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R 060957Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
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INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0289
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP

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