Dear Halifa,
           I've followed the debate raging between you and some members of
the Gambia-l, notably Hamjatta and Jassey.  It is very interesting and
fruitful.  Everyone must keep the spirit of dialogue going in this forum.
Keep up the good work.  History will bear withness to the truth.

There are those, however, who do not like PDOIS's politics, but so be it.
As you mentioned, your agenda is clear, it is up to Gambians to choose
between you and others.  I for one, i'm with PDOIS as i have always been.
Living in the U.K for 6years hasn't diminished my faith in PDOIS.

I've followed the party since your first publication in 1985 concerning the
then Senegambia Confederation.  I thank Sheikh Ndow for exposing me to many
of the parties publications ( i hope no one will accuse of being
indoctrinated by PDOIS).  The clear analysis of issues helped me understood
a lot.  It gave me open-mindedness.  As a history student at Sidia's former
University(SOAS-London), i am sharpening my intellect for future service to
my beloveth country-The Gambia.

On the issue of joining with other parties to kick the buffoon and his
cohorts out, i support the parties stance.  In as much as one wants this
criminal govt. out, one has to be clear on what terms the opposition
alliance will be base.  Some L members did point to the Senegalese
precedent, however, we should remember that PDS took on board the concerns
of other parties-example And-Jef of Sanneh.

If my memory hasn't been blurred, it was PDOIS who had always advanced the
idea of alliance amongst the opposition-beginning with the defunct NCP and
GPP.  It was PDOIS who proposed a conference among the opposition during run
up to the 1997 elections. Other opposition parties and for that matter the
so-called educated elite have always dithered.

Halifa, take it from me that PDOIS has already made history in the Gambia
and Africa as whole.  You've already earned the respect you deserve.  It is
inevitable that some will call you childish and all kind of names but take
no notice.  The truth will out.  If one is a realist one would see that
ordinary people in the Gambia do respect PDOIS-remember you had more than
8000 votes in Serekunda East in 1997.  The road to success, Halifa, is very
long and bumpy but together we shall defeat all the obstacles.

Long live the people of Gambia,
Long live Africa,
Long live Black People,
May peace and prosperity befall my beloveth nation and people,
it be might difficult comrades but insalah we will get to the promised land.

My prayers are with all of you Gambians,
Bravo

With love,

Mboge

>From: foroyaa <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Realpolitik: The Zeitgeist In These Harrowing Times
>Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2000 15:12:45 +0100
>
>My Good Friend Hamjatta,
>
>Feel free to address any burning issue. There is nothing that I appreciate
>more than to be told that I am criticising the past, as well as the
>present.
>This is precisely PDOIS' method. We are dealing with what has gone wrong,
>and is still going wrong, with a country's economy, political system,
>culture and general way of life, not just given personalities. You feel
>that
>our criticism of the wrongs of the past is making us ineffective in dealing
>with the wrongs of the
>present. This is your opinion. I respect it.
>
>Our experience, however, is different. We are earning more credibility in
>The Gambia for taking precisely the posture you wish to discredit. One
>factor you are not taking into consideration is that the objective of the
>opposition is to win support from those who are supporters of the ruling
>party. This cannot be done by simply engaging in tongue lashing. There are
>times to explain, to reason, to denounce, to condemn and to combine to show
>the authority of the people in combating things that go fundamentally
>against their interest.
>
>I wish you had greater trust and confidence in our determination to do what
>times and circumstances demand. There is, however, nothing wrong in having
>doubts and expressing caution about the strategies and tactics of political
>power. Each of us has the duty to guide the process by expressing our
>concerns.
>
>The current alarm being generated that without opposition parties becoming
>one at this very moment change will be illusive is something I find to be
>working in the interest of the APRC. What you people are actually saying is
>that the government is a popular one, and that no single opposition party
>can challenge it.
>
>The premise of every opposition is that the government has lost the
>confidence of the people and that each of its opponents is earning the
>confidence of the people. If that is true, then what each of you should do
>is to give full support to the party of your choice so that they will win
>more people. In
>that respect, when presidential election comes, each party will draw large
>support from the electorate and maybe the ruling party will not even
>contest in the second round if its candidate fails to earn first or second
>position.
>
>What is already a principle of PDOIS is leaving seats in National Assembly
>election to the stronger party so that there will be a strong National
>Assembly.
>
>In short, Hamjatta, each opposition party in The Gambia has advantages and
>disadvantages. Some may support the UDP for one reason or another. PDOIS,
>for example, is associated with the politics of criticising the past and
>the
>present and putting programmes before the people. NRP has its own brand. I
>believe UDP is confident that the type of politics it is conducting is
>winning it the type of support that it desires. We are also confident that
>we are winning quite a lot of attention for the brand of politics we are
>engaged in. The NRP would say the same thing.
>
>What the situation demands is for our supporters to give us greater
>strength
>so that each party will test its strength in the first round, and in the
>second round of voting, parties can form strategic alliances. What is so
>unrealistic about this?
>
>Secondly, all Gambians, irrespective of party affiliation, must be
>concerned
>with the governance environment in the country. They must denounce and
>challenge every action that undermines free and fair elections, or the
>violate the fundamental rights of the people.
>
>In short, there are human rights issues which require immediate and
>concerted efforts and this requires the cooperation of all Gambians to deal
>with. There are also elections issues which have to be handled by each
>party
>in accordance with its principles. The Gambian people have to decide which
>type of government can best serve their interest.
>
>When it comes to election issues, how they are discussed depends on who is
>listening to you. How you people communicate and how we communicate must be
>different. It is also fair for those of you who used to follow PDOIS'
>rallies to explain that our manner of speech has always been designed to
>win
>the respect of not only the opponents of regimes, but also their
>supporters.
>This is how PDOIS has earned respect. The image being conveyed of fires in
>bellies, as if we only engage in tongue lashing, is misleading. I was in
>Washington recently and I gave different types of speeches to address
>different occasions. We can be firm when the situation demands, and we can
>try to be inspiring when circumstances demand. So we cannot be branded one
>way or the other.
>
>I hope you will stop judging me on the basis of your own perception of the
>realities in the country; but would go further to gather opinions not only
>from Jammeh's critics but also from those who have to be won over from
>Jammeh. Some political parties are finding it difficult to win those on the
>other side because of their style of politics It is the people who bring
>about change and it is the people who determine how we communicate to them
>so that they can understand the message for change.
>
>I still wish to appeal to you, as before, that rather than general
>comments,
>you may pose specific questions regarding specific actions or pronouncement
>for
>explanation. I am always willing to explain. You are ever free to do a
>critique of such an explanation and point a way forward.
>
>Your point that other armed groups may by default carry out our
>responsibilities is instructive. I do not consider this to be a prediction
>of the outcome of the failure of having one presidential candidate in the
>first round. This simply signifies that political parties do not have
>monopoly of political power.
>Power, of course, belongs to the people, that is, if they are conscious of
>their power and fully organised to safeguard it. Where that is not the
>case,
>others can usurp it. The only defence against this is to truly enlighten,
>organise  and empower the people. This is what we are engaged in. Those who
>engage in other activities to usurp power from the people must be
>accountable for their own actions. We should only be judged by our own
>actions.
>
>I hope we will be encouraged to allow the dictates of conscience and reason
>to prevail as we try to deal with all the issues that now confront our
>society. All of you are free to say what you want and handle the issues as
>you wish. We will always respect your different positions. We also hope
>that
>people will respect our position.
>
>Greetings.
>
>Halifa Sallah.
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Hamjatta Kanteh <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Saturday, July 01, 2000 11:55 PM
>Subject: Realpolitik: The Zeitgeist In These Harrowing Times
>
>
> > My Good Friend Halifa,
> >     After promising myself not to bring it up again to you in public and
> > against my will, I have to re-echo again an earlier clarion call I made
>to
> > you and other political players in the Gambia soon after the student
>massacre
> > of April 10th. and 11th; that this is the period of unity of purpose in
> > restoring decency and respect to our body polity. Well, it seems the
>message
> > is still stuck in the bottle and begs to be set free still.
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------