Janneh, when it is all said and done, if you want we can engage in an
academic exercise of debating whether Jawara had a ‘dismal record’ or not.
Suffice for me to say though at this stage that I do NOT understand what you
are comparing the Jawara record with in order to say that it was a dismal
record. Is it fair to assume that you are comparing the Jawara record with
the AFPRC/APRC record since whenever I mentioned how good the Jawara record
was, I was careful to compare it with the AFPRC/APRC record?

Just yesterday I used APRC figures to show how APRC themselves conceded that
they took our country backward in economic terms. Gambians are poorer today
than they were seven years ago. You leave economics aside, this regime is
far more corrupt than the old regime. Nepotism: the current ambassador in
the U.S. is Yaya’s family. I will NOT get into the Badgies and the Kujabies
and the Jattas running our security apparatus. Human Rights and Rule of Law:
no need for me to waste my time on that either.

Now, how can you honestly look at these two records and say that PPP’s was a
dismal record? Dismal compared with what? The Clinton/Gore Administration? A
PDOIS/UDP/NRP ‘non-record’? Clearly, the only logical thing we can compare
the PPP record with, is the AFPRC/APRC record. Are you prepared to hold
brief for AFPRC/APRC and argue that they have a better record than PPP? And
argue that the PPP record is dismal compared with the AFPRC/APRC record?

Remember that just like you, I also lived in Gambia during the Jawara
regime. Just like you vowed not to sit by and watch the Jawara record
‘trumpeted as anything but dismal’, I also vow NOT to sit by and watch
people distort the Jawara record and portray is as worse than Yaya’s record.

As far as Jawara’s impact is concerned, let us just say that we agree to
disagree. You think he is a liability to the Opposition. I think he is NOT.
Well, history will vindicate one of us.

Toure, Hamjatta, and Kolley, I thank you very much for interpreting what I
wrote exactly how I meant it. Toure, the prayer with which you ended your
piece is quite fitting. I also pray that Allah answer our prayers on this
Holy Day and give the leaders on the ground wisdom to do the right thing.
KB



>From: Amadou Scattred Janneh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Jawara is History
>Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 16:41:34 +0000
>
>Dampha,
>
>I generally focus on what Jammeh is doing to The Gambia and what we as
>Gambians can do to unseat him.  I don't try to put Jawara or any other
>person down; I know many of these former PPP and NCP politicians from my
>days as a Radio Gambia reporter, and as an assistant secretary at External
>Affairs.
>
>I also think it serves no purpose to dwell on Jawara's era.  However, I
>will
>not stand idly by to see Jawara's record trumpeted as anything but dismal.
>I lived in The Gambia during Jawara's reign, and I know how corrupt and
>ineffective that regime was.  I respect his right to return and do whatever
>he wants. (I know you didn't call for him to assume a leadership role in
>the
>opposition).  In my view, he doesn't deserve a heroes welcome in The
>Gambia.
>  Jawara as a leader is HISTORY; and he is NO NELSON MANDELA as another
>writer indicated.
>
>Enlisting Jawara's help in fighting the October elections could only be a
>liability, and nothing else.  An active role for him would definitely
>alienate many (like myself) and dash hopes for a concerted front.
>
>With this, I'm moving on.  My point is clear: Jammeh must be defeated,
>Jawara is history!
>
>Amadou SJ
>
>"Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire,
>sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon
>must inevitably come to pass" (J. Meyer).
>
>
>
>>From: Dampha Kebba <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Putting the Record Straight --- Decree 89 Politicians
>>Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 11:44:45 -0400
>>
>>Anybody that says that I (personally) advocated for the return of Jawara
>>as
>>a presidential candidate will be telling a blatant lie. I might have been
>>one of the most vocal advocates for Jawara’s return. But in what role? I
>>have categorically stated that the man should be encouraged to return and
>>support the presidential candidate that is going to be selected by the
>>CURRENT OPPOSITION LEADERS. Jawara can be very effective in defending the
>>PPP record and discrediting AFPRC/APRC justification for taking over.
>>Rather
>>than current Opposition leaders tackling Yaya when Yaya tries to compare
>>himself with PPP, let the PPP fight that battle. Simple as that.
>>
>>For people now to twist this logic and make it appear as if I am
>>advocating
>>for Jawara to become our next president, is just mind-boggling to me. To
>>this day I can only name one person in the Opposition on G_L that is
>>saying
>>that the Decree 89 politicians should also be given an opportunity to
>>lead.
>>One person. Granted, I delete a lot of mails without reading them, but I
>>am
>>pretty certain I would have read a mail under my heading advocating for
>>Jawara to return as a leader. To my knowledge, only Jassey-Conteh said
>>that
>>we should not close the door on Decree 89 politicians’ chances of leading
>>he
>>Coalition. Although I do NOT agree with Jassey-Conteh on this, I respect
>>his
>>stance. Now, where is all this talk about people advocating for Jawara’s
>>return to the presidency coming from? Let us shoot straight and quit
>>talking
>>in innuendo.
>>
>>I still firmly believe that the man should be encouraged to come home and
>>defend his record and lend his support to the Opposition presidential
>>candidate. Even if I am convinced that the current Opposition can win
>>without Jawara, I will NOT recommend to the Opposition to snub Jawara. If
>>the Opposition can canvass for 90% of the votes, why settle for less? No
>>one
>>can deny that Jawara still has a following back home. Would we rather have
>>those people vote for APRC or abstain from voting for the candidate the
>>current Opposition is going to choose? If we want the support of these
>>Gambians (that are still loyal to Jawara) we do NOT go around alienating
>>them by attacking their leaders. What does the Opposition seek to gain by
>>attacking Jawara? Preventing him from becoming the next president? This is
>>premised on the notion that he wants to become the next president. Not a
>>single person can truthfully say here on G_L that Jawara said that he
>>wanted
>>to become the next president. Like I already said, apart from
>>Jassey-Conteh,
>>there is NOBODY in the Opposition is even remotely saying that they want
>>Jawara to become the next president. And even Jassey-Conteh is NOT saying
>>that he wants Jawara per se. It is practically impossible for that to
>>happen. So, why use this false premise in order to attack the man?
>>
>>Attacking the man serves one purpose. It helps Yaya and his gang stand up
>>and say that it was justified for them to take over. Attacking Jawara is
>>NOT
>>helping us right old wrongs by preventing him from gaining power again.
>>The
>>law already says that he CANNOT run in October. Besides, it is practically
>>impossible for the man to go back and run a political campaign that is
>>going
>>to overshadow our current Opposition leaders. Our current leaders are lot
>>stronger than that. I hope the leaders on the ground will embrace the
>>Degree
>>89 politicians and ask for their support. We need NOT force these people
>>to
>>the APRC camp or away from us. The ex-PPP politicians, in particular, are
>>very important because (among other things) they need to defend their
>>record
>>against attacks from APRC. We would rather that PPP fight that battle than
>>say UDP, NRP or PDOIS. For example, if Yaya wants to boast about a
>>University and belittle PPP, rather than Darboe tackling that, let Jawara
>>explain how Yaya built on what already existed in the form of GTTI, MDI,
>>Hotel School, Nursing School, Yundum College, etc.
>>
>>That is the wavelength some of us are at. Division of labor. Tactical
>>Alliance. Now, if the Opposition wants to use PPP in this manner in the
>>Coalition, we do NOT go around singing APRC songs like Jawara was here 30
>>years and did not do a thing.
>>KB
>>
>>
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