Dear Mr. Editor,

 What becomes apparent to this Englishman, is the depth of human emotion, felt for the condition of Sam Sarr, Pap Saine and poor childless Sarata. I must confess I do not know very much about their colleagues, presently consigned to Jammeh's dark and disgusting dungeon. Having spent the best part of 20 years living with and being married to African's,

I have always acknowledged a difference between the African and this Whiteman, when it comes to emotion. I used to think that we monopolized compassion and feelings. I now know this to be a misconception on my part. If that offends, then I truly apologize. But we learn every blessed day don't we? I don't even mind that label given to me of being a bigot.

 For the journey around Gambians, started badly for me on April 10th 2000. I could not have ever witnessed so much tragedy, in so little time. I must have walked through life thinking of the inhuman side of African's is higher on the surface than that which we conceal as westerners. This again I now know to be false.

 It is said that all humanity was conceived in Africa and that through human development and migration... African's are all mankind's fathers and mothers. Our skin and our features may have altered through millions of years, but we share the same heart and the same blood and organs. I now know we share much, much more. WE are all African's

 I found the letter written to President Jammeh from Halifa Sallah, a most persuading plea for wisdom to Jammeh. I was touched by his resignation that if his fate was to share a cell in Mile 2 with so many victims of this angry regime, then he would go gladly, as did Mandela to Robin Island all those years ago. For it seems that the African condition is to accept pain and injustice as they accept hardship and war, famine and disease.

 The further wisdom, that he mentions is that a President is only the custodian of the Office of President and that as such, that power must be used in the service of the people and not against the interest of the people. For to bend the law and the constitution to a bias that serves only the interest of power, serves only to corrupt and prostitute the authority of the "contract" with the people. Western governments are elected on many principals. The fundamental issues of ambition, are contained within the Party Manifesto. Of course conditions can avail any government that can negate the fulfillment of all the tenants within that promise. But governments do stand by the ambition of that manifesto, where it can be reasonably achieved. For to be elected on the content of ambition, must override the compulsion to assert diametrically opposed ambition, once elected.

 I begin to understand Halifa Sallah very well and I am impressed.

 I was also given to an immediate reaction by the present offering from Lt Col Samsudeen Sarr {Retired}  His plea for Mercy for the convicted Journalists to President Jammeh, seemed an act of appeasement at first. The world knows only too well what appeasement can encourage. But on further inspection I found some merit for reconciliation within his text. That is never a bad thing.

However, he mildly attacks the British parliamentary conflict regarding M.P.s expenses as a form of corruption. The merit of that condition does highlight the immediate and difficult  course that cross party consensus responsibility, has moved swiftly to acknowledge. The error and its human abuse...to immediately find a solution and with the general public’s full inspection and  moderation, is to my mind a sign of government  reacting positively and effectively to a respectable and a new accountable position.

I doubt you will find many governments is this world that could survive a complete meltdown during that process. Whilst it is unlikely that  Tony Blair’s...remnant New Labour Party will survive much longer....I would say this. That I wrote many letters to Tony Blair and Gorden Brown on The Gambia's behalf. Tony Blair, never in one instant that I can recall, ever responded with any action. Gorden Brown always did. The difficulty was never the British government. The regrettable difficulty I encountered came from The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the negative diplomats in Banjul from 2000 to 2002. I would also go further to say, that at that time the Jammeh administration, was open and encouraging to a better relationship with Britain. But that the opportunity was scuppered by poor and underperforming British diplomats. The situation today..could have been so very different.

 A recent message that I received in reaction to my account that British tourists are bi passing The Gambia came from a confidential source I cannot reveal.

 " The Gambia without the British would be unthinkable. The Gambia would fall off the map of the World"

 I tend to agree with that statement, with small exceptions. That Gambian culture, Independence and sovereignty must prevail at all costs. The British people involved with The Gambia that I know....generally agree with that view. We are supporters not colonizers.

There are far more African's colonizing The West through their disillusionment with African governments, that are holding back the true strength of African collective will power. Only African's can change that. People Like Halifa Sallah, Sam Sarr and Pap Saine understand this responsibility..very well.

    I remain Michael U.K.