Saul, as usual, it is almost impossible to try and add to your postings. You
echoed my feelings in most parts. Suffice for me to say though that the last
time I checked, murder (multiple murders in this case) was a more serious
offense than theft or insulting ones feelings. Here we have over 100 of our
children murdered, tortured, raped, jailed in broad daylight and parliament
makes it priority investigating a scandal. We have political leaders
ambushed, jailed and their freedom threatened, and what does parliament make
its priority? Whether Yaya stole money from government coffers? God help us.
We know that Yaya must be attacked on all sides, but come on, we got to get
our priorities right. What is the end game here? So the parliament decides
that they want to investigate this. Then what? They can take to year 2020
(or at least after the next elections, if we have any) to get to the bottom
of the matter. Meanwhile Yaya is still free to engage on his murderous
spree. On the other hand, if the matter with our children is followed the
proper way, it would lead Yaya to the firing squad. Everyone knows that Yaya
stole the money. He stole the $35 million that came from Taiwan as well.
Where has that gotten us? Nowhere. It is about time we wise up and pursue
other methods. If people expect this parliament to solve our problems with
Yaya, they must be living in lala land.
Like you, am also baffled by the amount of trust people like Dr. Touray
place on Yaya and the system he put in place to perpetuate him. Look at the
constitutional provision that allows members of the executive to be directly
involved in farming. That is clearly meant for Yaya. The deck has been
stacked. So this wait and see attitude would not cut it. What should
separate us from dumb people and animals is the ability to predict the
future and do something about it now. You don't wait until the annihilation
happens and then start counting the bodies. There might be no counters left.
This fence-sitting about what happened to the UDP entourage also does not
help. Yaya people were the aggressors here. UDP had a permit to conduct a
rally. Anyone that wants to stop that lawful act, does it at his/her own
peril. What was Darboe and his people supposed to do? Wait until these thugs
hacked them with their machetes and then run to the police station? I join
you and ask the opposition to be on their guard and be more vigilant.
Darboe's conciliatory statements yesterday is fine and good when you are
dealing with reasonable and decent people. These thugs only understand force
and would do anything to stay in power. We should also do everything to get
rid of them.
KB
>From: saul khan <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Katim: Re: Recent,and up-coming events in The Gambia
>Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 08:09:48 GMT
>
>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
>>
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