THE GAMBIA: AF DAS THOMAS-GREENFIELD'S MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANJUL 000422

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM KMCA PGOV AU GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: AF DAS THOMAS-GREENFIELD'S MEETING
WITH PRESIDENT JAMMEH

REF: A. BANJUL 386


B. BANJUL 280

BANJUL 00000422 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) President Jammeh extended a warm welcome to visiting
AF DAS Thomas-Greenfield, who urged the GOTG to take steps to
reverse the negative trends in GOTG's performance that had
resulted in the suspension of The Gambia's MCA eligibility.
Jammeh gave assurances that opposition parties would be
allowed to compete fully and freely in the September
Presidential election, but went on to criticize the country's
largest opposition party, UDP, portraying it as seeking to
restore the political dominance of the Mandinka ethnic group.
Thomas-Greenfield raised our deep concern over reports of
torture and other abuses of detainees suspected of
involvement in the March abortive coup plot; Jammeh insisted
that anyone linked to the plot would be prosecuted in order
to deter future would-be plotters. Thomas-Greenfield also
underscored our concern over the GOTG's crackdown on the
press; Jammeh asserted that no journal would be allowed to
publish material that could incite disorder or otherwise
threaten the country's peace and stability. Regarding
suspension of MCA eligibility, Jammeh said he was "offended"
that the GOTG was not informed prior to the MCC's going
public with the decision, claiming that he learned of it
"from the BBC." Thomas-Greenfield and Ambassador stressed
our desire to consult closely with the GOTG on steps it could
take to lay the groundwork for reinstatement of eligibility.
Thomas-Greenfield's visit served as an excellent opportunity
to impress upon Jammeh the depth of Washington's concern over
the deterioration in the GOTG's performance that prompted the
MCC's action. Jammeh met afterward with UK Minister for
Triesman and reportedly took an anti-U.S. swipe. END SUMMARY.


NEED FOR FRANK TALK BETWEEN FRIENDS
--------------


2. (C) Visiting AF DAS Linda Thomas-Greenfield, accompanied
by Ambassador and AF Staff Assistant Plumb, met with
President Yahya Jammeh July 2 on the margins of the AU Summit
here. Jammeh extended a warm welcome, recalling
Thomas-Greenfield's previous assignment to The Gambia in the
1980's. Thomas-Greenfield responded that, in both her
official and personal capacity, she was visiting as a friend
of The Gambia. She pointed out that frank and sincere talk
between friends was important, all the more so given the
current difficult period in our bilateral relationship, as
underscored by the Millenium Challenge Corporation's (MCC)
June 16 decision to suspend The Gambia's eligibility for the
Millenium Challenge Account (MCA) program. She urged the
GOTG to take steps to reverse the negative trends in human
rights and other areas that had prompted the suspension and
ensure that the Presidential election in September was free
and fair.

JAMMEH ON ELECTIONS
--------------


3. (C) In response, Jammeh gave assurances that the
opposition parties would be allowed to compete fully and
freely in the election, saying, "I have no problem with the
opposition." However, he went on to criticize at length an
unnamed opposition party (i.e. the country's largest
opposition party, the United Democratic Party -- UDP),
portraying it as an agent of the Mandinka ethnic group (the
country's most populous ethnic group) and accusing it of
seeking to restore Mandinka dominance of the government that
had existed prior to his accession to power. (NOTE: Jammeh
is from a small, lower-caste ethnic group, the Jolla. END
NOTE) Stating that The Gambia "does not belong to the
Mandinkas," Jammeh alleged that the UDP leadership's was
"hostile" toward him and his ruling APRC party. (COMMENT:
While the UDP -- and other opposition parties -- may well
include in its ranks Mandinka elements associated with the
Jawara regime overthrown by Jammeh, his assertion that the
party's mission is to advance a Mandika ethnic agenda strikes
us as off the mark. END COMMENT.)

FAILED COUP PLOT
--------------


4. (C) Jammeh addressed the failed coup plot in March,
saying that he had refrained from declaring a state of
emergency or otherwise restricting citizens' rights. He gave
assurances that those accused of involvement in the failed

BANJUL 00000422 002.2 OF 003


plot would receive fair trials, maintaining that those
involved needed to be prosecuted in order to deter future
would-be plotters. He asserted, in this regard, that in the
past the GOTG had simply dismissed coup plotters from the
military rather than prosecute them. (COMMENT: This is the
first we have heard of such lenient treatment of coup
plotters and note that in past failed overthrow attempts that
we are aware of, those involved were indeed prosecuted and in
some cases executed. END COMMENT.)


5. (C) Thomas-Greenfield replied that while we condemned any
attempt to change a government by coup or other
extra-constitutional means, we had received credible reports
of torture and other abuses of detainees' rights. She added
that, to our knowledge, there were detainees -- e.g., Mariam
Denton, opposition figure and lawyer of accused plotter
Tamsir Jasseh, and APRC National Assembly deputy Duta Kamaso
-- that had yet to be charged, despite the legal requirement
that persons in custody be charged within 72 hours after
being detained. Thomas-Greenfield urged that in the absence
of concrete evidence of wrongdoing by Denton, Kamaso, and
others yet to be charged, they be promptly released. In
reply, Jammeh insisted that Kamaso had indeed been charged
and stated that, in Denton's case, she had yet to be charged
because of an ongoing "plea bargaining" process stemming from
the allegation that she had prior knowledge of the coup plot
but failed to notify authorities. Ambassador noted that
there appeared to be instances in which authorities had
actually released detainees who had prior knowledge of the
March plot, but had not actually participated in it. Jammeh
reacted dismissively, saying "no one is above the law" and
reiterating that all those connected with the plot would be
prosecuted.


6. (C) Addressing allegations of detainees' torture, Jammeh
asserted his respect for human rights, while remarking that
he could not be held responsible for whatever abuses
individual security officials may have committed. In reply,
Thomas-Greenfield reminded him that, in any government, it is
the head who must ultimately assume responsibility for the
actions of subordinate officials. When Jammeh accused the USG
of applying double standards in claiming abuses by other
governments while ignoring those it commits (e.g.,
mistreatment of Abu Ghreib prisoners),Thomas-Greenfield
responded that, to the contrary, the USG was determined to
see that its personnel responsible for abuses, whether at Abu
Ghreib prison or elsewhere, were brought to account.

CRACKDOWN ON PRESS
--------------


7. (C) Thomas-Greenfield registered our deep concern over the
GOTG's crackdown on the press, as reflected in authorities'
closure of the privately-owned journal, the "Independent"
following the aborted coup plot. Jammeh, citing an incident
in Nigeria several years ago in which a newspaper's
publication of material deemed blasphemous by Muslims sparked
Muslim-Christian violence, said he would not permit any
journal to publish material that could incite disorder or
otherwise threaten The Gambia's peace and stability. He
accused the "Independent" of such incitement and indicated
that it would not be allowed to resume publication. (COMMENT:
While the "Independent" was known for its diehard anti-Jammeh
outlook, to portray it as inciting unrest is an exaggeration.
END COMMENT.)

SUSPENSION OF MCA ELIGIBILITY
--------------


8. (C) Jammeh was dismissive about the MCC's decision to
suspend The Gambia'S MCA eligibility, saying, "it (the
suspension) is not a problem for me, since I never expected
The Gambia to benefit from it anyway." At the same time, he
repeatedly said he was "offended" at what he claimed was our
failure to inform the GOTG of the decision prior to
publicizing it, asserting "I first heard about the suspension
from the BBC." (NOTE: As reported in ref a, Ambassador met
June 17 with the Foreign Minister to deliver MCC CEO
Danilovich's June 16 letter to Jammeh conveying the MCC's
decision; Ambassador also gave the Foreign Minister a copy of
MCC's June 16 press release announcing the decision. END
NOTE) Thomas-Greenfield and Ambassador stressed our desire to
consult closely with the GOTG on concrete steps it could take
to lay the groundwork for reinstatement of eligibility;
Jammeh took this on board without comment.


9. (C) As the conversation drew to a close, Jammeh portrayed
the suspension of MCA eligibility as a manifestation of the
USG's failure to reciprocate his acts of good will, citing,
in particular, the GOTG's cooperation on counter-terrorism

BANJUL 00000422 003.2 OF 003


activities and its contribution of forces to the AU mission
in Darfur (AMIS). In familiar terms, he maintained that he
had acted in response to an approach from Washington in
contributing forces to AMIS, but that the USG had not
followed through on its "commitment" to provide equipment
directly to the Gambian contingent.(NOTE: Jammeh was
referring to a September 2004 meeting with USG officials on
UNGA margins in New York; as we have repeatedly reminded
Jammeh, the USG made no "commitment" to provide direct
assistance to Gambian forces. END NOTE)

AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT
--------------


10. (C) Before departing, Thomas-Greenfield congratulated the
President on a successful African Union Summit. Jammeh, who
looked proud of his accomplishments as he presided over the
Summit's opening ceremonies, was pleased by the compliment.
Thomas-Greenfield was quick to add, however, her concern over
the inflammatory speeches given by Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. She
expressed particular displeasure over Chavez's anti-American
rhetoric. (NOTE: It remains unclear whether Jammeh or the
African Union invited Chavez and Ahmadinejad to participate
in the Summit, but the former appears more likely. In fact,
several African delegations shared their dismay with
Thomas-Greenfield over the decision. END NOTE)

COMMENT
--------------


11. (C) As in the Ambassador's May 4 meeting with Jammeh
(ref b),he was defensive and resentful in discussing with
Thomas-Greenfield the GOTG's deteriorating record on human
rights. He also evoked the familiar theme of U.S. ingratitude
in response to the GOTG's acts of "good will" and
cooperation in such areas as the global war on terrorism. At
the same time, Thomas-Greenfield's visit served as a
excellent opportunity to impress upon Jammeh the depth of
Washington's concern over the negative trends in the GOTG's
performance that resulted in the suspension of MCA
eligibility. The fact that he agreed to the meeting amidst
the hectic activities surrounding the AU Summit suggested his
desire to keep the channels of communication open during this
rough patch in our bilateral ties.


12. (C) Immediately following the meeting with
Thomas-Greenfield, Jammeh met with the head of the UK's
Summit delegation, Minister for Africa Lord David Triesman.
After his meeting, Triesman and accompanying UK High
Commissioner Jenkinson told us that Jammeh had used the
discussion to "rant" about Western criticism of the GOTG's
slippage on human rights and also took swipes at the USG --
e.g., noting that a dual U.S.-Gambian citizen (Tamsir Jasseh)
was a leading suspect in the failed coup plot and insinuating
possible USG sympathy for the plot. END COMMENT.


13. (U) This message cleared by DAS Thomas-Greenfield.



STAFFORD