Hello, all, I've seen this before, the idea that PDOIS lobbied
Gambians to support the Consittuion, which many claimed was flawed
Constitution.  If this was the case, why did they do this?  Could they
not have pushed for a better Constittution?  And why would they
support a document that was flawed to the extent that it would
perpetuate the ruling junta in power?  Was PDOIS banned like the rest
of the political parties at that time were?  If so, how did they
continue to be active politically while the other parties followed the
bann?  If PDOIS is so renowned for educating Gambians about the
electoral process, why do they not have more than perhaps 1 or 2% of
the vote?

I've heard the theory that they were active only for political
expediency that they felt that they were taking advantage of the
vacuum created by the banning of the other parties, however, this
doesn't makes sense, as they were offered positions in the government,
that they did not take.  If they were trying to take advantage of the
political situation for their own gains, what were they waiting for,
supposedly, if they did not accept the posts in the government offered
to them?

Having said all of this, though, why are we discussing this again?
Haven't we beaten this to death already?  Though I con't say that
discussion this topic is "fostering discord", I agree with Ousman on
this one, if discussing or having an opinion on political history is
"fostering discord" then we are really in serious trouble.

Perhaps this isn't much different from American politics, a la the
Democrats think the Republicans care little for the poor,
disenfranchised, etc., and the Republicans say that the Democrats just
wann tax and spend, and perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle
of that.

If you'r a supporter of PDOIS, you might well think that your leaders
are hard working, have theGambian people's best interests at heart,
etc., you may even think your leaders are self-sacrificing, would
almost never make mistakes, and would never put their own selfish
interests above anyone else's.  However, last I checked all of the
leaders of all of the political parties are all human, none of them
infallible, so it bothers me that any time anyone criticizes PDOIS,
they are accused of fotstering discord!  Or something else.

I will say that PDOIS has done a better job of reaching out, to let
people know what's going on, and the other political parties, well,
with the exception of election season, and may the New Year message,
you hardly se eor hear from them, at least not out hear in the
hinterland of the online world.

And there's nothing saying that if they can't be active, media wise,
in The Gambia, that they can't put something up online that not only
those of us outside of The Gambia can see, but that could be printed
out and distributed to people in The Gambia.  And methinks it would
not cost a lot!

The problem is, if the opposition doesn't have a voice, doesn't let
people know what's going on, then how will we know!  If they don't
speak up on issues that Gambians care about, or speak up on the
excesses of Jammeh, and his government, and is misrule, than it looks
like they're just weak, or too afraid to speak out themselves.

Anyway, what is the point of having this discussion again?  We've
already been through this haven't we!  And how are we supposed to have
a united opposition if each of the parites can't trust, or doesn't
respect, or thinks th eother side beneath them in some way?

Ginny



On 1/21/09, bailo jallow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Suntou,
>
>
> When you accused PDOIS's Executive Committee members of misleading the
> Gambian electorate to vote for the 1996/97 Constitution, it would been very
> naive of you had you expected an all-round embrace. You expressed in your
> so-called "humble analysis" that: "There were better reasons why PDOIS
> Executives decided to trick Gambians into voting for a constitution that was
> totally flawed." (Suntou) – Underlined word for highlight by me.
>
> Trick: Deceitful or cunning action or plan (Collins Pocket English
> Dictionary).
>
> Then you Suntou further stated: "Executives of PDOIS thought it was all in
> their favour being the only active political party operating in total
> defiance of military ban on all political parties." OK, assuming that all
> your above statement was factual, what's the problem from your perspective?
> Is it PDOIS's optimism that "it was all in their favour" or PDOIS's "total
> defiance of military ban on all political parties"? Why then didn't other
> parties join PDOIS in their total defiance of the military junta's ban on
> all political parties? I hope and pray that you won't  respond that it is
> because PDOIS planned and executed the military take-over with the American
> military sailors of the USS County Lamouire? You knowingly accuse honourable
> people of dishonorable acts and you think that's fine. But when you in turn
> stand accused of causing discord among opposition ranks, you want to cry
> foul play. How fair is that!
>
> You concluded with: "For historical reflections, the Executive of PDOIS can
> now keep the crown for leading Gambians towards a political doom." (Suntou)
>
> In essence, you, Does the above mean that PDOIS is responsible for The
> Gambia's current state of political affairs? Not the British Colonialists!
> Not the PPP! Not A(F)PRC! Certainly, not your UDP/NRP coalition!  If so,
> that's incredible! Mbamah kokoh!
>
> Which Crown could PDOIS be after? Yahya Jammeh's crown usurped from Sir
> Dawda? FYI, PDOIS as a party does not seek crowns or believe in political
> clowns.
>
> No more coronations!
>
> Sorry for the many questions. Hope you can answer some if not all.
>
> Disclaimer: I speak only for myself and not for any other person or party
>
> Bailo
>
>
>
>
>
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