Brother Malamin Johnson,

Yes, indeed a good number of diasporan Gambians on mailing lists seem to be enthusiastic about the Save The Gambia Fund. But I am afraid, we should insist on a blueprint partly because coalitions everywhere arrange themselves around some concrete issues. (Sister Jabou Joh has just adequately demonstrated that).

It will serve us well if the MRDG document you  mentioned is recycled. But even if we are not 80,000 strong the fact that many have put up money for a coalition that is yet to exist is sufficient testimony for the desire for change.

Cheers,
Momodou S Sidibeh



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Malamin Johnson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2003 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: Save The Gambia Fund - Update


> Brother Sidibeh:
> 
> The issue(s) you raised below are very important and should / will be
> addressed sooner rather than later. I believe Joe alluded to the MRDG
> proposal distributed to opposition parties during the 2001 elections ( see
> joe's e-mail below). If I recall correctly, that document was very
> comprehensive. It addressed a majority of issues most of us would like to
> see in a united coalition to ouster Jammeh. We can add some safeguards to
> that document with permission from the authors and present it to all
> opposition parties to  use as a starting point of discussion.
> 
> I attended the symposium in Maryland 2/3 weeks ago and this issue was put to
> Ousainou Mbenga NDAM rep. My understanding was his party has 12 issues it
> already has toward discussion geared to coalesing with opposition parties. I
> believe In Atlanta this issue will be raised when all or most of the
> opposition parties are expected to attend.
> 
> I think we should be the driving force behind this coalition. If our
> collective power is goes unoticed, the same thing that happened 2001 will
> happen again in 2006. The truth is if we voted in 2001, Yahya would have
> relocated to Morroco. There is good news though, OJ was quoted as saying by
> the independent newspaper today say that the 80,000 Gambians in the diaspora
> will and should be given the right to cast their votes in 2006. This shows
> to me that our potential is being recognized by the parties on the ground.
> 
> In the meantime, we should start investing some funds NOW to kick start our
> cause. One more thing of note here, this is the first time in Gambia's
> political history this number of concerned Gambian abroad are making their
> weight felt be all parties in the country. We don't have a blueprint to
> follow. But our concern for our country and our love for our people, and
> desire to eradicate terror, coruption, injustice, maladministration,
> embezzlement, etc etc will be our guiding compass.
> 
> This my two cents
> 
> Regards,
> MJohnson
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >From: Momodou S Sidibeh <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Save The Gambia Fund - Update
> >Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2003 23:01:16 +0200
> >
> >Brothers Malamin and Joe,
> >
> >Your points are well taken. I dont know, but for me this  Save The Gambia
> >Fund is not a little matter of throwing down a few dollars for ceremony.
> >The whole idea of Saving the Gambia from its current decadence by
> >supporting a coalition of opposition political forces at the next elections
> >three years hence is perhaps the biggest and most serious idea to emerge
> >from concerned Gambians on the Internet. It has been a couple of months
> >since the draft constitution was posted here and I have not read a single
> >mail that questioned its purpose.
> >
> >Nevertheless, I do not think a project with a purpose so bold  and
> >christened with a mission so historic should rest on a foundation of mere
> >opposition to the Jammeh regime. The Coalition must arm itself with a
> >minimal programme that can translate into a reasonably democratic and
> >progressive platform that most of us, if not all, can readily sympathise
> >with, where outright support proves lacking. At a minimum, we need to
> >define what kind of a regime we want to replace this one with?
> >
> >My one dalasi opinion  (for whatever its worth) is that the draft
> >resolution needs to be beefed up with a vision of what the coalition should
> >look like. It should then be normal, in terms of organisation-building at
> >the very least, to expect material support from people who have declared
> >spiritual interest in the project. Once again, thanks to you all for the
> >work you are doing.
> >
> >Cheers,
> >Momodou S Sidibeh
> >
> >
> >From: "Malamin Johnson" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 10:56 PM
> >Subject: Re: Save The Gambia Fund - Update
> >
> >
> > > Nice work Joe. From the latest update i see few individuals who pledged
> >yet
> > > have not send in their contributions yet. I appeal to all those who made
> >the
> > > pledge including my very self, please be timely with your investments.
> >Don't
> > > play catch up with your monthly investments because would/could be seen
> >as
> > > lack of passion for this cause.
> > >
> > > Please don't read anything into this email other than what it is - Just
> >an
> > > appeal or encouragement.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > MJohnson
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: Joe Sambou <[log in to unmask]>
> > > >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> > > ><[log in to unmask]>
> > > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > > >Subject: Save The Gambia Fund - Update
> > > >Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 19:33:18 +0000
> > > >
> > > >All, below is our latest update for the Save The Gambia Fund.  We are
> > > >making
> > > >progress and I encourage everyone to participate.  You can send your
> > > >pledges/contributions to Joe Sambou 8046 S Kimbark Ave., Chicago, IL
> >60619.
> > > >Please help us spread the word.  See the following URLs
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >http://www.africanculture.dk/gambia/Save_the_Gambia_fund_contributions.pdf
> > > >
> > > >and
> > > >
> > >
> > >http://www.africanculture.dk/gambia/Save_the_Gambia_fund_contributions.xls
> > > >
> > > >Chi Jaama
> > > >
> > > >Joe Sambou
> > > >
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