-----Original Message-----
From: Burama Jammeh <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tue, Mar 18, 2014 6:23 am
Subject: Re: [G_L] How to Bring down Yaya and Build Democracy - My Take
in contrast to Burama Jammeh's Plan
Rene
Most of what you said are nicely worded.
As a practical matter how do we address each one of them? Which would
be the most logical to start with? How do we remove Uahya? Etc
We seem to be good at is saying what is the problem or don't like but
hardly offer alternatives. If elections are what you counting on - I
say good luck! I hope to live to next election to share that result.
I did not say democracy before democracy. It doesn't make much reason.
What I said is removing and replacing a person will not earn us
democracy. A case in point is the exchange of Jawara to Yahya - isn't
it worst?
Burama, if you don't mind I will just comment on the quotes below.
"My point is there must exist a feared democracy force that argued
for democracy, educate, organize and mobile citizens to expand the home
base of this force. The success of this force largely depend on not
associating to someone's presidency agenda. A neutral stand for the
Republic and Democracy."
If I understand you, what you are suggesting is that there should exist
an entity or entities whose sole preoccupation is to advance the cause
of democracy in the country. In order to achieve this objective such
entities will educate, organize and mobilize the citizens towards this
end. And once the citizens are educated, organized and mobilized they
will then become a formidable force to be reckon with in their desire
to have a true and genuine democracy.
If this is the position that is reflected in your statement above, I
have no quarrel with it. In fact, it is a very noble idea. These are
the sort of things that civil society organizations can be every
effective in orchestrating.
What I cannot understand is the linkage of this citizen's advocacy to
someone's presidential agenda. Indeed, this should not be part of
anyone's presidential agenda, however, people are free to support and
sympathize with any presidential agenda. That is why we have political
parties.
"Who can or do I reason can be the nucleus of this force - me, you and
many others concern with the plight of Gambia." All of the above, me,
you and many others concern.
"How can we do that - since we have no standing army and elections
and/orelection environment too bad to win......our best alternative
to amass political leverage."
The political leverage is within the people themselves. They are their
own armies. You have said it yourself: you educate them, you organize
them and you mobilize them. They will do the rest.
"What do we need to do to amass such leverage - we have to have a
define cause in writing, we have to present what I call national face
of concern to the powers that be, raise findings and organize and
mobile forces both within and outside of the border"
Civil society and advocacy groups can amass political leverage on their
own. Just look at what the diaspora civil society and advocacy groups
are doing. Imagine if such activities were replicated inside the
country. What these groups do or can do is different from what
political parties do. We have to make the distinction.
Rene
"How long with it take to yield result - don't know the eaxact time
frame but I wouldn't hestitate to tell you a long time is need."
It's unrealistic those thinking next election is our chance. Many of
such chances has come and go, yet we don't seem to reason why is not
happening.
I hope we're not entrenched but discussing with a view to reason what
come from the other end.
Thanks for your thoughts
Burama
On Tuesday, March 18, 2014, <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Burama,
The problem with your postulations about a functioning
democracy, is that the institutional framework for democracy must first
be established before a democracy can be functional. You cannot have a
functioning democracy where there is no democracy. This makes the whole
premise of attaining a functional democracy where all the mechanics of
a democratic dispensation are absent redundant.
The political structures and culture in the country has been
consolidated and passed from one republic to the other; and the only
way for our quest for a democratic dispensation and culture to be
realized is to forge a new beginning. How to forge this new beginning
is the challenge that we are grappling with at the moment.
I agree with Nyang that the constitutional framework that can engender
a peaceful transition to a more democratic dispensation could be
present, but it has to take the active participation of all the
stakeholder in the
political process to demand that such is the case.
The nation-state is constituted with people who belong to different
ethnic groups, have different interest persuasions and subscribe to
different belief systems, thus there must be a mechanism through which
a society can be regulated so that rights can be protected and duties
and responsibilities assigned.
Thus within the constitutional framework that governs the nation-state,
law and order serve as the guide for an equitable basis where nobody is
maligned or favored; and everyone enjoys the security, protection and
all the fundamental rights that are associated with one's right to
"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." At least this is the
ideal.
Rene
----Original Message-----
From: Burama Jammeh <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Mon, Mar 17, 2014 10:01 pm
Subject: Re: [G_L] How to Bring down Yaya and Build Democracy - My Take
in contrast to Burama Jammeh's Plan
Nyang
I will be sure to email you a copy of ‘The Draft Working Paper’. I will
not abridge it for the purpose of this conversation - too much work.
You may or may not read it but flipping through it will hopefully give
you an idea what I viewed ‘A National Democracy Vision’.
I am not against the removal of Yahya as you want it. However there is
not practical political solution.
You ended with election with some qualifications will do it. I want to
say Yahya’s refereeing of election is not just the control over IEC
- He appoint Governors and fire them
- He appoint chiefs and village alkalis and fire them
- He cam even fire National Assembly members in some instance
- He only resources of any kind
- He the only viable business man
- He feed families
- He kill and kidnap
- etc
Essentially Yahya control the very fiber of Gambian society that -
marry, bury and christen us.
There is no amount of organization, reorganization and/or union of
other political forces will win election as long as these conditions
prevail.
Am with you on demands for electoral reforms. Remember election laws
are part of The Constitution - if we can build political leverage why
stop at demanding just a sub-section of The Constitution. I will still
take the sub-sectional approach
Please give us in a step wise approach, say (1……..20…..) or A……Z) how
we demand and ensure reforms. Its still Yahya in the helm. What can we
do for him to adhere?
I would avoid taking you on your positions on violence approach. I will
tell you this, I will not be there and I don’t condone it. Using
undemocratic tools for democracy never install one anywhere.
Finally, am not sure how much of politics you were involved or follow
during the 1st Republic - Yahya did not create the political mess we’re
in. Jawara did. Yahya is Jawara on DOUBLE DOSE STEROID.
Removal of a president will not bring democracy. Me and you may or may
not be in the camp of the new sheriff in town - but there will be no
democracy. Democracy will be instill if and when majority of our people
have capacities to live a life of democracy. Then they will demand it
from their leaders - until then forget it (it will always be winners
and losers)
Fixing Gambia’s problem is not 1 election cycle problem. It’s a whole
social engineering process that will take decades and an appreciable
result may never come during my life time. Yet that’s a cause worth our
fight.
Please drop me your personal email so I can send you the document. I
think I have it but just to make sure.
Appreciate your insight. Thanks
Burama
On Mar 17, 2014, at 10:17 PM, Modou Nyang
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Burama,
Thank you for your response. I will adhere to your wish andaddress you
as you demanded. The uncle reference is as a result of a
customarydifficulty from my part to address people I know are older
than myself by theirliteral names. But I respect your decision and will
put that aside.
For a start, you asked that I reference your draft “workingpaper”. I
ask that you please share the exact portion you referring because
itappears it is a different paper from the “the plan” that you sent out
when Iasked for specifics. That will save me time because it will be
very difficult forme to peruse through the bulk of your writings.
Burama, yes you are right about the focus of my agenda thatit is
concentrated firstly on the removal of Yaya. Yes, it is my
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