Katim,

A well thought-out piece, really.  But from past experiences, I will agree
with you entirely on the question of some sort of a National Democratic
Organization - because this is a very long-term matter. (I will develop on
that theme subsequently).

In the mean time, I am looking at the situation, the drill, in this light:

1. The government's propaganda machinery is already set in motion, first, to
launch a DCO (Damage Control Operation). Its media outlets will engage in
the verminous practice of Blamimg the Victims:
The Observer, for instance, instead of publishing the names of the dead
students, and the manner in which they were murdered, went on instead to
emphasise their unruliness, the buildings they torched, the police whose
lives they threatened,  etc.

2. The persistent efforts by shrieking officials to always align the
killings on the one hand and the "unacceptable" behaviour of the students on
the other, is a callous attempt to make everyone "realize" that indeed the
actions of the students are punishable.

3. Many of the student leaders will be arrested and eventually sent to jail;
and their organization will most probably, be banned.

4. Some officials will also be held liable for their actions. Perhaps the
Interior Minister will have to go; and the state would have persuaded itself
that it has handled the crisis adequately well.

So, unless that becomes the end of our struggle as well, we must brace up
for a permanent crusade.

Alpha and Karamba need to liaise and immeddiately identify individuals on
the ground in Gambia who will coordinate our solidarity with the families of
the victims; and that will just be the beginning.

Momodou S. Sidibeh

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