THE GAMBIA: DESMOND TUTU'S OP ED ON UN HUMAN

UNCLAS BANJUL 000020 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KPAO XY GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: DESMOND TUTU'S OP ED ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: STATE 3842 ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador made reftel demarche January 10 to Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Ebou Taal, providing text of Desmond Tutu's op-ed and conveying points. Ambassador reviewed elements of the U.S. position on the proposed UN Human Rights Council and asked that GOTG's UN delegation be instructed urgently to support the U.S. position in advance of the Africa Group coordination meeting. ¶2. (SBU) Permanent Secretary Taal made no substantive comment, but indicated that he recognized the urgency of the demarche and undertook to inform the GOTG leadership straightaway of our request. ¶3. (U) Also on January 10, post passed the Tutu op-ed to key local media contacts. STAFFORD