Demba,

Suntou did not say that the media is the problem.  What he said is that the media should not be the medium for coalition negotiations.  Wht he is emphasing is that the parties should sit a a table together to discuss and try to iron out their differences to try to form the needed coalition.  There is nothing wrong with the media reporting information/news that they get from all quarters but they should not be substituted for the behind the scenes negotiations.

Ansu

Demba said:

Suntou,
 
Its amazing how the media become the soft target to blame in the failure of opposition parties and militants to get anything done in their quest for a way forward....
 
The media is a facilitator and we only put out stuff that is sent to us by individuals or political parties. No one is calling for a coalition to be negotiated in the media... it is the most ridiculous claim I have ever heard on this discussion.
 
The media put out agenda 2011 after it was sent to us for public digestion, there is nothing that stops anybody from either sending what you have or concealing it until you decide to put it out. 
 
To single out the media in this game reminds me of Sarah Palin's interview when she failed to live up to her expectations and then she turned to blame the media for asking the questions...
 
We create an equal platform and anyone is free to send your stuff or go on any radio station and discuss what you want to discuss.... 
 
How ironic is that the media playing its rightful role can become the soft target in the opposition failure to get any where...
 
I think we all need to look inwards and focus on our failures rather than pointing fingers at each other... if opposition camps have done what they were supposed to be doing successfully, there wouldn't have been any need for a coalition... they could each win it on their own merits... it is that failure that necessitates a coalition.... I hope we each focus on our individual roles to persuade our leaders to do the right thing....
 
The media will continue to play its role as the fourth estate....
 
regards

Demba
 
 
On Mon, May 2, 2011 at 3:24 AM, suntou touray <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

LJ
This is a key factor why rushing with ideas to the media is dangerous. It harden position because party militants would have buy into it and for this reason and others, to make our brothers in PDOIS sit with us is an unlikely posibility, hence the bigger division may surface in the Parliamentary elections after the Presidentail because there will be no reason to leave seat uncontested. We're making our beds, all expectations are that we will dive into them.
An excellent point.
Suntou


On Sat, Apr 30, 2011 at 10:01 AM, Lamin Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Demba, and Musa
 
In an ideal world, your views are incontestable, but the stakes are too high to discourage a robust exchange of ideas. As residents of the USA, I am in no doubt you are well aware of this.
 
Agenda 2011 is an all or nothing proposal, and I think you should worry more about Halifa than Ousainou, or any other opposition leader in The Gambia, as far as a united front against the Professor. Through Agenda 2011, Halifa, and PDOIS, created a major roadblock to opposition unity, and effectively ensured some fragmentation in opposition ranks on November 24. God willing, I shall dilate on this contention.
 
I think we should learn to call things by their names, and no amount of dancing around the edges of our difficulties is likely to solve the problems we must confront one way or the other.
 
 
 
 
LJDarbo  
 


--- On Fri, 29/4/11, Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


From: Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> 

Subject: Re: [>-<] Re: Unofficial results of the Bye-elections leaked!!!

To: [log in to unmask]

Date: Friday, 29 April, 2011, 23:00 



Suntou, absolutely every one in thr frontline knows the stakes. I believe long time ago that a meeting between party reps should take place without the main leaders who are holding this.

Those reps will iron the issues, outline the points of contention and draft a path forward. If we believe that jammeh should not be the supreme leader of our country, we must expect the same of our other aspiring leaders, they must consent to the will of the people or get push aside... No blind loyalty without results.

Brother Swaibou is a leader and credible one too and he does't have to go through this!! Where there is will there is a way!

Demba 
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: suntou touray <[log in to unmask]> 
Sender: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <[log in to unmask]> 
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:41:10 +0100
To: <[log in to unmask]>
ReplyTo: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <[log in to unmask]> 
Subject: Re: [>-<] Re: Unofficial results of the Bye-elections leaked!!!


Musa
I agree. The problem now is a window to make the guys talk. They can strengthen each other in many ways. As far I am aware, all of the leaders without a doubt know the enormous challenges they are facing. All sides should push for a middle ground, a common consensus on dialogue and accepting facts on the ground. The Gambia is changing fast. With Satellite disk in many households, global events are creating a tremendous awakening. Some are saying, GRTS is hardly watched by those with Satellite, which means, the work is cut out for the opposition if they speak with one voice.
Let us all continue creating the environment in ending suspicion and hostility.
Suntou


On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 3:57 PM, Musa Jeng <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

 
 
Suntou:

 

It is indeed another disappointing result, but no surprises as long as we stick to the same strategy. The opposition will continue to lose elections as long as they refuse to make the bold concession- the very thing that the electorate will know can win. The biggest misconception or miscalculation, that somehow just putting up one party against the incumbent will prevent the splitting of the vote and can help the opposition. The opposition will continue to lose elections unless they exploit to the fullest the benefit of coalition of all parties.

I am absolutely confident that if the entire opposition leadership spent two days in Wuli, and I am talking about Hamat, Sedfia, Halifa, OJ and Ousainou, and speak directly to the people of Wuli why they should vote for the opposition and not the incumbent, the results will be completely different.

It is sad that even as we see the train wreck fast approaching, we will rather wait for our demise than do something about it. If this is not insanity – I am afraid to see the real insanity. Again Gentlemen, the pointing of fingers at each other is the easiest thing to do,  of course burying our head in the sand will never help our predicament, and finally coming up with all sort of spinning to suityour own agenda does nothing to a disappointed electorate. The question is as a leader what will you do about it? 

Musa Jeng 

 
 

----- Original Message -----
From: "suntou touray" <[log in to unmask]>

To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]

Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 10:14:20 AM
Subject: [>-<] Re: Unofficial results of the Bye-elections leaked!!!


This is a disappointing news for our area people. Wulli East area has always gone for the incumbent party, since the times of Sainey Singhateh, Malang Saho etc. Wulli West is the more determine and militant region of the two. Suwaibou is well known in that area, I wonder what he should do to penetrate the elders and their local structures. I am sad for him, because he would have been a good MP.
I wonder whether his campaign team made use of the more active militants in Nyaikoi area. The signs were there that, going for the incumbent is a harden mole in Wulli East, I thought the Agenda 2011 would have dislodged such mindsets. Seriously, I was expecting a narrow marginal win for Suwaibou, but hey next time. I wish him all the best for the upcoming general elections.
Suntou


On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 11:13 PM, M. Gassama <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi!
The results have just been announced on GRTS confirming Gainako's
figures. Have a good evening.
Buharry.

----Original Message----
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: 2011-04-28 23:52
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subj: Unofficial results of the Bye-elections leaked!!!

Unofficial results of the bye-elections in Wuli East has been
leaked!

Results at: http://www.gainako.com/news/
Thanks

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤