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From:
omar joof <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 13 Nov 2005 12:38:19 +0000
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Wow!!!! This is indeed inspiring!
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES!
Omar Joof.


>From: Movement for Democracy and Development <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [>-<] NADD expose' on the Bull/Burr of Kanilai ; What's Next?
>Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 07:44:58 -0800 (PST)
>
>Being the perfect gentlemen/women that's expected of matured leaders and
>adults, NADD's response to Jammeh's BULL CRAP, portrays the 7 Habits of
>Highly Effective leadership [Steven Corvey] and none of the Paradigm Shift
>Jammeh tries to hoodwink gullible Gambians with. Truly as it was stated by
>Wollof Njie/Samba Laubeh: "Makk [Nyu Juup] baah Na Chi Dekah - Hai Jaama
>-Teyh."
>The gull that this despotic-desperado chap had, on such solemn and holy day
>of forgiveness and repentance, to face multitudes of
>Religious/Opportunistic/$$$ seeking elders/leaders, to become a Pat
>Robinson [YAHYA KNOWS BEST] of Gambia, is mind buggling.
>Dantes: The hottest place in hell are reserved for those who in times of
>moral crisis, try to act or remain neutral [selfishness, job, fear,
>Teranga, hypocrit, born-again muslim/christian/animist]?What?
>Equally, NADD supporters and Jammeh bashers couldn't fathom why it took
>NADD such a long time, to respond and why not forcefully? Respectfully and
>rightfully, i will agree with Yahya Jammeh, this time only, when he refered
>to the President Abdou Diouf of Senegal: "BU LAH MBAAM WEHHE, NGA
>WEHHAKOH,YEN NYEP MBAAM NGEN" [when an ox/mule kicks you and you respond by
>kicking the s... out of the beast, then both man and beast are of the same
>burden].
>To NADD, the days of ALTRUISMS are over and done with! No More Nice Guys!
>The game plan is for NADD to keep the momentum on track, as Yahya Jammeh
>the individual, Security forces a confused/celebrated/feared lot and
>A[F}PRC the collective, are self-destructing each other. Again, NADD's
>planis to focus on molding/changing the minds of the Youths, Women and
>foremost, The wise and disenchanted Security forces personell.The later,
>being Yahya Jammeh's Last Card and ultimate destruction.
>Out of a force of less than 2000, [+ -] the The Newly Imported Republican
>Guards [Mercenaraies], NADD supporters and neighbors, landlords, friends,
>families of these coniving/destructive Jammeh-minorities should make it a
>patriotic duty at enlightening, striaghtening out, shaping up, shipping out
>and warning these renegage/opportunistic few, especially the NIA, that we
>as the restless many,  will hunt you down and prosecute you, even if Jammeh
>dispatches you to the shores of Washington, DC, New York, Taipei, or
>Paris,as Military/NIA Clown.Period!
>AGITATE, EDUCATE AND ORGANIZE! FOR THE SAKE OFYOUR CHILDREN AND THOSE
>UNBORN, SUPPORT NADD, JOIN A GROUP/MOVEMENT, OR START YOUR OWN SUPPORT
>NETWORK.
>
>Please read on:
>
>NADD RESPONDS TO JAMMEH
>Below is a copy of NADD's response to President Jammeh's remarks on
>Koriteh day while he was receiving Muslim religious leaders. In their
>response which was in the form of a letter, the NADD leaders gave President
>Jammeh an ultimatum- to either provide evidence to substantiate his
>claims or apologize.
>Mr. President, four characteristics are indispensable if a person is to
>qualify to be classified among a world leadership that is fit to govern
>a Nation in the 21st century, that is, clarity, honesty, magnanimity
>and humility.
>Mr. President, when the mind is barren of knowledge, the heart devoid
>of mercy, the personality starved of humility and the attitude stripped
>of honesty, a person in position of public trust must become arrogant,
>greedy, power hungry, pompous and revengeful. Such a person will not
>hesitate to kill for power and die for power. Under such a leadership,
>might must become right, the rule of law must become subservient to the
>rule of might and a culture of impunity must reign supreme over the
>culture of rights and justice.
>
>This is why the wisdom of the ages deems it incontrovertible that
>hunger for power corrupts and obsession with power corrupts absolutely.
>The objective of addressing this letter to you is simple. The Members
>of the Executive Committee of NADD held an emergency meeting to discuss
>the content of the speech you delivered in your meeting with the Muslim
>Elders on 3rd November 2005 after the Eid prayers, commemorating the
>end of the month of Ramadan.
>
>At the opening of the meeting the Chairperson of the occasion conveyed
>that their visit was customary and symbolic; That such visits to
>leaders at the helm of state affairs started 95 years ago. In short, it
>provides an opportune moment for elders to state their concerns regarding
>the relation between Government and the Governed and further accords them
>the opportunity to offer words of advice to promote sensitivity and
>responsiveness to the vital concerns of the people.
>
>It is amazing to the NADD Leadership, as it must be to every decent
>human being in The Gambia who heard your message, that you would transform
>such a solemn occasion into a platform to try to threaten, denigrate,
>castigate and ridicule the Opposition despite the religious leaders'
>passionate appeal for sincere efforts by ruling party and opposition to
>deal with any matter of immense National concern in a concerted manner.
>Your disrespectful and revengeful posture constitutes a betrayal of the
>expectations of your peace loving visitors, a violation of your oath of
>office not to act with "ill-will" and an affront to any sense of
>political decency your comments had infact outraged all Gambians and non
>Gambians alike who expect a higher standard of practice in governance from
>a person occupying the highest office in the land.
>
>Mr. President, I am requested by the NADD Executive Committee to
>catalogue the relevant portions of your speech which are fallacious in
>content and further signify a total disregard for the letter and spirit of
>the Memorandum of Understanding prepared under the auspices of the
>Commonwealth, represented by General Abdousalam Abubakar, which the
>representatives of all parties including your ruling party, helped to draft
>but
>which your National Executive Committee have so far failed to sign.
>This is what is delaying its coming into effect.
>
>
>First and foremost you claimed that the Opposition met in New York and
>drew the conclusion that they can neither win an election in The Gambia
>or orchestrate a coup d'etat; That they resolved that the only way to
>depose you is to provoke a war situation between Gambia and Senegal in
>order to destabilize and uproot your government.
>
>
>You alleged that the Opposition sent E-mails, faxes, reports and copies
>of government documents to the Senegalese authorities in order to
>generate and fan hostility between the Senegalese government and your
>regime.
>That the Opposition fabricated stories that most of the forces sent by
>Gambia to Sudan are from the MFDC rebels; that such rebels serve as
>State Guards; that they even stated that Salif Sarjo, a leader of MFDC was
>poisoned by you and taken to a doctor to be killed in 2003; that their
>lies became evident when Salif Sarjo spoke on radio in 2005. You added
>that the Senegalese forces were deployed at Selety near the border with
>Gambia while Gambian soldiers were busy playing football; that the
>alleged lies of the opposition almost brought about a war which you averted
>only because you exercised restraint. You claimed that even after
>making peace recently the opposition met to conoclude that it will not
>last.
>All these statements were designed to give the impression that the
>Opposition harboured bad faith.
>
>
>You made it categorically clear that such Opposition members and their
>collaborators do not deserve to witness the 2006 elections. You
>threatened a reign of terror on the opposition and their alleged
>collaborators
>in government after the Ramadan.
>
>
>You also strayed into the differences between Muslim's regarding the
>date for holding Eid prayers. You stated categorically that those who
>hold their prayers after the date approved by the Supreme Islamic Council
>will not see the light of the day.
>
>
>Many threats, including death threats were issued during your speech
>that could give you the image of a brutal dictator who is ready to
>arrest, detain, maim and kill those who disagree with him.
>
>
>Mr. President, during this era of democratization in our subregion many
>would have thought that you will honour the goodwill mission of the
>Commonwealth and concentrate on making peace with the Opposition by
>signing the Memorandum of Understanding and thus prepare the ground for a
>peaceful, free and fair presidential election in 2006.
>
>
>It is hard for the Executive Committee of NADD to believe that after
>displaying maximum political decency during the by elections of 29th
>September 2005from which we emerged victorious you could state without any
>semblance of guilt or equivocation that the Opposition is promoting war
>between Senegal and Gambia because of its fear that it cannot win a
>free and fair presidential election in 2006.
>
>
>We wish to assert with all the emphasis we can muster that your
>allegation against the Opposition are fabrications. They are based on
>fiction
>and not facts. Consequently, they cannot stand the test of truth and
>commonsense.
>Mr. President, the commitment of the Opposition to free and fair
>election is corroborated by the following indisputable facts.
>
>
>First and foremost, we in the Opposition have agreed to sign the
>Memorandum of Understanding binding political parties in The Gambia to
>International Standards of best practice in democratic political conduct in
>a
>multiparty system which is characterized by adherence to truth, fair
>play, tolerance and submission to the popular will when expressed by the
>ballot.
>It is in fact your party which has shown little commitment to such
>practices by procrastinating or delaying its signing of the Memorandum of
>Understanding.
>
>
>In the same vein, just before the recent by elections, the Opposition
>parties went to court to ensure that there is strict adherence to the
>electoral laws so that only people whose names appear on the registers of
>voters would be allowed to vote. Your party advocated for those whose
>names are not found in the register of voters to be allowed to vote. Who
>then is actually afraid of free and fair elections, the Opposition or
>your?
>
>
>Furthermore, since the Opposition Alliance emerged we have participated
>in 10 by elections. The facts reveal that we are also leading in
>popular votes.
>In the light of such development, which person with commonsense could
>be made to believe that the Opposition parties met in New York to draw
>the conclusion that we cannot win an election and that we can only take
>over the helm of state by promoting war between Gambia and Senegal.
>This is utter fabrication. No such meeting took place anywhere on the face
>of the globe.
>
>
>Mr. President, we must therefore state in no uncertain terms that in
>making such a statement you are putting the office of president in
>disrepute, thus justifying the grounds for impeachment, as is the norm in
>any
>civilized democratic state.
>
>
>In our view, the office of the president is too high to be a source of
>unintelligent fabrications.
>
>
>In this respect you owe the Gambian people concrete evidence to back
>your assertions or extend your apology to the NADD Executive.
>We give you five working days to provide the evidence regarding the
>alleged meeting or apologize, failing which we have no option but to hold
>a press conference to denounce you and call for your resignation or
>impeachment. Bear with us as we move to the second point.
>
>
>Mr. President, you also claim that the Opposition met recently to
>declare that your recent agreement with Senegal will not last. This is
>utter
>fabrication. In fact, every careful analyst will not fail to observe
>that no member of the NADD Executive has issued any comment on the issue
>in the press. This is due to an executive decision to promote
>alternative policies as befits an alternative government and not simply
>comment
>on your initiative.
>
>
>Hence, instead of being prophets of doom who spend our energies to
>denounce you for wasting the precious resources and time of the Gambian
>people and create immense hardship by being adamant in maintaining the
>increase in ferry tariffs in the name of defending National Sovereignty
>and territorial integrity only to acknowledge later that you have erred
>by violating Article 6 of the Agreement on Road Transport of October
>2004, between Gambia and Senegal.
>
>
>However, instead of castigating you for your display of mediocrity and
>incompetence in matters of foreign policy we did a detailed analysis to
>find out the source of your shortcomings, with the view to find a way
>forward in promoting a privileged relation between Gambia and Senegal
>that would be informed by the doctrine of two states one people.
>
>
>In our discussion on the border issue the NADD executive recalled the
>words of your then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Musa Bala
>Gaye, in response to a question raised at the National Assembly on 5th
>October 2005 and compared it with extracts from the Communiqué issued
>on 21st October 2005, during your visit to Senegal.
>His very words read:
>
>
>"Mr. Speaker sir, as the Honourable member may know, the border was
>closed by the Senegalese authorities in protest to the increase in the
>ferry tariff at the Barra/Banjul and Bambatenda/Yellitenda crossings. The
>Gambia has not at anytime closed its side of the border and has not
>prevented vehicles, whatever the type, to enter or leave Gambian
>territory.
>Consultations have been going on since the beginning of the problem
>with the Department of State for Foreign Affairs playing a lead role. This
>process is on going with the hope that Senegal would reopen its borders
>and all related problems resolved."
>
>
>Here your Secretary of State is attributing the border closure to the
>rise in ferry tariffs. Your government officials have vehemently
>maintained that the rise in ferry tariffs was irreversible because it was
>an
>act of national sovereignty.
>However, in the Communiqué of 21st October, 2005 it is categorically
>stated that
>"The President of The Republic of The Gambia has decided to suspend
>immediately the new ferry tariffs and to revert to the tariffs effective
>before 15th August 2005. The Gambia government will notify the
>government of Senegal of its intention to increase the ferry tariffs in
>conformity with the provisions of the agreement on road transport of 5th
>October 2004 between The Gambia and Senegal."
>
>
>Mr. President, the text of the Communiqué confirms that you have
>accepted that you violated the agreement on road transport of 5th October
>2004. In your interview on the visit you also stated categorically that
>your government violated Article 6 of the agreement on road transport.
>The Executive Committee of NADD therefore concluded that the foreign
>policy failure of your government arises from naked incompetence or lack
>of a comprehensive foreign policy blue print to guide your relation
>with Senegal in particular and other states in the subregion like Guinea
>Bissau. This is what is responsible for your 180 degrees twist in
>foreign policy between 5th October 2005 when the secretary of state
>answered
>the question at the National Assembly and 21st October 2005 when you
>visited Senegal.
>
>
>It goes without saying that the Executive Committee of NADD did not
>stop at identifying the shortcomings of your government we proceeded to
>examine the ingredients required to develop foreign policy options for a
>country.
>
>In our view, it is important to take note of the idiosyncrasies of the
>leadership in each country in our subregion to determine whether they
>are prone to domination or cooperation.
>
>
>Secondly, it is necessary to look at the interest of each country in
>our sub-region as regards The Gambia, to determine whether such interests
>are based on the collective interest of the two peoples or the interest
>of few groups in any given country.
>Thirdly, it is necessary to determine the principles of the ruling
>parties in each country to determine whether a given party is committed to
>the principles of the African Union in general and democratic
>principles at home. Such analysis would have enabled a genuinely democratic
>government in The Gambia to determine the foreign policy options of your
>government towards Senegal in particular and other countries in our
>sub-region in general.
>
>
>The lack of coherence in your foreign policy with Senegal is
>attributable mainly to your claim that you have no advisers. This claim
>implies
>that you have no policy think tank. Hence your officials are likely to
>recommend what pleases you. Hence instead of controlling circumstances
>you are controlled by them. This is the dilemma of your government.
>Mr. President, compared to the myopic attitude you attribute to the
>Opposition as being mere prophets of doom, the NADD leadership had gone as
>far as to assert that in our relation with Senegal we must be guided by
>the principles of African Unity and the goals and Programmes of African
>Integration. This vision goes beyond the concept of relying on
>sovereign national interest as the determinant of external relation to
>advocate
>for the principle of collective sovereignty.
>
>
>This vision will help us to map out all the sovereign interest of the
>two countries and then determined how they could be assimilated into the
>collective interests of the two peoples. This is the way to make the
>doctrine of two states one people a reality. In order to forge ahead the
>NADD Executive sees the need to build the people to people ties of the
>two countries. This envisages the establishment of relation between the
>National Assembles, media, trade unions, women federations, youth
>federations, farmers\ groups, professional associations, sport federations,
>chambers of commerce, and the intellectual community. It does call for
>the negation of policies like aliean identity cards for the Senegalese.
>It is therefore abundantly clear that you have no evidence to prove
>that we met just to express our hope for renewed conflict between the two
>countries. We therefore demand for evidence to refute our assertion or
>an _expression of apology for misleading the nation. Let us now move to
>  the third point.
>Mr. President, the most outrageous allegation you made against the
>Opposition is your claim that it is an informer of the government of
>Senegal. No single letter, e-mail or fax had ever been issued by any
>Executive Member of NADD to promote hostility between the two governments
>as
>alleged.
>
>In fact, if you give a second thought to your allegation, you will
>deduce that it tantamount to an assassination of the integrity of the
>Gambian Nation. Just imagine the scenario Mr. President. The Opposition's
>striving to be an alternative government is reduced to an informer, the
>government is transformed into an accused person while a foreign power
>serves as a law enforcer who subjects Opposition and government to
>interrogation and confrontation to know who is right or wrong. How can such
>a scene promote National self respect?
>
>Mr. President, there is no iota of truth in your allegation that the
>Opposition is an informer of the Senegalese government. You can provide
>no e-mail, fax, report or vconfidential document made by any member of
>the NADD executive to Senegal. We therefore demand evidence to refute
>our claims or an apology for misleading the nation.
>
>Furthermore, you accused the Opposition of trying to come to power by
>any means and having the intention to stay in power by all means. In
>this regard, you claim that they do not deserve to witness the 2006
>elections.
>
>Mr. President, you are the one who came to power by any means and you
>are the one trying to retain power by all means. This is why you have
>been amending the constitution to perpetuate yourself in office. You have
>accepted no term limit to your presidency and you have negated the
>second round of voting.
>
>Apart from these points let us state in no uncertain terms that
>contrary to your assertion that the Opposition is out to get power by any
>means, there is abundant evidence to show that NADD as an Opposition
>Alliance is more committed to democratic principles.
>
>
>In fact Article 9 of the Memorandum of Understanding limits the term of
>the First President under a NADD ticket to a one five year term. The
>person will not seek a second term or support any candidate in the next
>following election to create a level field for political contest.
>
>Subsequently, a term limit of two five year terms shall be inserted in
>the constitution. This confirms that there is no iota of truth to your
>allegations. We therefore demand evidence within five working days or
>an apology for misleading the nation.
>
>Finally, Mr. President, your threat to take life is in gross violation
>of the constitution. Section 18 of the Constitution states that "No
>person shall be deprived of his or her life intentionally except in the
>execution of a sentence of death imposed by a court of competent
>jurisdiction in respect of a criminal offence..." You are neither a
>prosecutor
>nor a judge why do you continue to threaten people with death? No head
>of state in a democratic society would use a meeting with civil society
>organisations as a platform to issue death threats. This is all the
>more inappropriate at a time when many mysterious murders like that of
>Deyda Hydara and attempted murders like that of Ousman Sillah have taken
>place in The Gambia. You claim that the Opposition is trying to
>discredit your regime but in actual fact you are undermining the very
>pillars
>of integrity that a government must rest on to deserve respect. Your own
>words are destroying the image of your government in a more devastating
>  manner than any Opposition party could ever do.
>
>Suffice it to say that even though the Opposition can win more sympathy
>by your death threats which, if implemented will consign you to the
>level of the Idi Amins, Bokassas and Does and would therefore confront you
>with the prospect of a disastrous and ignoble end. We demand an end to
>such inhumane remarks. Brutality is a vice and not a virtue. It is
>beastly. It makes a person to be viewed with contempt. You have to stop the
>threats otherwise we will explore means of getting some international
>authority to examine your threats for possible international legal
>action before it gets out of hand. How can Gambia be the home of the
>African
>Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights while you issue such threats
>which amount to a total disregard for law and order or institutions of
>substantive justice. Let us reiterate that you should never allow
>yourself to be misled by executive power. A few soldiers and security
>forces
>in any nation can never massacre tens of thousands of people and
>  brutalize them into submission. Armies have collapsed before the might
>of the people. Power of government lies in deriving authority from the
>consent of the people and exercising authority to promote the general
>welfare. This is the verdict of history and it is irrevocable.
>
>Furthermore, Mr. President, your disregard of the constitution became
>too overwhelming when you issued a threat that Imams who hold their Eid
>prayers on a date different from the one set by the Supreme Islamic
>Council shall be taken where they will never see the light of day.
>
>Clearly, your executive power is becoming absolute, excessive and
>dictatorial. Section 25 (1) (c) of the constitution states that
>"every person shall have the right to freedom to practice any religion
>and manifest such practice."
>
>Section 25 (1) (b) states that
>"every person shall have the right of freedom of thought, conscience
>and belief......"
>
>
>Hence it is unreasonable and unjustifiable for a head of state to
>interfere with the practice of any religion. Gambia is a secular state that
>guarantee freedom of worship of idols or god as Muslims and Christians.
>It safeguards all religious denominations.
>
>This tolerance of belief and practice should not be jeopardized by
>executive intolerance.
>
>
>To conclude, allow us to state that peace and development in each
>country in our subregion should be our common interest. Peace however
>begins
>at home.
>
>
>Mr. President, our subregion is volatile Countries wrecked by war are
>trying to promote good governance. If you do not seek to maintain the
>peace in the Gambia, other countries in the subregion will become stable
>and would start to attract the business and services in the Gambia.
>This would be devastating to our economy and the welfare of the people.
>
>It is our candid view that your government should be accountable for
>its failures instead of trying to use the Opposition as a scapegoat.
>NADD, Mr. President is restructuring the political landscape of the
>Opposition in the Gambia. You can turn a blind eye of the mind to this
>reality.
>
>Notwithstanding, NADD's vision and mission will not be derailed. It
>will pursue this mission with political decency and magnanimity. It will
>open its doors to all those you will victimize to create a united front
>which shall lay a new foundation for the birth of a democratic Third
>Republic. It will build solid democratic institutions and culture to
>restore the power of the Gambian people as sovereign rulers of the country.
>When that happens, people will know how much time and resources have
>been wasted in nurturing executive power instead of empowering the
>people.
>
>Mr. President, any attempt to obstruct this development is an exercise
>in futility. The present must go and the future must come. This is the
>verdict of destiny and it is incontrovertible. History is recording
>your words and practice.
>
>It will provide the evidence for the future to judge and give its
>verdict. This is the time for you to reassess your politics and make it to
>accord with the dictates of conscience and best practice in democratic
>governance, before it is too late. If you fail to take the opportunity
>history will ultimately indict you and will never absolve you.
>
>In closing the curtains, allow us to assert that we shall address a
>letter to the Senegalese President on the issue. You made him a witness
>against the Opposition. We have to make him a witness in our defence. We
>hope that he will not put the integrity of the Republic of Senegal at
>stake by not clearing the air. He is quoted by President Jammeh and he
>is duty bond to clear the air.
>
>We shall copy the letter we address to the President of Senegal to you.
>
>While anticipating that you will simply end the controversy by
>extending an apology to NADD and further facilitate the signing the
>Memorandum
>of Understanding on good governance
>
>We remain
>Yours in the service of the Nation,
>
>Halifa Sallah
>COORDINATOR
>For: The NADD Executive Committee
>
>
>
>
>
>---------------------------------
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