Asbjorn,

Fisrt of all let me welcome you back to Gambia-L crowd after a long silence.
I hope Danish Sports Federation has been kind to you during the past months?
 Thank you for that sharp look at this very unfortunate UDP imbroglio. And
as Jabou Joh has opined, you probably have asked all the pertinent
questions.
It is difficult at this juncture to see what the fallout is going to be as
the UDP tears itself apart. I think however, that Ousianou Darboe, referred
to as human rights lawyer in the media, was a huge disappointment as a
campaigner for human rights once he sat on the leadership pedestal in the
UDP. One should have expected a much more vigorous and forceful plank in the
party's human rigths and civil liberties campaign especially given that
these were the more compelling issues that motivated his active involvement
in politics. It is also unfortunate that he did not seem to have realised
that surrounding himself with old and disgruntled politicians of the first
republic would diffuse the image of the party? (Is the UDP a resurrected PPP
or NCP or a combination of both, ornately dressed in new and tailored
"warambas"?
But as you have also asked, how much of the public washing of the party's
dirty linen is Mr. Darboe directly responsible? i.e. has he lived up to the
spirit of the T.A.P (transparency, accountability, probity) slogan
recklessly bandied about by President Jammeh and the APRC, worn out slogans
that have now surreptitiously been laid to rest? But whatever mr. Darboe's
failings, I am squarely laying the blame for the current crisis on Mr. Waa
Juwara's head.
It is incredible that a man of his experience should lead such a public
Inquisition of his own party? To me his motives are quite irrelelvant here,
because even if I should not cast my vote for the UDP, its role in the
democratic process has become more important than the contributions of its
individual members. (But again, in Gambia, we all know that it is the
individuals who matter, not the ideas they propagate). Ousainou Darboe must
cease the initiative from Juwara, call an extraordinary congress, subject
the current issues to rigorous debate, create accountable party structures,
broaden the party's manifesto, then withdraw gracefully, (Waa of course,
must also make an exit!) and save the party form self-destruction.

Momodou S Sidibeh


From: "Asbjørn Nordam" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2002 7:58 PM
Subject: Re: UDP Bankruptcy Responsible for Election Boycott Juwara Fires
More 'Shots' At Darboe

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