APPENDIX 4
Memorandum from the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office on the Expulsion of the British Deputy High Commissioner
from the Gambia
1. The Committee, having noted press reports,
asked for a report of the circumstances of the expulsion of Mr
Bharet Joshi, the United Kingdom Deputy High Commissioner in Banjul;
what action has been taken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
since Mr Joshi was declared persona non grata by the Gambian
authorities; and what explanation or apology has been offered
by the Gambians.
2. The circumstances were as follows:
3. On the afternoon of 20 August 2001 the
British High Commission in Banjul received a Note from the Gambian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating that the continued presence
of the Deputy High Commissioner, Bharat Joshi, was "against
the national interest of The Gambia and intolerable". Mr
Joshi was asked to leave within 72 hours.
4. Early on 21 August, the High Commissioners
saw the Vice President (the most senior member of the Gambian
Government available, the President being on holiday and the Minister
for Foreign Affairs abroad) and asked for clarification of the
Note, and for the decision it reported to be reviewed.
5. On 22 August the High Commission replied
to the Note saying that, in the light of continuing discussions,
we did not propose to take any immediate action. Later that day,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the High Commission that
the decision to expel Mr Joshi had been confirmed. Mr Joshi left
Banjul late that evening.
6. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office took
the following action:
(a) Mr Bradshaw summoned the Gambian High
Commissioner on 23 August and made clear HMG's concern at the
unjustified expulsion demanded a full explanation of it, and called
for the decision to be revoked. The Gambian High Commissioner
undertook to report to his Government.
(b) On FCO instructions, the British High
Commissioner called on the Gambian Foreign Minister, Dr Jobe on
26 August to protest at the expulsion. (On 27 August, after meeting
President Jammeh, Dr Jobe resigned, and stated that he did so
on a matter of principle.)
(c) On 29 August Baroness Amos received the
Gambian High Commissioner, who reported that the Government of
The Gambia would not reverse its decision. Mr Joshi had, he said
been expelled for interfering in the political affairs of The
Gambia, in particular by attending a press conference organised
by a number of opposition parties. Baroness Amos informed the
High Commissioner that such attendance was appropriate and the
explanation therefore was unacceptable: Mr Joshi had acted entirely
in accordance with normal diplomatic practice. In the circumstances,
the planned 1-8 September visit to Britain of a Gambian trade
delegation to be led by the Minister for Trade and Industry, would
no longer be appropriate.
(d) The FCO continued to demand the reversal
of the decision to expel Mr Joshi including when the High Commission
met the new Gambian Foreign Minister on 13 September. In the absence
of a satisfactory response, the High Commissioner, acting on FCO
instructions, told the Foreign Minister on 20 September that,
if the decision were not reversed within one week, we would require
the Gambian Deputy High Commissioner in London to leave.
(e) On 28 September the Gambian Deputy High
Commissioner was asked to leave, a Royal Navy Ship visit to Banjul
was cancelled and planned offers of Chevening Scholarships to
four members of the Gambian Civil Service were withdrawn. The
Gambian Deputy High Commissioner left London on 1 October.
7. The FCO has not received any apology
or satisfactory explanation from the Gambian Government. Mr Joshi
has our full confidence, and his Diplomatic Service career will
in no way be affected by the premature ending of this posting
in Banjul. We regret the damage to relations with The Gambia caused
by his wholly unwarranted treatment at the hands of the Gambian
authorities.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
31 October 2001
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