God fearing by the new fix by Yaya at the IEC or not, the fab three better
take hid of the political climate in the country.  Yes, indeed Gambia is a
very small country and it is not the property of Yaya nor the IEC.  Thus,
there will be zero tolerance to any manipulation or gimmicks by the IEC or
Yaya.  If the IEC should follow Yaya and start a chaos, let them also
realize that the chaos they create may also consume them.  This is not a
threat, but to remind them that the political climate in the country is such
that Gambians are tired of being subjugated and are ready for anything that
the IEC or Yaya cooks for them.  The Gambian people are the masters of their
destiny, not the IEC or Yaya.

"In the release, IEC also declared, among other things, that it is not
feasible for Gambians in the Diaspora to vote."

Sir, do you realize that this "mbahaal" is getting real stale.  This is the
same dish that was served by Gabe Roberts, five years ago.  Now, you have
not even warm your seat and you want to start serving us.  At this rate, the
world can end and we shall never vote, because Yaya will always find some
willing conduit to spread the filth.  Now, you see why we are going to watch
you'll very closely?

" While it is the right of every Gambian of eighteen years and above to vote
in national elections, no Gambian is “required” by law to vote."

Can someone tell me the logic of the above statement?  Who is asking the IEC
permission to vote?  We are demanding our right (not privilege) to vote.  Is
this an attempt to dumb us down or what?  "You have the right to vote, but
you really don't have to vote and the constitution will not force you".
Look, Gambians in the diaspora demand their right to vote and that is it.
Leave it to them to decide to exercise that right.  And you wonder why
Gambians believe the current trio are selected to perform for Yaya.

Honest governments and IECs around the world make it possible for their
citizens to vote, so this is no new science the IEC will invent.  The fact
of the matter is both Yaya and the IEC know that 90% or more of Gambians in
the diaspora will VOTE against Yaya any day any place, thus this feet
dragging and baseless arguments.  That is why the ignorance of Yaya came out
to pratt about Gambians in the diaspora giving up their rights to
citizenship by being away.  Is that not contradictory to the IEC's agreement
that Gambians over 18 years old (without certain criminal violations) are
eligible to vote where ever they may be.

To also suggest that the we cannot vote because of lack of resources is in
itself not factual.  Are we crazy to rely on a corrupt government like ours
to provide resources to vote them out?  No.  If the farmers crops are not
bought for years under Yaya because of mediocrity and corruption, who in
their right mind would think that a brute like Yaya will provide funds to
the IEC for us to vote?  NADD should press the EU and other organizations
that sponsor voting exercises to provide the necessary funds.  We shall see
what the next gimmick will be when that happens.

"It might, in fact (sic) not be helpful to identify Gambian whose legal
status in the foreign countries are doubtful."

Since when has the IEC been concerned about the welfare of Gambians in the
diaspora?  What's next in their scheme to deceive, that we can't vote due to
911, or the Iraq war?

"The constitution of The Gambia, 1997, provides that the members of the IEC
are appointed by the President of the Republic.  One appointed and
sworn(sic), the members have nothing to be intimidated about in the
execution of their functions."

Oh really!  Where is Bishop Johnson, or your predecessor, Gabe Roberts?  All
fired, and illegally.  You cannot possibly tell us you believe the above
after 50 years of public service, and in the face of the illegal firing of
your predecessor and Bishop Johnson of all people?

Gambians are watching and I hope the IEC will not be mistaken to
underestimate the winds of change in the country.  If you cannot be
impartial, the honorable thing to do is to resign.  However, if you yield to
the pressures of Yaya, the people are rock solid to apply triple force
against your path, and I have my last buck on the people.

Chi Jaama

Joe


IEC denies manipulation claims
Written by DO
Wednesday, 24 August 2005
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has denied suggestions carried in
the Foroyaa newspaper that the date for the September 29 by-elections was
first announced by the APRC before the Commission did.
This denial is contained in an incisive press release issued by the IEC in
reaction to an editorial carried in the18-21 August 2005 edition of the
Foroyaa  newspaper.


According to the press release, “It is obvious that what the author wants
the IEC to say is that at the risk of being removed from office, the
Chairman of the IEC should say that he disagreed with the President’s view
and that if IEC failed to do that it would be that the Chairman was timid.”


The release then described the Foroyya editorial as “an attempt to discredit
the IEC for some reason.”


In the release, IEC also declared, among other things, that it is not
feasible for Gambians in the Diaspora to vote.


Below, we reproduce the full text of the press release:


At the risk of disappointing those Gambians who are familiar with the style
of management of the IEC’s Chairman, the IEC cannot but respond to the
editorial of the Foroyaa Newspaper issue of 18-21st August 2005.


The whole issue concerning the participation of Gambians overseas, including
the chairman’s own children, should be considered under two universal
principles: the rights principle and the equity principle - both within the
context of the limited nature of the necessary and available resources at
the disposal of the IEC.  While it is the right of every Gambian of eighteen
years and above to vote in national elections, no Gambian is “required” by
law to vote. The second principle has to do with the utilisation of the
available resources per head of the registered voters. Will it be equitable
to deploy over five times the resources deployed for enabling a Gambian
voter overseas over and above a Gambian voter in The Gambia knowing fully
well that neither is required to vote?


Can it be assumed that all Gambians living abroad are provided equal
opportunities to exercise their fundamental rights to vote knowing fully
well the legality concerning the residents(sic)of many Gambians currently
living abroad?


If it were that the laws of The Gambia requires(sic) every eligible Gambian
to vote, the Gambia government would have been compelled to provide the
necessary resources to enable IEC to ensure that all eligible Gambians are
made to vote.


It might, in fact (sic) not be helpful to identify Gambian whose legal
status in the foreign countries are doubtful.


The constitution of The Gambia, 1997, provides that the members of the IEC
are appointed by the President of the Republic.  One appointed and
sworn(sic), the members have nothing to be intimidated about in the
execution of their functions.


It is obvious that what the author wants the IEC to say is that at the risk
of being removed from office, the Chairman of the IEC should say that he
disagreed with the President’s view and that if IEC failed to do that it
would be that the chairman was timid.  After 50 years of public service it
is believed, it would be realised that the last thing, that should be done
was not to associate, by implication, the Chairman with fear.  For what it
may be worth to him/her(sic) that the Chairman’s daily prayers include that
Allah may remove the humiliating human chains of ‘fear and greed’ from him.


The date for the by-elections in the four constituencies with vacant seats
at the National Assembly was fixed by the IEC and not dictated to by the
ruling party.  To say that the APRC announced the date before the IEC is
considered to be an attempt to discredit the IEC for some reason.  The
Gambia is a small country and the grapevine spreads at a vertiginous speed
much faster than the creators of the information.


The IEC does not want to cause and indeed to be drawn into polemics relating
to the transfers and replacements of voting cards since it does not have the
time for that.  As indicated in our correspondence to NADD Central
Committee, the IEC is required to fix a limitation - 29th August 2005 -
after which date no transfers and replacements are entertained.  To be
specific, the IEC has made a total of 10 transfers and 20 replacements of
voting cards in the Upper Saloum Constituency.  The political allegiance of
holders of transferred and replaced voting cards is not the prerogative of
the IEC (sic) but this  is simply done in the spirit of the fundamental
rights of voters to move their cards to their areas of residence.  It is
therefore incorrect to assume or nurture the impression that the IEC is
acting in such a way as to create a more favourable environment for a
certain political party in order for it to win elections.


In the wake of clarifications made to the Chairman, it has come to the
knowledge of the IEC that the process of Transfers and Replacements has been
stopped in Upper Saloum unbeknowing to the Chairman following the NRP claim
of a mass transfer process. The investigation carried out from (sic) the IEC
Regional Office in Janjanbureh revealed that a total number of transfers and
replacements indicated above were indeed made. The IEC hopes that the new
schedule will enable genuine transfer seekers who are affected by the brief
halting of the process to be able to do so before the 29th August 2005.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 25 August 2005 )

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