It is very unfortunate that the UDP has chosen today, the inaugration day of
President-elect Jammeh, to announce that they and the PPP are going to
boycot January's National Assembly elections on such frivolous grounds as
they have announced. Was it not only last week that they, the UDP, announced
that the party leadership having consulted their constituent members have
decided that they will field in the same candidates that they fielded in the
1996/97 elections? What have they learnt between then and now to convince
them that the government and the IEC plan to rig the national assembly
elections? This is clearly a calculated move to embarass the government and
overshadow this solemn occasion. Fortunately, it has failed abysmally as
nobody is paying any attention to their grumblings. The democratisation
program is moving on with full steam!

The APRC has gone through its primary elections to choose those who will
represent the party this coming elections and all Gambians have witnessed
the democratic nature they went about it. No less than three ruling party
NAMs have been challenged and defeated in the primaries and at least three
lady aspirants have won their primary elections on level terms as other NAM
aspirants.

While it is their prerogative to boycot any elections, they need to do so
based on the truth and on principles that people can refer to. They cannot,
as late as three weeks ago, admit that they recognise the result of the 2001
presidential election and yet turn around, the day that all Gambians are
rejoicing the swearing in of the president, to announce that they are
boycotting the coming elections. Perhaps they don't want to loose their
deposits as any candidate who does not poll 25% of votes cast will loose
his/her D5,000.00 deposit.

For the information of all, the swearing in ceremony has successfully taken
place, witnessed by tens of thousands of Gambians and non-Gambians resident
in the country and graced by no less than 15 heads of state and governments
or their representatives. The presence of these leaders as well as the
Director General of the FAO and other dignitaries has given us Gambians a
lot to be proud of. This is biggest gathering of heads of state and
governments to meet in The Gambia since the cills summit of 1977.

Another blow to the UDP/coalition propaganda is the fact that one of the
last hurdles that has been a cause of concern for some members of the
international community, particularly the US and EU, has now been removed.
President Jammeh has annouced an amnesty for ex-president Jawara and some
others and has promised to gurantee his security should he decide to come
home. This announcement was met with jubilation from many in the crowds and
applauded by the visiting heads of state and the diplomatic community. What
a blessing for Gambians!

Have a good day, Gassa.

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