Gambian Ambassador To The UN Meet Gambians In

….Gambia’s Human Rights Crisis Dominate Discussions!!!

By Pa Nderry M’Bai

New York:8/9/08-Gambia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Sussan Waffa Ogoo, had a rough time in New York City Saturday, as The Gambian Community cornered the former Tourism Minister to shed light on the unfinished human rights atrocities taking place in The Gambia, chief among them was the killing of Deyda Hydara, the missing Gambian journalist Ebrima Chief Manneh, the detained UDP supporter Kanyiba Kanyi, the killing of 60 West African Nationals, 40 of whom were Ghanaians  and other political prisoners currently languishing in jail.

The Gambian envoy, who was accompanied by an official of The Gambian Mission in New York, Habib Jarra, was bombarded with numerous questions by the likes of  UDP’S Saihou Mballow, Mboge Saidykhan, Maimuna Ceesay,  former Daily Observer Editor Pa  Ousman Darboe and other members of the society. The focused looking Ambassador keenly listened to the speakers one by one before responding to their questions.

Saihou Mballow who led a delegation of concerned Gambians to the meeting, could be seen distributing Newspaper publications and other documents featuring the human rights atrocities perpetrated by the Jammeh Government to the crowd. Mr. Mballow who thanked Ambassador Ogoo for accepting an invitation to  grace the New York meeting, was hard on the Jammeh Government, when he was given the opportunity to air his views on national issues.

Mballow was not only concerned about the state of human rights in The Gambia, but was also alarmed by the growing rights crisis in the country. He told Ambassador Ogoo right into her fact that a woman who worth her salt should be ashamed to associate herself with a murderous regime like that of the Jammeh administration. He then wondered why Sussan should serve the Jammeh regime since its inception, without resigning her job. Mballow believe  that women of conscience and integrity should refused to be used to represent a failed Government, whose preoccupation he says was to harass, kill and persecute Gambians. Mr. Mballow says from 1994 to date many Gambians and non Gambians alike have died in the hands of the Jammeh Government. He says the killing of 60 West African nationals, still remained unresolved, even though the Government of The Gambian had been linked to the killing of these nationals. He challenged the Ambassador to give them an update on the latest about  the Ghanaian nationals. He says such crimes against humanity cannot go unpunished. Mballow also condemned the continued detention of the UDP supporters by the Government. He told the Ambassador that what’s happening in The Gambia today “ is unacceptable and should be condemned by all pro-democracy activists.”

For his part, former Daily Observer Editor Pa Ousman Darboe, asked Ambassador Ogoo, if  she could throw some light about the whereabouts of missing Gambian journalist  Ebrima Chief Manneh. Darboe insists that the reporter was abducted by agents of The Gambian Government and therefore demanded an explanation about his colleague’s whereabouts.

Other speakers also expressed concern about the human rights crisis taking place in The Gambia. They never minced their opposition against such atrocities. The speakers say they want to see an end to rights abuses in The Gambia. They also prevailed on the Ambassador to call on the Jammeh Government to free all political detainees in the country. The case of journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh was also raised at the meeting by Musa Njadoe, former NRP  Kiang Central MP. Njadoe deplored the arrest and prosecution of Fatou Jaw Manneh. He says there was no justification for Manneh’s arrest and subsequent prosecution in The Gambia.

                 Gambian Embassy In DC

Also high on the agenda was the poor customer service at The Gambian Mission in Washington DC. Speakers upon speakers lamented about the appalling customer service at The Gambian Mission. For example, they said Embassy staffers never provide prompt  response to their queries and other official needs. They say they go through a rough struggle to get their Passports renewed, as Embassy staff often referred them to Banjul.

Complaints were also leveled against The Gambian Mission about their non transparency and ineptitude. They say the Embassy is not responsive to their needs. The Gambian Community in New York therefore call on Ambassador Ogoo to look into their concerns, as they put it “ the embassy is not serving the interest of Gambians.”

Many speakers believe that the Embassy should be closed,  since its officials are not sensitive to the plight of its citizens. They also want the Embassy to treat all Gambians equally irrespective of political affiliation, creed, color, tribe or religion.

This reporter also received complaints regarding Embassy officials receiving money from Passport and visa clients without issuing them with receipts. This practice they say, had been going on for sometime now.

Among those implicated into the financial racket were: former Gambian Ambassador Dodou Bammy Jagne, Lamin Sanyang alias "Sabi" and other Embassy staff. It's unclear if President Jammeh okayed the said malpractices going on at  The Gambian Mission in DC, but concerned Gambians who spoke to the Freedom Newspaper have launched an appeal to the President to setup an enquiry to look into such financial impropriety going on at The Gambian Mission in DC.

Embassy officials could not be reached for their immediate reaction at press time, but informed sources say The Gambian Government had been denied a substantial amount of money by the perpetrators of the Passport and Visa fraud at the Embassy. Embassy officials often cite lack of receipts to defend the non-issuance of receipt to their customers.  

                           Sussan Praised

Many speakers thanked Ambassador Ogoo for leaving her busy schedules to come listen to them. They say for the first time a Gambian Ambassador at the United Nations had responded to their call. The organizers of the conference said they were very impressed by the former Minister’s openness and readiness for dialogue with the community. They described the Ambassador’s move as a “ right step in the right direction.” They call on other officials to open up their doors to the Public.

                           Sussan Responds

 In response to the concerns raised by other speakers, Ambassador Ogoo said her mission was to meet with The Gambian Community in New York. She says her trip was not politically motivated and was committed to engaging the Community into dialogue. She says she was invited by Imam Bajaka,  Muhammadu Waggeh, APRC Chairperson in New York and Basamba Drammeh  to meet with The Gambian Community.

Regarding the killing of the  60 West African nationals in The Gambia, the Ambassador said she was not in the position to comment on the issue. She also denied having knowledge about the whereabouts of Chief Manneh.

The Gambian envoy calls on Gambians to rally behind the APRC Government. She says the Jammeh Government had initiated numerous developmental projects, since coming to power. The former Minister calls on The Gambian Community in New York to remain united and avoid being divided. She calls on Gambians in New York to be patriotic and never abandoned their country.

 Editors note: The Visa and Passport allegations were never mentioned at the New York meeting. This paper was approached by concerned Gambians, who wanted to draw the attention of the Government about such alleged malpractices at The Gambian Mission in DC. The Freedom Newspaper would be more than willing to hear the Embassy's side of the story. 

It's also imperative to note that no official of The Gambian Mission in DC attended the meeting. Thanks for your attention.