Mr. Kebba Dampha, I appreciate your comments and questions you've asked about last presidential election. Below are answers to some of your questions. Mr. Dampha ask these questions 1. Why did no court overturn election victories on behalf of PPP, PDOIS, or NCP after the 1992 elections? Mr. Dampha during Jawara's time many parliamentary candidates have challenged election results in court but i think nobody was successful. The court could not declare the result null and void because the defeated candidates were always unable to proof their case. The electoral office never corporate during such litigations. My uncle(my dad's brother)is the Alikali of a small village in Kombo North. During the 1992 elections, one of his son under 21 voted for PPP and my elder sister could not vote because there was no supplementary registration in Kombo North for over five years. In this election if you remember Sarr had over 4300 votes(far more than what the popular Nyimansata Sanneh Bojang used to have)and Yusupha Cham polled over 3000 votes. But checking into the previous elections held in that constituency, Nyimansata Sanneh Bojang polls slightly over 3000 votes and Abdou Yaya Jatta barely 2000 . Now why such a huge difference when there was no official supplementary registration between 1987-92? But if yusupha Cham challenge the results in court, the electoral office will just tender their manipulated head registers. 2. You asked: If ppp was so versed in the tactics you said were talking place in Banjul and Serrekunda, why didn't they used the same tactics against Dembo in Bakau and Gibbo Jagne in Serrekunda west? Mr. Dampha, the only reason why Dembo By-Force still hold his chair is that he has one of the most aggressive and die hard supporters than any politician in The Gambia. In fact if every body is like those "Dinko Kono Mussolo"( Down Town Women)of Bakau, no alien will vote and nobody will have the gut to vote twice or more. These women were constantly monitoring all polling stations with the last official head register, getting aliens and under ages out of the line and seizing their illegal voter's cards. Some of them crammed the the last voter's card number in Bakau. I wish you see how they escort the ballot boxes from Bakau to Brikama for counting and the way they return to Bakau after an overwhelming victory. Also Dembo is no idle politician, he starts planning his next election immediately after victory. For Gibbo Jagne, i think he was not very much affected by these frauds because Serrekunda West comprises of few aliens, and had older settlements. He was also a good and popular politician. 3. Mr. Dampha, the registration team comprises five PIEC officials and village elders. In order to be registered one has produce one of the following, birth certificate, passport, ID card or attestation from the Alikali. These documents were not accepted at face value, one must get the approval of the elders. If for instance you are not known in that area (like civil servants) but produce one or more of the above named documents, you will be registered and anybody have the right to protest your registration in court of law during the period of adjudication. PIEC has no legal right to de-register somebody after being issued with a voters card. This must be done by a competent court. Regarding voting, your only credential is a valid voters card. 4. You also wants to know more about Returning officers but i am not sure what information you exactly want. I can give you my job description as a Returning officer if that will be sufficient. I am sorry it took me so long to reply you. You will also notice that one or two of your questions are not answer. Thanks for your comments Cheers LAMIN PF MANNEH ________________________________________________________________________ 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------