Invitation to a Congress of UK-resident Gambians.
As you are no doubt aware, as far back as 1994 with the advent of the current dictatorship, Gambians, including those in UK, have in different ways been fighting to rescue our country and her helpless people from tyranny. Yet the fact remains that the regime is not amenable to reason and continues the same dismal record of bad governance and human right abuses as highlighted by recent eyewitness accounts echoed by Radio Freedom.
Against this background and following a series of introspection and evaluation sessions, a number of concerned Gambians under my chairmanship concluded that Gambian communities resident in UK stood tall amongst Gambians at home and elsewhere, firmly committed to change in The Gambia and pursuing activities to that end. This steadfastness was illustrated through a variety of actions and activities including:
- Writing in the press to expose the prevailing deplorable governance in the Gambia.
- Petitioning legislative and other local decision-makers, public protests, symposia and other educational undertakings to raise awareness amongst their members.
These activities were staged in London, the Midlands, in Scotland and wherever Gambians are found to settle in significant numbers. The impact of all these activities has been:
1. Tremendous public awareness in this country about the situation back in The Gambia and Maintaining the spotlight on the brutal repression being visited on a helpless populace ,by the most callous dictatorial regime, on the one hand and
2. Significant gains in the form of broadened outlook and well developed skills in a good number of activists among Gambian communities who have been prominent in the struggle.
At the same time, the evaluation concluded that these various activities suffered from poor or lack of coordination, absence of clear forward planning, too much improvisation and resort to ad hoc arrangements, which made follow-up action difficult to undertake. As such, the Impression created is that the communities’ contribution to the struggle has been at best Sporadic, and certainly below the great potential that we have as free communities living in a Free and open democracy such as UK, with a long standing tradition of protests and advocacy work and a concentration of governmental and intergovernmental institutions, whose critical Support is needed to advance the struggle. In light of these conclusions and aware that the situation in The Gambia, if anything, is getting Worse and more desperate by the day, participants in this introspection exercise clearly identified the challenge:
1. To recommit to the struggle with even greater determination and energy, and
2. To refocus the struggle by adopting better strategies aimed at greater effectiveness through overcoming the weaknesses noted above.
In essence the idea agreed is that, over and above the various existing organisations, there is need for an overarching and action-oriented platform for pursuing a single-action agenda for democratic change in the Gambia. The platform will serve as a campaign structure to which all Gambians resident in UK, irrespective of political affiliation, and other friends of the Gambia, could join forces to implement activities designed for the advancement of the cause. It is felt absolutely necessary to put this proposal to a Congress of all UK-resident Gambians in an appropriate manner so as to secure the support and adherence of the greatest number possible.
With this in mind I have the honour and pleasure on behalf of the group to invite you, your friends and associates to the Congress of all UK-resident Gambians scheduled for Saturday the 11 May 2013 from 16.30 onwards
Venue: ATHLONE HALL, ATHLONE STREET KENTISH TOWN LONDON NW5 4LN (Nearest tube station…Kentish town NORTHERN LINE)
THE following can be contacted for further details:
Mr.Malik Kah…….07984524628
Mr.Bakary Dabo…….07548989047
Mr.Abdulai Jobe……..07712257888
Mr.Abdullah Bojang…….07906140637
Counting on your civic responsibilities and patriotic spirit! I look forward to seeing you at the congress.
Yours Sincerely
Abdullah Bojang (Steering Group Chairperson (interim)