POINT NEWSPAPER
08/10/01

Any Fraudulent Election Can Result to Crisis - Juwara
While calling on IEC to resign
The National Secretary of the main Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) Lamin Waa Juwara, better known as "Mbarodi" has warned that any fraudulent elections in The Gambia could result to a crisis situation and that President Yahya Jammeh's pronouncement on centralise counting of votesis untenable and unacceptable.  
Juwara, who was speaking yesterday at his Brikama residence in an exclusive interview with this Newspaper called on the international community, especially the United Nations to give what be called limited supervision to the coming elections, to ensure that there is level playing field and free and fair elections the former Niamina Dankunku Parliamentarian added "It is better to prevent a crisis than to wait until there is crisis that would need the international community resolution. Any fraud elections in the Gambia can result to a crisis situation in the Gambia.
As far as the UDP is concerned we will be accepting winning or losing only when there is free and fair elections". Reacting to President Jammhe's pronouncement that there wouldn't any spot counting in the October elections Juwara said, it is not surprising that he could take stand like this, because that is the only safety value for him to stay in power, because he has lost the support of the people." Juwara alleged that the only way they can steal our victory is the transportation of ballot boxes under cover of darkness to fix them on the way and declare themselves winners on the central counting stations.  
The UDP national secretary told the Point that the Independent Electoral Commission's credibility had been discredited by President Jammeh's statement on the centralising counting of votes "His statement proves that the decision of the current IEC to rescind the earlier decision taken under Bishop Tilewa Johnson's chairmanship goes to show that the IEC is not independent, but dictated by Jammeh "said Juwara while calling on the entire IEC set up headed by Gabriel Roberts to resign with immediate effect.  
Juwara added that President Jammeh's statement in an interview with a Senegalese journalist has proved that it is the executive that is dictating what goes on at the IEC Juwara, said counting on the spot was done is Senegal and Guinea Bissau, despite those countries have security problem at the time of going to the polls. "I therefore see no reason why the Gambia cannot do the same. And it is less expensive, it is transparent and since the elections belong to the people, the representatives of the main respective parties have settled for on the spot counting' Juwara told the Point he suggested that since the government is claiming lack of enough security all retired Policemen should be recalled to serve two day electoral duty.
Juwara also suggested that they could also contract the America security firm Wackenhut to provide security for election day. He added that the Jammeh government could also contact president Abdoulie Wade of Senegal for help. Juwara said there is no political will, but the question of security is totally untenable. Juwara told this paper that the opposition still stood by its original demand on the counting on the spot pointing out that they will not settle for anything less than discentralise counting. Commenting on the Bishop Tilewa Johnson's pending case in the Supreme court Juwara said they are awaiting the ruling of the court. Juwara, argued that the sacking of former IEC chairman Bishop Tilewa Johnson was unconstitutional.  

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