Gambia-L,

As the Chatroom engaged Mr. Darboe in a lively discussion I tried to record the
questions and answers by a crude "copy and paste" method. In the process some
things got lost. I apologise for that, and take full responsibility for any
misinterpretation due to missing parts. Below is the essential part of what I
managed to capture. Apart from the first question from me, everything else was
copied as shown on the chat room screen (I only started after he started
answering this question).

In response to a question by Alpha Robinson:
What lessons have been learnt from the Basse incident and
what measures will the UDP take to promote a healthy and level political climate,

 the chat continued as follows:


<Ousainu Darboe> We have  not learnt
    any new lesson from the Basse
    incident. What took place at
    Basse was the worst that we
    Expected from our opponent.
    The APRC with its July 22nd.
    Movement members have been involved in
    all manner of thuggery against the
    UDP.

<King Solomon> Hello Mr. Darboe, what
    do you think that the current
    gov't should do now to soften the
    tensions that seems to suround the
    whole country?

<Ousainu Darboe> The Government has to
    respect the Rule of Law observe and........? missed the rest!!

<Pakaramo> why is the presidential
    election scheduled for October,
    the peak of the farming season?

<Ousainu Darboe> This question is
    better addressed to the
    Independent Electoral
   Commission which has
    the Constitutional prerogative of
    setting the date for elections

<Fatima Darbo> If UDP wins the
    elections who will take up the
    Presidendcy, you or the newly
    appointed president of the Party?

<Ousainu Darboe> on UDP winning the
    presidential elections. I want to make it
    abundantly clear that I am the leader
    of the party and that
    I will be seeking the party's
    Nomination for the next
    presidential elections.

<musa> Are your lawyers( DREAM TEAM)
    offering their services PRO BONO ?

<Ousainu Darboe> My lawyers are really
    the "dream team" .  They constitute the...? missed!
....(cont.) They are offering
    their services pro bono publico

<Bass> what is your relationship with
    other opposition parties ?

<Ousainu Darboe> Our relationship with
    the other opposition parties is
    quite cordial.

<Jabou Joh> is there anything under
    gambian law that can challenge the
    government's ability to charge 25
    people with the murder of one
    person ( not to say that i call it
    murder, but self defense)

<Ousainu Darboe> The issue of the
    charges against me and 25 other
    persons is a matter that our
    legal advisers will have to
    address. I will not deal with
    this issue without proper advise
    from the "Dream Team".

<Magnolia> How does this recent
    incident with the APRC/july 22nd
    affect your political campaign? Do
    you have problems in securing
    permits to hold meetings since the
    incident?

<Ousainu Darboe> We have been denied
    permit by the Inspector General of
    Police since the Basse incident. the denial has
    been based on state security.
    However the APRC is holding
    rallies in every part of the
    country without even applying for
    permit. We of the UDP believe
    that the Inspector General of
    Police SANKUNG BADJIE is in
    a conspiracy with his political
    masters to stiffle UDP in its
    freedom of assembly and expression.

<Yus> Some of us do not believ that a
    free and fair election can be
    held.  You were attacked viciously
    in what was clearly an
    intimidation tactic.  What......? missed!

<King Solomon> How fear do you think
    the coming elections will be? And
    do you think that you will win if
    it is fear, with these
    happenings/events popping up?

It’s not clear which question Mr. Darboe answered below!

<Ousainu Darboe> We will as a party be
    willing to go in for primaries in
    the selection of a presidential
    candidate provided that all the
    opposition parties are working
    on a common electoral  platform.

Something went missing here!

<Yus> what are your plans to make sure
    that you are not disadvantaged?

<Ousainu Darboe> The party is working
    on proposals for submission to the
    IEC and we hope to discuss these
    proposals with other parties with a view to presenting
    a common stand on the forthcoming
    elections.  There is already initiated by the IEC and
    inter-party consultative forum
    through which parties can put
    forward  for discussions
    proposals which will ensure a free
    and fair election.  However
    the question of a free and fair
    elections should not be left to
    the political parties in The
    Gambia. Every Gambian
    irrespective of your political
    allegiance should mount a vigorous
    campaign for free and fair
    elections in The Gambia.

<kalley> is  there any means for
    gambians abroad to vote

<Ousainu Darboe> Gambians abroad can
    agitate for International Observers
    from campaign to the
    counting and declaration of
    results). Gambians abroad
    should as we are doing from here
    press for those abroad to vote at all national
    elections.

<ousman> with all due respect
    mr.darbo.this observation is easy
    said than done

<Ousainu Darboe> I believe it is
    defeatist to say that it is easier
    said than done. You should never come
    to such a conclusion without
    trying.

<Guest  sidi sanneh> how does UDP plan
    to restructure the groundnut sector

<Ousainu Darboe> the restructuring of
    the groundnut  industry  has to commence
    from the basics which are (1) revive the cooprative
    Union  and the primary societies
    which serve as the medium for the
    provision of both inputs as
    well as the avenue for the
    marketing of the produce.  2) Make
    the inputs not only accessible but
    also affordable and available at the
    right time.  The availability of
    inputs and market will serve as an
    incentive for production.

Missed a question here it seems!

<Ousainu Darboe> There was a question
    or comment on me being surrounded
    with ex- PPP officials (high ranking ones).
    This type of allegation has been bandied around
    by our opponents who have failed in their attempt to
    discredit our party.  There is no
    member of the UDP executive  or
    central committee  who held a
    cabinet portfolio in the Jawara regime.
    On the contrary we see BUBA BALDEH a former
    Minister of Youths and Sports in
    the PPP Government and a PPP
    sponsored candidate being appointed
    by the APRC as the Assistant National Mobiliser.  We
    also see FATOUMATTA JAHUMPA CEESAY
   the Secretary General of the PPP female wing as the
    President's Spokesperson.  AJI
    FATOU SALLAH was the National President
    of the PPP Female Wing and now the National
    Mobiliser (Female) Section.  E.K. SARR
    formerly Parliamentary Secretary
    in the Jawara regime and the Honourable Member
    for Kombo North now serving as an
    APRC Commissioner in Western
    Division. This is just to mention a few.  The list is
    in-exhaustible.

<Jabou Joh> what is the process
    Gambians outside need to follow in
    order to be able to vote in
    elections at home, and which
    international bodies do we need to
    be appealing to in or to have
    monitors in place in the upcoming
    elections?

<Ousainu Darboe> Gambians abroad need
    to be organised to ensure equal  participation in
    future elections.  As an organised
    body they should approach the
    Independent Electoral Commission to
    accept their rights to vote even outside The Gambia.
    Gambian abroad should
    also mount pressure on this
    Government to respect
    the rights of the ordinary Gambian
    citizens and should therefore canvass International
    Organisations Human Organisations
    to place increasing pressure on the
    present Government to
    respect the Constitution and the
    Electoral Laws of the country.

Here the question was missed!

<Ousainu Darboe> excellent.  However
    our relationship with that of the
    GRTS is not desirable in any true
    democracy. The GRTS shuns the
    broadcasting of our meetings when
    they attend the same and in virtually
    all cases they have just
    treated us with contempt.

<alpha robinson> What measures will
    you take to avoid the Basse
    incident in future and how will
    you react should it happen again;
    do you see the need for restrain?

<Ousainu Darboe> Avoidance of the
    Basse incident in the future is a
    matter that....

From this point on, Mr. Darboe went offline. Someone
Logged in as „Name already in use“ and answered as if he was Mr. Darboe.
It is still unknown whether this was a case of personification

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

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

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