Mr. Sanneh,

As you have the right to agree and disagree, I will like to remind you that this is politic and you should remember the recent comment by Jammeh regarding the judges acquitting him (Mr.Darbo) from murder conviction. This has made Jammeh to dissolving his trust for the court system in the Gambia. Again what will you expect Darbo who is a political opponent to say and do in public speeches regarding the same court? If you read the paper carefully, the man never say there is no corruption in the legal system but trying to logically manipulate and win in political wise against the incumbent.

If you are fighting with a person and he hits you first, I think you should find ways and mean to equalise the pain meted on you in a different way he took. If you, however, chooses to do it the same way he did, you might not succeed. If Darbo agreed on the fact that the judges are fallacious then you and me might say okay " Jammeh is saying the truth hence Darbo admitted that the judges are corrupt in acquitting him (Darbo)". Even if we are aware of the fact that the legal system is garbage as Jammeh proclaimed for political reasons, Darbo on the order hand, should use the same political strategy to make the playing Field even. Bro be reminded that this is a battle Field and the one whose strategy prevails will be the winner at the end of the day.

I therefore, think Darbo did well in the responses he made on the questions asked during the session. No bad feeling just an opinion.
thanks Edi

abdoukarim sanneh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Baba thanks for interview with Ousainou Darboe. I agree and disagree with his view points in the interview. On the issue of mercenary judges and lawyers, even with his legal background ,his point are very narrow-minded. If Mr Darboe wanted to tell us that the judicary is independent and free from political manipulation under the regime of APRC it is the biggest fallacy coming from a political of his caliber.

Baba Galleh Jallow wrote:
This interview with Mr. Darboe was carried in The Independent today, Friday Sept. 16.

Baba



Honour Your Promises, Darboe Challenges Jammeh

The United Democratic Party leader, Ousainou Darboe who is on his private visit to the United States, has challenged President Yahya Jammeh to revisit his July 22, 1994 speech and honour the promises he made to the Gambian people.



Mr. Darboe who was the keynote speaker at this year’s Annual Midwest Gambia Conference in Chicago, Illinois, said Jammeh owes Gambians an apology. He has been meeting with a wide spectrum of Gambian communities around the United States. In a wide-ranging interview with The Independent’s Baba Galleh Jallow in Washington, DC, Mr. Darboe spoke his mind.

Excerpts:



Mr. Darboe what has been your mission to the United States?

I last visited the U.S. in May/June 2001 to sensitize Gambians in New York, Washington and Atlanta and to drum up support for the UDP ahead of the 2001 Presidential elections. During that visit I seized the opportunity to meet members of my family. I have since then been in contact with them via the telephone. I have been missing them and they too have been missing me. I thought it was time that I visited the U.S. to see my family and I was looking forward with excitement to see Serrah, Fanta and Sanu, my beautiful and charming grand daughters. My mission to the U.S. this time is mainly family visit.



You have been meeting with Gambian communities around the U.S. Who did you meet and what has been the subject of your discussions?



Although my visit is mainly private, Gambians in the US have taken opportunity of my presence and invited me to share with them my views on issues of mutual interest. I could not refuse the invitations extended to me by Gambians for after all "the Darboe Kunda" family in the US is part of the larger family I call "Gambia Kunda". I therefore accorded priority to "Gambia Kunda". I have so far honored invitations from Gambians in New York, Atlanta and Seattle. I have found the engagements and interactions most rewarding. I addressed the Association of Gambians in the Midwest at a Labor Day Conference in Chicago. I also have plans to meet Gambians in Denver and Minneapolis before returning to The Gambia.



Did you meet with any U.S. government, United Nations or other international community representatives here?



I have not met with any U.S. government, UN or other international organization representatives during my visit. As already indicated, I am in the U.S. to visit my family. The engagements outside the family visit were never planned for. Let me point out that my practice is to channel requests for meetings with any U.S. government official through the United States Embassy in The Gambia and whenever such a request is made the Embassy treats it to my satisfaction.



How interested and involved would you say Gambians in the U.S. are with political developments on the home front?



Mr. Darboe: Gambians in the U.S. are very much involved in the affairs of The Gambia. Their commitment to and involvement in the ongoing political process is demonstrated by the members of the Save The Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP) making arrangements for some members of the alliance to visit various cities in the U.S. to launch the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD); most Gambians in the US appear supportive of the efforts of STGDP to raise funds and provide materials to facilitate the opposition’s campaigns in the 2006 and 2007 national elections. Gambians in the U.S. have shifted their involvement in politics in the home front from academic debates to concrete actions.



Recent media reports seemed to indicate some difficulties among the NADD coalition partners. At least two reports suggested that your party, the United Democratic Party, had withdrawn from the Alliance. Were there or are there any difficulties among NADD members?



I read the reports published by The Point and Daily Observer papers that my party, the UDP, has withdrawn from the alliance. According to The Point’s publication, the sources who are executive members of NADD prefer to be anonymous. My reaction to the story published by the Daily Observer, in my view, was sufficient to put an end to the speculation brought about by these treacherous and evil-minded people who claim to be members of the NADD executive. The coordinator also issued a press statement to clear any doubts that may be lurking in anyone’s mind.



I have said it at many forums in the United States and I repeat again that the United Democratic Party is committed to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) singed at the Palm Grove Hotel on 17 January, 2005. The MOU establishes NADD as an alliance of the five signatory opposition parties with provision for admission of any other opposition party that may wish to be part of the alliance. The UDP will never walk away from the MOU. We are more committed to the alliance than those who claim to be members of its executive and yet engage in the dissemination of false information about the UDP with the evil desire of throwing the alliance into disarray for the benefit of our opponents. I am considering an investigation of the source of these publications so that when the false informants are known we can name and shame them.



I want to state in no uncertain terms that if the UDP decides on any matter in relation to its membership of the alliance no one outside the UDP will disclose that decision to the public. We will do it ourselves. We have in the past addressed the press on issues affecting UDP. Therefore, if for any reason the UDP decides to withdraw from the alliance established on 17 January, 2005 we will say so and we will always defend our position.



What specific issues of contention and difference of opinion have there been among the coalition partners?



I am not aware of any specific contentious issues or differences of opinions amongst the coalition partners that are insurmountable.



The issue of a flag bearer for the Alliance in the 2006 presidential elections seems to be a particularly sensitive one. What is the UDP’s position on this issue?



I am not too certain as to what you mean when you say the issue of flag bearer for the alliance for the 2006 Presidential elections seems to be particularly sensitive. Be that as it may, the UDP’s position on this issue is that at the right time the right candidate will be named the flag bearer.



When do you expect the flag bearer to be announced by NADD?

At the right time when all the necessary mechanisms are in place.



The government recently had the seats of coalition partners PDOIS, UDP and NRP declared vacant in the National Assembly through what some describe as "spurious allegations" and the use of "mercenary judges." What is your personal reaction to that development and what is NADD doing about it?



The seats in the National Assembly that were affected by the Clerk of the National Assembly’s letter of 16 June included that of Kemeseng Jammeh, the UDP NAM for Jarra West.



I reject the suggestion that the seats of the affected NAMs were declared vacant on spurious allegations. The arguments presented in favor of the contending views lasted three full working days. I do not believe that the highest court in the land would allow three days of its valuable time to be taken up and misused in dealing with spurious allegations. The issues presented to the court raised important constitutional questions and their resolution has helped in putting some flesh on the skeletal structure of Section 91 (1) (d) of the constitution. I wished the Supreme Court agreed with my arguments but having listened to the judgment when it was being read and after obtaining a copy and reading through it at least four times, I personally find the reasons in support of the decision unassailable.



I also reject the suggestion that the government used mercenary judges. No judge serving on the Gambian judiciary is a mercenary judge. All these judges are men and women of proven integrity. The fact that the Supreme Court judges decided the NAMs case against the opposition does not justify the suggestion that they are mercenary judges. The Supreme Court had in the past decided cases against the government and no one has suggested that those judges are mercenary judges in the pay of the successful litigants in those instances. Why now? I do not wish to adopt the same position taken by some leaders who expressed their lack of confidence in the judiciary and refer to judgments of the court as "stupid" because those judgments did not favor their position.



These suggestions raised by your question are in my view baseless and I personally have enormous confidence in the judges that presided over the case and in all the judges that are serving in the Gambian judiciary. I believe NADD accepts the validity of the judgment and that is why all the affected erstwhile NAMs are contesting the September 29 by-election.



President Jammeh’s sacking of IEC chairman Gabriel Roberts was widely decried as unconstitutional. Was it unconstitutional and if so, what is NADD doing or going to do about it?



NADD has decided to seek legal advice on the constitutionality of the sacking of former IEC chairman, Mr. Roberts, and also the appointment of former SOS M’Boob as a commission member. This time last year former SOS Mboob was busy addressing APRC political gatherings and promoting the political fortunes of President Jammeh and the APRC throughout the length and breadth of The Gambia. It is arguable that his public support for the APRC is sufficient to disqualify him as a commission member. I want to believe that whatever course of action NADD decides to take on this particular issue will be influenced by the opinion of our lawyers.





Generally, how would you rate NADD’s chances of success in ousting Jammeh come 2006?

NADD’s chances of winning the 2006 Presidential elections are very high and promising. This is going to be an historic election in The Gambia. We will get rid of this awful regime in The Gambia, Inshallah.



Some people feel that NADD should do some more muscle-flexing in dealing with a government that has virtually no regard for the rule of law.



How would you react to that suggestion?



My reaction to the suggestion that NADD should do some more muscle-flexing in dealing with this regime would depend on what form the muscle-flexing should take. You may wish to clarify this question. But, in any case, NADD will certainly be ready for all consequences to make sure that the elections are free and fair.



Any last words, comments to the Gambian community both at home and abroad?



Gambians at home and abroad owe it to themselves and their children to do everything within the confines of the law to bring about the demise of the Jammeh administration and by extension, the APRC. This will be the best legacy that would make our children proud of us and, perhaps, history will judge us favorably.



Any message to President Jammeh himself?



My experience is that President Jammeh has perfected his art of ignoring messages from any person who holds views different from his own. However, my message to him is that he should go back to the speech he made on 22 July, 1994 by which he justified the military takeover. Let him honor the promises made to Gambians on 22 July 1994 and apologize to them for any deviation from or breach of any of the promises. That way he will reconcile with the greater majority of Gambians who rightly believe that there was no justification in the military takeover.



Thank you Mr. Darboe.




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