Honestly I cannot understand all this hulla baloo about on the spot counting
of ballots. If not for hypocrisy, what is the matter here? These opposition
people were making these same noises about on the spot counting of votes
when the IEC first announced that ballots were to be counted on the spot for
recently concluded by-elections. On that occasion The IEC was accused of
trying to rig the results on behalf of the APRC. Some opposition members
even comtemplated boycotting those elections. Now Lamin Waa Juwara is saying
that nothing short of counting on the spot is acceptable to their party. Why
can't the opposition please spare us all this nagging. All past elections in
The Gambia used a centralized counting of ballots and nobody ever querried
its transparency or fairness. Why can't the opposition worry about their
lack of strategy rather than boring us to death with all this rubbish. The
government has decided that they will not allow on the on the spot counting
of votes as it does not have all the necessary logistics or manpower for it
and the opposition knows full well that their incessant grumblings will not
sway Jammeh one inch and yet they are treating this very irrelevant issue as
a life or death matter. Are these people for real? Pleeeeeasssse get your
act together and stop boring us to death!!!!

Have a good day, Gassa.
>From: Beran jeng <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: FWD:Questions for Jammeh
>Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 08:53:24 -0400
>
>Questions for Jammeh
>
>
>
>The Independent (Banjul)
>
>EDITORIAL
>August 13, 2001
>Posted to the web August 14, 2001
>
>Banjul, the Gambia
>
>Our democracy is under the most acidic test as we prepare ourselves for
>October's election show-down. People across the acrimonious political
>divide
>are mud-slinging each other hoping to win the people's favour. The ruling
>party accuses the opposition of exaggerating wrongs committed by the APRC.
>The opposition on the other hand say the ruling party is intolerant and
>forment a climate of hate against its adversaries. All these though do not
>take anybody anywhere not least Gambians who over the last couple of years
>have rekindled interest in political matters perhaps more that ever before
>in our political history.
>
>However, one of the more salient political misgivings entertained in many
>quarters have been linked to President Jammeh's dogged refusal to bestow
>his
>blessings on the idea of on-the spot counting of ballots once the polls
>close. His curt stance on the issues could very well explain the level of
>intolerance for the opposition's view on matters that definitely affect all
>Gambians. Jammeh's lame assertion that on-the- spot counting is not
>anywhere
>mandated by our constitution left us all cold and shivering over the
>dreariness of our democratic future. It is weird that although the
>constitution is loudly silent over the process of vote-counting during
>election, the Sami chieftaincy election and the bye-elections results came
>after a successful on-the-spot counting of votes was conducted and
>concluded
>without incident. Gambians who have been divided politically all agreed
>that
>the elections were free, fair and transparent. Our democracy received
>thumbs
>up gesture of appreciation internationally.
>
>Another points, which President Jammeh clutched at was that on-the-spot
>counting was practised nowhere except Uganda and The Gambia would not
>second
>this so-called exception. While this assertion is incorrect we are left to
>wonder whether the President of the Republic has been very conversant with
>events around the world. He knows how his "next door brother" Abdoulaye
>Wade
>came to power.
>
>All political pundits agree that one of the more important things ever to
>happen in Senegal's elections was the counting of the votes there and then
>after the last votes were cast. The same worked well for Ghana, Guinea-
>Bissau and Uganda due to its transparent, quick and security-insulated ways
>of determining who wins where without the likelihood for the usual
>post-election anthem of riggings and irregularly claimed by the opposition.
>
>We would not want the opposition to cry foul over the popular vote. So in
>the best interest of reconciliation President Jammeh should consider the
>views of the opposition who are important stakeholders in the election
>process. It should not cost anything to entertain the opposition, who in
>all
>fairness argued convincingly for on-the -spot counting, which would make
>them more trustful of the election process.
>
>Although the security question in polling stations could be a logistical
>equation it is not sufficient to stamp a "presidential no" to the idea,
>which has proven to be the best bet for everyone in the political game not
>least incumbents. It worked in other countries so why can't it work here?
>
>
>
>_________________________________________________________________
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