Katim, I can't locate the soft copies of the docs I promised you, but I do have the hard copies. Just let me know where to send it. Regarding a Global Umbrella movt, we may need to start one from the ground up after all. There's simply too much egoistm, and slimy personal politics/con-manship involved in some of the Gambian orgs around - a-la Wash DC Metro area. And the simple truth is that, none of the orgs command a large-enough following to be taken as "the voice" of the majority. Knowing Gambians, and from accounts I've heard from different areas, it's the same copy-cat scenario in most areas around the world. So, my advice: let word go out to all gambian orgs around the world to send in their input regarding where they think we ought to be headed. We can work out the modalities of the inter-organizational relationship especially as that relates to Finance, etc. On Yaya Jammeh and the cancer he is to our nation, I'm glad that gentlemen like yourself who have been traditionally very liberal (or should I say really naive?) regarding the approach we should take with him, are finally coming around. For years, people like you have been speaking a language to this guy that he simply doesn't understand. Why speak Esperanto to someone living in Kabada? Get my point? In our debate with Mr. Halifa Sallah end of last year/beginning of this year, not that I want to start anything new (myself and Mr. Sallah have established the gist of our disagreement,) but I warned the gentleman about reading too much from Sidia Jatta getting some support from APRC MPs on an accountability/presidential powers issue in parliament late last year. At the time, Mr. Sallah sounded really positive that this was the beginning of a new page in Gambian politics. The dawn of true democracy, from what I gathered. And I retorted that what we have is nothing more than a democracy simulation - "a sham, a big lie." At the time, I was dismissed as a "thrash" generator by many. Well, is there any rational Gambian today who dares stand up, and defend the democratic credentials of this regime irrespective of what happens in parliament? If we had an authentic democracy, there won't be any such thing as an April 10/11th. And there's more. So, let me give you a little tip: what just happened to the UDP in Basse is part of a much wider scheme that is as sinister as it is reprehensible. At the very least, they (Yaya Jammeh and his people) want to lock up the entire UDP leadership, and kill any if they have to, to hijack the electoral process once again. In '96, they had Degrees that empowered the military (Yaya's main henchmen) to disperse around the country, to arrest, harrass, rape, torture, maim, and kill anyone who stands up to them just so Yaya can "win." What do you think is the rationale behind giving "police powers" to the National Guard? It is a DELIBERATE and well-orchestrated plot master-minded by none other than Yaya Jammeh himself, to give these armed thugs the "right" to go around the country during the electioneering to unleash untold terror on the populace for obvious reasons. The so-called defunct July 22nd Terrorist Movement led by Baba Jobe is only hibernating. Those who think the movt is dissolved are hallucinating. After what happened in Basse last weekend, I have no doubt that Baba is re-training his boys for a pay back even as I write this. I know Baba personally, and I think I understand his mindset fairly well. Apart from Yaya Jammeh, there simply isn't a much more stupid and ruthless soul on Gambian soil today! Take it from me, Baba is getting ready. Only one scenario can avert his ungodly plans. The UDP who are their main targets should quickly train a large section of their youth in security/self defense tactics. Believe me, they'll need it! Anywhere they go, they need to have tens of their people stationed outside the meeting arena/village outskirts keeping vigilance. The party needs to raise funds immediately to buy Walkie/Talkies for instant communications. Lives will depend on it. They need to look out for, and quickly spot and disarm agent provocateurs of the APRC. And they really need to decide what to do when they're fired upon by these govt thugs. Believe me, it's going to happen. Baba Jobe and Yaya Jammeh on the same team is a deadly combination. People fail to realize that the only regret Yaya and his people have about April 10/11th is that the victims' young ages evoked much sympathy around the world. They're really dying to get to the UDP people, and what happened last weekend gives them the pretext they need. Anybody who thinks this all sounds too Nostradamus, is in for a big shock. Unless, the UDP people prepare themselves for what is being planned for them, there'll be worse attrocities than April 10/11th. I'm not proud to predict this, but knowing Yaya Jammeh's Joseph Goebbles (Baba Jobe,) all hell will break loose in these dying days of this regime - because that's what it is. What we're witnessing is the Apartheid regime's tactics in Soweto in the late 80s. Yaya and his people know quite well that the "game is up." They just don't know how to give up gracefully after all the shananigans they've been involved in these past few years. On the Crude Oil saga, you don't need Parliament's verdict to know what happened there. Besides, I find it hard to believe that one would truly expect this APRC-controlled parliament to do justice by Gambians. I was really skeptical about the wisdom of Dr. Saine's initial proposal that we declare our support openly for the opposition, but on second thought, that is exactly the right and honest thing to do. Those of us who have been liberal with, or naive in their approach to this criminal govt, need to wake up and smell the coffee. The gloves need to come off, otherwise, there won't be a place call "home" much longer. At the very least, we need to start out-witting/out smarting these people every step of the way, because if they succeed in carrying out their designs, god help us all! Just the thoughts of a part-time insomniac... Good morning! Saul. >Hi folks, > >I would like to contribute my 2 bututs to discussions that have been going >on regarding recent events in The Gambia, and the impending debate in > ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------