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Mr. Momodou Tangara
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad
Marina Parade
Banjul December 31, 2011
Dear
Mr. Tangara,
The coalition of Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG), a coalition of seven Gambian civil and human rights organizations spread across Europe, the United States and Africa, is aware of efforts to cajole Diaspora Gambians to conference with Yahya Jammeh’s regime in the early New Year. To begin with, CSAG having pondered on this issue for the better part of the past two weeks, has unequivocally concluded that the political conditions in the country do not permit for such a surreptitious meeting to take place. Moreover, CSAG wants to make it clear that to date neither it as an umbrella organization representing seven Gambian civil and human rights organizations, nor its individual members have received invitations to participate in the so-called Banjul “Diaspora” meeting. As a newly established organization, CSAG hopes to position itself as the voice of authority representing the political interests of all Gambians, and we will in the coming weeks and months, work diligently to earn the trust of every Gambian as we reach out to expand our membership to encompass the wider Gambian community at home and abroad.
In theory, CSAG is not opposed to the idea of political dialogues, but only if they will yield beneficial results for the people of our country. However, to rush into a Diaspora meeting as envisaged by the Gambia’s Foreign Ministry, is an extreme leap of faith CSAG is not willing to gamble its image and integrity into. Consequently, CSAG hopes to encourage Diaspora Gambians who have committed to attend the Banjul meeting to reconsider their positions and call off participation in a charade designed more for symbolism and political advantage for the regime than a genuine desire for political change. CSAG opposes any political meeting that will only help to improve Yahya Jammeh’s tarnished international image and by extension; legitimize his regime, especially after the fraudulent elections of November 24, 2011. If the regime is ready to open a meaningful and good faith dialogue with Diaspora Gambians, it will show its readiness by first honoring the preconditions listed below.
Having said that, CSAG whose members consist of some of the most vociferous exiled critics of the regime, is not entirely shutting the door to the possibility of a dialogue with the regime, however, certain conditions must be met before such a meeting can take place; namely:
Free all political prisoners unconditionally
Lift the ban on dissidents visiting home
Invite independent agencies to investigate all the murders and disappearances
Open prisons and detention centers for inspections by the ICRC and other experts
End the arbitrary arrests and detentions immediately
Stop all on-going Kangaroo trials around the country
Repeal laws the unduly restrict freedom of expression
Respect freedom of assembly and association
Invite representatives of ECOWAS to moderate the meeting
Allow neutral mediators like the US who will to hold the regime to its promises
Allow Constitutional Amendment to reinstitute the two-term presidential limits
Agree to a wholesale institutional reforms of every sector of the government
Once the regime agrees to these demands, CSAG will be prepared to discuss the possibility of holding an international meeting to be attended by the regime, Gambia’s political opposition, CSAG and the Gambian media. CSAG stands ready to hold a meaningful dialogue with the regime in the coming year if the conditions listed above are met and seeks the support of the wider Diaspora Gambian community. As a result, in the coming weeks and months, we will seek to indulge the support of every Diaspora Gambian in the struggle to move our country towards complete freedom from impunity and hopes all Gambians at home and abroad will coalesce around CSAG to enable us to speak with one voice in the interest of our country.
Sincerely Yours
Banka
Manneh Ndey Tapha-Sosseh
Chairman,
CSAG Secretary General, CSAG
