***The recent coup in The Gambia ended 30 years of democratic rule but was bloodless and did not seem to shake the country's easy-going amiability. But there are signs that the young soldiers in charge may want to stay on Ipnger than was first suspected.

A gnawing suspicion is growing in the mind of the public that the title of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) tn The Gambia might not be accurate. The word "provisional" is looking less convincing.

All political parties have been banned in the wake of the July coup, together with any publicity by or about them. A Red Cross official was barred from meeting military prisoners in private, and a new decree allows police and military detainees to be held up to six months.

The rhetoric of Council Chairman Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh is also that of someone who plans to stay in power. At a rally in the capital. Banjul; ChaiTmtan Jammeh. punching the air-like a football star, asked the crowd: "Did anyone here lose a dog? Did anyone , lose a chicken? People didn t believe a coup could be bloodless. But now? Not even a dog o r a chicken lost! “It was better than elections." he added, and asked. Who invented democracy? "The Greeks?' The Romans? Europeans. not'Africans.

The 10 civilian members of the government, who outnumber two-to one the AFPRC. have made occasional tentative promises that there would "of course" be an eventual return of constitutio-nal rule, but the

promises have a hollow ring. Meanwhile, the marketing of 29-year-old Jammeh is pursued with youthful enthusiasm. Surrounded by his entourage, he stands on the McCarthy Square dais, arms wide, appealing for love and trust. The master of ceremonies yells: "Are you all happy to be here? I don't hear you. Let me hear you one more time: Are you happy to be here?" The crowd obliges with roars.

Later Jammeh. after crack-

ing football jokes, asks them "If you want Jawara back, give a big cheer." The crowd obligingly roars while Qie interpreter shows his frustration at their mistake. The crowd does not. so far as anyone can gauge want President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara back. Not the youth, anyway. They have accepted that their venerable hero had feet of clay.

They believe their new leader when he tells them "the nations, coffers have been plundered for 30 years. They believe him when he-says "we will root out corruption."

The rally in Banjul was one of a series around the country, the revolution's roadshow, prefaced by acrobats, drummers. dancers, griots (traditional historians and folklorists) singing and telling stories and extolling the new order. A fun day out of the family.

Simultaneously, the AFPRCs sterner side displays itself without the razzamatazz. The Red Cross's Dakar-based representative. Hans Leuenberger, was refused permission to talk to military detainees in private: the AFPRC says one of its intel-

ligence officers must be present "We are not spies." complains local Red Cross secretary-general. Alassan' Seng-hore. stressing that their purpose Is purely humanitarian.

At one rally, Jammeh said: "Anyone in prison is a bloodsucker. We will show no mercy." The former Inspector-General of Police, Pa Sallah Jagne. was one of‘the captive officers. He is said to be hospitalised: no-one has said why On a surprise visit to the Royal Victoria Hospital in the capital. Chairman Jammeh was told there was a serious shortage of blood for transfusions and that even parents sometimes refuse to give blood for their children. " Report any such cases to me." he said ominously

Bribery of officials is to stop. Late-coining to work is to stop. Giving money to phoney religious figures is to stop. Nepotism is to stop. Tribalism must not be tolerated.

These are all proscriptions which would undoubtedly change The Gambia for the better. Jammeh is an engaging personality. He has a social conscience. He seems gen-

uinely appalled at the inequalities and elitism which have flourished, begrudged but ac-cepted by the majority, for so many years

"We are not here to harm you. We love you. he tells the crowds. The soldiers are now less evident In the streets. Tour operators cautiously promise to resume flights, if there Is a demand.

The new leader is astonishingly accessible. A European visitor went to State House to deliver a letter to him. Do you want to see him now?" one of the soldiers asked. Three Christian and Islamic leaders asked to talk to him about the peremptory seizure of heads of organisations suspected of corruption or mismanagement, and were Immediately received.

Griots, trade unionists, business people and village chiefs have all been invited to visit the young lieutenant and make their positions known. "We don’t mind criticism." the Chairman has said.

Local newspapers have produced some of their best, most vociferous and intelligently worded commentaries since

the coup

But accepting criticism does not mean acting on,it. We will not compromise, said Jammeh when asked to go easy on suspected "plunderers of the national coffers" — his' favourite phrase.

Will he compromise on the restoration of a system of elected constitutional government? A time table has been requested by the donor organisations which have until now supplied much of the money in the plundered" coffers, but the question has been side-stepped

Perhaps to the poorer Gambians, living, as the Chairman has reminded them, in substandard housing, with inadequate services, lack of education and insufficient, nutritious food, the constitution Is less important than the promises at the roadshow ral-" lies of new schools, incentives for farmers, an efficient and honest civil service, a fair share of the cake for all.

"If you want us to go back to barracks, well go back." shouted the Chairman at his rally. But it was the emcee who asked the question directly: "Are you happy?"

— GEMINI NEWS

ROSEMARY LONG is an award-winning Scottish journalist. note lining in The Gambia.