Sister Jabou,
For one moment I thought we could take advantage of Mr Jallow's antics to
generate positive dialogue from which we could all benefit. However, he
seems to have his own agenda as you have rightly pointed out. I therefore
agree with you and rest my case with due respect.
Omar Joof.


>From: [log in to unmask]
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Prez. Jammeh vs Imam Fatty/Omar
>Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 10:37:09 EDT
>
>Omar,
>
>I was going to respond to Ebou Jallow this morning, but you have responded
>to
>his attempted endictment of Imam Fatty and his role so eloquently that I
>need
>not add more.
>You have to remember that Ebou Jallow was part of the APRC regime and he is
>trying to get back into their ranks, and this regime does not operate
>according
>to the Constitution and infact, they engage in altering it to suit their
>needs. Therefore, we should not be surprised if he has made trying to
>justify the
>unjustifiable his assignment. I think he knows that he is not really
>convincing anyone, but perhaps he can fool Jammeh into thinking that he is
>doing
>something useful on his behalf so he can be accepted back into the ranks of
>the APRC
>regime. Do not waste your time trying to argue with these people regarding
>what is lawful and what is not. They have no use for the law as laid down
>by our
>constitution and are therefore outlaws in every sense of the word.
>
>
>Jabou Joh
>
>In a message dated 8/10/03 12:28:18 AM Central Daylight Time,
>[log in to unmask] writes:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Mr jallow,
> > FIRSTLY, allow me to point out to you that the constitution is a legal
> > instrument rather than a political one as you have alluded to. Its
>supremacy
> > over other laws is sufficienty indicated by the fact that it does not
> > require the president's consence in order to become law. Furthermore,
>the
> > fact that the constitution emanates directly from the people,and its
> > supremacy over other laws, suffice it to say that the will of the people
> > holds paramountcy over the will of the president. And it is the 1997
> > constitution of the Republic of the Gambia that stipulates in very clear
> > terms that there shall not be discrimination against anybody based on
>ethnic
> > origin, religion, sex or age, among other things. The president as the
>chief
> > Executive of the country, is bound by the Oath to the office of
>president to
> > defend the constitution, in both letter and spirit.
> > As a result of the above, it is the business of the president of the
> > Republic of the Gambia to ensure that the right atmosphere prevails in
>the
> > Gambia so that both Christians and Muslims can practise their religions
> > without any hindrance. If the president fails in the execution of this
> > important duty, the leadership and entire membership of the affected
> > religious group(s), have the right to criticize him.Religious bodies as
> > civil society organizations, directly represent the interests of their
> > followers, which makes them competent to criticize the performances of
> > public servants. In this context, I see nothing wrong in Imam Fatty's
> > criticizm of President Jammeh.
> > You have given a list of Imam Fatty's critical statements and asked that
>we
> > comment on whether he acted responsibly in uttering them. To my mind, he
>was
> > speaking from the premises of a particular religion, in which he has the
> > reputation of being an expert. Although I am a practising Muslim, I do
>not
> > consider myself competent enough to meaningfully critique his
>arguements.
> > This comes from the fact that the tools I feel I am competent to use to
> > dissect his arguments, are fundamentally foreign to the basis of his
> > thinking. What is relevant here is that the constitution guarantees his
> > freedom to express those very views just like any other person.
> > SECONDLY, I find your reflections on authority interesting and thought
> > provoking. But let me quickly add "interesting" because you indicate the
> > same mindset that we came across during heated discussions with the vice
> > chairman and spokesperson of the AFPRC in November 1994. Just as they
>tried
> > to do on that occasion, you are, to my mind, trying to justify the
>brutal
> > dictatorial tendencies of the Jammeh regime. Individual rights are
> > guaranteed by constitutions to protect persons against persecution by
> > unbriddle authority. Your arguement does not in anyway provide
>sufficient
> > justification for any extra judicial actions that President Jammeh and
>his
> > cohorts may be thinking of taking against Imam Abdoulie Fatty.
> > THIRDLY, in my initial reaction to your first posting on this issue, I
> > requested that you kindly tell us what you know about Imam Abdoulie
>Fatty to
> > warrant your equating him with the dreaded Osama Bin Ladin. You have
> > disregarded that quetion just like others I posed to you on this
>discussion
> > board. Knowing both Fatty and Jammeh would help a lot in understanding
>their
> > mindsets which would give a clue to the possible sources of their
>current
> > altercation.   From my personal observations of Fatty dating from his
>days
> > at Talinding Islamic Institute as a student, I have no doubt that he is
>a
> > devout muslim. There may have been some other reasons, but I am also
> > convinced that it was his desire to promote Islam that brought him into
>such
> > a relatioship with Jammeh. I am also convinced that jammeh was solely
> > motivated in the relationship, by his desire to use Islam to acquire
> > political dividens. The two were therefore set on a collition course
>from
> > the word go.
> > Finally, I disagree with your assertion that Fatty's assertions and the
> > activities of the opposition are in anyway potential causes of civil
>strife
> > in the Gambia. Instead, its the Jammeh regimes blatant disregard for
>civil
> > liberties and the rule of law, that has the potential to precipitate
>civil
> > strife in the Gambia.
> > Omar Joof.
> >
>
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