Dampha, Hamjatta and co.

Please take note of these developments. Do not say I did not warn you.

Have a good day, Gassa.

>From: Beran jeng <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: FWD:Jawara's Lost Opportunity
>Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 14:32:59 -0400
>
>Jawara's Lost Opportunity
>
>
>
>
>The Independent (Banjul)
>
>EDITORIAL
>August 6, 2001
>Posted to the web August 6, 2001
>
>Banjul, the Gambia
>
>Sir Dawda's impending return has raised blinding dust in our political
>landscape. The eddy of confusion that his proclamation to return has
>propelled has drawn confusing and contradictory remarks from secretaries of
>state Sedat Jobe and Yankuba Touray. Sedat says yes, he's welcome and free
>to return. Yankuba says the ex-president should face a commission of
>inquiry
>for some past deeds.
>
>The Gambian people, who in reality should decide who takes control of their
>political lives, are equally and naturally divided over the merits and
>demerits of Sir Dawda's return. Some, like Sedat Jobe, say Sir Dawda should
>indeed come back to The Gambia. Others, like Yankuba Touray, would have
>none
>of the ancient 'Jawara diko'. The Gambia, they argue, should and could move
>forward without Jawara. As we had indicated before, the repeal of Decree 89
>is a long overdue step in the right direction. We know that like all unjust
>laws, the decree had always been a law of the iron grid, imposed not
>because
>of its moral and essential qualities, but to satisfy the whims and caprices
>of a regime that came to power through unconstitutional means and that was
>confidence-starved. We know also, that the decree was repealed not because
>the president has suddenly seen the light and grew an angel's heart, but
>because first, he was forced to; and second, he feels confident that he had
>bought enough Gambians' favours that he had nothing to fear from an old and
>spent guard of politicians.
>
>Certainly, Sir Dawda Jawara, apart from his nurturing of the democratic
>spirit in The Gambia, which is by no means a mean achievement, has little
>else to show for his thirty years in power. We know that he had allowed
>himself to be mystified and almost worshipped by his cronies. We know that
>he had nurtured the shameful and harmful mansa mentality that continues to
>be a bane of our national politics. We know that he refused to put in place
>the constitutional framework required to make possible smooth, peaceful and
>periodic change of leadership with the result that the equally power-hungry
>soldiers found an acceptable excuse to step in. We know that his extremely
>sweet tooth for power rendered him blind to reality and believe in the
>fatal
>illusion that he could be president for life. We know, ultimately that Sir
>Dawda had a chance, an excellent opportunity to set this country firmly on
>the path to eternal bliss and he blew it.
>
>We certainly are dead opposed and shall remain opposed to the wanton
>'powertics' of the Jammeh regime. But at the same time, we do not
>sympathise
>with the excesses of the Jawara regime. The fact that he told the BBC that
>he had no alternative but to accept the invitation to lead the PPP shows
>that the Pa had learnt little in exile. Why could he not say 'no, look we
>need to revamp the party. Let's recruit a new young membership. Let's
>inject
>new blood into the party. We old guards should be active members and
>advisers, but should not seek leadership roles or political office again.'
>But no, Sir Dawda is still hungry for leadership. He still wants to be the
>great leader who did us more harm than good. He still feels and is made to
>feel indispensable. He is still out of touch with political realities.
>
>We truly wonder why our African politicians never learn.
>
>
>
>
>
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