Mr. Barrow,

With all due respect your comparison of the 2001 election and that of the
1986 elections is at best over simplistic. The two are as different as night
and day and trying to compare them is like comparing apples and oranges.

First of all this year's election was fought more on issues than on
sentiment. For the first time in our history the "national" media was
accessible to ALL political parties during the campaign period. All parties
were given equal air time to address the nation and their campaigns
throughout the country were covered and broadcasted.

Secondly, this year's election was conducted by an Independent Electoral
Commission and not by any ministry.

Thirdly, in this year's election the incumbent only managed 52.8% of total
votes cast, giving the opposition its highest electoral success in our
history.

Forthly, in this election the incumbent polled less in 17 of the 48
constituensies this time round compared to 1996 (the previous election).

Fifthly, in this year's election the incumbent was actually beaten in 19 of
the 48 constituensies by the combined opposition vote.

Sixthly, this year's election was fought with a sizable presence of an
independent media and the Internet. The internet allowed many people to gain
access to and desiminate information within and across our borders whether
the government liked it or not. We also have a very vibrant independent
print media with a very determined private audio media that read newspapers
in our local languages and organised discussion forums with phone-in
programmes. The political parties had websites were people could review
their manifestoes and engaged them at their own convenience. The
presidential website also allowed people to address their grieviences on it
in annonymity.

These, Mr. Barrow, are some of the major differences between the 1986 and
2001 elections. The challenge now is to consolidate and improve on these
gains.

Have a good day, Gassa.

>From: Malamin Barrow <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: The way it  was and the way it will be.
>Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 20:16:22 +0100
>
>After all the brouhaha about Jammeh's five years of misrule, he has again
>sailed to a comfortable victory giving him a "mandate" for another five
>years. Many amateur analyst on this forum have allowed their emotions to
>get the better of them, and in the process have confidently written off
>Jammeh's election chances.
>
>I wonder whether these were merely engaged in wishful thinking, or they are
>that ignorant of Gambian politics to arrive at the erroneous conclusions
>they often do. The Gambian people have always voted for the party in power,
>no matter what amount suffering is inflicted on them by that party. For
>those old enough to remember the 1986 presidential elections, the
>overwhelming defeat of the then opposition leader was shock to all. This
>was after the country went through the most turbulent economic period in
>it's history. Currency devaluation, chronic shortages of essential
>commodities, mass retrenchment  for many public servants and any number of
>difficulties that families can face.
>
>However, when election time came in 86, those with the most to loose, that
>is managing directors of various parastatals and permanent secretaries,
>moblised government resources and showered the electorate with all forms of
>bribes to ensure a Jawara victory.
>
>The same process was repeated in 1992 despite clear evidence  lethargy,
>indifference, and massive corruption at every level of government. When in
>July 1994, a young unknown army lieutenant mustered courage to topple the
>admittedly corrupt government, most who voted for him only two years ago
>jubilated, and concluded that Jawara had overstayed his welcome; as if the
>chance to remove him by the ballot never existed.
>
>Now Jammeh has been in power for seven odd years; these years saw
>unprecedented violence inflicted on the Gambian people. The farming
>community experienced unimaginable suffering for 3 consecutive years of
>trade season failure. Thuggery and murder have become common place. One
>would have thought these were grounds enough to reject the APRC at the
>polls. But no, having taken several leaves from the books of the previous
>government, the APRC went on a pre-election spending spree, the like of
>which had never before been seen in our country. This was enough to ensure
>them a resounding victory as it had always done for the PPP.
>
>But if tomorrow, a lieutenant Samba comes out and declare himself president
>by toppling Jammeh, there will be a suddenly deluge of anti Jammeh
>sentiments and a heap of praise for the unknown Samba.
>
>We must ask ourselves what is it in our political culture that makes us
>fails to see the gross failings of an incumbent, and why are we suddenly
>excited by the vague promises of a new and totally untested political
>leader. Or still, is it that we don't expect our political leadership to
>change by the ballot, but rather by the bullet.
>
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