(FOROYA)-Halifa,
Thank you for the piece,however,i have a list of questions for you
or(the party)hereunder:
1/ The phrase "nothing had been done to conduct civic education"as per your
article indicates, made me recall the programmes that you and other
pannelists conducted on the GAMTV and other radio stations during the days
of the transition period(AFPRC). Those discussions i can recall were widely
considered by many as efforts geared towards enlightening the gambian
people-politically.
Therefore,along this same vein,can one refer to those programmes as CIVIC
EDUCATION OR?
2/If they are/were? Where would the word "nothing" fit in your article or
explanations?
3/Do you consider the current political awareness in the Gambia compared to
what you consider "awareness" a tabla rase or..?
4/By the 20th of this month(being the deadline?)given in your piece,if your
bureau doesn't receive any 'genuine' reply from the other parties,what will
be your next step?
5/Does your call for a coalition leading to a transition include the APRC
or...?
If yes,why? AND If no also,why?
6/If you were to be charged with the responsibilty of organising
programmes(ie:air time) for all parties on the GRTS during the forth-coming
campaign,What would have been your first priorities?
7/What do you think should be the position of the international community
during the forth-coming elections
in the Gambia?
8/How would you suggest that observers(from other countries),be expected to
participate in the electoral process?
9/Who do you consider a bias observer?
YEROMAMA PULORI GALO HAAWA.
>From: Foroyaa <[log in to unmask]>
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>Subject: PDOIS'S LETTER TO THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ON A NEW PROPOSAL FOR A
> COALITION
>Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 16:23:43 +0100
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>Letter To The Opposition Parties On A New Proposal For A Coalition
>The Gambia is going through a very decisive period in its history. This is
>a period which requires all those who claim to be genuine leaders of the
>people to be bound by the dictate of conscience and the national interest.
>Few people would deny that democracy is inconceivable without an informed
>people who can make enlightened choices. Awareness is the greatest weapon
>against intimidation and inducement. Awareness is the foundation of genuine
>democracy.
>It is precisely such awareness which is inadequate in the country. The
>careful examination of the situation reveals that the transition from the
>abolition of the first republic and the restoration of the second republic
>was not accompanied by a serious effort to enlighten and empower the
>people. Nothing had been done to conduct civic education or improve the
>constitutional and legal instruments to enlarge the liberties of the
>people. Political inclusion was retarded for years and political exclusion
>conserved through provisions which ostracise the citizenry by age and other
>unjustifiable and unreasonable restrictions. Political parties do not have
>access to the national media to promote divergent views. This does not
>avail to the electorate equal opportunities to know the programmes of
>political parties in order to make informed choices.
>The government intends to roll back the mandate and longevity of the
>Independent Electoral Commission. All indications exist that genuine
>democracy is a hostage and the regime has not shown any sign that it is
>either willing or capable of giving it wings to broaden its scope.
>Gambia is therefore in need of a transition programme, just like the two
>year transition programme to restore a republican constitution and the
>sovereignty of the people through the holding of elections to chose leaders
>to build genuine democracy. We still maintain that the transition programme
>should be less than the two year transition programme. A one year term by a
>coalition presidential candidate should be sufficient to open the national
>media for civic education to enlighten the people in the country so that
>they will no longer be susceptible to any form of intimidation or
>patronage, eradicate all provisions which impose unreasonable and
>unjustifiable restrictions on any one from exercising his or her political
>and civic rights, open up the national media to every political party on a
>weekly basis to put their programmes to the people without insults or
>promotion of any sectionalist form of politics. This would create a new
>political culture. The reorientation of security forces, the establishment
>of a complaints commission to settle grievances and the concerted
>utilisation of the powers of the courts to provide redress would provide a
>cornerstone for a genuine democratic society. Standards would have been set
>for the emergence of a new political order.
>New presidential and National Assembly elections could be held for any
>party to seek the mandate of the people on the basis of its own merit.
>A one year transition programme which will not allow any personality or
>party to entrench itself and which will be designed to build the democratic
>instruments, institutions, structures and practices that would make free
>and fair elections possible, so as to come up with the undiluted choice of
>the people, should provide the basis for a coalition. We need a coalition
>to empower the people not one to share power by political elites. This is
>what sincerity and honesty call for. In that light ,we wish to propose that
>the opposition parties draw up a list of personalities especially women who
>are known to have the interest of the nation at heart and who have no known
>party affiliation so that one of them could be selected as an interim
>presidential candidate for a coalition. This will create a level political
>foundation for presidential elections after serving a year’s mandate. Such
>an interim candidate can simply undertake not to stand in any presidential
>election after the expiry of one year mandate.
>We hope that all parties shall react to this proposal by 20th August 2001.
>We shall send an envoy to consult with each of you to ensure a timely
>consideration of the recommendations.
>While anticipating your favourable response, I remain.
>Your compatriot in the service of the nation.
>
>
> For the Central Committee
>
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