Kejau,

Rioting and destruction are not, under normal circumstances a regular part of
any elections, and we certainly hope that Gambian elections will not be one
of the exceptions.
There are national guardsmen in many countries, and in many instances, they
are called upon to protect the people, and not to intimidate and shoot them,
so this is really not the point. The question here is that these soldiers
demonstrated exactly what you yourself have stated here :You said:
"All will agree that the April 11 incident was the lack of professionalism
expected of
 our forces"

The concern is that the combination of this lack of professionalism displayed
by some elements of the force as in this case, coupled with blind obedience
to orders from an authority bent on maintaining power at all cost, results in
a very dissastrous situation like the one of April 10 & 11, and giving these
forces any policing powers just adds fuel to the fire. I also doubt that very
many people will believe that these powers were granted to these guys for the
purpose of averting any chaos in the subregion as you seem to allude to.
You also said: "let us not think our secutrity men do not deserve to live". I
do not know from where in my statements you drew this conclusion.
additionally, you stated:

"Thanks for readingand please reflect before insulting me, no worries, if you
choose to."

I think perhaps you have mistaken me for someone else if you are expecting me
to insult you because you have expressed your opinion.

Jabou Joh

In a message dated 6/23/00 11:09:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< Jabou,
 I humbly disagree, National Guards can be found all over the world you know
 and if you remind yourself of the Gendarmerie, we had in the Gambia until
 amalgamised it with the Police, you will remember the number of times,that
 elite and discipline force control the 1986 school bus riots,
 professionallyWe need a force which devotes its time to crowd control
 especially when the election is coming, there is bound to be a lot of
 rioting and destruction unless a discipline force is ready to exercise both
 discipline and professionalism. There are still very very well trained, and
 serving members of the former Gendarmerie in the Guards, the Army and the
 Police. All nations have a duty to protect the live and properties of the
 citizens, remember. Infact this Act had been in the form of a bill for at
 least two years now, it shoould have been said that it is long overdue and
 not otherwise. We can't afford the chaos around the subregion. All will
 agree that the April 11 incident was the lack of professionalism expected of
 our forces, Lets remedy the issue as" nations passed away leaving no traces
 and one thing common in all their histories was that their people were not
 fit" Rudyard Kipling. We do not want to fail as a nation. When I learnt of
 the April 11 incidents, I tried reflecting on this very issue, we need
 experts in every field even security, let us not think our secutrity men do
 not deserve to live, or more proper are all nonetities we'e patriots and
 deserve that respect accorded to normal private citizen. Thanks for reading
 and please reflect before insulting me, no worries, if you choose to.

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