Burama, I am reading through your plan and I once wrote a piece
entitled: Citizens for Active Participation In Our democracy. In line
with my thinking in that piece, I will offer my ideas alongside yours
in the bullet points.
-----Original Message-----
From: Burama FL Jammeh <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tue, Feb 25, 2014 10:23 pm
Subject: [G_L] The Plan (Should I Say A Plan?)
Thought it would be wise to present our proposed plan that could solve
our problems in their totality. The removal and replacement of a
president is not the primary objective of this plan although that will
become a practical possibility should people chooses so. The concept is
anchored on the creation of the requisite human capacity that is
capable of living a life of democracy. In phases we will make demands
and stand our ground to ensure those demands are met.
"Hereunder is the outline of the (a) plan:
Phase 1: Produce and Publish ‘A Comprehensive National Vision - this
will be produced from a National Definition of The problem and an
Analyses of The Operating Environment which will inform us our
Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOP). The process of
production will be consultative and culminate in a National Conference
to refine and adopt. The basic idea is to give all a common understand
what the ultimate goal not to ask everyone to do exact same thing."
The fundamental objective at this point would be to create an
environment that would foster dialogue. An environment that would bring
all the stakeholders together to review the governing situation in the
country.
The government should be encouraged to organize a national conference
in which all the stakeholders would be in attendance. The conference
would identify all the shortcomings in our governance structure; all
the difficulties that are inherent in the system that creates an
unhealthy political atmosphere and a source of chagrin for all of the
problems that the Gambian opposition is facing in the country.
The conference would also look into the policy objectives of the
government and see if they are aligned to the overall interest and
aspirations of the Gambian people. At the end of the conference there
would be recommendations that the government would be encouraged to
look into and adopt.
This national conference can be in the same framework like the
Education Conference that was organized under the P.P.P government to
establish a new education policy.
I remember attending that national conference at the Friendship Hostel
of The Independence stadium. Halifa Sallah and Seida Jatta were there
in attendance as well as countless other Gambian technocrats, educators
and intellectuals.
This endeavor should not be linked with what the Gambian opposition
should do and should not do. It should not be the basis to establish a
vision for the country nor to outline a development strategy, policy
goals and objectives.
The role and function of the Gambian opposition parties still remain to
be as a government that is not in power; that may have a vision, a
development strategy, policy goals and objectives different from that
of the government in power. The Gambian opposition should continue to
do what they are doing and in the best way they know how to be an
alternative to the government.
The idea and concept around this national conference is to examine what
is wrong with the governance structure and political environment in the
country. And to give recommendations in which the government would be
urged to look into and adopt.
"Phase 2: Creation of National Face of The Struggle – a coordinating
body that will be tasked to advocate The Plight of The Gambia based on
The Vision to both Gambians and The International Community. This body
will also formulate project/program proposal that will be sold to the
International community for funding including wages of all full-time
Operatives/Agents plus other Overhead Costs"
Oftentimes we hear that the government is intransigent. They do not
accommodate any suggestions from anybody neither do they want to talk
to anyone. Newspaper editorials do give very good policy
recommendations and advice on the governing situation in the country,
but most of the time these recommendations are ignored and treated with
utter contempt and disdain. Thus intensifying the distrust,
frustration, resentment, anger and conflict between the people and the
government that is supposed to look into their welfare and well being.
Thus the creation of what you called the national face of the struggle
would be timely, just that it wont be any struggle.
This is where the Civil Society Organizations would come into play.
They would be the ones who would be talking to everyone and can help to
create the enabling environment that will make our politics responsive
and participatory.
They can also talk to the International community and forge alliances
at the same time. Being such an encompassing and representative body
they will be obliged to maintain a public persona that is indicative of
the important role that they play. Leaders of such civil society
organizations should be shuttling in and out of BANJUL frequently
meeting all stakeholders and making things happen.
"Phase 3: Creation of an ‘Iron Wheel’ around Gambia – That is to
organize/mobilize Gambians in America, Europe, Africa and Asia in
Chapters. These will be loosely coordinated with the Central Body while
main focus is creation of awareness of the Plight of The Gambia in the
base nation. Programs such as meeting with visiting Senior Government
Officials from the Gambia, demonstrations at their visits, lobby the
base nation’s government, etc – based on the Nation Vision "
Since organizations have emerged as the leading voices of the diaspora
struggle, they can work to reconcile and streamline their
organizational goals and objectives to meet this recommendation.
Such organizations should also try to have a formidable presence in
Gambia so as to coordinate their activities and programs in the
country. They should be impartial and bipartisan as much as possible.
If Diaspora organizations cannot fulfill this role, attempts should be
made to create and sustain a civil society structure in the Gambia that
can respond and meet all the challenges that are inherent in our
political dispensation.
The other phases you have outlined deals with the structure, goals,
objectives and mission of such civil society entities. The only thing
that they should not try to do is to take on the role of a political
party.
Their presence should be to encourage and facilitate a dialogue between
all the stakeholders; and to help create an environment that is
conducive to a healthy political atmosphere.
The rest of your phases also are challenging issues that these civil
society organizations can do.
"Phase 4: Going to Banjul – that is a formal contact with The
Government of The Gambia with a copy of The Vision and a cover letter
through Head of Gambia Mission in our Headquartered nation – say in US,
head of Gambia Mission in DC
Phase 5: More in Banjul – a month later establish direct contact with
Government (Office of President and Head of Civil Service, Political
Parties and all Foreign Missions in The Gambia, Professional
Organizations such as Bar Association, Chamber of Commerce, etc.,
TANGO, etc. with The Vision and covering letter
Phase 6: Open an Africa Region Coordinating Office in Dakar, Senegal–
coordinate, advocate, media blister over Gambia, etc. They will be
heavily involve on our advocacy will development partner such as tying
budgetary aids to meeting demands of our Vision
Phase 7: Going To The People – when relatively safe and we begin to
bear influence, we open a Country Coordinating Office in Banjul to be
flank with Region Office in each region. Their main task will be people
conscientization, organization, and mobilization. They will also run
our legal and paralegal need within Gambia. With political parties,
NGOs and other civil society organizations we will work out a program
real civic education programs and run them
Phase 8: Repeating Steps 3 – 7 over and over until all demands are
met………..1,000,000 years. That number is a warning that it will be a
long hectic process. This is a big concern of many, yet they seem not
recognizing that we have half a century of elections – never made
changes. Half a century is pretty damn long time for me – more than my
life.
Phase 9: Periodic Review of The National Vision to drop what’s not
relevant and/or incorporate new developments should they exist
Phase 10: At maturity turn into A Citizen’s Democratic Observatory
Group that will serve as a citizen’s democracy watchdog pinning every
government action based on the constitution otherwise drag them to
court. Contempt court orders will force us to call people in the
streets until lawful demands are met. My Hope is someday the people can
seal Denton Bridge with 10s of thousands until our demands are met
What the outline did not say is what will be demanding and doing. That
is a subject of the Vision. That is why is important we define the
program and come up with what we want.
Important to point are the in-built assumptions of this plan. They’re
as follows:
• that we will be representing a dissent voice of Gambians seeking
democracy
• that we will convince the International Community on the plight of
The Gambia and be the FACE of the struggle
• that we will secure the necessary funding to do what we exist for
• that the increasing informed voices of organized Gambians with the
backing of the International Community will be the incentive for Banjul
authorities to yield
• that our independent/neutrality backed up with a non-partisan
National Vision will speed up social acceptance that will at some point
multiply itself
• that the initiative will be headquartered in USA
Most expressed concern Yahya will not agree or listen. That is nothing
new and shouldn’t be surprising. That is the first characteristic of a
dictator when confronted. He may not listen or want anything to do with
us – but as the ‘Iron Wheel’ begins to tighten on him around the world
he will not be in it to hold on to power but how to avoid jail or dead.
That will most probably not be the case right away but most certainly
with time. View the struggle as a simple an algebraic equation
(Gambians + Yahya = 1). Currently Yahya currently has all the 1 or
very close. Our job is to peel of his hold on to that large portion of
the 1. If we got 0.5 he will have 0.5. if we got 1 he will be zero.
What Yahya want, What Yahya will accept or not has zero concern to
these efforts. This is about Gambia and the more we amass our voice,
secure international community’s moral and financial support the less
relevant Yahya become.
Please make time to join the Teleconference
Saturday, July 20, 2013
5:00pm – 7:00pm EST
Conference Call # and Code: (605) 475-5900 & 416 565 6#
Involvement, Comments, Suggestions, Questions
God Bless Gambia
Burama FL Jammeh
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facebook.com/Burama.jammeh
twitter.com/bfljammeh
810 844 6040/810 772 1628
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