CHAIRMAN JAMMEH'S SPEECH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANJUL 000418


DEPT FOR AF/W
LONDON FOR YOUNG

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PREL, GA
SUBJ: CHAIRMAN JAMMEH'S SPEECH

1. (U) THIS CABLE TRANSMITS CHAIRMAN JAMMEH'S SPEECH
TO THE GAMBIAN PEOPLE ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FOR A TWO YEAR
TIMETABLE FOR RETURN TO DEMOCRATIC RULE. HIGHLIGHTS
OF THE SPEECH INCLUDE:

-- CHAIRMAN JAMMEH REJECTED THE SUGGESTION FOR AN
INTERIM GOVERNMENT. QUOTE THERE ALREADY EXISTS AN
INTERIM GOVERNMENT WITH A LARGE CIVILIAN MAJORITY OF
TWO TO ONE, AND THERE IS NO LOGICAL REASON FOR
FORMING A NEW ONE. END QUOTE.

-- THE NCC RECOMMENDED THAT A REFERENDUM NOT BE HELD
TO RATIFY THE NEW CONSTITUTION. CHAIRMAN JAMMEH HAS
DECIDED TO RETAIN THE REFERENDUM.

-- THE CHAIRMAN CRITICIZED THE DONORS FOR APPLYING
QUOTE LIMITED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GAMBIA
UNQUOTE AND APPEALED TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
TO QUOTE RESUME THEIR NORMAL POSITIVE ROLE AS
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS UNQUOTE.

2. (U) BEGIN TEXT:

FELLOW GAMBIANS !
ON THE 27TH OF JANUARY I FORMALLY RECEIVED THE REPORT OF
THE NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE. I DESCRIBED THE
EVENT AS ANOTHER MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ARMED FORCES PROVISIONAL RULING
COUNCIL'S PROGRAM AND TIMETABLE FOR RETURN TO CIVILIAN
RULE. TWO FURTHER STEPS OF EVEN GREATER SIGNIFICANCE
HAVE SINCE BEEN TAKEN. BOTH THE COUNCIL AND THE CABINET
HAVE NOW CONSIDERED THE REPORT.

ON THE OCCASION OF THE LAUNCHING OF THE PROGRAM AND
TIMETABLE ON THE 24TH OF OCTOBER, 1994, I PROMISED THAT
THEY WERE SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS. A FEW OF YOU EXPRESSED
YOUR VIEWS IN THE PAPERS AND IN OTHER WAYS. BUT THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF YOU DID NOT PUBLICLY EXPRESS
YOUR VIEWS.

ON THE 13TH OF DECEMBER, 1994, THE NOW FAMILIAR NATIONAL
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE WAS COMMISSIONED TO SOUND YOUR
OPINION, NATIONWIDE. I HAVE EXPRESSED MY THANKS AND
APPRECIATION, AND THOSE OF COUNCIL, FOR YOUR WILLING AND
PATRIOTIC PARTICIPATION IN THE IMPORTANT CONSULTATIONS
CARRIED OUT BY THE COMMITTEE. I SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK YOU ONCE MORE.

IN FAIRNESS TO BOTH YOU, THE PEOPLE OF THE GAMBIA, AND
TO THE ARMED FORCES PROVISIONAL RULING COUNCIL, THE
NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTED THE
ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME YOU ACCORDED TO THE BLOODLESS
MILITARY TAKEOVER, AND YOUR HAPPINESS THAT THREE DECADES
OF SELF-PERPETUATING RULE BY ONE POLITICAL PARTY WAS
OVERTURNED. THE COMMITTEE FOUND THAT YOU ACCORDED
LEGITIMACY AND EVEN BLESSINGS TO THE COUP.

THE COMMITTEE ALSO RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO PROTECT YOU,
THE PEOPLE, AND THE NATION, AGAINST THE EXPLOITATION AND
MANIPULATION YOU SUFFERED DURING THE PAST THIRTY YEARS.
THE NEED FOR CIVIC EDUCATION PROVIDED FOR IN COUNCIL'S
PROGRAM IS ENDORSED IN THE REPORT, AND SO ARE THE
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AND ELECTORAL REVIEWS. THE
COMMITTEE WAS ALSO IN ACCORD WITH THE PROPOSED REVIEW OF
CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES AND THE VOTERS REGISTRATION
SYSTEM. THE PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT
ELECTORAL COMMISSION IS STRONGLY ENDORSED IN THE REPORT
AS LONG OVERDUE.

THE REPORT ALSO REFLECTS THE EMPHASIS YOU PLACE ON THE
NEED TO COMPLETE THE WORK OF THE FIVE COMMISSIONS OF
INQUIRY INTO PUBLIC OFFICERS' ASSETS, GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC CORPORATIONS, LAND ADMINISTRATION,
AND DONATED CRUDE AND REFINED OIL. MANY SPEAKERS AT THE
COMMITTEE'S VILLAGE MEETINGS ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY PASSIONATE, AND OTHERS VIVIDLY AGITATED, WHEN
ECHOING THE COUNCIL'S DEMAND THAT EVERY BUTUT STOLEN
FROM GOVERNMENT BE RECOVERED.

AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, YOU HELD DIVERGENT VIEWS AS
FAR AS THE DURATION OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD WAS
CONCERNED. THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT,
AND I WILL COME BACK TO IT LATER IN THIS BROADCAST.
IN THE MEANTIME, I NOW TURN TO WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAD TO
SAY ABOUT OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS. THE REPORT RIGHTLY
REFLECTS THE FACT THAT OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS HAD
APPLIED LIMITED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GAMBIA IN
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO THE MILITARY TAKEOVER. THEY HAD
ALSO, FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FOUR YEAR
TIMETABLE, APPLIED FURTHER SANCTIONS IN THE FORM OF A
TRAVEL ADVICE AGAINST VACATION IN THE GAMBIA, RESULTING
IN MASSIVE REDUNDANCIES IN THE TOURIST SECTOR, AND
CONSIDERABLE LOSS OF REVENUE OTHERWISE DUE TO THE
GOVERNMENT. THIS RESULTED IN THE CLOSURE OF VIRTUALLY
ALL THE HOTELS, THEREBY CAUSING CONSIDERABLE HARDSHIP
FOR MANY OF YOU. IT WAS A MATTER OF GREAT REGRET THAT
WHILE THE INTRICATE AND TIME CONSUMING ARRANGEMENTS WERE
BEING MADE TO SET UP THE COMMISSIONS, PREPARE THE
TRANSITION PROGRAM AND TIMETABLE, AND CARRY OUT THE
NATIONAL CONSULTATIONS, OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
UNILATERALLY DECIDED THAT THE PROPOSED FOUR YEAR
TRANSITION PERIOD WAS TOO LONG, AND IMPOSED THE SAID
SANCTIONS WHICH CAUSED SO MUCH HARDSHIP. THE COMMITTEE
CANNOT BE BLAMED FOR CONCLUDING THAT THIS UNDESERVED
PUNITIVE MEASURE IS MERELY BECAUSE THE GAMBIA IS DEVOID
OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE.

IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE TOURIST INDUSTRY, CONSIDERABLE
EFFORT WAS MADE BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND
TOURISM TO ATTRACT TOURISTS FROM OTHER EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES. INTERESTED TOUR OPERATORS VISITED THE GAMBIA,
AND EXPRESSED THEIR INTENTION TO BRING IN TOURISTS NEXT
SEASON. IN THE MEANTIME, A SMALL NUMBER OF TOURISTS
CONTINUED TO COME FROM THE TRADITIONAL CATCHMENT AREA,
MAINLY IN BRITAIN, THANKS TO THE UNDERSTANDING AND
COOPERATION OF THE TOUR OPERATORS THE GAMBIA EXPERIENCE,
WHO DECLINED TO JOIN THE APPARENT BOYCOTT. THIS
ENCOURAGING GESTURE, AT THE TIME OF THE CRITICAL AND
UNEXPECTED ECONOMIC SITUATION DESCRIBED EARLIER, WAS,
AND STILL IS, DEEPLY APPRECIATED.

WHILE DETERMINED EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE TO PROTECT THE
TOURIST INDUSTRY, THE VARIOUS TRANSITION ACTIVITIES I
HAVE JUST REFERRED TO WERE GOING ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE
OUTCOME OF THIS TWO PRONG APPROACH HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL
ONE. IN ADDITION TO THE PROSPECT OF ADDITIONAL TOUR
OPERATORS, AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SWEDISH TRAVEL
ADVICE, THE NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE CONCLUDED
ITS WORK AND SUBMITTED ITS REPORT.

MANY OF THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS TALLY WITH THE
PROVISIONS AND ACTIVITIES IN COUNCIL'S PROGRAM AND
TIMETABLE. THE MAIN EXCEPTIONS ARE THE AREA OF FORMING
AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT AND THE ADVICE TO HOLD NO
REFERENDUM.

THERE ALREADY EXISTS AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT WITH A LARGE
CIVILIAN MAJORITY OF TWO TO ONE, AND THERE IS NO LOGICAL
REASON FOR FORMING A NEW ONE.

AS FOR THE HOLDING OF A REFERENDUM A NUMBER OF CLAUSES
IN THE GAMBIAN CONSTITUTION, STILL IN FORCE, CALL FOR A
REFERENDUM BEFORE MAJOR AMENDMENTS ARE MADE. THE
INTRODUCTION OF A NEW CONSTITUTION WOULD THEREFORE MAKE
A REFERENDUM EVEN MORE DESIRABLE. FURTHERMORE, NO
CONSTITUTION OF THIS COUNTRY WAS EVER PUT TO YOU THE
PEOPLE FOR ADOPTION. THE NEW CONSTITUTION SHOULD
THEREFORE BE VOTED UPON IN A REFERENDUM.

THE MAIN ISSUE ON WHICH THE NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE WAS CREATED TO ADVISE WAS THE DURATION OF THE
TRANSITION PERIOD- IN THIS REGARD THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS WITH EFFECT FROM THE
22ND OF JULY, 1994. I AM PLEASED TO INFORM YOU, THAT
HAVING CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE COMMITTEE'S OBSERVATIONS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE
PREVAILING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND, IN PARTICULAR, YOUR BEST
INTERESTS, COUNCIL AND THE CABINET HAVE ACCEPTED THIS
RECOMMENDATION.


FELLOW GAMBIANS!
WITH THE ISSUE OF THE TIMETABLE FINALLY BEHIND US, WE
SHOULD NOW TURN OUR ATTENTION, WHOLLY, TO NATIONAL
UNITY, AND TO THE FORMIDABLE TASK OF DEVELOPING THE
MOTHERLAND. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS IN OUR PROGRAM. THE MOST URGENT ONES INCLUDE
THE AUGMENTATION OF THE GENERATING CAPACITY OF KOTU
POWER STATION. THERE ARE ALSO A FEW ROAD AND SCHOOL
BUILDING PROJECTS. SOMETHING SHOULD ALSO BE DONE FOR THE
EASANT FARMERS AND THE YOUTHS. THE TRANSITION
ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE COMMISSIONS, THE VARIOUS REVIEWS,
REGISTRATION OF VOTERS, AND GENERAL AND PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS ARE ALSO THERE.

I APPEAL TO ALL OF YOU TO PLAY YOUR PART IN THE NATIONAL
EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES.

I ALSO APPEAL AGAIN TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AS I
DID AT OUR NEW YEAR MEETING, TO RESUME THEIR NORMAL,
POSITIVE ROLE AS DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS. THERE IS A LOT OF
WORK TO BE DONE DURING THE SHORT TRANSITION PERIOD, AND
THE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE OF OUR DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERS WOULD FACILITATE AND ENHANCE RAPID PROGRESS.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

GOD BLESS YOU !
LONG LIVE THE SECOND REPUBLIC !


3. (C) COMMENT: AT A RECEPTION ON FEBRUARY 4
AMBASSADOR SAW JUSTICE MINISTER MBYE, SECRETARY
GENERAL WADDA, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NCC PETERS. IN
SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS, ALL WERE VERY EUPHORIC OF
CHAIRMAN JAMMEH'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE NCC'S
RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH REFLECTED THE WILL OF THE
PEOPLE. AMBASSADOR AGREED THAT IT WAS PREFERABLE
THAT THE CHAIRMAN HAD ACCEPTED RATHER THAN REJECTED
THE NCC RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT POLITELY AND FIRMLY TOLD
THEM THAT TWO YEARS WAS TOO LONG AND THAT A
DEMOCRATIC REFERENDUM ON THE LENGTH OF THE TIMETABLE
HAD NOT TAKEN PLACE. THEY SEEMED SURPRISED AT THE
AMBASSADOR'S NEGATIVE RESPONSE. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN. AS WE WILL REPORT BY SEPTEL, THE EU AND UK
REPRESENTATIVES WERE ALSO DISAPPOINTED WITH THE TWO
YEAR TIMETABLE.


WINTER