia."
We need at least 100 members but at the moment we only have 50.
Those interested in subscribing to the Daily Observer Online can send
a request to (mcamara@post3.tele.dk). We agreed that the subscription
fee is to be US$10 per year.
> PS: Have you done anything in Kombo South yet?
In the question of which schools we should help when the time comes;
I think we can either divide The Gambia into zones or give a number
to all the schools, then let one or a group of none Gambians here on
the list choose some random numbers/letters and take the school(s)
chosen.
Regards
Momodou Camara
*******************************************************
http://home3.inet.tele.dk/mcamara
**"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's
possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible"***
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 18:19:44 +0000 (GMT)
From: Ebrima Jawara <aeujawra@reading.ac.uk>
To: Gambia-L <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: RE: Female Genital Mutilation.
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.95q.970309175337.7474A-100000@suma3.reading.ac.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Mr. Kolleh Dramme,
Sir, perhaps you read the story too fast, or failed to get what I was
trying to get across. Firstly I did state the apparent good aspects of
FGM - i.e. to prepare a woman or child for marriage, maintaining her
chastity, stopping her from being promiscuos, etc. unless of course you
have some better aspects you do not want to divulge. I also did state that
it is much important to know one's roots and heritage. But at what cost?
Is it sensible to engage in archaic and barbaric rituals just for the sake
of maintaining one's roots? Should Americans living in the Southern States
keep the tradition of the KKK, just because it is part of their heritage?
FGM was practiced in England in Medieval times, but it has been stopped,
because it is unproductive. In China it was the custom to make girls wear
shoes a few sizes too small, in order that they should have small feet,
because small feet were considered attractive, that has been outlawed. Was
that not a part of Chinese heritage and culture?
On the issue of male circumcision. Do not think that I am an advocate of
the women's lib movement. Perhaps I fail to understand the pain one has to
undergo during "LELL". I was fortunate enough to have been circumcised by
a competent surgeon. I cannot really say that I have suffered any
long-term effects because my foreskin was chopped off. But sadly, many
women do have long-term effects because their genitals were chopped off.
Is there any medical or theological eveidence that any form of human
genital mutilation imporoves one's lot? We speak of development, but
development has to start from within. From each individual, each
household, each village, each community. In this day and age we live in an
increasingly globalised world, we cannot afford to cling on to primitive
practices and expect to compete with the rest of the world. Like I said
before, I will ensure that any daughters I do have will not have to
undergo any sort of mutilation of their genitals. You said that it was no
picnic.............
Any Feedback, positive, negative, or neutral, will be much appreciated.
Humbly yours,
Ebrima Jawara.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 15:16:00 -0500 (EST)
From: Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT/ LONG
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970309151301.18848A-100000@panther.Gsu.EDU>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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It is good that a very lively discussion on this subject is progressing
When I made my first contribution I asked if there was anything similar
currently in place. Personally, I am learning about some useful things
that are going on that I did not know about. There are numerous
suggestions on this issue and there are ideas in many of them that we can
incorporate into one. As we do so we should think of the following among
many others:
--simplicity and practicality
--cost effectiveness
--trust issue
My experience has been that each one of the above, if not handled
properly, can slow down or completely halt any progress made. I have
found out the hard way that it is good practice to start with something
one can handle well in the beginning, work out the bugs, then expand and
move on.
There are two directions: short term and long term.
When I suggested adopting a school or institution in the original
proposal, I was thinking of short term intervention and was going to
propose a long term one later. Malanding, Modou Camara, Jagana and others
have already done that now and it is time now to put all the ideas in one
package, sort them out and come up with one proposal. (Modou Camara could
you inform those of us who joined this net more recently about the
"Observer" project: The developmental project(s) chosen.............and
how is it going to be administered........or is a committee still working
on it?)
Connecting with an already established organization has its
advantages; we can benefit from the experience and also from the
infrastructure already in place. However, we can also learn from all the
experience out there and set up a separate unit. The advantage of that is
that if it is set up in the U.S we can benefit from tax exempt status and
in the long run when fully established we may be able, as an independent
group, to tap into resources that we would not have otherwise been able
to. Also we can be completely in charge of our objectives and expand as we
see fit and run the show exactly the way we want to.
In summary here are some overall suggestions:
1. Get a head count on who is interested in participating
2. Choose volunteers (3 or 4) to work on this issue by setting up a
committee e-mail network through which they work out the details and
present a draft suggestion on the net. All other members can address
their suggestions to this group.
Suggestions to be addressed by committee
2. Start with a school. Choose it on the basis of random selection as
suggested by Modou Camara
3. Name the principal or headmaster of the school as a point person in
the Gambia. Name a point person from among the participants who will
communicate to the point person in Gambia as to what our intentions are
without creating too much expectation and get a list of areas of need. (
I suggest we focus initially on text books. If cared for properly these
can be used for many years on check out basis by students). I don't
think that they will need help in identifying text books since that would
have already been sanctioned by the education department. But if they do,
those among us with knowledge and experience in that area should be ready
to help. The point person will then post the list of requested text books
(and publishers and cost) on the net. Those who have committed themselves
to this endeavor will choose what they want to sponsor, commit to it,
write out a check or money order to the publisher. The point person can
then collect these checks and mail them to the publisher who will mail the
books directly to the principal. If individual contributors are still not
comfortable with that idea, then each one can mail their checks directly
to the publisher. Our target date for this to begin should be the Fall
semester, 1997. The committee will also look into ways of involving
others who for what ever reason are not currently on this net. Now, there
are details that I have left out here for the interest of time and space.
I think we have come to a juncture whereby we have generated
enough interest about this topic to request for volunteers to start a
committee that will iron out all the details in the various proposals and
come up with a draft of one proposal.. I volunteer to be on this
committee. I propose that the committee start its work by March 21, 1997.
Which means that all volunteers should be in place would have sorted out
how to communicate.
While that is going on we need to look at establishing something
along the lines of what Malanding proposed. I think we, as a collective,
have the potential to impact our educational system in a positive way
(outside party politics) and I think we should take up the responsibility
to do so. We can have the same committee handle this issue, or we may
elect to get a set of three other volunteers to do so. I have been part
of putting together a tax exempt organization in the U.S before, and
maybe some of you also have been, there are a lot of details involved. If
there are any legal scholars on this net or out there, it would be a good
idea to have at least one of them on the committee.
THNKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE. MUSA
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 21:47:11 +0000
From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Fwd: NIGERIA-ECONOMY: Keeping Out the Dirty Laundry
Message-ID: <19970309204528.AAA12512@LOCALNAME>
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Copyright 1997 InterPress Service, all rights reserved.
Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.
*** 05-Mar-97 ***
Title: NIGERIA-ECONOMY: Keeping Out the Dirty Laundry
By Remi Oyo
LAGOS, Mar 5 (IPS) - The warnings posted up at commercial banks
here are among the most visible signs of a crackdown announced by
Nigeria's authorities against the money laundering and frauds that
have earned the country a bad name internationally.
''Our bank is obliged to report to the Central Bank, a transfer
to or from a foreign country of funds or securities of a sum
greater than 10,000 US dollars or its equivalent,'' reads one
warning stuck on the counter of a bank here on Tuesday.
The banks must also report to the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency, NDLEA, any single transaction, lodging or transfer of
funds in excess of ''500,000 naira (6,500 dollars) in case of an
individual and two million naira (26,000 dollars) in the case of a
corporate body''.
That's not all. The Nigeria Telecommunications (NITEL) has
withdrawn the international direct dialing facility from the
public phone booths outside the banks and closed all telephone
business centres nationwide.
Adamu Mohammed, Special Adviser to Head of State Sani Abacha on
Drugs and Financial Crimes, insists that these decisions are part
of government's fight against 'white collar crime'.
These crimes are varied and complex in nature: illicit drug
trafficking and abuse, money laundering, advance fee frauds,
popularly known here as '419' and other financial malpractices.
The most difficult to eradicate, according to experts, has been
'419', which derived its name from section 419 of the Nigerian
Criminal Code which deals with advance fee frauds
Advance Fee Fraud or 419 is a mechanism used by tricksters to
obtain advance payments on services or contracts which later turn
out to be fake. Letters sent to the intended victims contain false
information meant to give them the impression that they can earn
large amounts of money through the senders' services.
The information can relate to ''millions of dollars from funds
left by deceased persons ... the sale of crude oil or contracts
for the purchase of vehicles, computers and accessories,''
explained the police in a document titled '419 is a Devil's
Business' and made available to IPS.
According to the document, signed by Fatima Waziri, the
Commissioner of Police in the Special Fraud Unit, writers of scam
letters ''often purport to be persons of social distinction,
giving themselves such as 'Chief', 'Doctor', 'Prince' or 'Royal
Highness' and claim positions of high status''.
''Advance Fee fraud demands surface soon after a link with a
would-be victim has been made,'' it added. ''Series of demands for
money are made under several guises'', including legal charges,
taxes and remittance fees.
''The purported advantages of such proposals lie in the making
of huge monetary gains (with) minimal effort,'' noted the
document.
According to Special Adviser Mohammed, the fraudster writes
5,000 or more letters to addresses he picks at random in business
directories and the ''government does not have the capability to
watch every house, every office or every shack of letter
writers''.
However, a Task Force on Postal Offences has intercepted more
than 4.4 million '419' letters and destroyed some 1.4 million.
IPS has also learnt from reliable sources that security
agencies have managed to infiltrate the networks of collaborators
at the post offices and is currently listing telephone numbers
subscribed to by suspected fraudsters.
The fight against financial scams has also led the Central Bank
to place warning adverts in strategic media in Nigeria and abroad.
Foreign missions, too, have wised up to the tricks of the
fraudsters. A source who asked a Scandinavian embassy here this
week for information on importing medical supplies from that
country was asked to make his request in writing and furnish the
mission with copies of his bank statement and other relevant
details.
As a result of incessant delays in law courts, fraudsters are
now being arraigned before the Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal,
which also tries alleged drug traffickers. But of the estimated
187 suspects being held for '419', only about 15 are currently
before the tribunal.
More success has been recorded in the fight against drug
trafficking and laundering, according to the Nigerian authorities.
Since 1990, when the NDLEA was established, 1,977 suspects have
been arrested and about 46,657 kilograms of drugs seized. There
have so far been 678 convictions and 38 acquittals.
The government has also set up a Ministerial Task Force on
Drugs and Financial Crimes to formulate national efforts to fight
such abuses and state officials use every opportunity to point out
Nigeria's commitment to stamping out narcotics and white-collar
crimes.
Reliable sources say Abuja is particularly worried about the
United States' refusal since 1994 to certify Nigeria as a nation
that cooperates in the global anti-narcotics fight on account of
what Washington sees as its unimpressive performance in combating
drug trafficking.
''Almost all the conditionalities given by the U.S. as
prerequisites for recertifying Nigeria have been fulfilled yet the
U.S. refused to recertify Nigeria,'' Mohammed told media editors
recently in the northern town of Bauchi.
In Abuja at the weekend, Mohammed said the fight would continue
despite the U.S. decision. ''We are doing this for Nigeria and our
people, not for any foreign country'', he said.
Western diplomatic sources told IPS by telephone here this week
that recertification would greatly improve Nigeria's
international image and could also have economic benefits.
''Decertifying Nigeria means that the U.S. could veto
Nigeria's applications, for instance, for debt relief and credits
>From international financial institutions,'' one of the diplomats
said. ''Apart from the loss of such privileges, there is also the
loss of American aid to fight drug trafficking and money
laundering.''(END/IPS/RO/KB/97)
Origin: Harare/NIGERIA-ECONOMY/
----
[c] 1997, InterPress Third World News Agency (IPS)
All rights reserved
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 21:47:11 +0000
From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Fwd: DEVELOPMENT: Governments Lag in Social Commitments
Message-ID: <19970309204528.AAB12512@LOCALNAME>
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Copyright 1997 InterPress Service, all rights reserved.
Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.
*** 05-Mar-97 ***
Title: DEVELOPMENT: Governments Lag in Social Commitments, Says Report
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 5 (IPS) - Only a handful of countries have met
the goals for improved social conditions agreed to by governments
at the 1995 Social Summit in Copenhagen and Women's Summit in
Beijing, a new report argues.
The report, 'Social Watch 1997,' is the first annual accounting
by several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of how many of
the promises made at those U.N. conferences have been kept. On the
whole, the report suggests, nations are already lagging behind on
many of the goals they agreed to meet by the year 2000.
For example, only three nations -- Iraq, Nepal, and Zimbabwe --
are on track to halve their 1990 maternal mortality rates before
the year 2000. Another eight nations -- Singapore, Iran, Namibia,
Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago, Algeria, Australia and Tajikistan --
are on a pace to reduce their 1990 maternal mortality levels in
half by 2000 itself.
But 51 nations studied have either failed to cut their maternal
mortality rates since 1990, or have actually gone backward, the
report adds. Many key nations, including Russia, Cuba, India and
China, have reported higher maternal mortality rates in the mid-
1990s than in 1990.
Other social indicators were similarly marked by only a few
star performers. Only Afghanistan and Benin recorded significant
improvements by 1993 in improving access to primary education;
while only Algeria, Burkina Faso, Oman, Thailand and Cameroon met
their respective targets to improve access to primary health care.
For some of the NGOs contributing to the Social Watch report,
such data confirms the challenges the globalisation of world trade
and structural adjustment provide for countries trying to improve
social conditions. ''The 'invisible hand' of the market in itself
will not solve social problems,'' writes Roberto Bissio, managing
editor of the report and head of Uruguay's Instituto del Tercer
Mundo (Third World Institute).
''The economic model that is imposed is not 'free','' adds Luis
Perez Aguirre of the Uruguayan NGO 'Servicio Paz y Justicia'
(Peace and Justice Service). ''On the contrary, it is perfectly
totalitarian. It admits no debate, no discussion...The free market
does not exist for the poor.''
The 'Social Watch' authors contend that new mechanisms should
be developed to monitor how governments uphold the commitments to
social development made at the Copenhagen and Beijing summits,
notably including a Fulfilled Commitment Index (FCI).
The index, the authors say, is an indicator currently being
developed that will track both the distance from social goals
agreed to in the summits and the political will to pursue them.
But the FCI will take some time to be developed, the report adds,
because many nations still do not provide even the basic data from
which to base such an index.
Still, argues co-author Gina Vargas, formerly a regional
coordinator for the Beijing conference, the FCI can help to push
the agenda of the World Action Platform agreed to at Beijing,
which she says has hardly been pushed in the year following the
Women's Summit.
''Many regional governments still have not defined the areas of
urgent action and aims to deal with these (detailed in the
platform), nor have the national civil societies significantly
broadened their commitment to gender justice,'' Vargas writes.
In many regions, the report argues, women's employment
practices have improved, but they still face job discrimination at
their new posts. ''For the majority of countries, there is greater
discrimination of earnings against women as they go up the
educational levels,'' reports Irma Arriagada in a study contained
in the report of new employment opportunities for Latin American
women.
The report is also critical of the role of international
institutions like the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which the
authors accuse of ignoring the results of the Social Summit.
Although governments in Copenhagen called on the newly formed
WTO to study the effects of trade on least-developed countries,
the WTO insists that it will not carry out such a study until
governments ''request it through the official channels,'' the
report complains.
'Social Watch' also recommends other recent development
proposals that have yet to be implemented, including the '20/20
Initiative' adopted at Copenhagen.
The initiative is a mutual contract under which developing
nations earmark 20 percent of public expenditure and
industrialised nations set aside 20 percent of official
development assistance for basic social services.
But Caroline Wildeman of the Dutch Development Cooperation
Agency (or NOVIB) -- which funded the report -- notes that the
World Bank and U.N. Development Programme have yet to discuss the
compact in any of their periodic consultative group or roundtable
meetings. (end/ips/fah/yjc/97)
Origin: Washington/DEVELOPMENT/
----
[c] 1997, InterPress Third World News Agency (IPS)
All rights reserved
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 21:47:12 +0000
From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Fwd: SIERRA LEONE: Donors Hesitate to Fund
Message-ID: <19970309204528.AAC12512@LOCALNAME>
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Copyright 1997 InterPress Service, all rights reserved.
Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.
*** 05-Mar-97 ***
Title: SIERRA LEONE: Donors Hesitate to Fund Delayed Peace Process
By Lansana Fofana
FREETOWN, Mar 5 (IPS) - Donors nations have been slow to release
funds meant for the peace process in Sierra Leone because of the
apparent unwillingness of rebels to respect an accord they signed
with the government in November.
According to Jacob Saffa of the Ministry of Reconstruction,
Rehabilitation and Resettlement, donor countries had pledged last
September in Geneva to provide 211 million U.S. dollars for a
programme to disarm former fighters and reintegrate them into
civil society.
But ''only Britain has provided any money so far,'' according
to Saffa, who is the programme's planning manager.
U.N. sources here say the main reason why the money has been
coming in trickles has been the delay in the implementation of
November's peace accord between the government of President Ahmed
Tejan Kabba and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels, who
took up arms in 1991.
''The peace accord's deadline for the encampment, disarmament
and demobilisation of RUF combattants expired last week but the
rebels are still foot-dragging,'' a UN envoy told IPS Wednesday.
''I think this may pose serious problems for the process.''
Even Britain has hesitated to commit the entire 35 million U.S.
dollars it budgeted for the demobilisation programme.
Tony Todd, a consultant here of the British Overseas Development
Association (ODA), said that so far, the U.K. had released 1.5
million dollars for the demobilisation centres set up in various
parts of the country to host the estimated 10,000 rebels.
''... so far, only 30 rebels have shown up at the designated
centres,'' he explained. ''This is disappointing.''
Sierra Leoneans, too, are disheartened by the rebels' attitude
especially since they had thought that the Nov. 30 peace accord
had really meant the end of the war.
''This is the second major blow dealt to the peace process by
the RUF in just two months,'' commented University of Sierra Leone
political analyst Joseph Kanu. ''First they refused to send
representatives to the Joint Monitoring Committee and now they
seem to be saying 'No' to demobilisation and encampment.''
Nominees from both the state and the RUF are supposed to be on
the Joint Monitoring Committee, whose task is to watchdog
compliance with the November peace accord.
Like many here, Freetown teacher Mariama Bayoh has doubts about
the rebels' commitment to peace. ''I think these barriers created
by the RUF are deliberate and aimed at resuming hostilities,'' she
said. ''We now see that they have started attacking vehicles on
the highways.''
However, RUF leader Foday Sankoh told IPS over the weekend in
an exclusive telephone interview from Abidjan, where he is based,
that he was upset at what he saw as ''the Freetown government's
disrespect'' for him.
''I believe President Tejan Kabbah and his government are not
sincere about the process,'' he said. ''They have been sending the
Kamajors to attack our positions and they insist that I cannot
leave Abidjan for Kailahun (an eastern town which the rebels claim
as their headquarters) for whatever reason.''
Since the peace accord, there have been many clashes between
the RUF and the Kamajors, a militia force of traditional hunters
that fought on the government army's side against the rebels.
''I am tired of living in exile,'' complained Sankoh. ''I want
to go home finally as soon as the Freetown government gives the go-
ahead.''
But many observers here feel that if the peace accord
eventually collapses, which some fear will happen, the RUF will be
to blame. In the past five weeks, there have been more than ten
attacks, purportedly by rebels, on villages and vehicles along the
main highway between Freetown and the interior.
More than 20 people have been killed in such attacks since
November and property estimated at tens of thousands of dollars
looted or burnt, allegedly by rebels.
''Given the spate of attacks in the north and southeast of the
country, I believe the cease-fire itself may be heading for
collapse,'' said a Western envoy here.
The disarmament and demobilisation process may have stood a
better chance of success had the rebels agreed to a UN proposal to
deploy about 700 troops to monitor the peace accord. The RUF
rejected the plan, stating that they would accept no more than 100
monitors.
The stagnation of the demobilisation has also affected the
return of the some 500,000 Sierra Leonean refugees in neighbouring
countries. A repatriation drive begun last month by the government
and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has ground to a
halt because of the insecurity.
Sierra Leone's civil war started in March 1991 when the RUF
invaded the country from bases in neighbouring Liberia to topple
the then civilian government of Joseph Momoh. Up to 15,000 people
are believed to have died in the fighting. (END/IPS/LF/KB/97)
Origin: Harare/SIERRA LEONE/
----
[c] 1997, InterPress Third World News Agency (IPS)
All rights reserved
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 22:18:09 +0000
From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: (Fwd) Update on Daily Observer Online (strat. com)
Message-ID: <19970309211818.AAA19282@LOCALNAME>
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 22:40:47 -0500 (EST)
Reply-to: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
From: "N'Deye Marie Njie" <njie.1@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu>
To: GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Update on Daily Observer Online (strat. com)
Gambia-l:
This is just a brief update on the Daily Observer Online. As you
might recall in earlier messages, the strategy and technical
committees were working closely together to try and bring the Daily
Observer Online. We have been trying to get in touch with someone at
the Daily Observer who can answer the questions we have regarding the
technical set up of the paper, as well as costs related to setting up
and maintaining the paper. We have recently managed to get the e-mail
of a reliable source who we hope can respond quickly. As soon as we
know more, we will let you know.
I would like to encourage you all to keep your interest in subscribing
to the paper. A lot of effort, time and energy is being put into this
project by a very resourceful and inspirational group of people. I
believe it will be a success! So those who have not subscribe yet,
please send your requests to Momodou Camara at
momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk. We are still taking subscriptions.
We will keep in touch...
N'Deye-Marie N'Jie
(Coordinator of Strategy Committee)
----------------------
N'Deye Marie N'Jie <njie.1@osu.edu>
Graduate Research Associate
ESGP/ Dept. of Food, Agric. & Biol. Engineering
The Ohio State University
590 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus OH 43210-1057
<614-688-3445 (W); 614-292-9448 (Fax)>
-----------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Mar 1996 03:16:33 +0300
From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
To: GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU
Subject: (OLD) INVITATION TO OUR NEW MEMBERS!!
Message-ID: <31421F60.4CB1@QATAR.NET.QA>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
N'Deye Marie wrote:-
>
> New Business:
>
> 1. we need to decide on a subscription fee for the Daily Observer. Since
> only about 50 people out of the targeted 100 people expressed interest in
> subscribing , it was suggested by the technical committee that we raise the
> fee from $10 a year to $20 a year. What do you all think??? We need to make
> a decision right away. your response is needed!
>
> 2. As far as our responsibilities, we do need to decide on who will be
> responsible for recieving the money sent in by subscribers. There are two
> accountants (that i know of) in this group -- N'Dey Drammeh and Momodou
> Jagana. My suggestion is to have these two handle the money part. One
> person recieves it and both double check and then send it to the tech
> committee or who ever is suppose to get all the money ( i have to double
> check on this with abdou/francis). Ndey and Momodou let us know and talk to
> each other too. Folks, we need to decidee how the payments will be made
> (personal checks or money orders). I suggest no cash or credit cards, for
> the obvious reasons. We do want to keep a documented account of all payments.
>
> 3. I also need someone to work with me in answering questinos that potential
> subscribers may ask. If any one of you feel that you are knowledgeable
> enough about the group to handle questinons, let me know.
>
> 4. We also need two volunteers to act as 'secretaries' who will send in
> progress reports to gambia-l and to the technical committee. This is
> something that will probably be done whenever we have something to report
> on. It will not be a lot of work because I know we are all busy with other
> things. So if you read your mail regularly ( say once a day or a couple of
> times a week), please volunteer for this position.
>
> 5. That's all I can think of right now. Send in you suggestions if
> anything else comes to mind. Also let me know what you would like to do. I
> appointed the accountants because I happen to know what they do. So go
> ahead and send in your brief introductions/experiences/abilities...
>
> I'll send in a list of the people who are interested in subscribing.
>
> Thanks!!
>
> 3
> ----------------------
> N'Deye Marie N'Jie
> Graduate Associate
> Dept. of Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering
> The Ohio State University
> 590 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus OH 43210
> <njie.1@osu.edu; 688-3445 (W)>
> -----------------------------
NDEYE!
WITH REGARDS TO THE $20,I AGREE.
--
SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 1997 21:03:41 -0800
From: Lamin Camara <masada@octonline.com>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Gambian/Malian Businessman jailed
Message-ID: <3323962D.6245@octonline.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
ASJanneh@aol.com wrote:
>
> This may be of interest to you!
>
> Amadou Scattred Janneh
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> MIAMI (Reuter) - A Gambian businessman who bribed a U.S. customs agent in a bid to ship two military helicopters to Gambia was sentenced Tuesday to eight months incarceration and fined $250,000 by a Miami judge.
>
> Foutange Dit Babani Sissoko, head of Negoce International, had pleaded guilty in January to making illegal payments.
>
> Three business associates were also given fines and custodial sentences.
>
> The U.S. Attorney's Office said Negoce International purchased two Bell TH-IF helicopters in Miami but failed to have the necessary State Department approval and licences to export them.
>
> Customs agents seized the helicopters in Miami after the company tried to ship them out. Serge Comminges, a French senior vice-president of Negoce International, and Moumouni Dieguimde, a Gambian, paid a customs agent part of a bribe in exchange for releasing the helicopters.
>
> Negoce International office manager Mariama Darboe, also from Gambia, later made a second payment, the Attorney's Office said.
>
> Judge Michael Moore sentenced Sissoko to eight months incarceration -- four months in jail and four under house arrest -- and a $250,000 fine.
>
> Comminges was given four-and-a-half months in jail and a $5,000 fine, Dieguimde four months in jail and a $5,000 fine, and Darboe was sentenced to four months house arrest and three years probation. Negoce was also fined $50,000.
>
> The four men have been free on bond since they were first charged last August and must surrender to the authorities to begin their sentences.
>
> 17:47 03-04-97
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 23:38:26 -0500 (EST)
From: MJagana@aol.com
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT/ LONG/COMMITTE MEMBERS
Message-ID: <970309233313_-1807724910@emout05.mail.aol.com>
Dear Musa and All Glers
I think this is a great oppurnity to make a positive impact in the education
sysytem in the gambia. For any kind of voluntary work ( other than LEGAL), I
shall be willing to offer my service nad personal finance.
momodou jagana.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 14:33:02 JST +900
From: binta@iuj.ac.jp
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT/ LONG/COMMITTE MEMBERS
Message-ID: <199703100529.OAA18248@mlsv.iuj.ac.jp>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Gambia-l,
Although I stay far away from many of you, I subscribe to the
education project wholeheartedly. Please do count on me.
Lamin Drammeh.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 21:44:57 +0800 (SGT)
From: Muwanaidi Syonya Abdalla <9420057@talabah.iiu.my>
To: Gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: FGM
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.970309205014.24093C-100000@talabah.iiu.my>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
TO ANY MEMBER INTERESTED TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE DEBATE ON FGM ie (FROM BOTH EBRIMA AND
BASS)AND SOME QUESTIONS CROPPED UP TO MY MIND.DOES FGM REAL ERADICATE
PROMISCUITY OR PROSTITUTION? OF COURSE THIS QUESTION APPLYS TO COUNTRIES
WHERE FGM IS PRACTISED.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS:THE REASON FOR CUTTING OFF THE GENITALS OR EVEN
SEWING IT UP IS TO PURIFY;IS IT EXTERNAL PURIFICATION OR INTERNAL
(BODILY)?
BECAUSE TO MY HUMBLE UNDERSTANDING EVERYTHING ON THIS EARTH WAS
CREATED FOR A PURPOSE.ONE POSSIBLE REASON THE FEMALE ANATOMY WAS CREATED WAS
FOR PROTECTION AGAINST EXTERNAL HAZARADS(e.g dirt.....) FURTHERMORE IT
HELPS THE BODY IN THE PROCESS OF INTERNAL CLEANSING (MENSTRUATION e.t.c),
THUS ALTERING WITH WHAT NATURE HAS PROVIDED FOR IS JUST HINDERING IT AND
CREATING MORE PROBLEMS (ie complications during menstruation). AT THE SAME
TIME IT PROTECTS IT FROM THE OUTSIDE AS MENTIONED BEFORE. THIS IS OF COURSE
IS BESIDES OTHER REASONS FOR IT'S EXSISTENCE. COULD ANYONE CLARIFY TO ME
ON THIS MATTER PLEASE?
I ADVANCE MY APOLOGIES IF I HAVE OFFENDED ANYONE.
REGARDS,
M.S.A
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 00:47:37 -0500 (EST)
From: KBadjie338@aol.com
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Tobaski
Message-ID: <970310004736_1350340870@emout13.mail.aol.com>
This is kawsu i did not hear from you in a long time. how are you and all the
guys out
there. i know i owe you a call which i never did but i want you to accept my
appology.iam really busy with school work but you might say that does not
matter.
thanks
kawsu
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 22:17:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
To: gambia-l <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
Message-ID: <857985722@mail.earthlink.net>
Lamin wrote:
> At least a new cabinet is now in place---a good move in the right
> direction. Can anyone on the List enlighten me on the issue of
> the presidency in a situation where the president is incapacitated.
> What does the Constitution say about succession? In the absence of
> the President, who takes over? Vice President, Secretary General,
> Speaker of the House, or Minister to the President? I remember
> that just a few weeks ago Ecuador had a problem of succession.
Section 65 in chapter 7 states that if the Office of the President becomes vacant the Vice President "shall assume the office of the President for the the residue of the term of the former president."
It also states that the Speaker should assume the office "if there is no Vice-President in office at the time..."
For peace sake, it is good to see that a cabinet is now in place but the slick maneuvering has not resolved the issue entirely. Section 70 states clearly that "There shall be a Vice-President of The Gambia..."
As I see it, this cabinet is INCOMPLETE and according to Section 70, somewhat unconstitutional. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you see it), there isn't a provision that states exactly how long the Office of the Vice-President can be vacant as it presently is. Subsection (6) only states that: "Whenever there is a vacancy in the Office of Vice-President..., the President shall, appoint as Vice-President a person qualified to be appointed to that office.
I think the whole situation is rather ridiculous. The fact of the matter is that should anything happen to the President, Singhateh cannot assume the Presidency before he reaches the age of 31 unless the constitution is amended or he takes over by force. Since that is the case, why not just appoint a Vice-President and get on with the business of governing the country?
Peace.
Lat
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 22:20:23 -0800 (PST)
From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
To: gambia-l <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <857985889@mail.earthlink.net>
Momodou Camara wrote,
> My point is that before talking about starting a new project, lets
> try to realize the ones we have already started.
I agree. Brainstorming on this new initiative should be encouraged but I also feel that more effort should be placed on getting the Observer Online project going.
Once the project is up and going I see no reason why it can't be used for other initiatives such as this.
I would assume that a payment structure would be in place where funds will transferred back home. Why not use this same structure along with the Observer people in Bakau to help fund the chosen institutions. Apart from the $10 subscription fee (which I believe is TOO small), additional donations can also be taken.
Just a quick thought!
Peace.
Lat
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 23:01:00 +0800 (SGT)
From: Serigne Mamadou <9220373@talabah.iiu.my>
To: Modou Jallow <mjallow@st6000.sct.edu>
Cc: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Africa: How bad is it?
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.970309221934.26919D-100000@talabah.iiu.my>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Hello Everybody!
I feel very grateful to Modou Jallow for raising this interesting
topic for discussion.
I do not think it's appropriate for me to give any answer to all
questions raised, especially on unstability, widespread poverty, and
illeteracy. I think just offering my opinion is not good enough. I should
say something that evryone else should benefit from.
However, I do not rule out the impact of colonialism on Africa.
But that's where I would stop. I think it is high time for Africans to
bear the responsibility of whatever is going on in Africa and stop
pointing fingers at others.
As Mr. Grotnes has already made it clear, ills like corruption
are present everywhere in the world. I do not need to cite any example,
it's been already done. But what I would like to say is that in countries
like Indonesia, corruption is helping boost the economy, while in Africa
it's taking us backward. The thing is that leaders of such countries like
the South East Asian nations, though corrupt, do not forget their
responsibilities towards their people. They do embezzle, but the
population is always given its share, reason why economies are booming.
They are dictators, perhaps. But one could call them "benevolent
dictators" compared to African dictators.
Tribal sentiments are definitely a problem. But I do not think
lingustic differences are, or else they should not be. On the other hand,
I would support that a ligua franca would be very helpful. Mr. Modou
Jallow gave the Indonesian example. Let me tell you that Indonesians speak
one language, Bahasa Indonesia, since 1945, I guess. They do have
hundreds of languages. But only the Bahasa is officially spoken and every
Indonesian understands it. This system may not work in Africa, because it is
not one nation like Indonesia and it has not been programmed to be.
Just for the sake of correction to Mr. Modou Jallow, poverty has
not been eradicated in Indonesia. You have to travel to that country to
see. In fact, that's the reason why thousands of Indonesians are flogging
into Malaysia for better prospects. I visited Indonesia and I know about
the situation. However, the country is still doing well economically.
The problem as I see it, is three-fold. Comparing Africa to Asia,
we find that Asian leaders are very patriotic, dedicated to the cause of
their countries to death. Which we lack in Africa. Besides, Asians are
very law abiding and are ready to sacrifice anything as far as the leader
wants them to. Which we do not have in Africa. Furthermore, Asians are
very hardworking, from the leader down to the last person. We wouldn't
like it but African are not.
I think all these factors combined are responsible to the present
situation in the African continent.
Thanks to everybody. Hope to read other contributions. Wassalam.
Serigne.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 09:24:54 +0000 (GMT)
From: J GAYE <J.Gaye@Bradford.ac.uk>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Cc: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970310091734.3958B-100000@kite.cen.brad.ac.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
On Fri, 7 Mar 1997, Francis Njie wrote:
>
> >> HELLOW EVERYONE; How about adopting a school or some other institution
> >> back home and providing some of the school's needed supplies, text books
> >> etc. on an occasional basis>
>
This is a noble idea and I would spare time, energy and resources in
support of it. Our educational system is not, and probably has never been
in the best of forms. It needs a lot of support from all concerned
Gambians to remedy the situation.
J.Gaye
>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 09:33:13 GMT
From: "Per E. Grotnes" <perg@nfh.uit.no>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: The banking question
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970310105133.266f496a@draugen.nfh.uit.no>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I still feel uninformed about how financing, especially of small
enterprises, can happen in The Gambia. I got one answer, but by having
fingertrouble I deleted the message before I could understand it. Could that
someone send me directly his "thesis", please One additional question: by
reading most of the introductions I get the feeling that most of you study
economy in some form or other. Is there such an enormous lack of such
expertise in The Gambia, or are you trying to educate yourselves away from
home? I am certainly wrong in my assessment of your background?
perG
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 11:08:14 +0000
From: "M'BAI OF" <O.F.M'Bai@icsl.ac.uk>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: ISSUE OF PRIVATE MAILS
Message-ID: <199703101104.LAA21525@netmail.city.ac.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
is that it MR. WHEEL-BARROW??????!!!!!!! OR HAVE YOU GOT MORE RUBBISH
TO SAY ..................
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 11:30:51 +0000
From: "M'BAI OF" <O.F.M'Bai@icsl.ac.uk>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: ISSUE OF PRIVATE MAILS
Message-ID: <199703101127.LAA26211@netmail.city.ac.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
well mr. plump or klump, thats your opinion so stick to it and let me
stick to mine . Is there anything wrong with that??? I hope not.
omar.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 14:18:52 +0100
From: Abdou Gibba <Abdou.Gibba@smr.uib.no>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <2.2.32.19970310131852.00684040@golf.uib.no>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
At 17:51 09.03.97 +0000, Momodou Camara wrote:
>I have also read here on the list, that there is an organization in
>Bergen which is sponsoring the schooling of at least one person and
>you should be able to get more information of how to contribute
>through Abdou or Famara.
HI GUYS!! I brought up this case earlier to share our experience from what
we have been doing and how. Our organization (Gambian organization -
Westland <Bergen> Branch) have sponsored two needy ex-students of Gambia
High School. This was in the form of financing their school fees, book bills
and uniforms through their entire high school education ("6th form" included).
Now, what we did was to first identify our targets through the help of a
former member of our organization, now residing in Gambia, and the then
Principal of Gambia High School who happens to know the needy ones.
Follow-ups were then made when ever we made any payments. This was done by
people from our org. who happens to travel home. NOTE: THERE WAS NO
GEOGRAPHICAL PREFERENCES OF WHOM THESE SPONSORSHIPS SHOULD GO TO. WE FELT
THIS IS COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT. So realizing such incentives is just as
simple as that. The most important issue here is the WILL and DEDICATION.
My suggestion to when it comes to selecting the school(s) is, that 1,2,or
3... school(s) (depending on our resources) be randomly selected every year
with the assistance of a contact person back home and a consultation with
the Dept.of Education or Regional Education Offices. The selected schools
can individually identify the form of assistance they need because
priorities differ from place to place. While you can provide a computer to a
school in Bakau with electricity, it is pointless to do the same for a
school in Dasilami without electricity. Many schools will benefit from this
form of an annual random selection over an extended period.
Momodou's call for supporting already existing organizations is not a
duplication of efforts as some members feel. I think it's more of
strengthening the efforts of these organizations. With additional resources,
their effectiveness could be improved. Moreover, this will spare us all the
work and time we would need in the case of setting up a new organization.
This part is just an observation of some po stings but it could also be
regarded as a support of Momodou's suggestion.
I hope this could contribute to the already long list of suggestions.
KEEP UP THE FAITH!!
::)))Abdou Oujimai
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 08:30:40 -0800 (PST)
From: Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: new member
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95b.970310082525.29710D-100000@dante33.u.washington.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Please include on Gambia-l Dr. Evelyn Newman Phillips, assistant professor
of anthropology at Central Connecticut State University and former
resident of the Gambia. Her e-mail address is Phillipse@ccsu.edu
Thank you, Ylva H.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 10:10:45 -0800 (PST)
From: Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu>
To: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
Cc: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Female Genital Mutilation.
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95b.970310100122.35924A-100000@dante34.u.washington.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: QUOTED-PRINTABLE
I find these pieces extremely interesting, as part of my research in
Gambia focuses on the way in which the ritual context of "FGM" (i must add
I am much more comfortable with the less inflammatory term "Female genital
cutting"...) has changed. It is my impression that in Gambia (as well as
in many other places) the "bush school" is often shortened or done away
with all
together. Many young women I have spoken with in Bakau told me that they
were circumcised individually, often in someone's home and with little or
no accompanying ritual or "transmission of cultural knowledge." Young
people who work with BAFROW's Youth Advocacy Group often stressed to me
that this is why the custom has (at least in urban areas) become
"completely meaningless." It is in this context that I find so intriguing
the attempt of BAFROW to conduct non-cutting puberty rituals: the actual
cutting is eliminated, but the ritual context is revived as is the bush
school (similar efforts are under way in Kenya and have met with
enthusiastic support from the communities involved) I will not go on for
too long about this now but would be extremely interested in hearing
Gambia-l'ers thoughts about this issue (ie "restructured puberty ritual"
without actual female "circumcision")=20
Best, Ylva Hernlund
On Sat, 9 Mar 1996, BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH wrote:
> Ebrima Jawara wrote:
> >=20
> > FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
> >=20
> > Or female circumcsion as it is sometimes called, is widely practised in
> > The Gambia. The 'operation' is rarely performed with surgical tools,
> > skill, any knowledge of anatomy or the use of anaesthetics.
> >=20
> > Its aim is to prepare girls for marriage by helping to ensure their
> > premarital purity. It lessens sexual desire, and so reduces the temptat=
ion
> > for girls and women to have intercourse before marriage - very importan=
t
> > where virginity is an absolute prerequisite for a bride-to-be. Some Mos=
lem
> > groups beleive it is demanded by the Islamic faith. Any proof of this?
> > Other groups hold beliefs about human biology and use circumcision as
> > contraception. In some cultures, female genitals are considered unclean=
,
> > and circumcision serves literally to smooth and ritually purify them.
> >=20
> > Genital Mutilation has staggering physical and mental health consequenc=
es
> > for women. Infections (frequently fatal), haemorrhage, and other extrem=
e
> > long-term physical complications are common. The extent and degree of
> > sexual and mental health problems can only be guessed at, because
> > circumcised women are often hesitant to discuss a subject that means
> > little to them, or is embarrassing - their sexuality.
> >=20
> > THE ABOVE WAS TAKEN FROM WOMEN IN THE WORLD.
> >=20
> > I do believe that: Female Genital Mutilation is PRIMITIVE and BARBARIC.
> > With no real place in a modern society. However one's culture should be
> > respected and preserved,
> > But at what cost? Is it good for the society as a whole? The whole act =
of
> > female circumcision is a strain on already stretched medical services. =
The
> > women have to see gynaecologists for horrendous complications brought
> > about by the primitive butchering of their private parts. The celebrati=
ons
> > cost a lot of money. The families have to give sacrifices as well as pa=
y a
> > fee to have their daughters ciurcumcised. Costing more money. Any type =
of
> > development must include increases in life expectancy and the general
> > welfare of the whole of the society. By mutilating women are we not
> > depriving them of their own development, and thus the development of th=
e
> > country? I will do my bit to eradicate this primitive act by ensuring t=
hat
> > any daughters I do have in the future will not be subjected to any form=
s
> > of genital mutilation. If one other person reading this long and perhap=
s
> > boring piece, should decide that their daughters will not be mutilated,=
I
> > think some good would have been done.
> >=20
> > I HOPE I HAVE NOT OFFENDED ANYONE, AND IF I HAVE, I DO APPOLOGISE. ANY
> > FEEDBACK, NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
> >=20
> > GOD BLESS,
> >=20
> > EBRIMA JAWARA.
>=20
>=20
>=20
> MR.JAWARA!!
> =09=09THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR ANALYSIS IS THAT YOU TOLD US ONLY
> THE BAD ASPECTS OF FEMALE CIRCUMCISION.THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE BEST
> QUALIFIED TO EXPLAIN OUR CULTURE TO THE WORLD ARE WE OURSELVES.YOU AND I
> KNOW THAT THE LAST REMAINING BASTION OF AFRICAN PEDAGOGY IS THE SCHOOL
> OF CIRCUMCISION.NOWADAYS,THE ONLY TIME THAT OUR ELDERS COULD TEACH US
> PURE AFRICAN VALUES NOT DISTORTED EITHER BY ISLAM OR CHRISTIANITY IS
> WHEN WE GO TO THIS SCHOOL.THAT IS WHY I AM SOMEWHAT SAD
> THAT YOUR ANALYSIS SOUNDS LIKE THE AUTHOR WAS BORN IN OTTAWA OR GENEVA
> OR .... IT IS TOTALLY UNFAIR TO REDUCE THE ENTIRE THREE OR SO MONTHS OF
> INTENSIVE SCHOOLING TO JUST THE CHOPPING OFF OF THE CLITORIS OR THAT
> ADDITIONAL FLESH AROUND THE PENIS.ITS MUCH MORE THAN THAT,AND YOU KNOW
> IT.SO,AS A GAMBIAN AND AN AFRICAN,PERHAPS YOU OWE IT TO ALL OF US TO
> FIND TIME AND TRY TO RETELL US THIS STORY IN A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE
> MANNER.AND ITS ALSO CONFUSING TO ME THAT NONE OF THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN UP
> THIS SUBJECT IN THE PAST MADE ANY MENTION OF THE MALE ONE,AS IF THAT IS
> A PICNIC!! WELL,MINE WAS NOT;AND I KNOW A LOT OF MEN WHO FEEL THE SAME
> ABOUT IT.
>=20
> =09=09=09=09=09REGARDS BASSSS!!
> --=20
> SZDD=88=F0'3Af=A8=03
>=20
>=20
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 10:15:16 -0800 (PST)
From: Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: RE: Female Genital Mutilation.
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95b.970310101144.35924C-100000@dante34.u.washington.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
One more thing...I would be interested in list members' thoughts on the
difference between males and females with respect to the medicalization of
circumcision. It is my impression that it is becoming increasingly common
for boys to be circumcised in clinics, whereas the same cannot be said for
girls. There is a big debate in the literature over conducting
circumcision under medical auspices...does it save lives and lessen risks
in cases where circumcision would definitely have taken place either way?
Or does it "legitimize" and further entrench a practice that should simply
be done away with all together? Or both? YH
On Sun, 9 Mar 1997, Ebrima Jawara wrote:
>
> Mr. Kolleh Dramme,
>
> Sir, perhaps you read the story too fast, or failed to get what I was
> trying to get across. Firstly I did state the apparent good aspects of
> FGM - i.e. to prepare a woman or child for marriage, maintaining her
> chastity, stopping her from being promiscuos, etc. unless of course you
> have some better aspects you do not want to divulge. I also did state that
> it is much important to know one's roots and heritage. But at what cost?
> Is it sensible to engage in archaic and barbaric rituals just for the sake
> of maintaining one's roots? Should Americans living in the Southern States
> keep the tradition of the KKK, just because it is part of their heritage?
> FGM was practiced in England in Medieval times, but it has been stopped,
> because it is unproductive. In China it was the custom to make girls wear
> shoes a few sizes too small, in order that they should have small feet,
> because small feet were considered attractive, that has been outlawed. Was
> that not a part of Chinese heritage and culture?
>
> On the issue of male circumcision. Do not think that I am an advocate of
> the women's lib movement. Perhaps I fail to understand the pain one has to
> undergo during "LELL". I was fortunate enough to have been circumcised by
> a competent surgeon. I cannot really say that I have suffered any
> long-term effects because my foreskin was chopped off. But sadly, many
> women do have long-term effects because their genitals were chopped off.
> Is there any medical or theological eveidence that any form of human
> genital mutilation imporoves one's lot? We speak of development, but
> development has to start from within. From each individual, each
> household, each village, each community. In this day and age we live in an
> increasingly globalised world, we cannot afford to cling on to primitive
> practices and expect to compete with the rest of the world. Like I said
> before, I will ensure that any daughters I do have will not have to
> undergo any sort of mutilation of their genitals. You said that it was no
> picnic.............
>
> Any Feedback, positive, negative, or neutral, will be much appreciated.
>
> Humbly yours,
>
> Ebrima Jawara.
>
>
>
------------------------------
Date: 10 Mar 97 16:10:04 EST
From: "Dr. S. G. Kamara" <73244.2701@CompuServe.COM>
To: GAMBIA-L <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
Message-ID: <970310211003_73244.2701_FHO38-2@CompuServe.COM>
Latir Downes-Thomas writes:
> As I see it, this cabinet is INCOMPLETE and according to
>Section 70, somewhat unconstitutional. Fortunately (or
>unfortunately, depending on how you see it), there isn't a
>provision that states exactly how long the Office of the
>Vice-President can be vacant as it presently is.
The cabinet may be incomplete but it is absolutely
constitutional. President Jammeh is maneuvering and buying
time through constitutional means. The decision to leave
the V-P position vacant now may not be popular, but it is
constitutional.
President Jammeh should be commended for respecting the
constitution by refraining from appointing Singateh as V-P.
As I said two weeks ago, assigning to him as much cabinet
responsibility as the constitution allows short of the V-P
appointment is Jammeh's best alternative, and indeed his
prerogative as President. If, as time goes on, the Gambian
People approve a constitutional ammendment, then well and good.
For now, he is acting within his authority.
Regards,
Kamara.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 15:18:50 -0600 (CST)
From: umjawara@cc.UManitoba.CA
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Tobaski
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970310151450.18716A-100000@toliman.cc.umanitoba.ca>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Hello Aba,
Tobaski (Eid'ul Adha) is supposed to be arround April 18. It is
always 2 months and 10 days, in the islamic lunar calender, from Koriteh
(Eid'ul Fitr).
Alieu.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 13:56:38 -0800 (PST)
From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
To: gambia-l <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
Message-ID: <858041954@mail.earthlink.net>
Kamara wrote:
> The cabinet may be incomplete but it is absolutely
> constitutional. President Jammeh is maneuvering and buying
> time through constitutional means. The decision to leave
> the V-P position vacant now may not be popular, but it is
> constitutional.
You are correct. I think "unconstitutional" was definitely the wrong word for me to have used there.
> President Jammeh should be commended for respecting the
> constitution by refraining from appointing Singateh as V-P.
Perhaps he should but one must ask the crucial questions: If the overall goal was/is to amend the constitution why wasn't it done? Is there dissent within his own party that prevented it from happening? Does he intend on keeping the position vacant for the remainder of his term or his he waiting for the country to slip back into it's apathetic mode and try again for an amendment?
> As I said two weeks ago, assigning to him as much cabinet
> responsibility as the constitution allows short of the V-P
> appointment is Jammeh's best alternative, and indeed his
> prerogative as President. If, as time goes on, the Gambian
I would also like to know why Jammeh gave Singhateh all these responsibilities where he has little experience, like Water Resources and strip him of the one responsibility where he is most qualified, namely Defence. I find that rather odd.
I'd love to hear what you think.
Peace.
Lat
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 14:26:56 -0800
From: sarian@osmosys.incog.com (Sarian Loum)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: New Member
Message-ID: <199703102226.OAA16492@thesky.incog.com>
All,
Dr. Evelyn Newman Phillips has been added to the list. Welcome aboard and please send in your intro to gambia-l.
Sarian
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 14:26:46 +0000 (GMT)
From: "E.Semega-Janneh" <E.Semega-Janneh@law.hull.ac.uk>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Female Genital Mutilation. (fwd)
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970310142522.21870A-100000@humus2.ucc.hull.ac.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 19:43:51 +0000 (GMT)
From: E.Semega-Janneh <la7es1@humus2.ucc.hull.ac.uk>
To: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@qatar.net.qa>
Cc: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Female Genital Mutilation.
Dear Mr Drammeh,
I fail to grasp the reason how you could even think of comparing Male
Circumcision to females'. Firstly, male undergo such operation mostly for
health reasons and the operation is done by competent doctors. Whislt
with women, there has been no scientific proof that it prevents
promiscuity or aid women in any way. Since, it is rarely performed by
professionals, young girls are faced with major health risks, which i
have known to even result to infertilty. For what??? just to promote
promiscuity.I don't hear anyone advocating for men to be chaste!!! As for
maintaining our roots, i think there are more effective ways which can be
adopted rather than such barbaric method, which in my opinion is only
suppressing female sexuality and reinforcing male domination in the name
of the false aasumption that, "it's good for her". I congratulate Ebrima for
his accout as it gives a wider picture, one which most of tend to
overlook or should i say conveniently ignore.
thank You
EBI
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 22:16:37 -0500
From: "PA-MAMBUNA O. BOJANG" <paomar@iglou.com>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <3324CE95.2763@iglou.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Abdou Gibba wrote:
> My suggestion to when it comes to selecting the school(s) is, that 1,2,or
> 3... school(s) (depending on our resources) be randomly selected every year
> with the assistance of a contact person back home and a consultation with
> the Dept.of Education or Regional Education Offices. The selected schools
> can individually identify the form of assistance they need because
> priorities differ from place to place. While you can provide a computer to a
> school in Bakau with electricity, it is pointless to do the same for a
> school in Dasilami without electricity. Many schools will benefit from this
> form of an annual random selection over an extended period.
>
Mr Gibba, your ideas are great. However, the proposal still
require more critical thinking. If we take a loook at the hassle our
brothers and sisters have to go through daily in order to get to school
in greater Banjul area (Banjul, Serrekunda, Bakau) then we probably
might want to give up the idea of providing any modification for schools
in these areas. That to me will simply mean adding salt to the hassle
the vast majority of the Gambian students go through. All the good
schools in the Gambia are located in the greater Banjul area and as a
result, students from Basse, Koina, Bansang, Kartong, Badibu, you name
it, are forced to first find lodging in these areas and then find there
way to get to school and back every day. Only if you 've been a victim
of this hassle can you know how difficult it is, and believe me it is
extremely a difficult struggle. I'm pretty sure quite a bunch of us on
this list have gone through that and you can all bear with me that it is
an extremely difficult struggle and for that matter "very"
disadvantageous. It is disadvantageous because ... (1) student victims
of such a hassle will often get home late, sometimes very late, and
would therefore not have enough time in the evening to study and do home
work. (2) Some of them are not treated accordingly by their guidians
(one who lodges them) and this I believe have major effects on their
studies ( may be a little bit controversial, but I'm sure quite a few of
us have experienced it).
With regars to what is stated above, I think it will be more
helpful if we rehabilitate some of the secondary schools in the
provinces, say in Badibu, Kaur, Bansang, to atleast match the standards
of schools in greater Banjul. By doing that, we will... (a) help reduce
the hassle of boarding school buses, taxis, or even trucks that most
students have to go through in the morning and in the afternoon. (b)
Help provide, say a native Kaur student going to a school in Kaur
equally rated as Gambia high School, similar priviledges a native Banjul
student enjoys going to Gambia High School in Banjul. (c) help reduce
over crowding in greater Banjul areas which ofcourse will redude
crimes/theft.
Let us not stand aloof and watch this beckoning ship cast
adrift. The future of our nation relies heavily on the education of our
youths. Our governments, especially Jawara's, have totally negleted that
route, but its not too late to correct it. We should and I believe we
will take this matter in our own hands and set it straight. It is a
great proposal, so throw in ideas.
GOD BLESS!
Pa-Mambuna
Lexington.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 09:48:39 +0300
From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
Message-ID: <3143CCC6.269B@QATAR.NET.QA>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Dr. S. G. Kamara wrote:
>
> Latir Downes-Thomas writes:
>
> > As I see it, this cabinet is INCOMPLETE and according to
> >Section 70, somewhat unconstitutional. Fortunately (or
> >unfortunately, depending on how you see it), there isn't a
> >provision that states exactly how long the Office of the
> >Vice-President can be vacant as it presently is.
>
> The cabinet may be incomplete but it is absolutely
> constitutional. President Jammeh is maneuvering and buying
> time through constitutional means. The decision to leave
> the V-P position vacant now may not be popular, but it is
> constitutional.
>
> President Jammeh should be commended for respecting the
> constitution by refraining from appointing Singateh as V-P.
> As I said two weeks ago, assigning to him as much cabinet
> responsibility as the constitution allows short of the V-P
> appointment is Jammeh's best alternative, and indeed his
> prerogative as President. If, as time goes on, the Gambian
> People approve a constitutional ammendment, then well and good.
> For now, he is acting within his authority.
>
> Regards,
>
> Kamara.
DR.KAMARA!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EVEN HANDEDNESS.WE APPRECIATE THE MEASURED
AND BALANCED MANNER IN WHICH YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY PRESENTED
YOUR VIEWS.
PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK DOWN THERE!!
REGARDS BASSSS!!
--
SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 08:29:40 +0100
From: Abdou Gibba <Abdou.Gibba@smr.uib.no>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <2.2.32.19970311072940.00685740@golf.uib.no>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
At 22:16 10.03.97 -0500, PA-MAMBUNA wrote:
>Abdou Gibba wrote:
>
>> My suggestion to when it comes to selecting the school(s) is, that 1,2,or
>> 3... school(s) (depending on our resources) be randomly selected every year
>> with the assistance of a contact person back home and a consultation with
>> the Dept.of Education or Regional Education Offices. The selected schools
>> can individually identify the form of assistance they need because
>> priorities differ from place to place. While you can provide a computer to a
>> school in Bakau with electricity, it is pointless to do the same for a
>> school in Dasilami without electricity. Many schools will benefit from this
>> form of an annual random selection over an extended period.
>>
>
>
> Mr Gibba, your ideas are great. However, the proposal still
>require more critical thinking. If we take a loook at the hassle our
>brothers and sisters have to go through daily in order to get to school
>in greater Banjul area (Banjul, Serrekunda, Bakau) then we probably
>might want to give up the idea of providing any modification for schools
>in these areas.........
PA-MAMBUNA! I agree with the entire content of your piece. I am a very
profound advocate of decentralization of all sectors and so if the aim of
the list members is to promote the decentralization of our education system
through your ideas,.....nothing could be as perfect as that. I mean even in
the provinces, the type of hassle you mentioned exists. My experience is,
school children travel several miles (by foot) to and fro smaller villages
to the nearest one with a school. Even though I never encountered these
journeys myself I've seen others come to and go from my village every school
day of their entire primary school education. If one goodwill person could
improve all those situations, what a great gesture would that be.
KEEP UP THE GOOD FAITH!!
::)))Abdou Oujimai
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 08:59:35 +0100
From: Abdou Gibba <Abdou.Gibba@smr.uib.no>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
Message-ID: <2.2.32.19970311075935.0069f3ec@golf.uib.no>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
At 16:10 10.03.97 EST, DR. S. G. Kamara wrote:
>
>
>.......The cabinet may be incomplete but it is absolutely
>constitutional. President Jammeh is maneuvering and buying
>time through constitutional means. The decision to leave
>the V-P position vacant now may not be popular, but it is
>constitutional.
>
>President Jammeh should be commended for respecting the
>constitution by refraining from appointing Singateh as V-P.
>As I said two weeks ago,......
DR. KAMARA! two weeks ago when a list member advocated for a "civil
disobedience" in Gambia, I commended you on the very professional and
balanced way you analysed the situation. I commend you once again and would
like to let you know that you are the kind of DOCTORS and/or PROFESSORS our
country could not do without. Your kind, I wouldn't hesitate (even in a deep
sleep) giving the hard task of leading our country. You are far different
from those docs and profs who are ONLY fishing for "scandals" and the
negatives which they will always find, anyway, with or without Jammeh. Their
motives, what ever they are, are left to them to face their own conscience.
If anything evil is involved in this aspect, GREAT GOD will always be our
protector.
KEEP UP THE GOOD FAITH DOCTOR
::)))Abdou Oujimai
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 09:28:30 + 0100 MET
From: "ALPHA ROBINSON" <garob1@cip.hx.uni-paderborn.de>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
Message-ID: <4F341966E72@cip.hx.uni-paderborn.de>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
> Date: 10 Mar 97 16:10:04 EST
> Reply-to: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
> From: "Dr. S. G. Kamara" <73244.2701@CompuServe.COM>
> To: GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
> X-To: GAMBIA-L <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
>
>
>
> The cabinet may be incomplete but it is absolutely
> constitutional. President Jammeh is maneuvering and buying
> time through constitutional means. The decision to leave
> the V-P position vacant now may not be popular, but it is
> constitutional. ...........
Could the respected DOCTOR please enlighten us on which part of the
constitution he is refering to when he contend that the decision to
leave the vice presidency is constitutional?
respect,
Alpha
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 09:48:43 -0500 (EST)
From: "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Cc: msjaiteh@mtu.edu (Malanding S. Jaiteh)
Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
Message-ID: <199703111448.JAA11905@oak.ffr.mtu.edu>
Content-Type: text
>
> > Date: 10 Mar 97 16:10:04 EST
> > Reply-to: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
> > From: "Dr. S. G. Kamara" <73244.2701@CompuServe.COM>
> > To: GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
> > Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
> > X-To: GAMBIA-L <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
>
> >
> >
>
> >
> > The cabinet may be incomplete but it is absolutely
> > constitutional. President Jammeh is maneuvering and buying
> > time through constitutional means. The decision to leave
> > the V-P position vacant now may not be popular, but it is
> > constitutional. ...........
>
> Could the respected DOCTOR please enlighten us on which part of the
> constitution he is refering to when he contend that the decision to
> leave the vice presidency is constitutional?
>
> respect,
> Alpha
>
>
Alfa, I am not an expert on constitutional matters, but my believe is
that while the constitution requires that there be a President at any
time it does not say that to the post of a Vice President. Also as Dr
Kamara pointed out Jammeh's manoeuver may not be popular but perfectly
legal. Please correct me with reasons if otherwise.
Malanding jaiteh
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 09:59:27 -0500
From: Yaikah Jeng <YJENG@PHNET.SPH.JHU.EDU>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: New member -Reply
Message-ID: <s3252d70.006@PHNET.SPH.JHU.EDU>
hi william,
my name is Yaikah Jeng and i am from the Gambia. i am currently
pursuing my master's degree in public health (part-time) and working
full-time as a research assistant (measles research) in the dept. of
molecular microbiology and immunology at the school of public health
in east baltimore. maybe we can get together some time and talk
about the gambia.
yaikah
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 17:30:59 +0000
From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Fwd: SIERRA LEONE-POLITICS: Peace Process Under Siege
Message-ID: <19970311162929.AAA20314@LOCALNAME>
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Copyright 1997 InterPress Service, all rights reserved.
Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.
*** 07-Mar-97 ***
Title: SIERRA LEONE-POLITICS: Peace Process Under Siege From All Sides
By Lansana Fofana
FREETOWN, Mar 7 (IPS) - An attack in which 14 government soldiers
were killed has added a new dimension to the problems besetting a
peace process launched by a three-month-old accord between Sierra
Leone's government and rebels.
Since the Freetown administration and the Revolutionary United
Front (RUF) signed the peace pact on Nov. 30 last, there have been
many clashes between RUF rebels and a paramilitary force of
traditional hunters called Kamajors who fought on the government's
side during the 1992-1996 rebel war.
However, Thursday's clash was different, involving supposed
Kamajors, on the one hand, and government soldiers on the other.
It occurred near the settlement of Magburaka, 20 kms from the
northern town of Makeni.
According to a survivor, a group of soldiers were accosted by
Kamajors who accused them of being rebels. ''Even when we
explained to them that we were soldiers and that we were on patrol
to comb the area of marauding rebels, the Kamajors would not
listen,'' he said. ''They simply opened fire on us at point blank
range, killing 14 of my colleagues.''
Lt. Col. Gabriel Mani, commander of the military brigade in
Makeni, 150 kms north of Freetown, suggested that the attackers
could have been rebels.
''It was all a case of mistaken identity and the antics of
rebels who disguise themselves as Kamajors and attack government
positions,'' he said. ''This acrimony has to be resolved
immediately if the soldiers and Kamajors are to work together in
maintaining a cordial relationship.''
The Kamajors became involved in Sierra Leone's war in 1994,
when the morale of the soldiers appeared to be sinking following
gains by the RUF on the battlefield.
The then military government engaged their services in the hope
that, given their alleged mystical powers -- they are believed to
be able to appear and disappear at will -- they would drive fear
into the rebels, bolster the morale of the soldiers and turn the
tide of the war.
However, relations between the allies later degenerated,
leading to bloody clashes between them. The worst incident was
recorded in mid-1996 when soldiers attacked and massacred over 100
Kamajors in the east and south of the country in circumstances
that have still not been clarified.
The latest incident is likely to cause further bad blood
between the two groups, says military analyst Francis Deen. ''It
is going to be very difficult for the soldiers and Kamajors to
work together because of mutual suspicion,'' he said. ''Already,
lots of blood has been shed and so it would take time to heal the
wounds.''
''The unfortunate aspect is that the Kamajors seem to have been
thoroughly pampered by the civilian government and I think that's
dangerous,'' added Deen.
Some soldiers feel that they were better off before the
National Provisional Ruling Council, the military government that
had ruled Sierra Leone since 1992, ceded power to a civilian
administration following general elections held in March 1996.
Some senior army officials who had allegedly benefitted
illegally from the war and the fact that the NPRC was in power are
reportedly dissatisfied with the exit of the military regime.
There have been reports of soldiers defecting to the RUF and
others have expressed their unwillingness to pursue the military
option now that the peace agreement appears to be breaking down.
''Who am I going to die for? A civilian regime that does not
care about the welfare of soldiers or a people that are
ungrateful?'' one private asked IPS. ''After all, let the Kamajors
fight. It is their day now.''
Diplomats here are worried that the November accord is in
jeopardy. ''We know of several cases of cease-fire violations in
the north and southeast and the delays in the implementation of
the terms of the agreement may allow room for an escalation of the
hostilities,'' a Western envoy commented Friday to IPS.
The only group liable to benefit from the latest incident is
the RUF, which has been waging a running battle with the Kamajors
since the accord.
The rebels, who have not been reporting to disarmament camps
set up throughout the country, might be tempted to escalate their
attacks given the disunity in the state's camp.(END/IPS/LF/KB/97)
Origin: Harare/SIERRA LEONE-POLITICS/
----
[c] 1997, InterPress Third World News Agency (IPS)
All rights reserved
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 09:43:34 -0800
From: sarian@osmosys.incog.com (Sarian Loum)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: New Member
Message-ID: <199703111743.JAA16912@thesky.incog.com>
All,
Fatou Scattred-Janneh has been added to the list. Welcome aboard and please send in your intro to gambia-l.
Sarian
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 12:45:11 -0500 (EST)
From: Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: New Member
Message-ID: <01IGDKM0M8U4002N8J@PSTCC6.PSTCC.CC.TN.US>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Gambia-l:
Fatou K. Scattred-Janneh has just joined us; we expect an intro from
her soon.
Amadou Scattred-Janneh
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 09:59:55 -0800 (PST)
From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
To: gambia-l <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Fwd: Opposition says Gambian cabinet unconstitutional.
Message-ID: <858114161@mail.earthlink.net>
Opposition says Gambian cabinet unconstitutional
BANJUL, March 10 (Reuters) - Gambia's opposition chief accused President Yahya Jammeh on Monday of acting unconstitutionally by appointing a cabinet without a vice-president.
"The absence of a vice-president in the so-called cabinet is indicative of the fact that there is still no cabinet as envisaged by section 73 (1) of the constitution," United Democratic Party leader Ousainou Darboe said in a statement.
Darboe, a top lawyer who was Jammeh's main rival in a presidential poll in September, said the post of vice-president was enshrined in the constitution Jammeh swore to uphold.
"There is no discretion vested in the president to appoint a cabinet without a vice-president," added Darboe. He said he intended to challenge the president in court in a move he said could lead to impeachment.
In his first appointment as civilian president, Jammeh last week named former vice-president Edward Singateh to the new post of Secretary of State in the president's office, with responsibility for the National Assembly, civil service, fisheries and natural resources.
***
Singateh, a retired army captain and one of the young officers who staged a coup with Jammeh, was responsible for defence in the last administration. Jammeh now holds that post.
Political analysts said Singateh would effectively remain vice-president but could not be formally named as such because of a constitutional requirement that the holder be at least 31.
Darboe told reporters that Jammeh's action undermined constitutional provisions for a smooth transition in emergency.
"Since we do not have a vice-president, the speaker and his deputy who are more than 65, cannot replace the president if he resigns or dies, and in the constitution we must have a vice-president," to take over, he said.
The full cabinet list, published in the official Gazette on Saturday, showed a government of 12 members, excluding Jammeh, who won election as president in disputed elections last September.
On Monday, Jammeh appointed former interior minister Lamin Bajo to the ministry of youth and sports after dropping him from the initial lineup.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 13:42:28 -0500 (EST)
From: Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970311133700.15696A-100000@panther.Gsu.EDU>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Hi Musa,
> I don't know how serious you were about you proposal, but
> the members of the list, myself included are very interested and
> enthusiastic about it. I was asked to initiate a sign-up of interested
> parties, but I thought you might like to, seeing as it was your idea in
> the first place. What do you think?
> Look forward to hearing from you.
> Thanx,
> Nkoyo.
>
>
>
NKOYO;
YES I AM EXTREMELY SERIOUS ABOUT IT, AND I AM EQUALLY EXCITED
THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT. SO PLEASE, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND
PUT A COMMITTEE TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST BEGIN TO SORT OUT ALL
THE IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN ALREADY EXPRESSED AND ALL THE OTHERS OUT THERE.
IF YOU RECEIVED MY MARCH 9 MAIL, I ALREADY VOLUNTEERED TO BE ON SUCH A
COMMITTEE. SO, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, PUT THE COMMITTEE TOGETHER AND
DECIDE THE NEXT STEP.
DUE TO SPACE LIMITATION ON THE NET AND ALSO TIME LIMITATION, IF
YOU WISH (OR ANYONE ELSE INTERESTED TO TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE)
YOU CAN REACH ME FREE AT MY TOLL FREE NUMBER:
1-800-860-1000 (120207) THE NUMBERS IN THE BRACKETS ARE THE CODE.
THANKS MUSA
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 10:50:11 -0800 (PST)
From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
To: gambia-l <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Opposition says Gambian cabinet unconstitutional.
Message-ID: <858117177@mail.earthlink.net>
First of all I would like to make it clear that this story was posted on the wire AFTER I wrote my initial message late Sunday night.
I also made it clear earlier in response to Dr. Kamara's posting that I was wrong in using the word "unconstitutional" although the phrase was "INCOMPLETE and ... somewhat unconstitutional". I say all this now only because I seemed to have indirectly received some flack for what I said.
Again, while I agree that all the maneuvering by President Jammeh has been within his authority as prescribed in the constitution his saving grace right now is the vagueness of Subsection 6 in Section 70 that, as I mentioned earlier, only states that when there is vacancy in the office of Vice-President, "the President shall, appoint as Vice-President a person qualified to be appointed to that office."
The vagueness is in the fact that the provision does not state how long the office should be vacant, if it can remain vacant or that the President should "immediately" appoint a Vice-President. What it does say however is that "There shall be a Vice-President of The Gambia..."
It would seem to me that although he may be wrong about the actual constitutionality of the President's moves, Mr Darboe might have a point in that the issue should be resolved in the courts.
Section 127 of the Constitution states - " The Supreme Court shall have an exclusive original jurisdiction for the interpretation or enforcement of any provision of this Constitution..."
I think if the case is properly presented, Mr Darboe may be successful in making the Courts force Jammeh to appoint a Vice-President.
Again, in the interest of a fruitful discussion, I would love to hear what others have to say on this issue. I would also like to know, especially from those who have responded to the issue thus far, whether, in light of the apparent manipulations in the Jawara administration, you believe that what is going on right now is right , whether you endorse the President's moves and, most importantly, why do or do not.
Peace.
Lat
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 14:42:55 -0500 (EST)
From: ahmed tijan deen <tijan@wam.umd.edu>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.95.970311142239.15733A-100000@rac8.wam.umd.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Hi homeboys/girls,
About adopting a school or a student is a very good idea ,but there are
lots of school in the gambia and how are we going to meet the needs of all
these schools and the students. The reason why am concern is because this
is a big project and we need to be committed 100% to tthis proposal. I
would like to help with the education of our brothers and sisters in the
Gambia especially in the sutiation we are on now with the new unstable
govt.But first I would like to subscribe to the newspapper deal first
then we
can go ahead and start a new project . Who would I contaact for this
matter.Please enlightening me .
Thanks
AHMED TIJAN DEEN.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 14:57:17 -0500 (EST)
From: ahmed tijan deen <tijan@wam.umd.edu>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: NGO/Initiative Info Request
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.95.970311144623.15733B-100000@rac8.wam.umd.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
On Fri, 7 Mar 1997, Raye Sosseh wrote:
> Instead of supporting one particular school, we should
> either work with Mrs. Jow and the Ministry of education,
> the library or some other local organization in providing services
> that everyone can use.
> Not for profit bookstore/Cyber center - where students
> can get info., buy books and do basic computing. This could be somewhere
> in the library or the ministry could provide space. We will initiate
> the project and monitor how well it does..... if the feedback is good,
> we'll then work on extending it to individual schools....or atleast
> hope the ministry or someone else extends it to other schools or other
> locations.
>
>
>
>
> **************************************************************
> * Raye Sosseh *
> * George Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering *
> * Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 *
> * Internet: gt8065b@prism.gatech.edu *
> * *
> * Quote of the week *
> * ----------------- *
> * "You can live to be a hundred if you give up all *
> * the things that make you want to be a hundred." *
> **************************************************************
>
>
Mr.Sosseh, your idea is good but we don't want to involve the govt.but
have a private foundation that will help and sponsor all the schools if
possible which I think we can do if we really stand for it. This dosen't
mean that if the govt. is willing to work with the project we are going to
turn them down it is to just protect our investments aand make sure the
right sschools get the help.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND WE ALL CAN LIVE AND THINK POSITIVELY.
AHMED TIJAN DEEN
UNIV OF MARYLAND
------------------------------
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11507 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jun 2021 : 15:39:53
|
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 15:25:50 -0600
From: Tamsir Mbai <mba4224@etbu.edu>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Opposition says Gambian cabinet unconstitutional.
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970311150928.38cf36cc@etbu.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Fellow Gambians,
I am not well versed on the constitutionality or lack thereof of
president Jammeh's supposed maneuvering to buy time for the appointment of
Edward Singhateh as vice president. What is absolutely clear is that i find
it totally counterproductive to commend Yaya for this apparent skill to be
able to maneuver round the constitution. If anything, i think he should be
CONDEMNED for tinkering with our constitution only to satisfy the portfolio
of one of his cohorts. As far as i am concerned, this issue should not have
achieved the attention that it did. I say so because the constitution is
very clear on the minimum legal age limit at which a Gambian could assume
the office of vice presidency. Since Singhateh did not meet this
requirement, what Yaya should have done was appoint someone else right away
to fill that position. I don't think we lack qualified personnel in The
Gambia for that office.
More importantly, i don't think it is so much important to satisfy
Edward as it is to honor the constitution. In this case, Yaya and his party
demonstrated a flagrant disrespect for the constitution and the
intellectualism of the Gambian people. Why go through so much pain to find a
loophole in the constitution so that Edward can essentially carry the duties
of the vice presidency without being officially named one. I contend that if
the same amount of time and resources were invested in finding a qualified
VP, we would not be without one today. It is true that the VP is not the
ultimate determinant to a viable nation, but for the sake of respect to the
many learned Gambians, i think Jammeh has disregarded Gambian intellectualism.
Back to the issue of why we should not commend Jammeh for
"respecting the constitution by refraining from appointing Singhateh as V-P" as
Dr S.G. Kamara put it. What we need to do here is to distinguish the fact
that what is constitutional (if it is), is not necessarily right. if you
recall, a few days ago, the United States vetoed a proposed United Nations
resolution for the prohibition of Israel to continue building new Jewish
settlements in the occupied territories in Palestine. The entire world cried
foul to this act of sheer disregard for doing the right thing amid clear
reason for doing so. At this juncture it is important to note that the
United States is a permanent member of the U.N, which guarantees it a veto
power. This power effectively says that the U.S and the other permanent
members can say no to anything and it would mean NO. But, just because the
U.S acted on the constitutionality of its authority doesn't mean that they
should be commended for "respecting the constitution" of the U.N. Just like
the entire world condemned the U.S for failing to do tthe right thing, we
should condemn Jammeh for spending so much time and resources to tinker with
the constitution in order to satisfy Edward. I maintain that this is
tantamount to dishonouring the constitution.
This is not a personal attack on you Dr Kamara. I just happen to
disagree that we should commend Jammeh, given the delay and clear
maneuvering to satisfy ONE individual.
Peace to everybody. It's Tamsir.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 01:22:43 +0300
From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <3144A7B0.6659@QATAR.NET.QA>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
ahmed tijan deen wrote:
Hi homeboys/girls,
About adopting a school or a student is a very good idea ,but
there are
lots of school in the gambia and how are we going to meet the needs
of all
these schools and the students. The reason why am concern is because
this
is a big project and we need to be committed 100% to tthis proposal.
I
would like to help with the education of our brothers and sisters in
the
Gambia especially in the sutiation we are on now with the new
unstable
govt.But first I would like to subscribe to the newspapper deal
first
then we
can go ahead and start a new project . Who would I contaact for
this
matter.Please enlightening me .
Thanks
AHMED TIJAN DEEN.
AHMED!
IF YOU WANT TO SUBSCRIBE IN THE OBSERVER PROJECT
PLEASE,CONTACT Modou Camara(MOMODOU.CAMARA@POST3.TELE.DK)
SO THAT HE WOULD ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST OF POTENTIAL
SUBSCRIBERS.AND THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST!!
REGARDS BASSSS!!!
--
SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 23:27:24 +0000
From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <19970311222558.AAA14998@LOCALNAME>
On 11 Mar 97 at 14:42, ahmed tijan deen wrote:
>But first I would like to subscribe to the newspaper deal first
>then we can go ahead and start a new project . Who would I
>contact for this matter. Please enlightening me.
Dear Mr. Deen,
I have added your name to those interested in subscribing to the
Daily Observer Online, so we are now 52.
Peace
Momodou Camara
*******************************************************
http://home3.inet.tele.dk/mcamara
**"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's
possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible"***
------------------------------
Date: 11 Mar 97 19:33:16 EST
From: "Dr. S. G. Kamara" <73244.2701@CompuServe.COM>
To: GAMBIA-L <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Jammeh's Cabinet/ Lattir-Downes & Tamsir
Message-ID: <970312003316_73244.2701_FHO59-1@CompuServe.COM>
Hello all!
A few quick comments on some of the earlier postings by a few people.
Lattir-Downes made a statement in his last posting to the effect that regardless
of the outcome of Mr. Darboe's protest, the best outcome might be that the
Gambian Supreme Court might force President Jammeh to fill the V-P position. I
think you are
quite right on this. Mr. Darboe is doing exactly what he should; to exert
pressure to counteract Jammeh's delaying tactic. This is politics in action!
Tamsir wrote that Jammeh should not be commended but condemned. Let me back up
and say that I am just as guilty as you are for taking an extreme position.
By this I mean that an action should not receive only one or the other of these
two extreme rewards. Jammeh has respected the constitution so far. He has done
nothing as yet to disrespect it. Yes, he has not appointed a V-P. But he has
not said that he will not appoint one. He has only delayed it. He could make
the arguement that he is still evaluating candidates. This is all hypothetical.
This is tactical delay that is buying him time. Don't get me wrong, I do not
approve of such maneuvers. But to say that he should be condemned for the delay
is way too extreme. But yes, pressure should be exerted on him.
Personally, I think that the first cabinet appointment should have been the V-P,
who should have spent a few days working with the President to make the rest of
the cabinet appointments. But this is a matter of choice, style, or perhaps
even of expediency. It is not a constitutional violation.
Again, Mr. Darboe's strategy is the best politically. Remember, frequently, a
constitution remains silent on some issues or details, such as, in this case,
the exact length of time to assemble a cabinet, or more specifically when to
appoint the V-P. President Jammeh might delay, Mr. Darboe will exert pressure,
and if and when the issue gets to the Supreme Court, a decision shall be
rendered which will most likely impose a time limit on the abeyance. President
Jammeh will then have no choice but appoint a V-P. Hopefully, the litigation
process with the courts will not take three years! I don't think it will.
Regards,
Kamara.
P.s.
Tamsir, NIF. This is all a mature exchange in which we must not only be
tolerant, but appreciate each other's different views. As a matter of this is
what brings life and beauty to the "bantaba".
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 20:54:51 -0500 (EST)
From: ABDOU <at137@columbia.edu>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: FWDing an Intro
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.95L.970311205339.20529A-100000@terve.cc.columbia.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
/* FORWARDED */
From: PHILLIPSE@CCSUA.CTSTATEU.EDU
Received: from CCSUA.CTSTATEU.EDU (ccsua.ctstateu.edu [149.152.20.1])
by mx3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW96.12/8.8.4+UW96.12) with SMTP
id QAA04189 for <GAMBIA-L@u.WASHINGTON.EDU>; Tue, 11 Mar 1997 16:13:14 -0800
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 19:14:21 -0500 (EST)
To: GAMBIA-L@u.WASHINGTON.EDU
Message-Id: <970311191421.20271295@CCSUA.CTSTATEU.EDU>
Subject: Greeting
Hi There,
I am glad to have an opportunity to join this community. I am Evelyn Newman
Phillips, an anthropologist at Central Connecticut State University, who once
served in Peace Corps/The Gambia. I lived in Keneba and Bakau from 80-84.
As an Applied Anthropologist I examine the displacement of urban communities
by racism, tourism and public policies.
Peace,
Ev Phillips
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 19:57:00 -0800 (PST)
From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
To: gambia-l <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Fwd: Mugabe's Vision of New Africa
Message-ID: <858150066@mail.earthlink.net>
Mugabe's Vision of New Africa
Mar. 11, 1997
DUBLIN, Ireland (PANA) - Africa is poised to become the world's new region of opportunity and the continent's major
priority is to create durable democratic systems in which pluralism is fully entrenched, Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe
said on Monday.
Addressing academics, politicians, journalists and leading personalities at a colloquium organised by the Harvard University
of the United States and the Irish Times newspaper, Mugabe said despite negative international media reports, Africa was
taking measures to create peace, stability and economic prosperity on the continent.
Africa's Recognition of its Past and Remedies for Its Future, was the theme of Mugabe's lengthy address which traced
Africa's history and presented realities of the continent.
Africa has been dubbed the dark continent in spite of the fact that there is probably more light and sunshine on the African
continent than on any other land mass on this planet. Africa is much more than a story of tragedies, he said.
While conceding that post-independent African leaders had made mistakes, it was folly to blame Africa's backwardness on
bad governance.
Today Africa is indeed pulling out of the dark age, an age of unreason, cruelty and irrationality. But it is a dark age into
which it was plunged by others, not by itself. We go into history to learn and not necessarily to apportion blame. A proper
appreciation of what happened will instruct our steps today and so help us avoid the pitfalls of the past.
Mugabe said Africa was now determined to resolve conflicts afflicting the continent, most of which he blamed on colonialism
and the cold war.
He said under colonialism, ethnic African groups were kept apart and made liable to be suspicions of each other while during
the cold war, leaders of independent African countries were either rewarded or punished by the two super-powers for their
ideological preferences.
The shift was costly for Africa because its most principled leaders, those who sought to retain the people as their
constituency in defiance of outside powers, became the targets of deliberate destabilisation policies while those who
collaborated as pliant clients often became blatantly corrupt dictators, now dependent on the might of their foreign masters to
remain in power.
Given what African leaders had to contend with, that the continent has held up the way it has, is itself a source of both
wonder and satisfaction, said Mugabe.
He said as Africa took measures to ensure peace and stability through the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and regional
organisations, the environment for investment and economic development would improve.
Lack of major industries in most countries remained the major obstacle to development and the main reason for Africa's
rising indebtedness, he said, adding that international terms of trade, despite the successful Uruguay Round negotiations
which led to the establishment of the Wold Trade Organisation, remained biased against Africa.
He said by stressing the opening up of all markets while seeking to protect information and knowledge, particularly
intellectual property rights and technology, the WTO exposed Africa to exploitation.
Just as I believe inequality and unfairness can engender political instability at the domestic level, so do we view inequality and
unfairness at the international level as making for instability and injustice in international relations, he said.
It was for that reason Africa was pushing for the democratisation of the United Nations by including African and Latin
American countries in the Security Council.
Mugabe said the continent, with a few exceptions, had embraced democracy and that the genius of its people was once
again being unleashed.
Most of its governments are becoming more and more accountable to the people. It can already see an era of peace in the
horizon and with it the flourishing human spirit.
The people of Africa have resolved never again to remain the object of history, but to transform themselves into its subject.
They it is who shall determine the destiny of their continent and co-operate with others as equal partners. They were their
own political liberators, they are sure to become their own economic liberators, he said.
Mugabe said as Africa sought more socio-economic ties, it was also looking at other developing countries in such regions as
Asia and South America in the spirit of South-South co-operation.
Copyright © 1997 The Panafrican News Agency. All Rights Reserved.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 01:42:22 -0500 (EST)
From: Mbk007@aol.com
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Meningitis in West Africa.
Message-ID: <970312014219_1780891692@emout01.mail.aol.com>
The Associated Press
GENEVA (AP) - A meningitis epidemic has killed more than 1,500
people in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization.
Altogether, 11,000 people have been infected in Benin, Burkina
Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Togo. The worst hit is Burkina
Faso where 5,571 people have been infected and 724 have died, the
U.N. health agency said.
The reason for the outbreak is not known.
WHO is appealing for $6.3 million to buy and distribute vaccines
and medicines to the affected regions, spokesman Philippe Stroot
said today.
``So far we have only $3 million, so we have only half what we
need,'' he said.
Africa suffered the largest ever epidemic of the disease last
year when more than 150,000 people - most of them children - were
infected and 16,000 died. Another 16,000 were left with brain
damage or paralysis.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the
brain and spinal cord, and can be caused by a virus or bacteria.
With treatment, only 1 percent of infected people die.
AP-NY-03-08-97 0754EST
Copyright 1997 The Associated Press. The information
contained in the AP news report may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without
prior written authority of The Associated Press.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 01:42:44 -0500 (EST)
From: Mbk007@aol.com
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Fwd: Man Pays for School Band Trip
Message-ID: <970312014243_-1372195412@emout06.mail.aol.com>
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj: Fwd: Man Pays for School Band Trip
Date: 97-03-11 16:38:03 EST
From: YAHYAD
To: Mbk007,Jkrubally
To: mdarboe@olemiss.edu
To: mdarboe@shepherd.wvnet.edu
Check this out.
Yahya.
---------------------
Forwarded message:
From: AOLNewsProfiles@aol.net
Date: 97-03-11 12:57:23 EST
<HTML><PRE><I>.c The Associated Press</I></PRE></HTML>
MIAMI (AP) - The marching band members in their green-and-white
uniforms caught the eye of a wealthy businessman as they crossed a
hotel lobby.
With the help of his interpreter, Foutanga Dit Babani Sissoko
learned the 50 teen-agers performing Saturday at a bar mitzvah were
members of the Miami Central Marching Rockets, who needed to raise
$150,000 for a trip to New York and an appearance in the Macy's
Thanksgiving day parade.
``I would like to help,'' said the 52-year-old man from the West
African nation of Mali. He wrote a check and walked over to the
band, and the interpreter asked the teens to guess how much he was
giving them.
``We were saying in the little hundreds,'' said drum major
Anthony Gamble, 17. The most anyone ventured was $2,000, The Miami
Herald reported today.
The check was for $300,000.
``The kids screamed and hugged him and cried,'' said Central
High administrative assistant Rodney Reed, the band's escort. ``I
had to pull them off to keep them from hurting him.''
``I didn't believe it,'' said band director Shelby Chipman, who
heard about the windfall when the group returned to school.
Last week, a federal judge in Miami gave Sissoko, a hotel and
casino operator, the lightest possible sentence for trying to pay
off a federal customs agent to speed the export of two helicopters
to the Gambia - four months and a $250,000 fine.
With credit for time served, Sissoko will have to serve another
45 days, then spend four months in an apartment before being
deported.
Ambassadors from Togo, Senegal and Mali as well as the ranking
Gambian diplomat in the United States appeared at the trial on
Sissoko's behalf, as did former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh of Indiana.
The businessman was invited to an assembly at Central on
Wednesday.
``We're going to present him with a band watch, a plaque with
the band's picture and one of our band flags,'' said Chipman.
And Sissoko will finally get to hear the band play.
AP-NY-03-11-97 0718EST
<HTML><PRE><I><FONT COLOR="#000000 SIZE=2>Copyright 1997 The Associated
Press. The information
contained in the AP news report may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without
prior written authority of The Associated Press.<FONT COLOR="#000000
SIZE=3></I></PRE></HTML>
To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles.
For all of today's news, go to keyword News.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 09:07:38 -0500 (EST)
From: "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Cc: msjaiteh@mtu.edu (Malanding S. Jaiteh)
Subject: Re: NGO/Initiative Info Request
Message-ID: <199703121407.JAA13074@oak.ffr.mtu.edu>
Content-Type: text
>
>
> I will be adding some info to my Web page this weekend about the
> budding/established non-governmental organizations and initiatives I know of
> that are (directly) relevant to the Gambia. I hope this addition becomes a
> useful repository for anyone interested in getting things done in/for the
> Gambia.
>
> I don't have much of a list presently. Please help me make the content
> worthwhile by sending along summaries of initiatives you have started, are
> thinking of starting, or simply know of... along with contact names, contact
> e-mail/snail-mail addresses, phone/fax numbers, etc, if possible...
>
> Thanks...
>
> - Francis
> PS: Here's a list of the orgs I know of and intend to post info about...
> I. GaSTech (Gambians in Science & Technology)
> II. The Gambia Islamic Organisation For Technical Training
> III. NACOMM (National Communiquo)
> IV. Crossroads Africa, Inc
>
Francis, you might want to contact The Association of Non-Govermental
Organization (TANGO) for a comprehensive list of NGOs in the Gambia.
Perhaps someone on the list would know their address.
Malanding
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 10:06:41 -0500 (EST)
From: Amadou Scattred Janneh <AJANNEH@pstcc.cc.tn.us>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: ZIMBABWE / ILLEGALS (L ONLY) By LAWRENCE BARTLETT/HARARE
Message-ID: <01IGETD8E2OI002WNA@PSTCC6.PSTCC.CC.TN.US>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
DATE=3/12/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-211308
TITLE=ZIMBABWE / ILLEGALS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAWRENCE BARTLETT
DATELINE=HARARE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: POLICE IN ZIMBABWE HAVE REPORTED THE DEATH OF A YOUNG
ZIMBABWEAN WOMAN WHO WAS EATEN BY CROCODILES AS SHE TRIED TO
CROSS THE LIMPOPO RIVER TO ENTER SOUTH AFRICA ILLEGALLY.
LAWRENCE BARTLETT IN HARARE REPORTS THE INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS THE
DESPERATION OF SOME ZIMBABWEAN BORDER-JUMPERS SEEKING A NEW LIFE
IN SOUTH AFRICA.
TEXT: ZIMBABWEAN POLICE DIVERS HAVE CALLED OFF THE SEARCH FOR
THE BODY OF 25-YEAR-OLD SIBONGILE MOYO, SUGGESTING THAT SHE HAS
BEEN EATEN.
MS. MOYO'S BOYFRIEND TOLD POLICE THAT HE SAW HER ATTACKED BY MORE
THAN ONE CROCODILE AS SHE TRIED TO CROSS THE LIMPOPO RIVER BORDER
BETWEEN ZIMBABWE AND SOUTH AFRICA LAST THURSDAY.
POLICE INSPECTOR BOBBY MURWIRA ISSUED A PUBLIC WARNING TO
POTENTIAL BORDER JUMPERS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF CROCODILES IN THE
LIMPOPO. BUT OBSERVERS SAY THIS IS NOT LIKELY TO STOP PEOPLE
DESPERATE FOR WORK FROM TAKING THEIR CHANCES.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN ZIMBABWE STANDS AT MORE THAN 40 PERCENT.
AND ALTHOUGH SOUTH AFRICA HAS ITS OWN JOBLESS MILLIONS, THE
COUNTRY IS MORE DEVELOPED AND IS SEEN HERE AS OFFERING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER LIFE.
BEATING THE CROCODILES IS JUST THE FIRST OF THE PROBLEMS FACED BY
ZIMBABWEANS TRYING TO ENTER SOUTH AFRICA ILLEGALLY, WITH A
GAUNTLET OF FENCES, BORDER GUARDS, AND POLICE TO FOLLOW.
THE MOST POPULAR ROUTE FOR WOULD-BE IMMIGRANTS IN THE PAST WAS TO
ENTER SOUTH AFRICA LEGALLY FOR A BRIEF VISIT AND SIMPLY NEVER
RETURN TO ZIMBABWE.
BUT LAST YEAR, SOUTH AFRICA ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS CLAMPING DOWN
ON THE ISSUING OF VISAS TO ZIMBABWEANS AFTER NEARLY 90-THOUSAND
OF THEM REMAINED ILLEGALLY IN SOUTH AFRICA DURING THE PREVIOUS 18
MONTHS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY IN HARARE SAID VISAS
WOULD NO LONGER BE ISSUED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, WITHOUT
FAMILY TIES IN ZIMBABWE, OR WITHOUT ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER THE
COSTS OF THEIR STAY IN SOUTH AFRICA.
THAT MOVE, TAKEN BECAUSE POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA HAS BECOME A
MAGNET FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE
REGION, IS BELIEVED TO HAVE PROMPTED INCREASING NUMBERS OF
DESPERATE ZIMBABWEANS TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES WITH THE CROCODILES
OF THE LIMPOPO. (SIGNED)
NEB/LB/JWH
12-Mar-97 6:40 AM EST (1140 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 16:37:02 +0100
From: Andrea Klumpp <klumpp@kar.dec.com>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: NGO/Initiative Info Request
Message-ID: <3326CD9E.E55@kar.dec.com>
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http://grove.ufl.edu/~alyons/ngo_toc.htm
.... could be helpful
Regards, Andrea
Malanding S. Jaiteh wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > I will be adding some info to my Web page this weekend about the
> > budding/established non-governmental organizations and initiatives I know of
> > that are (directly) relevant to the Gambia. I hope this addition becomes a
> > useful repository for anyone interested in getting things done in/for the
> > Gambia.
> >
> > I don't have much of a list presently. Please help me make the content
> > worthwhile by sending along summaries of initiatives you have started, are
> > thinking of starting, or simply know of... along with contact names, contact
> > e-mail/snail-mail addresses, phone/fax numbers, etc, if possible...
> >
> > Thanks...
> >
> > - Francis
> > PS: Here's a list of the orgs I know of and intend to post info about...
> > I. GaSTech (Gambians in Science & Technology)
> > II. The Gambia Islamic Organisation For Technical Training
> > III. NACOMM (National Communiquo)
> > IV. Crossroads Africa, Inc
> >
>
> Francis, you might want to contact The Association of Non-Govermental
> Organization (TANGO) for a comprehensive list of NGOs in the Gambia.
> Perhaps someone on the list would know their address.
>
> Malanding
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 19:24:04 +0300
From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: FWDing an Intro
Message-ID: <3145A520.5092@QATAR.NET.QA>
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ABDOU wrote:
/* FORWARDED */
From: PHILLIPSE@CCSUA.CTSTATEU.EDU
Received: from CCSUA.CTSTATEU.EDU (ccsua.ctstateu.edu
[149.152.20.1])
by mx3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW96.12/8.8.4+UW96.12) with
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id QAA04189 for <GAMBIA-L@u.WASHINGTON.EDU>; Tue, 11 Mar
1997 16:13:14 -0800
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 19:14:21 -0500 (EST)
To: GAMBIA-L@u.WASHINGTON.EDU
Message-Id: <970311191421.20271295@CCSUA.CTSTATEU.EDU>
Subject: Greeting
Hi There,
I am glad to have an opportunity to join this community. I am Evelyn
Newman
Phillips, an anthropologist at Central Connecticut State University,
who once
served in Peace Corps/The Gambia. I lived in Keneba and Bakau from
80-84.
As an Applied Anthropologist I examine the displacement of urban
communities
by racism, tourism and public policies.
Peace,
Ev Phillips
MIS PHILLIPS!
YOU ARE MOST WELCOMED TO THE Bantabaaa! WE
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE GAMBIA FROM TIME TO
TIME.I AM SURE YOU HAVE BY NOW TAKEN YOUR SEAT UNDER THE TREE IN THIS
BANTABAA.SO,
PLEASE FEEL AT HOME,AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK DOWN
THERE!!
REGARDS BASSSS!!
--
SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 12:25:38 -0400 (AST)
From: "Inqs." <nfaal@is2.dal.ca>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Fwd: Man Pays for School Band Trip
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95.970312122216.193248B-100000@is2.dal.ca>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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This is a tad ridiculous! All the needy people at home he
couldn't help, that was D3,000,000 he just gave away to sponsor people to
prance around at Macy's. African hypocrisy never ceases to amaze
me.......
On Wed, 12 Mar 1997 Mbk007@aol.com wrote:
>
> ---------------------
> Forwarded message:
> Subj: Fwd: Man Pays for School Band Trip
> Date: 97-03-11 16:38:03 EST
> From: YAHYAD
> To: Mbk007,Jkrubally
> To: mdarboe@olemiss.edu
> To: mdarboe@shepherd.wvnet.edu
>
> Check this out.
>
> Yahya.
> ---------------------
> Forwarded message:
> From: AOLNewsProfiles@aol.net
> Date: 97-03-11 12:57:23 EST
>
> <HTML><PRE><I>.c The Associated Press</I></PRE></HTML>
>
> MIAMI (AP) - The marching band members in their green-and-white
> uniforms caught the eye of a wealthy businessman as they crossed a
> hotel lobby.
> With the help of his interpreter, Foutanga Dit Babani Sissoko
> learned the 50 teen-agers performing Saturday at a bar mitzvah were
> members of the Miami Central Marching Rockets, who needed to raise
> $150,000 for a trip to New York and an appearance in the Macy's
> Thanksgiving day parade.
> ``I would like to help,'' said the 52-year-old man from the West
> African nation of Mali. He wrote a check and walked over to the
> band, and the interpreter asked the teens to guess how much he was
> giving them.
> ``We were saying in the little hundreds,'' said drum major
> Anthony Gamble, 17. The most anyone ventured was $2,000, The Miami
> Herald reported today.
> The check was for $300,000.
> ``The kids screamed and hugged him and cried,'' said Central
> High administrative assistant Rodney Reed, the band's escort. ``I
> had to pull them off to keep them from hurting him.''
> ``I didn't believe it,'' said band director Shelby Chipman, who
> heard about the windfall when the group returned to school.
> Last week, a federal judge in Miami gave Sissoko, a hotel and
> casino operator, the lightest possible sentence for trying to pay
> off a federal customs agent to speed the export of two helicopters
> to the Gambia - four months and a $250,000 fine.
> With credit for time served, Sissoko will have to serve another
> 45 days, then spend four months in an apartment before being
> deported.
> Ambassadors from Togo, Senegal and Mali as well as the ranking
> Gambian diplomat in the United States appeared at the trial on
> Sissoko's behalf, as did former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh of Indiana.
> The businessman was invited to an assembly at Central on
> Wednesday.
> ``We're going to present him with a band watch, a plaque with
> the band's picture and one of our band flags,'' said Chipman.
> And Sissoko will finally get to hear the band play.
> AP-NY-03-11-97 0718EST
> <HTML><PRE><I><FONT COLOR="#000000 SIZE=2>Copyright 1997 The Associated
> Press. The information
> contained in the AP news report may not be published,
> broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without
> prior written authority of The Associated Press.<FONT COLOR="#000000
> SIZE=3></I></PRE></HTML>
>
>
> To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles.
> For all of today's news, go to keyword News.
>
>
IF YOU DON'T DO IT, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK IT'LL GET DONE?
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 17:49:12 +0100
From: Andrea Klumpp <klumpp@kar.dec.com>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Female Genital Mutilation.
Message-ID: <3326DE88.5B00@kar.dec.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Culled from FOROYAA, 27 February - 6 March, 1997
Adolescent Reproductive Health Workshop for Youths in Bakau Held from
21-23 February, 1997 by GAMCOTRAP
By Amie Bojang-Sissoho, Publicity Secretary, GAMCOTRAP
The UNICEF Representative in The Gambia, Mr. Yusuf Oumar, announced that
UNICEF will provide The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices
Affecting the Health of Women and Children - GAMCOTRAP with additional
funds to the tune of one million seven hundred thousand dalasis (D1.7
million) to continue its training information campaign on traditional
practices.
The UNICEF Representative made this announcement at the end of a three
day workshop on Adolescent Reproductive Health for Youths in Bakau when
he officially closed the workshop.
In his address, Mr. Oumar said UNICEF is committed to the efforts to
eradicate any form of harmful practice. He revealed that =93Operation
Rescue=94 is a long term strategy to eradicate female genital mutilation =
-
FGM and other harmful traditional practices in The Gambia.
Elaborating on Operation Rescue, the UNICEF Refpresentative said
GAMCOTRAP=92s model training information campaign strategy will be used t=
o
facilitate the development of a diverse range of multimedia resources,
augment the managerial and technical capacity of the trainers, build
local partnership, promote advocacy and social mobilization to transform
culture without destroying it. He emphasized the need to continue to
feature FGM on the national agenda for women=92s empowerment.
Mr. Oumar=92s statement revealed that a monitoring and reporting system i=
s
already in place to ensure that progress and impact are assessed.
=93Operation Rescue=94, he said is a three year project which will cost t=
wo
hundred thousand dalasis.
The UNICEF Representative reminded participants that The Gambia is one
of the first twenty five countries that have ratified the UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights of the
Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, which have all made reference to
traditional and cultural practices that are prejudicial to the status of
the child, the girl child in particular.
Chairing the ceremony, the Vice President of GAMCOTRAP, Sister Isatou
Marena, said women and children should not continue to die due to
traditional practices such as FGM which can be stopped. Imam Omar Manneh
of Fajara Barracks quoted sources which made it clear that Islam has
never put the Muslim=92s life at risk.
The Representative of the national Women=92s Councillor in Bakau, Mrs.
Bintou Bojang said GAMCOTRAP did not only educate the youths on FGM, but
on other issues related to adolescent reproductive health.
Statements were delivered by youth representatives and the vote of
thanks by Kemo Ceesay on behalf of the participants. Present were the
Ngansingba of Bakau, Mba Sally Sanyang, Women elders, supporters of
GAMCOTRAP and its executive, representatives from the Department of
Youth and Sports and Community Development.
The Workshop was part of a series of workshops funded by the UNFPA
targetting youths, women, religious leaders and health workers.
*******************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 12:36:03 -0500 (EST)
From: Mbk007@aol.com
To: nfaal@is2.dal.ca (inqs.), gambia-l@u.washington.edu, ydarboe@walldata.com
Subject: MAN PAYS FOR SCHOOL BAND TRIP
Message-ID: <970312123409_1217070415@emout10.mail.aol.com>
As we all can see, Mr Sissoko's is definately trying to impress the wrong
people. I really don't know his story, but he seem to be having enough cash
to throw around. This are the kind of behaviors that will continuously make
Africans look stupid in the eyes of other people. The whole world knows the
kinds of problems we have at home, and for an African to randomly write a
$300,000 check to a school band is really unspeakable. Well now that he can't
send those helicopters to The Gambia, he might donate that money to the
ministry of education, or to some orgnization that can benefit from it. I
REALLY WISH I HAD MR. SISSOHO'S ADDRESS, E-MAIL, PHONE NO., OR SOME FORM OF
CONTACTING HIM.
JUST IMAGIN HOW MUCH HELP THREE MILLION DALASIS CAN DO TO MOST OF THOSE
PRIMARY SCHOOLS BACK HOME.
M.
B. Krubally.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 19:59:05 +0100
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Asbj=F8rn_Nordam?= <asbjorn.nordam@dif.dk>
To: "'gambia'" <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: circumcision once again
Message-ID: <c=DK%a=_%p=DIF%l=DKDIFS02-970312185905Z-867@dkdifs02.dif.dk>
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Even much has been said on the subject "circumcision", it it still
coming up under this Bantaba. It=B4s near to TABU for us, who has not
undergone that education/circumcision. None of my gambian friends has
ever taken that subject up, and I have never felt it was the time to
ask. None of my gambian male friends has ever told me, why and how they
were prepared themselves, or how they now prepare their own boys for
this traditional education/rite. My friend BASS lifts a bit of the
curtain in his answer (I would like to hear more about those
preparations one day) We have a mutual friend in Stockholm, and I=B4m
sorry, that I could not participate in the feast, when his boy (11 years
old) last year passed the circumcision (done at a hospital).=20
To fight tradition is a very, very difficult task. Even if the practise
of a certain tradition has lost the connextion to the origin context, we
often practise it no matter, just because it is TRADITION. And it
demands a lot of courage to be the first one, the first in the family to
go against tradition, or to break it. He or she will be looked upon as
an outsider, and it demands a very strong character to stand up and
fight alone against all. It has been done before, else we would still
live with a lots of valueless TRADITIONs.
How can we help the women to get rid of the FGM and still preserve what
I can understand from Bass` note, is the educational part of the rite ?
Sometimes we substitute the original act with a ritual one. Could that
be done here, and then still keep the 3-months preparation for that rite
? How can we help those women, who want to fight the tradition ? Can we
give them any arguments ? What will a mother has to tell -her husband, -
her parents, - the other women in the compund, - the relatives,-and her
own daughter ? How will you as a husband help her ?
That was just a few thoughts comming, when I read your comments. Among
we men, I sometimes come to think of circumcision among us as a cultural
sign/signal, but I have not elaborated precisely, what I mean. Maybe
later. (Some days ago I read that we have an antropologist among us, so
....). Asbj=F8rn Nordam
Ebrima Jawara wrote:
" Perhaps I fail to understand the pain one has to undergo during
"LELL". I was fortunate enough to have been circumcised by a competent
surgeon. I cannot really say that I have suffered any long-term effects
because my foreskin was chopped off. But sadly, many women do have
long-term effects because their genitals were chopped off.
Is there any medical or theological eveidence that any form of human
genital mutilation imporoves one's lot? We speak of development, but
development has to start from within. From each individual, each
household, each village, each community. In this day and age we live in
an increasingly globalised world, we cannot afford to cling on to
primitive practices and expect to compete with the rest of the world.
Like I said before, I will ensure that any daughters I do have will not
have to undergo any sort of mutilation of their genitals. You said that
it was no picnic.............
Any Feedback, positive, negative, or neutral, will be much appreciated.
Humbly yours,"
and BASS wrote:
"THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE BEST QUALIFIED TO EXPLAIN OUR CULTURE TO THE
WORLD ARE WE OURSELVES.YOU AND I KNOW THAT THE LAST REMAINING BASTION OF
AFRICAN PEDAGOGY IS THE SCHOOL OF CIRCUMCISION.NOWADAYS,THE ONLY TIME
THAT OUR ELDERS COULD TEACH US PURE AFRICAN VALUES NOT DISTORTED EITHER
BY ISLAM OR CHRISTIANITY IS
WHEN WE GO TO THIS SCHOOL.
IT IS TOTALLY UNFAIR TO REDUCE THE ENTIRE THREE OR SO MONTHS OF
INTENSIVE SCHOOLING TO JUST THE CHOPPING OFF OF THE CLITORIS OR THAT
ADDITIONAL FLESH AROUND THE PENIS.ITS MUCH MORE THAN THAT,AND YOU KNOW
IT.SO,AS A GAMBIAN AND AN AFRICAN,PERHAPS YOU OWE IT TO ALL OF US TO
FIND TIME AND TRY TO RETELL US THIS STORY IN A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE
MANNER.AND ITS ALSO CONFUSING TO ME THAT NONE OF THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN UP
THIS SUBJECT IN THE PAST MADE ANY MENTION OF THE MALE ONE,AS IF THAT IS
A PICNIC!! WELL,MINE WAS NOT;AND I KNOW A LOT OF MEN WHO FEEL THE SAME
ABOUT IT. REGARDS BASSSS!!"
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 97 14:37:50 -0600
From: Francis Njie <francis_njie@il.us.swissbank.com>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: circumcision once again
Message-ID: <9703122038.AA00433@new_delhi>
Mime-Version: 1.0 (NeXT Mail 3.3risc v124.8483.5)
Content-Type: text/plain
>> How can we help the women to get rid of the FGM and still preserve what
>> I can understand from Bass` note, is the educational part of the rite ?
>> Sometimes we substitute the original act with a ritual one. Could that
>> be done here, and then still keep the 3-months preparation for that rite
>> ? How can we help those women, who want to fight the tradition ? Can we
>> give them any arguments ? What will a mother has to tell -her husband, -
>> her parents, - the other women in the compund, - the relatives,-and her
>> own daughter ? How will you as a husband help her ?
Forking off of the above thread (!!), how do we make the average Joe in
societies that practise FGM see that they are inadvertently selecting
themselves out of the phenomenon of existence (well, in principle at least...)
if they insist on culture being static?
Because the (wise) elders sitting under (actual!) bantabas in the Gambia would
probably not yield easily on this matter, perhaps there should be a
state-sanctioned law banning FGM. I would take my chances with relatively
educated public officials rather than the average Joe in any attempt to create
some momentum towards the obsolescence of the practice.
On the educational value of 'lells', surely these girls could be 'educated' at
the rituals without being mutilated. There is, to me, simply no argument here
given the overwhelming medical evidence against FGM.
- Francis
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 16:51:17 -0500 (EST)
From: MANSALA@aol.com
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Tobaski
Message-ID: <970312165115_208744673@emout01.mail.aol.com>
Tosbaski is going to be around april 20 and not March 20.
Momodou Kolley.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 15:21:31 -0800 (PST)
From: Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: circumcision once again
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95b.970312151559.32806A-100000@dante29.u.washington.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
The problem with passing a law is, though, that it may very well serve to
drive the practice underground (parallels to the abortion debate are often
raised...), resulting in a child not receiving medical care in case of a
botched circumcision if parents , ngansingbas and others are afraid of
criminal prosecution. Most the elder women I interviewed in Gambia said
that they would perform the procedure whether it is illegal or not. Also
some of the youth that work on peer education oppose legislation as it
would splinter communities and families. One boy said: "we cannot make
criminals out of our parents." It is a very tricky issue....When the
British in 1945 announced that infibulation would be outlawed in the
Sudan, people rushed to have their daughters infibulated, resulting in
"what some observers called an unprecedented orgy of blood letting."
This is why I think what BAFROW is doing is so interesting, i.e. trying to
replace this with non-cutting ritual. YlvaH.
On Wed, 12 Mar 1997, Francis Njie wrote:
>
> >> How can we help the women to get rid of the FGM and still preserve what
> >> I can understand from Bass` note, is the educational part of the rite ?
> >> Sometimes we substitute the original act with a ritual one. Could that
> >> be done here, and then still keep the 3-months preparation for that rite
> >> ? How can we help those women, who want to fight the tradition ? Can we
> >> give them any arguments ? What will a mother has to tell -her husband, -
> >> her parents, - the other women in the compund, - the relatives,-and her
> >> own daughter ? How will you as a husband help her ?
>
> Forking off of the above thread (!!), how do we make the average Joe in
> societies that practise FGM see that they are inadvertently selecting
> themselves out of the phenomenon of existence (well, in principle at least...)
> if they insist on culture being static?
>
> Because the (wise) elders sitting under (actual!) bantabas in the Gambia would
> probably not yield easily on this matter, perhaps there should be a
> state-sanctioned law banning FGM. I would take my chances with relatively
> educated public officials rather than the average Joe in any attempt to create
> some momentum towards the obsolescence of the practice.
>
> On the educational value of 'lells', surely these girls could be 'educated' at
> the rituals without being mutilated. There is, to me, simply no argument here
> given the overwhelming medical evidence against FGM.
>
> - Francis
>
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 20:41:59 -0500 (EST)
From: ABALM@aol.com
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Tobaski
Message-ID: <970312203937_1748237032@emout14.mail.aol.com>
Thanks
i'realized the mistake about march vs april,
thanks for replying
abba
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 21:56:25 -0600 (CST)
From: Yaya Jallow <yj0001@jove.acs.unt.edu>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Gambia's president takes over defence ministry (fwd)
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970312213354.1400A-100000@jove.acs.unt.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Hello Fellas,
Regarding Jammeh's political chess game in appointing a V.P, I think once
again he is attempting to put the wool across our eyes. It may be true
that the constitution might appear vague on this issue but we have to look
at the INTENT of the document and those sections relating to the post of
vice presidency. The question that need to be asked is: what did the
drafters of the constitution had in mind and the people of the Gambia when
they voted on the document? I do not believe that Gambians voted for a
return to constitutional rule to simply have an incomplete cabinet and
a vacant post of vice president.
It seems that Jammeh's "quid pro quo" to singhateh is becoming more
important than the order of good governance. I am sorry and I hope the
courts will whistle for a half time and restore political sanity to our
nation's increasing political quagmire.
Have a good evening to you all.
Yaya
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 01:51:55 EST
From: fjanneh@juno.com (Fatou K Janneh)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Self Intro
Message-ID: <19970313.014903.10062.0.FJanneh@juno.com>
Gambia-l:
I wish to thank the managers for getting me on board. I may be a new
member, but I have followed the discussions through Amadou (Scattred)'s
account. I am a Finance major at The University of Tennessee and a
part-time student at the Knoxville Institute of Hair Design.
I was born in Dakar, Senegal; I live in Knoxville, TN; and I hope to
someday move to Gunjur, Kombo South. Greetings to Sarjo, Pa Abdou, Omar
Manjang, Pa Mambuna, and everyone else.
FATOU (Mame Coumba)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 11:15:32 +0300
From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: (Part1) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED
Message-ID: <3146841E.6423@QATAR.NET.QA>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
MR.E.JAWARA & MIS. E.JANNEH!!
"What became of the Black People Of Sumer?" the traveller asked the old
man,"for ancient records show that that the people of Sumer were black.
What happened to them?" "Ah," the old man sighed.
"They lost their history, so they died."
Three thousand years before the birth of christ,a black Egyptian woman
called HAGAR agreed to marry her boss,Abraham,the man who was to become
the father and first Patriarch of the Israelites.But before that,
Abraham had already been married to his half-sister,SARAH,but because
she was already old and could not get children,she allowed him to marry
their servant.
But there was a problem here!Hagar was a circumcised woman,and in her
black religion and tradition,circumcised women could not get married to
uncircumcised men.So,the future prophet had to agree to get circumcised
at the late age of ninety.Not only that.He had to be taught the
religious beliefs of his new wife,of which circumcision is only a small
part.Hagar,very soon,gave the old man what he had always prayed to his
God for: a male child.The name of this child was ISHMAEL.
But,interestingly,SARAH also later on got a child of her own ,which she
named ISAAC.But to SARAH's disappointment,her husband was still partial
to HAGAR and her son and did not get interested in her even after ISAAC
had been born. So,SARAH,out of jealousy and desperation threw HAGAR and
ISHMAEL out of her house into the wilderness.The old man was very
depressed about this,but could not do anything about it.So,the favorite
wife left with the favorite child.
Some one thousand eight hundred years later,another black Egyptian girl
from a village called Madian,agreed to marry another future prophet
called Moses.Again,there was a problem! This girl was the daughter of
the high priest of the village
and because of her religion and social status,she could marry this
stranger only after he had agreed to cleanse himself, which
meant circumcision.So,Moses agreed to get circumcised.And in addition to
that,his father in-law taught him lot of the the secrets of his
religion that would become crucial for his struggle with his former
God-Parent,the Pharoah of Egypt.
We still have a very long way to go before we will get to the
SeneGambian region,but,just be patient,we will get there eventually!!
Anyone who knows anything about Arab and Islamic history knows that
Ishmael ,the son of the black servant thrown out to the wilderness by
an angry first wife,was the prophet who built the KAABA,that point in
Saudi Arabia towards which every moslem must face when praying.Not only
that! That same ISHMAEL is the great ancestor of the prophet,
MOHAMMED.In every Gulf country of the present day,there is a Arab Clan
called the HAGGARITES or HAGGARIES.They are a nomadic Arab Clan related
to the prophet.All of them descended from Abrahams second wife,the black
Egyptian woman,HAGAR.
So,now that we have a bit of history,we can safely say the following:
without Haggar accepting marriage to Abraham,and Abraham accepting the
precondition of getting circumcised,Haggar would not have bothered
trying to convert Abraham into her religion,because only cleansed people
could be introduced to this Religion..(We know that the God and Religion
that Abraham later preached was not an Israelite God or Religion because
they always referred to Him in the Bible as the God of Abraham.That was
the God of HAGGAR's tribe,in which circumcision was a must.)And without
all that,Abraham would not have become a prophet.The same thing applies
to Moses.
Without his circumcision and conversion to the religion of his black
Egyptian wife,his father in-law would not have taught him the theology
of his religion,and he would therefore not have been able to effectively
counter the distinguished Magicians in the Pharoah's Imperial Palace,
let alone rescue his oppressed people from Egypt.(We know also that the
God Moses was trying to persuade his people to believe in was not an
Israeli God,because,in the Quran,they told him that they could not
believe in a God that was hiding in the Sky;they wanted him to come
down;they wanted to see him in the open.And that was why when Moses went
to Mount Sinai to negotiate the Ten Commandments,the Jews persuaded
Aaron,Moses's brother, to build the Golden Calf for them to Worship.That
was the Kind of God they knew and were comfortable with.So,the God Moses
introduced his people to was the God of the tribe of his African wife.)
As for the case of the Arabs,that one is just simple and straight
forward:no Hagar means no ISHMAEL,and no ISHMAEL means no Prophet
MUHAMMED,and no Prophet MUHAMMED means no Islam, of course.Prophet
Mohammed was,throughout his life, never tired of making known to
everybody around him that he was a decendant of Ishmael.And one could
only imagine! what the state of International culture and Civilization
would have been like,had there been no Hagar to rescue Abraham and no
girl from Madian to rescue the author of the TEN COMMANDMENTS.
Professor Chiekh Anta Diop had taught us that a Great People has no
business reading little histories,and should never have any reason to
appologize for anything in their history and culture to anybody.So, now
that we have established a semblance of order in the chaotic history of
the Middle East,we can now head South.Most of the present day tribes of
West Africa originated from
the areas of the great Nile River,particularly Upper Egypt and Southern
Sudan.Like any other great
migrations in history,it took our ancestors a very, very long time
before they finally settled down around the atlantic ocean.Infact, it
took them hundreds of years to reach this place,generations and
generations had died En Route;various elements in their cultures and
traditions had either changed,
forgotten,distorted or been simply ignored.And, as a result of the
enormous difficulties faced and experiences gained along the way,many
new things and practices have been incorporated into their way of
life.But certainly not everything was lost or forgotten.If that were the
case,they would have been dead like the black people of SUMER above.And
nothing amply demonstrates that fact more than the three formidable
empires of Ghana,Mali and Songhai that they were able to build after
settling down and putting the pieces of their live back together.After
hundreds of years of treking from our place of origin and still hundreds
of years of christianity and Islamisation,there are incredibly still a
handful of things that we have not been able or willing to forget or let
go.That is not unique to us alone ,of course,because every people have a
handful of things that they would hang on to forever, for better or for
worse,but that is the whole point.Those things that a given people would
never part with no matter what,are the things that define that
people,tell them who they are,where they come from,what they should want
and expect to have and where they should go.To use the American
expression,those are the things that serve them as their COMPASS and
ANCHOR.The anchor helps to keep their feet firm on the ground while they
use the compass to figure where they should be heading. CIRCUMCISION,the
main subject of this article,is of course one of those stubborn and
immortal elements not only inWest Africa but in black culture and
history in general;but we will talk about that
later.In the meantime,we will mention a couple of other minor
elements.Professor Diop had told us
that most of the tribes of Senegambia come from UPPER Egypt.And he
proved that by convincingly
showing that the name given to UPPER Egypt in the Egyptian language of
ancient times was KAU KAU and that thousnads of years later, that is the
same word with the same meaning used for peasants living in the Up
Country in Gambia and Senegal.And in the Fula language Kau means
uncle,which ,in fact, is the father and figure-head in a matrilineal
society.That Gambian town,BaKAU
also should ring a bell here!The title given to the Sudanese Queens in
ancient times is KANDA.In
Mandingo, a Kandaa is,unbelievably,a woman who when she speaks everyone
listens to.It is sometimes used for men for the same purpose.All of the
towns of Sere KUNDA, Dippa KUNDA,Latri KUNDA and Bundungka KUNDA bear
the same title.The(a) changes to (u) as a result of a vowel shift.Now we
can talk about the talk of the town,circumcision!!
TO BE CONTINUED.............
--
SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 97 00:34:18 PST
From: MAKE THAT VISION A REALITY <ABARROW@rr5.rr.intel.com>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: RE: Self Intro
Message-ID: <9703130834.utk20777@RR5.intel.com>
Fatou,
Welcome to the Bantaba!
We are looking forward to your contributions towards developing our mother
land, by putting our thoughts to reality.
Again, welcome aboard.
Pa-Abdou
Albuquerque
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 12:49:34 +0100
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Asbj=F8rn_Nordam?= <asbjorn.nordam@dif.dk>
To: "'gambia'" <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: circumcision
Message-ID: <c=DK%a=_%p=DIF%l=DKDIFS02-970313114934Z-935@dkdifs02.dif.dk>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Bass, thank you very much. I can see how ignorant I=B4ve been. You have
enlightened me by given your long history/cultureal/religious lecture.
But I=B4m not convinced, that we should practise circumcision the way
it=B4s done many places. Our ancestors can not have practiced it a way
that become life-threatening, because I don=B4t believe they wanted to =
cut
down the womens survival-rate.
Now I can see circumcision in a context, and it is very fundamental. As
you say practising circumcision including the teaching/educational part
of it, makes you the person you are. Do we know, why this ancient
african religion recommended, that we should undergo that test,
cleansing by cutting something from our genitals ? I can see it as a
test, a testamonial, a cultural sign, showing that you has undergone an
education, accepted as a man/women of the society, one who can be
accepted to prolong the family. It=B4s interesting that the visible mark
on you should be put on your genitals, which are maybe the most valuable
part of the human body, and maybe also the most "painful" part ? And put
there, it will day out and in reminds you of the transformation you have
undergone as a human being. If we put the mark "just" on the chin or
forehead, visible for every one, it is not the same.
To me it=B4s clear now , that this tradition will exist long time among =
us
because of the above mentionned. But can we change the practise, so we
reduce the "damages" of the genitals, not to say the life-threatening
practice? When I two month ago read here on the Gambia - I about the
different "tecnique" practised, specially the pharaonic circumcision, I
come to think that this could not originally has been the practise. It
must have been a tecnique "develloped" over time, and for what reason ?
Show me that husband, who finds it OK, that his wife suffers so much,
and even have a high risc of death, when giving birth to his child. Not
to say that man, who can find any plesure having intercource with his
wife, when he force such a pain on her. IF we under any form should
accept cutting genitals, how should it be ? I=B4m not saying we should.
Signals on the human body has always been a part of culture, and there
are many ways all over the world. They can be fascinating, repulsive
etc. In Denmark tattooing has existed from the first hunter came here,
and right now piercing is spreading fast, also puting rings into your
genitals, tongue, nipples, ears, lips, nose etc. But I don=B4t think =
that
bodysignal can be compared to the circumcision-rite one, which is
connected to an origin african religion, as described by Bass.
Asbj=F8rn Nordam
PS: One of my gambian friends is an "ISMAIL", nice to know.
BASS wrote:=20
"After hundreds of years of treking from our place of origin and still
hundreds of years of christianity and Islamisation,there are incredibly
still a handful of things that we have not been able or willing to
forget or let
go.That is not unique to us alone ,of course,because every people have a
handful of things that they would hang on to forever, for better or for
worse,but that is the whole point.Those things that a given people would
never part with no matter what,are the things that define that
people,tell them who they are,where they come from,what they should want
and expect to have and where they should go.To use the American
expression ,those are the things that serve them as their COMPASS and
ANCHOR.The anchor helps to keep their feet firm on the ground while they
use the compass to figure where they should be heading. CIRCUMCISION,the
main subject of this article,is of course one of those stubborn and
immortal elements not only inWest Africa but in black culture and
history in general;but we will talk about that later.In the meantime,we
will mention a couple of other minor elements."
------------------------------
Date: 13 Mar 1997 15:16:59 +0100
From: "Jobarteh, Momodou" <Momodou.Jobarteh@hordaland.vegvesen.telemax.no>
To: "Gambia-L -Internet... ." <Gambia-l@u.washington.edu> (Return requested)
Subject: FWD:SENEGAL
Message-ID: <0045F33280C5B005*/c=no/admd=telemax/prmd=vegvesen/o=hordaland/s=Jobarteh/g=Momodou/@MHS>
Content-Identifier: 0045F33280C5B005
Content-Return: Allowed
MIME-Version: 1.0
Africa Economic Digest (9 march 1997) vol 18 no 4
SENEGAL
World Bank promises support
World Bank president James Wolfensohn has promised the bank`s support to the
country`s private sector. He said he was satisfied with efforts at improving
health, education, water, agriculture and the infrastructure.
Wolfensohn said the economy, which grew by 5 per cent in 1996, was generally
on the right course and that the Bank looked forward to greater co-operation
and partnership with Dakar.
Greenwich to provide power
US company Greenwich Air Services has won a contract to build and operate a
50 MW gas turbine power station in the country under a 15 year contract with
the state power utility. The project will take 18 months to complete with
construction due to begin in july this year.
When in operation the station would produce an estimated revenue of $300
million over the life of the contract.
Citibank to provide pre-finance
US bankers Citibank is arranging pre-export finance for edible oil producer
Sonacos. The money is to used to finance groundnut oil exports.
The facility has a maturity of 11 months from the date of signing with final
repayment due not later than 30 November 1997. It is priced at 100 basis
points over one-month.
----------------------------------------------FWD
END-----------------------------------------------------
I wish to welcome Buba Njie and all the new members
Thanks
Alhagi
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 08:16:23 -0800 (PST)
From: Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: circumcision once again
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95b.970313081433.61084E-100000@dante34.u.washington.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
This is something as odd as a reply to myself....After I read this again I
realized that it could possibly be interpreted as accusing Gambians of
being anything less than law abiding people...No offense was meant. I was
merely trying to stress how this issue may be far too complex to"solve"
with a simplistic strategy like passing a law. Ylva
On Wed, 12 Mar 1997, Ylva Hernlund wrote:
> The problem with passing a law is, though, that it may very well serve to
> drive the practice underground (parallels to the abortion debate are often
> raised...), resulting in a child not receiving medical care in case of a
> botched circumcision if parents , ngansingbas and others are afraid of
> criminal prosecution. Most the elder women I interviewed in Gambia said
> that they would perform the procedure whether it is illegal or not. Also
> some of the youth that work on peer education oppose legislation as it
> would splinter communities and families. One boy said: "we cannot make
> criminals out of our parents." It is a very tricky issue....When the
> British in 1945 announced that infibulation would be outlawed in the
> Sudan, people rushed to have their daughters infibulated, resulting in
> "what some observers called an unprecedented orgy of blood letting."
> This is why I think what BAFROW is doing is so interesting, i.e. trying to
> replace this with non-cutting ritual. YlvaH.
> On Wed, 12 Mar 1997, Francis Njie wrote:
>
> >
> > >> How can we help the women to get rid of the FGM and still preserve what
> > >> I can understand from Bass` note, is the educational part of the rite ?
> > >> Sometimes we substitute the original act with a ritual one. Could that
> > >> be done here, and then still keep the 3-months preparation for that rite
> > >> ? How can we help those women, who want to fight the tradition ? Can we
> > >> give them any arguments ? What will a mother has to tell -her husband, -
> > >> her parents, - the other women in the compund, - the relatives,-and her
> > >> own daughter ? How will you as a husband help her ?
> >
> > Forking off of the above thread (!!), how do we make the average Joe in
> > societies that practise FGM see that they are inadvertently selecting
> > themselves out of the phenomenon of existence (well, in principle at least...)
> > if they insist on culture being static?
> >
> > Because the (wise) elders sitting under (actual!) bantabas in the Gambia would
> > probably not yield easily on this matter, perhaps there should be a
> > state-sanctioned law banning FGM. I would take my chances with relatively
> > educated public officials rather than the average Joe in any attempt to create
> > some momentum towards the obsolescence of the practice.
> >
> > On the educational value of 'lells', surely these girls could be 'educated' at
> > the rituals without being mutilated. There is, to me, simply no argument here
> > given the overwhelming medical evidence against FGM.
> >
> > - Francis
> >
> >
> >
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 09:46:57 -0800
From: sarian@osmosys.incog.com (Sarian Loum)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Fwd: F.Y.I
Message-ID: <199703131746.JAA18133@thesky.incog.com>
----- Begin Included Message -----
>From Sherran.Johnson@Ebay.Sun.COM Thu Mar 13 08:46:48 1997
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 08:46:32 -0800
From: Sherran.Johnson@Ebay.Sun.COM (CSC account )
To: sunnet@Sun.COM, ziontech@best.com, GColl73684@aol.com
Subject: Re: (Fwd) Fwd: F.Y.I
This is what happens when our own don't vote.
Sherran
----- Begin Included Message -----
>From latisha@olympus.manhattan.sgi.com Thu Mar 13 06:22:47 1997
X-Mailer: Z-Mail (3.2.0 26oct94 MediaMail)
To: troybell@mindspring.manhattan.sgi.com, sherran.johnson@Ebay,
gerri.watson@medtronic.com, sharon.johnosn@Ebay, cmoore@racal.com,
darkman@bbs.tonybrown.com, webmaster@everythingblack.com
Subject: (Fwd) Fwd: F.Y.I
Mime-Version: 1.0
X-Lines: 114
X-MSMail-From: DebraMartn
Check this out. We can't have anything in their eyes. Intergration has
hurt
us in so many ways. It has helped but it has also hurt us as a people.
Debra
<<
<< > This is not just hearsay or a rumor. This has been all over the local
> (Atlanta) news today.
>
> State by state, HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) are
> being cited for racism. That's right, Black colleges cited for racism.
> HBCUs have already been silently facing this battle in Mississippi,
> Louisiana, and Alabama. Now it's happening here in Georgia, and don't
> think your state (if you don't live in one of these) won't be next in
line.
> HBCUs and the government for the states they are in are being taken to
> court for not working hard enough to attract white students. Of course
> this will soon lead to the end of the HBCU as we know it.
>
> Worse of all - this is a two edge sword, because these suits not only
> involve future integration of HBCUs, but eliminate minority advantages
at
> mostly white colleges too. This involves admissions, scholarships,
loans,
> etc. . So not only will it be harder for Blacks at white schools, but
at
> our own HBCUs also.
>
> Everyone should be aware of this move by those who have a problem with
> Blacks having any opportunities that help us as a people. Write your
> legislators, local officials, and anyone else you find appropriate to
stop
> this ASAP!! We can't sleep on this one, or it will be OUR children who
> suffer.
>
> Proponents of this racist action are claiming these actions will help
> Blacks, but don't believe the HYPE!!!
>
> Please forward this as far and wide as you can, to insure that as many
> brothers and sisters get this message as possible.
>
> You can check the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and you will find a
> headline for 3/4/97 that reads the following
> (http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/):
>
> 11 people bring suit against Georgia university system >> >>
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj: F.Y.I
Date: 97-03-12 09:18:37 EST
From: LDixon
To: DebraMartn
<< > This is not just hearsay or a rumor. This has been all over the local
> (Atlanta) news today.
>
> State by state, HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) are
> being cited for racism. That's right, Black colleges cited for racism.
> HBCUs have already been silently facing this battle in Mississippi,
> Louisiana, and Alabama. Now it's happening here in Georgia, and don't
> think your state (if you don't live in one of these) won't be next in
line.
> HBCUs and the government for the states they are in are being taken to
> court for not working hard enough to attract white students. Of course
> this will soon lead to the end of the HBCU as we know it.
>
> Worse of all - this is a two edge sword, because these suits not only
> involve future integration of HBCUs, but eliminate minority advantages at
> mostly white colleges too. This involves admissions, scholarships,
loans,
> etc. . So not only will it be harder for Blacks at white schools, but at
> our own HBCUs also.
>
> Everyone should be aware of this move by those who have a problem with
> Blacks having any opportunities that help us as a people. Write your
> legislators, local officials, and anyone else you find appropriate to
stop
> this ASAP!! We can't sleep on this one, or it will be OUR children who
> suffer.
>
> Proponents of this racist action are claiming these actions will help
> Blacks, but don't believe the HYPE!!!
>
> Please forward this as far and wide as you can, to insure that as many
> brothers and sisters get this message as possible.
>
> You can check the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and you will find a
> headline for 3/4/97 that reads the following
> (http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/):
>
> 11 people bring suit against Georgia university system >>
---End of forwarded mail from DebraMartn@aol.com
---End of forwarded mail from "Cindi Cadet" <cindi@brainy.manhattan.sgi.com>
--
LaTisha Bell
Marketing Representative - SGI
"Before you run, check to see if the bulldog has teeth."
-Les Brown
----- End Included Message -----
----- End Included Message -----
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 21:33:15 +0000
From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Fwd: UNITED NATIONS: UNDP Unearths Six-Million-Dollar Fraud
Message-ID: <19970313205652.AAA6316@LOCALNAME>
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Copyright 1997 InterPress Service, all rights reserved.
Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.
*** 09-Mar-97 ***
Title: UNITED NATIONS: UNDP Unearths Six-Million-Dollar Fraud
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 9 (IPS) - The U.N. Development Programme
(UNDP) has unearthed a six-million-dollar fraud in a bungled 50-
million-dollar U.N. project for the construction of housing and
common premises for several U.N. agencies in Asia and Africa.
''The UNDP has been engaged in an extensive investigation
spanning three continents, and I am confident that all those
involved in wrongdoing or poor management, whether inside or
outside of UNDP, will be identified,'' UNDP Administrator Gus
Speth says. ''And we shall hold them accountable.''
As one of the largest multilateral development aid agencies,
the UNDP has a network of some 134 country offices and 1,331
professional staff, of whom 749 are international and 582 locally
recruited field staff.
The fraud involves mostly overpayments that were initially
thought to be the result of cost escalation. The overpayments
resulted from irregularities in contracting and failures in the
organisation's financial controls and management oversight,
according to the agency.
The countries where the offices and housing facilities were
being built include Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, Zambia,
Uganda, Ghana, the Comoros, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and the
Maldives.
''The investigations have no implications for these
countries,'' Speth says. ''And it has nothing to do with our
development assistance to these countries.''
Speth says the conduct of 16 present and former UNDP staff
members is at issue. Two staff members have already been
suspended. He declined to reveal their identities in the interest
of due process and the success of the investigation.
''Sanctions will be applied to staff members wherever
warranted. These could range from dismissal to reprimand, as well
as recovery of funds,'' he says.
The investigation also extends to private contractors involved
in the project.
Speth says the UNDP and other U.N. entities must be held to a
high standard of accountability in their management and openness
in relations with the public.
In 1995, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) acted swiftly to
contain a 10-million-dollar fraud in its office in Nairobi. The
New York-based agency fired 17 staff members and closed down six
of its sub-offices.
''The summary dismissal of staff who had been charged with
fraud and serious mismanagement has sent a strong message
throughout UNICEF that the organisation will not tolerate
dishonest and unethical behaviour,'' UNICEF says in a report to
its Executive Board last year.
Since the UNDP project involved the construction of common
premises, the 50-million-dollar enterprise also drew on funds from
other agencies such as UNICEF and the U.N. Population Fund
(UNFPA).
But Speth says the UNDP will take full responsibility for the
failure of financial controls and management oversight which took
place over eight years.
''I will do everything in my power to ensure that something
like this never happens again,'' he says. ''I speak for everyone
in UNDP when I say that we are very upset by these findings.''
The fraud comes as the UNDP reduces its overhead expenses to
cope with a continuous decline in its core resources provided
voluntarily by donor nations.
The decline in resources is largely attributed to cuts by the
United States, while the growing demands for assistance are coming
mostly from the 47 least developed countries (LDCs) -- the poorest
of the world's poor.
U.S. cuts have had a disproportionate impact on the UNDP's
work, since Washington has traditionally been the largest
contributor to the agency. U.S. funds declined from 160 million
dollars in 1985 to 113 million dollars in 1995 and 52 million
dollars in 1996.
As a result of the 50 percent reduction in funding in 1996, the
United States descended from first to seventh place on the list of
donors to UNDP programmes. Among the top contributors, Japan
provided 101 million dollars, followed closely by Denmark, Norway,
Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. (END/IPS/yjc/td)
Origin: Rome/UNITED NATIONS/
----
[c] 1997, InterPress Third World News Agency (IPS)
All rights reserved
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 19:40:58 -0500
From: "PA-MAMBUNA O. BOJANG" <paomar@iglou.com>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Subscribing for the Daily observer
Message-ID: <33289E9A.5303@iglou.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Mr. Camara, could you kindly subscribe me for the Daily observer. I
would have send this to your personal address, but I delete mails as I
read them.
Thanks,
Pa-Mambuna,
Lexington.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 08:27:46 +0300
From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
To: GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU
Subject: THE BUCK, THAT IS THE QUESTION!!!!!!
Message-ID: <3147AE4D.337E@QATAR.NET.QA>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
FRANCIS!!
SANKUNG IS NOT THE ONLY ONE DISTURBED BY THE FACT
THAT INSPITE OF THE NOISINESS OF THE GAMBIA-L,WE STILL HAVE NOT BEEN
ABLE
TO SECURE AT LEAST A HUNDRED PEOPLE FOR THE Observer Project.PERHAPS WE
SHOULD START CONSIDERING IMPOSING AN ANNUAL FIFTEEN DOLLAR FLAT RATE ON
EVERY GAMBIA-LER REGARDLESS OF ONE'S INTEREST IN THE Observer.THIS
WAY,EVERYONE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY HAVE ACCESS TO THE
Observer WHEN ITS AVAILABLE,AND THE PHILANTROPISTS WOULD HAVE SOMETHING
TO WORK WITH BEYOND RHETORIC.
REGARDS
BASSSS!!
--
SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 10:39:36 +0000
From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: New member
Message-ID: <19970314093835.AAB15930@LOCALNAME>
Gambia-l,
Alieu Bah has been added to the list and as a custom, we
expect to have an introduction from him. Welcome to the Gambia-l
Alieu, please send an introduction of yourself to the list.
Best regards
Momodou Camara
*******************************************************
http://home3.inet.tele.dk/mcamara
**"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's
possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible"***
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 13:59:31 +0100
From: Andrea Klumpp <klumpp@kar.dec.com>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <33294BB3.6C8F@kar.dec.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Dear All,
I would like to contribute for a school, too. But as my funds are
restricted and as I'm heading to The Gambia end of the year, I have to
withdraw my Observer-subscription - sorry.
I would propose to choose a school in the provinces because of
decentralization. Why not Georgetown?
What criteria will be put on the selection of books? Has there a
committee been established, yet? I have access to cheap office material
like pens etc. Shall we contribute material and/or funds? Who is going
to collect it? What about individual sponsorship for students? How many
people have shown interest or have committed themselves already?
I think it would be a great thing, if we manage to set it up. I am
convinced that the visible concern of people abroad is very much
encourageing (not only) for students in The Gambia.
Thanx,
Andrea
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 09:27:13 -0500
From: "William O'Donnell" <billod@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <Pine.SGI.3.95.970314092328.4661B-100000@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
On Fri, 14 Mar 1997, Andrea Klumpp wrote:
>
> I would propose to choose a school in the provinces because of
> decentralization. Why not Georgetown?
Last time I was in Georgetown (July 1996) the high school there seemed
to be doing as well as the schools in Banjul and Brikama. I know that
education is a big focus of the Peace Corps in the Gambia. Would it be
worth asking them which district would stand to gain the most from this
project?
- bill
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
\ William O'Donnell /
/ Dept. of History \
\ The Johns Hopkins University /
/ 3400 N. Charles St. \
\ Baltimore, MD 21218 /
/ http://jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu/~billod \
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 10:38:12 -0500
From: "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: position announcement
Message-ID: <199703141538.KAA15003@oak.ffr.mtu.edu>
----- Begin Included Message -----
>From owner-forgrad-l-outgoing@mtu.edu Fri Mar 14 10:27:28 1997
X-Received: MTU Resend v1.1 for forgrad-l
X-Sender: bdorr@141.219.149.237
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 10:27:15 -0500
To: forgrad-l@mtu.edu
From: Blair Orr <bdorr@mtu.edu>
Subject: position announcement
For your information.
>Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 09:49:11 -0500
>Reply-To: Ecotoxicology Discussion List <ECOTOXICOLOGY-L@LISTSERV.VT.EDU>
>Sender: Ecotoxicology Discussion List <ECOTOXICOLOGY-L@LISTSERV.VT.EDU>
>From: "Beaulieu, Stephen M." <steveb@RTI.ORG>
>Subject: position announcement
>To: ECOTOXICOLOGY-L@LISTSERV.VT.EDU
>
>So far, I have received only two resumes for the position described
>below (I posted this description to the listserver more than two weeks
>ago). I had originally requested that materials be sent through our
>Human Resources office. However, because there is an immediate need to
>fill this position, please feel free to send your resume directly to me
>(via fax or e-mail is fine).
>
>
>
>The Environmental Risk Analysis Program at the Research Triangle
>Institute has an immediate opening for a mathematical ecologist to
>support ongoing project work in ecological risk assessment. The work
>primarily involves developing and applying methods to predict and
>evaluate risks to ecological receptors from chemical stressors. This is
>not a field position and the majority of project work will rely on data
>gleaned from existing data bases and primary literature reviews. The
>ideal candidate will have: (1) a strong background in statistics,
>systems ecology, and toxicology, (2) a Master's degree with between 1-3
>years of experience, and (3) demonstrated ability with a variety of
>software packages, especially software for mathematical analyses (e.g.,
>Excel, Mathcad) and ecological models (programming experience not
>required). The qualifications for this position include (in order of
>preference):
>
>- a Master's degree (or higher) in environmental science or ecology;
>- experience in population modeling (e.g., population viability
> analysis) and/or community modeling;
>- knowledge of modeling approaches to deal with stochasticity,
> uncertainty, and measurement error;
>- ability to understand and interpret ecotoxicological data on aquatic
> and/or terrestrial organisms;
>- skills to address ecological risk problems using multivariate analysis
> and nonmetric clustering;
>- familiarity with risk assessment concepts and tools; and
>- basic understanding of contaminant transport through food webs,
> including bioaccumulation.
>
>
>Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. RTI is an AA/EEO.
>
>Please send resume (via fax or e-mail) in confidence to:
>
>_____________________________
>Stephen M. Beaulieu
>Environmental Risk Analysis Program
>3040 Cornwallis Road
>Research Triangle Institute
>Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194
>steveb@rti.org
>(fax: 919-541-7155)
>
>
----- End Included Message -----
------------------------------
Date: 14 Mar 1997 18:06:08 +0100
From: "Jobarteh, Momodou" <Momodou.Jobarteh@hordaland.vegvesen.telemax.no>
To: "Gambia-L -Internet... ." <Gambia-l@u.washington.edu> (Return requested)
Subject: FWD:Rex looks up to diamonds
Message-ID: <0024D33298580004*/c=no/admd=telemax/prmd=vegvesen/o=hordaland/s=Jobarteh/g=Momodou/@MHS>
Content-Identifier: 0024D33298580004
Content-Return: Allowed
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Disposition: inline
Africa Economic Digest (9 march 1997) vol 18 no 4
SIERRA LEONE
REX LOOKS UP TO DIAMONDS
Canadian mining company Rex Diamond Mining Corporation says it is banking=
on =
unexploited high-quality diamond fields in the country to help secure a =
brilliant future.
Rax chief executive Serge Mulle said =ABwe have by what is known today ab=
out =
$4,900 million worth of reserves of gemquality diamonds.=BB
Last month, the company said the value of the Tongo field, one of the fie=
ld =
on which it owns leases, has been estimated by a leading expert at $3,300=
=
million with resources totalling 18.9 million carats.
Rex also operates three fissure diamond mines in South Africa and sorting=
=
and marketing facilities in the Belgian port of Antwerp.
Muller said annual output at Rex`s fields in the country and South Africa=
=
could amount to 600,000 carats in five years giving it total revenue of $=
120 =
million a year at an average of $200 a carat. The start-up of Tongo field=
s =
is expected to take about two to three years. Production at the Zimmi =
diamond mining area is expected to start in mid 1998.
Rex might employ 2000 to 3000 people and which would make it the country`=
s =
second largest employer after the government. Muller expects other mining=
=
companies to be lured to the country.
-----------------------------------------FWD =
END------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 14:22:59 -0800 (PST)
From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
To: gambia-l <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Transfer of presidential powers.
Message-ID: <858389172@mail.earthlink.net>
Just a quick note.
*****
BETHESDA, Md. (Mar 14, 1997 4:49 p.m. EST) - President Bill Clinton underwent surgery on Friday to repair a torn
knee tendon. Aides said he was in good spirits, determined to keep a summit date with Boris Yeltsin and dreaming of golfing
and jogging again.
...
A regional anaesthetic allows Clinton to remain conscious during the surgery, avoiding a temporary transfer of presidential
powers to Vice President Al Gore, who was travelling in California.
Copyright © 1997 Reuter Information Service
*****
Not to harp on the subject, but this makes me wonder. What if, God forbid, President Jammeh has a slightly more serious accident that required full anaesthesia and was thus temporarily incapacitated? Would we have a constitutional crisis at hand with no Vice-President and qualified Speaker to take over temporarily?
Peace.
Lat
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 19:13:56 -0500 (EST)
From: "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Gambians at University of Michigan??
Message-ID: <199703150013.TAA15220@spruce.ffr.mtu.edu>
Content-Type: text
Hi folks, do anyone know Gambians at the University
of Michigan at Ann Arbor? Please send responses at
my address msjaiteh@mtu.edu.
Malanding Jaiteh
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 09:14:22 +0800 (SGT)
From: Senessie Turay <9210077@talabah.iiu.my>
To: gambia-l <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.970315091415.26313A-100000@talabah.iiu.my>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 09:26:50 -0500
From: Walton Ekundayo Gilpin <weg10@COLUMBIA.EDU>
To: LEONENET@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
This mail is sent with an open mind. Anyone who reads it must form their
own opinion of it.
cheers
____________________________________
Remember: It pays to grow old
If you stay young.
Praise the Lord anyway!
'dayo
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 11:36:56 +0000
From: Mercella Jones <jones@dcs.qmw.ac.uk>
To: weg10@columbia.edu
Subject: How Ignorant people can be!!!
Hi Walton,
The content of the following e-mail might disgust you but it is a rude
awakening for those who have been sleeping and a sad confirmation for
those who were never fooled.Ignorance is alive and well in America but
especially at the higher educational institutions.
************************************************************
********************
* --****** Jokes--
*
*
*
* Here are some of the better ****** jokes I've managed to come upon.
Enjoy. *
************************************************************
********************
Nig-ger (nig'er) n. An African jungle anthropoid ape of the primate
family pongidae (superfamily cercopithecoidea). Imported to the United
States as slave labor in the late 1700's-1800's, these wild creatures
now roam freely-- while destroying the economic and social
infrastructures of the nation.
************************************************************
********************
Do you know why flies have wings?
So they can beat the ******s to the watermelons.
Why did the nig run when his girlfriend said she wanted to give him a
blowjob?
He was afraid it would cancel his unemployment benefits.
Did you hear about the little ****** boy who had diarrhea?
He thought he was melting.
What do you call three ******s sitting in a garden?
Fertilizer.
What do you call a ****** with an IQ of 15?
Gifted.
What's the difference between a pothole and a ******?
You'd swerve to avoid a pothole, wouldn't you?
How do you get twelve nigs in a Volkswagon?
Toss a welfare check in the back seat.
How do you get 400 ******s in an Escort?
I don't know, but they figure it out.
What do you call three blacks at a Klan barbeque?
Charcoal.
How do you make a ****** nervous?
Take him to an auction.
Did you hear about Evil Kneivel's cousin, Ku Klux Knieval?
He tried to jump over 50 blacks - With A Steamroller.
What do you call 50,000 blacks in the bottom of the sea?
A good start.
Why don't ******s stick their heads out of moving vehicles?
Their lips catching the wind will beat them to death.
What do you call a black hitchiker?
Stranded.
What do you call two ****** motocycle cops?
Chocolate CHiPs.
Why does Georgia have blacks and California have earthquakes?
California had first pick.
What happens when you put an Odor-Eater in a ******'s shoes?
He disappears.
Why do ******s always have sex on their minds?
Because of the pubic hair on their heads.
What did the black kid get for Christmas?
My bike.
Why don't sharks attack ******s?
They mistake them for whale ****.
Why do ******s call white people "Honkeys"?
Thats the last sound they hear before we run them over.
How do you wipe out 250 ape families?
Blow up Kmart.
Why can't ******s do push-ups?
Their lips hit the floor before their chests touch.
A ******, a jew and a spic get shoved off a building at the same time
which one hits pavement first?
Who cares.
Whats the difference between ****** ***** and a bowling ball?
You can eat a bowling ball.
Why do ******s tint their car windows?
They don't-- it's the black rubbing off.
How do you get ******s out of your neighborhood?
Hide all the good cardboard boxes.
How do you get a ****** to commit suicide?
Toss a bucket of KFC into traffic.
Whats another name for the county jail?
The house of apes.
******, your termination is growing near
With my shotgun I invoke my fear
I'll blast you in the legs then blast you in the head
I'll laugh at you ****** till your ass is dead
You grease dripping melon snatchin car jacking ****
I am near, now you're out of luck
I'll cripple you ******, then crush your skull
It's so much fun to watch you tremble and fall
You are worth nothing ******; zero, zip
You should be on the farm, under the whip
Think you're emancipated ******? **** that!
Stupid ******, you're no better than a jap
I HATE ******S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
****** ****** you better beware
I'll shoot your black ass and burn your ****** afro hair
I'll punch you, kick you, and crush your ****ing rock hard skull
Then I'll castrate you ****** and make you swallow your balls
I'll tie you up ****** and drag you behind my car
I'll drag your ass forever ******, far far far
I hate you ******, your rap and your jive
I'm gonna kill you ***** you will not stay alive
I hate all ******s, the way they behave
Whites are superior beings, ******S ARE SLAVES!!!!!!
Kill that ****** he's worse than a fag
Blast him in the head with a 44 mag
Kick him punch him and crush that bro
Douse him with gasoline and burn his fro
Hit him with a flashlight and kick him in the head
Just make sure that ******s dead
Big lipped chicken eating melon stealing bast
I can't wait to kill a ****** with a shotgun blast!
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 20:15:14 -0600 (CST)
From: Yaya Jallow <yj0001@jove.acs.unt.edu>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970314200452.15379A-100000@jove.acs.unt.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
On Sat, 15 Mar 1997, Senessie Turay wrote:
Senessie,
While I understand your rationale for posting the following contents, I
think It's better that you never forwarded that piece. I find it insulting
and offensive and I do not believe such contents deserve posting on
Gambia-L, because we would be providing coverage for the author of such
articles.
This is just my opinion.
Good evening to you all
Yaya
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 09:26:50 -0500
> From: Walton Ekundayo Gilpin <weg10@COLUMBIA.EDU>
> To: LEONENET@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
>
> This mail is sent with an open mind. Anyone who reads it must form their
> own opinion of it.
>
> cheers
>
>
> ____________________________________
> Remember: It pays to grow old
> If you stay young.
> Praise the Lord anyway!
> 'dayo
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 11:36:56 +0000
> From: Mercella Jones <jones@dcs.qmw.ac.uk>
> To: weg10@columbia.edu
> Subject: How Ignorant people can be!!!
>
> Hi Walton,
>
> The content of the following e-mail might disgust you but it is a rude
> awakening for those who have been sleeping and a sad confirmation for
> those who were never fooled.Ignorance is alive and well in America but
> especially at the higher educational institutions.
>
>
> ************************************************************
> ********************
> * --****** Jokes--
> *
> *
> *
> * Here are some of the better ****** jokes I've managed to come upon.
> Enjoy. *
>
> ************************************************************
> ********************
> Nig-ger (nig'er) n. An African jungle anthropoid ape of the primate
> family pongidae (superfamily cercopithecoidea). Imported to the United
> States as slave labor in the late 1700's-1800's, these wild creatures
> now roam freely-- while destroying the economic and social
> infrastructures of the nation.
>
> ************************************************************
> ********************
> Do you know why flies have wings?
> So they can beat the ******s to the watermelons.
> Why did the nig run when his girlfriend said she wanted to give him a
> blowjob?
> He was afraid it would cancel his unemployment benefits.
>
> Did you hear about the little ****** boy who had diarrhea?
> He thought he was melting.
>
> What do you call three ******s sitting in a garden?
> Fertilizer.
>
> What do you call a ****** with an IQ of 15?
> Gifted.
>
> What's the difference between a pothole and a ******?
> You'd swerve to avoid a pothole, wouldn't you?
>
> How do you get twelve nigs in a Volkswagon?
> Toss a welfare check in the back seat.
>
> How do you get 400 ******s in an Escort?
> I don't know, but they figure it out.
>
> What do you call three blacks at a Klan barbeque?
> Charcoal.
>
> How do you make a ****** nervous?
> Take him to an auction.
>
> Did you hear about Evil Kneivel's cousin, Ku Klux Knieval?
> He tried to jump over 50 blacks - With A Steamroller.
>
> What do you call 50,000 blacks in the bottom of the sea?
> A good start.
>
> Why don't ******s stick their heads out of moving vehicles?
> Their lips catching the wind will beat them to death.
>
> What do you call a black hitchiker?
> Stranded.
>
> What do you call two ****** motocycle cops?
> Chocolate CHiPs.
>
> Why does Georgia have blacks and California have earthquakes?
> California had first pick.
>
> What happens when you put an Odor-Eater in a ******'s shoes?
> He disappears.
>
> Why do ******s always have sex on their minds?
> Because of the pubic hair on their heads.
>
> What did the black kid get for Christmas?
> My bike.
>
> Why don't sharks attack ******s?
> They mistake them for whale ****.
>
> Why do ******s call white people "Honkeys"?
> Thats the last sound they hear before we run them over.
>
> How do you wipe out 250 ape families?
> Blow up Kmart.
>
> Why can't ******s do push-ups?
> Their lips hit the floor before their chests touch.
>
> A ******, a jew and a spic get shoved off a building at the same time
> which one hits pavement first?
> Who cares.
>
> Whats the difference between ****** ***** and a bowling ball?
> You can eat a bowling ball.
> Why do ******s tint their car windows?
> They don't-- it's the black rubbing off.
>
> How do you get ******s out of your neighborhood?
> Hide all the good cardboard boxes.
>
> How do you get a ****** to commit suicide?
> Toss a bucket of KFC into traffic.
>
> Whats another name for the county jail?
> The house of apes.
>
>
> ******, your termination is growing near
> With my shotgun I invoke my fear
> I'll blast you in the legs then blast you in the head
> I'll laugh at you ****** till your ass is dead
> You grease dripping melon snatchin car jacking ****
> I am near, now you're out of luck
> I'll cripple you ******, then crush your skull
> It's so much fun to watch you tremble and fall
> You are worth nothing ******; zero, zip
> You should be on the farm, under the whip
> Think you're emancipated ******? **** that!
> Stupid ******, you're no better than a jap
>
>
>
> I HATE ******S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> ****** ****** you better beware
> I'll shoot your black ass and burn your ****** afro hair
> I'll punch you, kick you, and crush your ****ing rock hard skull
> Then I'll castrate you ****** and make you swallow your balls
> I'll tie you up ****** and drag you behind my car
> I'll drag your ass forever ******, far far far
> I hate you ******, your rap and your jive
> I'm gonna kill you ***** you will not stay alive
> I hate all ******s, the way they behave
> Whites are superior beings, ******S ARE SLAVES!!!!!!
>
>
> Kill that ****** he's worse than a fag
> Blast him in the head with a 44 mag
> Kick him punch him and crush that bro
> Douse him with gasoline and burn his fro
> Hit him with a flashlight and kick him in the head
> Just make sure that ******s dead
> Big lipped chicken eating melon stealing bast
> I can't wait to kill a ****** with a shotgun blast!
>
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 22:04:20 -0500 (EST)
From: TOURAY1@aol.com
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
Message-ID: <970314220419_720691949@emout11.mail.aol.com>
Hai whoever you are,
I think this is the stupidest joke I've ever read in my entire life cause
it's not even
funny.It is very stupid and does'nt even deserve to be posted in this
Bantaba.
Yours,
Lamin
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 23:07:26 -0500 (EST)
From: Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU>
To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970314225117.17250D-100000@panther.Gsu.EDU>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
ANDREA; I ALSO HAVE SOME BOOKS THAT I AM CATALOGING FOR THE PURPOSE OF
DONATIONS. WHY NOT YOU AND I START THE PROCESS. YOU PUT TOGETHER WHAT
MATERIALS YOU CAN. 1 WILL SEND MY LIST TO THE HEAD OF GAMBIA COLLEGE FOR
THEM TO SELECT WHICH OF THE BOOKS THEY WILL NEED SINCE I WILL NOT WANT TO
IMPOSE ON THEM ANY MATERIAL THAT THEY WILL NOT BE INTERESTED IN. AS SOON
AS I RECEIVE THE LIST BACK YOU AND I CAN PUT HEADS TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT
WOULD BE THE CHEAPEST WAY TO SHIP WHAT YOU'VE GOT AND WHAT I'VE GOT.
WE CAN SEND THIS AS A ONE TIME DONATION WHILE THE COMMITTEE IS
WORKING ON A DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION. IN THE MEAN TIME YOU
AND I CAN TEST THE WATERS WITH THIS ONE TIME DONATION AND MAYBE WE WILL
LEARN SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL FOR DRAFTING THE PROPOSAL. WHAT DO
YOU THINK? ANYONE ELSE HAS IDEAS, ESPECIALLY ON THE SHIPPING PART.
HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON , THANKYOU..............MUSA
> Dear
All, > > I would like to contribute for a school, too. But as my funds are
> restricted and as I'm heading to The Gambia end of the year, I have to
> withdraw my Observer-subscription - sorry.
>
> I would propose to choose a school in the provinces because of
> decentralization. Why not Georgetown?
>
> What criteria will be put on the selection of books? Has there a
> committee been established, yet? I have access to cheap office material
> like pens etc. Shall we contribute material and/or funds? Who is going
> to collect it? What about individual sponsorship for students? How many
> people have shown interest or have committed themselves already?
>
> I think it would be a great thing, if we manage to set it up. I am
> convinced that the visible concern of people abroad is very much
> encourageing (not only) for students in The Gambia.
>
> Thanx,
>
> Andrea
>
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 00:02:03 -0600
From: Tamsir Mbai <mba4224@etbu.edu>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Transfer of presidential powers.
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970314234516.38d76eb6@etbu.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
At 02:22 PM 3/14/97 -0800, Latir-Downes wrote:
> President Bill Clinton underwent surgery on Friday to repair a torn
>knee tendon. ... A regional anaesthetic allows Clinton to remain conscious
>during the surgery, avoiding a temporary transfer of presidential
>powers to Vice President Al Gore, who was travelling in California.
> Not to harp on the subject, but this makes me wonder. What if, God
>forbid, President Jammeh has a slightly more serious accident that required
>full anaesthesia and was thus temporarily incapacitated? Would we have a
>constitutional crisis at hand with no Vice-President and qualified Speaker
to >take over temporarily?
>Peace.
>
>Lat
This is a thought provoking masterpiece. I must admit, Lat, that I
am becoming an admirer of yours. Many a times people fail not for lack of
trying, but for lack of a visionary mind. For the sustenance of longevity,
our wishes and aspirations must always be translated into prudent programs
that cater for the future. Unfortunately, I think Jammeh is still clothed in
his boyhood robes. It has always been, and will continue to be a misnomer
amongst youths that evil or misfortune will not befall them. I attribute
Jammeh's lack of vision for the possibilities of the future to this youthful
attitude. Even though I had not specifically thought about Latir's
hypothesis, I think the ruling party owes it to The Gambian people to have
considered all probable consequences for their actions. I reckon I can
fairly assume that this was not done, given the outcome of the delay in
appointing a VP.
At this point in time, I am going to assume that everyone on this
list is aware of the developments in the Gambia relative to this topic of
discussion. If that is an accurate assumption, then I suggest that we take a
vote on issues like this and mail the tally of the votes to the OBSERVER in
Bakau, so that our voices can be heard. It is one thing to discuss the issue
here on the list, but unless the government concerned is aware of our
existence, then our views and opinions are tantamount to being non-existent.
We must be seen as a force to reckon with. Once our support or criticism of
the gov't is made public, I think the gov't will at the very least consider
that there are concerned Gambian citizens outside the country who are
closely monitoring the developments inside the country.
Geography should not be an impediment, but if you are wondering how
this may help our nation, well, I am too. The not-so-very-evident effect
this strategy might have is that being outside the country, the gov't will
see us as an external force that has the potential to lobby and obtain
foreign assistance in our quest for the maintenance of peace and prosperity
in our beloved nation. Once they realise that we can do this, they will
respect (not necessarily honour) the views and opinions that we shall
continue to make public through the OBSERVER newspaper on a timely basis.
The days that we can sit by and watch our nation be plunged into eternal
pillory are long gone, if they ever existed. We must continue to trigger the
buttons that will enhance qualified and competent people be appointed to
help orchestrate the march towards political and economic prosperity. If we
fail to do this, then my guess is that our current gov't, much like the one
before it, will fail The Gambian people miserably. CAN WE AFFORD IT AGAIN?
Enjoy your weekend, everybody.
It's Tamsir.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 02:07:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Mbk007@aol.com
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Transfer of presidential powers.
Message-ID: <970315020715_511012501@emout10.mail.aol.com>
GOOD POINT MAN! YOU NEED NOT SAY ANY MORE.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 02:21:25 -0500 (EST)
From: Mbk007@aol.com
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
Message-ID: <970315022125_-1673162852@emout09.mail.aol.com>
MR. TURE, YOU MADE A BIG MISTAKE BY CIRCULATING THIS SENSELESS ARTICLE, THAT
WAS THE MAIN INTENSION OF THE WRITER. PLEASE DON'T FOWARD, OR SHARE SUCH
----------- WITH THE PUBLIC.
M.B.KRUBALLY.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 03:17:44 -0500 (EST)
From: iscorr@total.net (Ebrima Sama Corr)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Subscribe Daily Observer
Message-ID: <v01540b02af4fc1e19d26@[205.236.86.220]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hello,
Could you add my name to the daily observer list.
Thank you.
********************************************************************************
Ebrima Sama Corr
68 Prince Arthur West
Apt. 103
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H2X 1S6
Tel: 1-514-849-5149
********************************************************************************
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Date: Fri, 15 Mar 1996 20:12:47 +0300
From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
To: GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU
Subject: CIRCUMCISION REVISITED (PART1)
Message-ID: <3149A50D.6934@QATAR.NET.QA>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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<HTML><BODY>
MR.TURAY!!
<BR>
Thanks for your observation! Consider this: How would it sound to your
<BR>children if you want to pass to them the tradition of praying five times
a day if they know that
<BR>you yourself don't pray? You can't pass something onto your children that
you don't have.Pure
<BR>common sense!
<BR>
<BR>There is no one book that would tell you everything about Abraham,especially
the circumstances
<BR>that surrounded his marriage to Hagar and his circumcision.A good start,though
,would be Genesis
<BR>in the Bible.If you have finished with that,you must,and I repeat,you must
read THE AFRICAN
<BR>ORIGIN OF CIVILIZATION and PRECOLONIAL BLACK AFRICA, both of them written
<BR>by Professor Chekh Anta Diop.
<BR>
<BR>With respect to your allusion that I should "bless" the prophets
whenever I mention their names,I
<BR>don't believe I literally need to write that down every single time that
their names are mentioned;wishing them a blessing in your heart would achieve
the same result.As for my
<BR>being a Soninke(Sarrahuleh);yes,I am, and very proud of it.But I don't
think that has any
<BR>relvance whatsoever to the issue under discussion here!!
<BR>
<BR>
REGARDS BASSSS!!
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>Senessie Turay wrote:
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE>Thanks for your interesting posting but I have some
few observations that
<BR>I would like to make here regarding Abraham and Moses peace be upon them.
I
<BR>don't think
<BR>that Abraham was circumcised as a result of his marrying Hajarr. He
<BR> was commanded by the Almight Allah to perform the rite of
<BR>circumcision, he then passed this tradition to his children and the
<BR>entire jews society. As for Musa, he got married to the daughter of
<BR>Shuaib because of his personality, masculanity sensitivity and honesty.
<BR>infact It
<BR>was the noble man who asked Musa to marry one of his well cultured daughter.
<BR>Lastly, you are a Soninkay, I assume that you are muslim. Remember our
<BR>religion taught us to honour the names of the
<BR>Messangers of Allah. I am kindly asking you to bless their whenever you
<BR>mention their names, Allah will certainly bless you too. I
<BR>would be very happy if you can allude me to a book, where i may have the
<BR>opportunity to learn more about the history of circumcision, especially
<BR>that of Sayyidina Ibrahim (p.b.u.h)
<BR>
<BR>Nuwari gidey, take care of yourself and Kolley.
<BR>Sanusi Turay
<BR>
<BR>On Wed, 13 Mar 1996, BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH wrote:
<BR>
<BR><I>> MR.E.JAWARA & MIS. E.JANNEH!!</I>
<BR><I>></I>
<BR><I>> "What became of the Black People Of Sumer?" the traveller
asked the old</I>
<BR><I>> man,"for ancient records show that that the people of Sumer
were black.</I>
<BR><I>> What happened to them?" "Ah," the old man sighed.</I>
<BR><I>> "They lost their history, so they died."</I>
<BR><I>></I>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BR>
<BR>--
<BR>SZDDˆð'3Af¨
<BR>
<BR>
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Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 12:03:26 +0000
From: "NJIE OMAR E" <964NJIE@alpha.nlu.edu>
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: How Ignorant people can be!!! (fwd)
Message-ID: <199703151802.KAA25799@mx4.u.washington.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
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Greetings to all!!
Like Yaya and others, I found those "****** Jokes" very offensive and
doesn't deserve any further circulation. Circulating it satisfied
the very purpose of that ignorant and stupid author.
It's,
Omar E.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 1996 22:01:53 +0300
From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA>
To: "GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU" <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU>
Subject: (PART2) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED
Message-ID: <3149BE9F.555C@QATAR.NET.QA>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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<HTML><BODY>
<BR>MR.JAWARA & MIS E.JANNEH!!
<BR>
<BR>Now we are entering Barbarian Territory ! But before we can put under the
<BR>microscope that black practice that both of you characterized as
<BR>BARBARIC,we need to check with the non-barbarian races and see how civilized
<BR>their anchors and compasses are.It is only then that we would be able to
<BR>see to what degree Africans are barbaric.So,we will
<BR>take Western Culture,reputedly,the most civilized,the most rational,the
<BR>most scientific and the most modern of them all.We will use the word COSMOGONY
<BR>here.It means that body of facts, fictions,
<BR>theories,and myths that explains to any given people their origin and their
<BR>objectives in life, as explained above.And the structure and the form that
<BR>the culture of any given people would take would be determined to a large
<BR>extent by their cosmogony.So, the Cosmogony of Western Culture is as follows:
<BR>The Supreme God is a Male.So when he finished creating Heaven and Earth,he
<BR>decided that he would create a creature in his own image,so he created
<BR>a male human being and named him ADAM.But somehow he,as an afterthought
,realised
<BR>that,without a company,this creature would be lonely and miserable,so he
<BR>got him a company.He did that by taking Adam's RIB and turning it into
<BR>another human being,and named that human being EVE.After that,he sent the
<BR>couple to a Garden called EDEN that was supposed to be their permanent
lodging
<BR>place.Everything that they could ever have wanted was there.There was no
<BR>desease,old age or death.There was one catch though.Everything was free
<BR>for the taking of the couple except one thing: the Fruit Of Knowledge .That
<BR>was the prerogative of the Supreme himself.They must never touch that.But
<BR>,somehow,the prospect of knowing what the
<BR>Supreme himself knows was too tantalizing for Eve to pass up.So,she ,somehow,one
<BR>way or the other,was able to persuade Adam to overcome his reluctance to
<BR>Cross the Line.Of course,the Supreme's reaction was swift and merciless.They
<BR>were immediately expelled from the Eternal Garden and from that day on,they
<BR>would have to work,sweat,get old,get desease,struggle,die and be judged
<BR>by the Supreme on the day of judgement.No more free food and no more immortality.The
<BR>party was effectively over.Now,what can we make of this story? We have
already said that a culture
<BR>is determined to a large extent by the story of the origin of a given people.In
<BR>the Sub-Conscious of the Western person, God,the creator is a Male and
the
<BR>first human being he created was a male(Patriarchy),the second person,Eve,was
<BR>not on the original list of the things that were supposed to be created,but
<BR>was created only because Adam,who was supposed to be created needed company(Sexism).Eve
<BR>was not even created with the primary material,the black soil,that Adam
<BR>was created with,but with a minute part of Adam's body(Inequality).Eve
<BR>is made responsible for the expulsion from Paradise :Misogyny(hatred of
women).
<BR>Now,the picture is pretty clear.As far as Western culture is concerned,
the struggle of mankind is a struggle to get back to the free-food status
that was prevalent in the Garden of Eden; and that can be done only by
not repeating
<BR>the very mistake that led to the violent disruption of such a status in
the first place.Of course,many other factors have played a part in Western
culture and thinking since then,but,with this story,you can do pretty well
at understanding
<BR>the contradictions inherent in Western Culture and the kind of rhetoric
used to deal with those contradictions.
<BR>And we will see later that because of the violent intrusion of Western
Culture that resulted from Colonialism and Imperialism
<BR>both those contradictions and the rhetoric that accompany them have been
artificially implanted into many other cultures where they still have no
real place ;and ours is one of them.
<BR>
<BR>Inspite of the hype of a democratic and egalitarian culture,Western Culture
is still pretty much what it has always been:
<BR>a patriarchal,masculine,sexist and a misogynistic culutre. In it,this world
is really a world of men and the role of women is basically to provide
support and comfort for the men in their struggle to secure the kind of
material comfort that can approximate the one
<BR> lost in the Garden of Eden.We have seen countless of time in the
Hollywood Movies that whenever a Western Man has a pretty
<BR> dumb blonde on his side that would provide sex, comfort and support
and would do what she is told without asking
<BR>a lot of questions, there is practically nothing that that man cannot accomplish,
and sometimes even the laws of physics
<BR>cannot stand in his way when he wants to accomplish something.But the problem
is that not all the pretty blondes are dumb.Once in a while,quite naturally,a
blonde would show up who would want to question the wisdom of some the
things
<BR>you want to accomplish.Now that is trouble! Hillary Rodham Clinton is a
case in point.When she started to not only
<BR>ask questions but also give answers to problems posed by America's shameful
unwillingness to guarantee Health Insuranse for all
<BR>its citizens,she was soon scandalously shouted down.And as all of us now
know,she is now playing the role of the devastatingly cute and meek blonde
one step behind the principal actor of the film,Bill.Anybody familiar with
the politics of Gender War,family,Sex and Sexuality in America would know
the earth-shaking emancipatory potential of a permanently free health insurance
policy for every woman and child in America.That surely can't be good for
the power structure of patriarchy and the Ego of the men who control America!!
<BR>
<BR>NEXT TIME,WE WILL LOOK AT THE Cosmogony OF THE BLACK PEOPLE.
<BR>
<BR>
REGARDS BASSSS!!
<BR>
<BR>--
<BR>SZDDˆð'3Af¨
<BR>
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</HTML>
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 14:39:42 -0500 (EST)
From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow)
To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu
Subject: African women and peace (fwd)
Message-ID: <9703151939.AA37366@st6000.sct.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
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Title: AFRICA-HUMAN RIGHTS: Women Aim to Lead the Way to Peace
By Jean Baptiste Kayigamba
KIGALI, Mar 6 (IPS) - Women from African nations have launched a
continent-wide network with a view to playing a greater role in
helping prevent and resolve conflicts in Africa.
The Federation of Women's Networks was formed at a Pan-African
Conference on Peace, Gender and Development, held here on Mar. 1-
3. For now it groups 13 countries, but the representatives of non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) who attended the meeting aim to
encourage women from other nations to join.
Women are eager to play a more important role in the prevention
and management of the various wars and conflicts raging in many
parts of the continent, the women said.
Explaining the reasons behind the network's creation, Malian
women's rights advocate Mariam Djibrilla Maiga said the absence of
women in peace initiatives and from various summits on wars and
conflicts in Africa was a lost opportunity.
''There is a social dimension that is lacking in the mechanisms
and resolutions of those conflicts. More emphasis is given to
technical aspects,'' she pointed out, adding that the population
is never consulted.
''The causes of the conflicts are varied, but all appear
related to problems of governance, socio-cultural and economic
factors,'' she stated further.
According to Maiga, the Kigali meeting also called on the
United Nations, the Organisation of the African Unity (OAU) and
the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) to take appropriate
follow-up action once they pass resolutions. In fact, one of the
tasks the new federation has set itself is to evaluate conflict-
resolution mechanisms set up the OAU and other organisations.
Other activities they will carry out include conducting
sensitisation missions in war-torn areas and organising
conferences on conflict, peace and related issues.
Maiga said the women formed the federation of networks because
they felt the urge to be actively involved in all initiatives
aimed at ending wars on the continent.
The federation groups women from Rwanda -- which hosts its
provisional secretariat -- Burundi, Somalia, Sierra Leone,
Liberia, Mozambique, Angola, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Congo, Mali
and South Africa.
The initiative is linked to a call made in the final statement
issued by the women at their conference here.
In their Kigali Declaration, they urged governments to
''recognise women's traditional peace-making roles and their right
to equal involvement in all peace initiatives, including early-
warning mechanisms and swift responses at national, regional and
international levels.''
In some parts of Africa, women have already been playing an
active role in conflict management.
Delegates from Mali said women in their country participated in
the resolution of an armed conflict between the state and rebels
from the Tuareg ethnic group in the early 1990s. A National
Women's Movement for the Safeguard of Peace and National Unity
formed in 1991 conducted campaigns to foster national unity,
visited refugee camps and provided some humanitarian assistance to
people affected by the conflict, they said.
In Liberia, the Women's Peace Initiative (WPI) organisation has
been helping ECOMOG, a West African peacekeeping force, in the
demobilisation of armed factions which started last year.
WPI's Maureen Shaw said members of her organisation accompanied
interim President Ruth Perry -- Africa's only woman head of state --
to all demobilisation centers, offering barrels of cool water to
the ex-combattants. The women also got ECOMOG to extend a deadline
it had given to the faction fighters to hand over their weapons.
For Shaw, what has been most moving is seeing truckloads of
combattants from factions that had fought one another getting
together and shaking hands, and surrendering their guns.
Some of these fighters were just boys and girls who had been
dehumanised and led to commit atrocities by faction leaders who
wanted to hold on to power and use it for plundering the country's
ressources, she said.
The WPI had been making its voice heard even before the war
finally came to an end in 1996.
''Since 1993, following the Cotonou agreement (one of many
between the Liberian belligerents), we had warned negotiators that
there cannot be peace if armed factions were not disarmed,'' Shaw
said.
''We took it the streets, we sent letters of protest to ECOWAS --
Economic Community of West African States -- leaders, to the UN,
OAU to make them understand the issue,'' added Shaw, who said she
felt that, with the demobilisation, her country can look forward
to a bright future.
In other countries such as Sierra Leone, Somalia, similar
initiatives by women are underway.
''We are endeavouring to build sustainable peace and social
justice and economic empowerment of women in war-affected
areas,'' said Jalloh Jeneh of the Women Initiative League for
Peace in Sierra Leone. (end/ips/jbk/kb/97)
Origin: Harare/AFRICA-HUMAN RIGHTS/
----
***************************************************************************
This material came from PeaceNet, a non-profit progressive networking
service. For more information, send a message to peacenet-info@igc.apc.org
***************************************************************************
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End of GAMBIA-L Digest 59
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gambia-l: LOG9703D - Digest 59
