Demba,
Think about it. These are the only two groups of citizens
who can organized themselves to respond effectively to the challenges
pose by any government. The political parties can form a formidable
alliance to defeat the government.
The civil society groups are the anchor for defiance campaigns, civil
disobedience, protests and demonstrations, all of which are within the
confines of the law and their constitutional rights, to restrain the
government and force them to make concessions.
And the two groups can work together. How they can work together is a
question of method and strategy. And everything would be above board
and legal.
Nyang has shared with us that even where a credible opposition alliance
cannot defeat the government in a presidential election, a strong gains
in the parliament to form the majority could go a long way in humbling
the government, restrain its powers and eventually render it so weak
that it can be defeated.
This reminds me. I was talking to a young Gambian female lawyer.
Dynamic and full of vigor. I asked her why the Gambian Bar Association
never takes issue with the government concerning illegal detentions.
Detentions that are more than the 72 hours legal mandate. She told me
that the problem is one of Locus Standi. Does the Gambian Bar
Association have the legal standing to directly challenge the
government on illegal detentions?
Secondly, she told me that in most cases the victims or their families
do not want to involve the association to make it a party to a lawsuit.
Thus the only option that the association may have is to sponsor a
private bill that can address the issue and try to get it passed
through the national assembly. The problem here is that the national
assembly the majority of whom are with the governing party will never
be sympathetic to any bill that does not support the government or is
critical of its policies.
But then she made a very valid observation about one of their members
who found himself afoul with the law. When the association made threats
of a demonstration and civil disobedience, and the government found it
to credible, the government compromise with this lawyer who dissociate
himself from what the association was planning to do and eventually
resign as a member. I hope I am getting the story right.
The lesson: Yes, civil society groups can pose a threat to any
government.
Rene
-----Original Message-----
From: Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tue, Mar 25, 2014 12:24 am
Subject: Re: [G_L] How to Bring down Yaya and Build Democracy - My Take
in contrast to Burama Jammeh's Plan
Thanks Rene. I strongly believe that opposition leaders have largely
been spared of Jammeh's agony and therefore they don't see the need to
forcefully respond to the arrest and intimidation of party supporters.
I see a total disconnect and lack of trust between leaders and
supporters. Leaders don't believe the supporters will be there for them
and the supporters don't believe the leaders will equally lay down
their lives for them.. Thus the skepticism for leaders to lead a
revolution and citizens coming together to rise up is far fetch.. Not
calling for anything just an honest observation from my side..
Thanks
Demba
On Sat, Mar 22, 2014 at 8:46 AM, <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Demba,
There are two groups who can restrain the government or force
them to make concessions. The political parties and civil society
organizations.
The problem is none has been organized and mobilized to the level where
they can amass that "political leverage". The only other exception with
political parties was when NADD was formed, and it has started to amass
that political leverage to the extend that former president Obasango of
Nigeria has to be involved to broker a deal between the opposition
parties and the government.
With respect to civil society activism in the country it is almost nil.
Everyone accepts the status quo as it is and life goes on. The power
that is embedded within the people remains latent and unorganized,
until through an unrelated and seemingly benign incident bring all
their frustrations and anger to the fore and all hell break loose.
Rene
----Original Message-----
From: dbaldeh <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Fri, Mar 21, 2014 10:16 pm
Subject: Re: [G_L] How to Bring down Yaya and Build Democracy - My Take
in contrast to Burama Jammeh's Plan
Exactly my assertions all along Nyang. We have to have a willing and or
restrained gov't in order to achieve significant changes in governing
and political level playing field.. some of these are equal access to
the national media, unfettered political activities purely base on
merit, separation of powers just to name a few... only then can
meaningful particiption of the citizenry be achieved... One have to be
in a position of influence to help formulate policies.
Good night
Demba
From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.
-------- Original message --------
From: Musa Jeng
Date:03/21/2014 7:08 PM (GMT-08:00)
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [G_L] How to Bring down Yaya and Build Democracy - My Take
in contrast to Burama Jammeh's Plan
Nyang:
With a few tweaking, I really like the direction of some of the issues
you raised.
Thank you
From: "Modou Nyang" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 7:55:49 PM
Subject: Re: [G_L] How to Bring down Yaya and Build Democracy - My Take
in contrast to Burama Jammeh's Plan
Burama,
Thank you for the forward of the “The Working Paper”. I will not be
able to read it now but hopefully in the future will manage to go
through it. But anyhow, if I am to rely on what you have shared so far
in this topic I am sure to be clear with what you aiming at and
referring to as a “national democratic vision” aimed at
institutionalizing democracy in the Gambia. I think you know that I am
a student of PDOIS hence is no stranger to the ideals and near
deification of democracy.
What I now see as the fundamental difference between the two of us is
while you rally your hopes on the way to the institutionalization of
democracy in the Gambia through a non-political approach, my stance is
radically different. I subscribe to the school of thought advocated by
Nkrumah that declared “seek ye the political kingdom and everything
shall follow”. Burama, without the control of state power – the power
to make laws, design policies and implement them, one is at a
disadvantage if not at a total loss to directing the affairs of a
state. Remember the dictum, that the state is the legitimate monopoly
of force. And what is there the need of politics if not for the
management and dispensation of the force of society? Burama, the lesson
is that in politics power must be accrued in order for one to be able
to direct the course of society. The magic course for me is political
change to be followed next by institutional reform and building to
enable the flourishing of democracy among the people.
You challenged me to state in chronological order on how to effect
political change in the Gambia. I will oblige you.
1. Build an alliance of opposition parties on the ground in
partnership with all other forces outside of the country that are
opposed to the regime in Banjul for the purpose of effecting change
through the ballot box.
2. With such a grand alliance in place, they can table demands
for electoral reform as a condition for their participation in the
elections. With or without prior reform I am of the strong conviction
that a grand opposition alliance can still manage an electoral victory
against Yaya.
3. Reform or no reform, and whatever the election results turn
out to be in the presidential race an opposition grand alliance can
easily pull off a majority in the NA elections. With a deciding
majority in the house Yaya’s fate is seal. Or if we wish to consider
the other side even if Yaya’s party is to get a majority in the house
the alliance can still manage a sizable minority that would require
their endorsement before any legislation is to be passed in the
assembly.
While all this is working its self out a lot of work will have been
going into the agitation, mobilization and organization of the people
for change. The power of the alliance will ensure the safety and right
to conduct their affairs as dictated by law. Any attempt to forcibly
and illegally disrupt or deny them that right should then be resisted.
This is what I mean by self-defense and what you term a call for
violence. I do not hear those calling for violence mentioning elections
in their discussions.
I am also well aware that fixing of our democratic deficiency will not
be accomplished in one election cycle. But in order for such arduous
task to begin the factors impeding its commencement must be uprooted.
Thanks
Nyang
On Tuesday, March 18, 2014 6:58 PM, Burama Jammeh
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Rene
Sometimes it appears you see my reasoning and at times not sure clear:
Let me say this - probably there will be nothing we will do and/or say
that has not been said and/or done. Yet we have a very mixed-up puzzle
we need to rearrange before it can fit the casing.
Gambians advocating for ‘The Republic and Democracy’ - on this we seem
to think is a good idea. So far though all our efforts are at some
point hang to party political operation. These has both reduce our
ability to think other options but also made us part of the local
mudsling of retail politicking. In short we lost our legitimate
distinct identity.
My reasoning is for 'us not seeking political office' through the
ballot should operate as neutral as we can - and our only demand will
be to institutionalize democracy regardless who is in office and/or
seeking office. Yet these approach excludes no one but it’s no vehicle
for anyone’s aspiration to the presidency.
I must say am bemused still some think some reorganization/reshuffling
of the opposition is out there that will win an election against Yahya.
I say good luck!
Sure there are many CSO of Gambians outside of our borders. The problem
with our organizations is that most are really organization by name and
by friends. Most can neither show registration of any kind nor any
program/intent documents. Probably is safe to say none has enough
resources to do the kind of advocacy, organization and mobilization
needed. Hence I suggest A National Face! My hope is such a
representative body of citizens will be constituted based on our
purpose and expertise. CORDEG and/or something like that can do it
provided the problem is well define and the strategies to pursue.
I heard over the radio, CORDEG has things like agricultural improvement
as goal and/or program. Am not sure how true this is because i haven’t
read such paper……but it makes one stomach begin to boil should that be
true. Are they political party seeking office (manifesto), are they
government with some development programs……..what’s going on?
When I suggest we need a NATIONAL DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM(S) OF OUR
STRUGGLE, many suggest am out of my mind. If true, here is the answer.
Home based civil activity is critical but we have to graduate our
phase-in into Gambia with millstones to reduce harm to the local people.
On the question of political leverage, I will submit we have zero.
Unfortunate many think home base should do this - why not us outside.
It doesn’t really matter where but we are more opportune to do it
better, cheaper and less danger. The nation(we) have not present an
alternative body that others can listen to what they stand for. The
supposed leverage of the supporters of political parties are at present
unusable for reasons known to all of us.
A National Face will represent our position internationally. They will
work with citizens within the country to organize and mobile civil
resistance. They will raise funds to finance our operations. But they
will not support candidacies or parties against others. Over time this
process will strangulate dictatorship, forced them to the negotiation
tables. Hopefully one of the matters on that table will be
Constitutional Overhaul which will surely affect election laws. Also on
that table will be Restructuring Government, Separation of Powers,
Decentralization of Governing to Regions, District and Villages. Etc!
Along side a proper civic education and the elimination of fear of
state reprisal - we can expect Gambians to make a free choice at
subsequent ballots. That choice could be Yahya and/or anyone.
Regardless who wins s/he governs as our laws dictate or s/he gets the
booth.
But to keep saying……….YAHYA IS THE PROBLEM AND MUST GO FIRST……….My
QUESTION to anyone with such view………TELL ME HOW YOU WILL DO THAT. I
definitely want him out but don’t know how as the first order of
business
Disclaimer…………THIS IS A LONG TERM UNDERTAKING! I’ve not seen any viable
short term solution…………Share one if you have/know
Burama
On Mar 18, 2014, at 5:47 PM, [log in to unmask] wrote:
-----Original Message-----From: Burama Jammeh
<[log in to unmask]>To: GAMBIA-L
<[log in to unmask]>Sent: Tue, Mar 18, 2014 6:23
amSubject: Re: [G_L] How to Bring down Yaya and Build Democracy - My
Take in contrast to Burama Jammeh's PlanReneMost of what you said are
nicely worded.As a practical matter how do we address each one of them?
Which would be the most logical to start with? How do we remove Uahya?
EtcWe seem to be good at is saying what is the problem or don't like
but hardly offer alternatives. If elections are what you counting on -
I say good luck! I hope to live to next election to share that result.I
did not say democracy before democracy. It doesn't make much reason.
What I said is removing and replacing a person will not earn us
democracy. A case in point is the exchange of Jawara to Yahya - isn't
it worst? Burama, if you don't mind I will just comment on the quotes
below."My point is there must exist a feared democracy force that
argued for democracy, educate, organize and mobile citizens to expand
the home base of this force. The success of this force largely depend
on not associating to someone's presidency agenda. A neutral stand for
the Republic and Democracy."If I understand you, what you are
suggesting is that there should exist an entity or entities whose sole
preoccupation is to advance the cause of democracy in the country. In
order to achieve this objective such entities will educate, organize
and mobilize the citizens towards this end. And once the citizens are
educated, organized and mobilized they will then become a formidable
force to be reckon with in their desire to have a true and genuine
democracy.If this is the position that is reflected in your statement
above, I have no quarrel with it. In fact, it is a very noble idea.
These are the sort of things that civil society organizations can be
every effective in orchestrating.What I cannot understand is the
linkage of this citizen's advocacy to someone's presidential agenda.
Indeed, this should not be part of anyone's presidential agenda,
however, people are free to support and sympathize with any
presidential agenda. That is why we have political parties."Who can or
do I reason can be the nucleus of this force - me, you and many others
concern with the plight of Gambia." All of the above, me, you and many
others concern. "How can we do that - since we have no standing army
and elections and/orelection environment too bad to win......our best
alternative to amass political leverage."The political leverage is
within the people themselves. They are their own armies. You have said
it yourself: you educate them, you organize them and you mobilize them.
They will do the rest. "What do we need to do to amass such leverage
- we have to have a define cause in writing, we have to present what I
call national face of concern to the powers that be, raise findings and
organize and mobile forces both within and outside of the border"Civil
society and advocacy groups can amass political leverage on their own.
Just look at what the diaspora civil society and advocacy groups are
doing. Imagine if such activities were replicated inside the country.
What these groups do or can do is different from what political parties
do. We have to make the distinction.Rene"How long with it take to yield
result - don't know the eaxact time frame but I wouldn't hestitate to
tell you a long time is need."It's unrealistic those thinking next
election is our chance. Many of such chances has come and go, yet we
don't seem to reason why is not happening.I hope we're not entrenched
but discussing with a view to reason what come from the other
end. Thanks for your thoughtsBuramaOn Tuesday, March 18, 2014,
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:Burama, The problem with
your postulations about a functioning democracy, is that the
institutional framework for democracy must first be established before
a democracy can be functional. You cannot have a functioning democracy
where there is no democracy. This makes the whole premise of attaining
a functional democracy where all the mechanics of a democratic
dispensation are absent redundant.The political structures and culture
in the country has been consolidated and passed from one republic to
the other; and the only way for our quest for a democratic
dispensation and culture to be realized is to forge a new beginning.
How to forge this new beginning is the challenge that we are grappling
with at the moment.I agree with Nyang that the constitutional framework
that can engender a peaceful transition to a more democratic
dispensation could be present, but it has to take the active
participation of all the stakeholder in thepolitical process to demand
that such is the case.The nation-state is constituted with people who
belong to different ethnic groups, have different interest persuasions
and subscribe to different belief systems, thus there must be a
mechanism through which a society can be regulated so that rights can
be protected and duties and responsibilities assigned.Thus within the
constitutional framework that governs the nation-state, law and order
serve as the guide for an equitable basis where nobody is maligned or
favored; and everyone enjoys the security, protection and all the
fundamental rights that are associated with one's right to "life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness." At least this is the
ideal.Rene----Original Message-----From: Burama Jammeh
<[log in to unmask]>To: GAMBIA-L
<[log in to unmask]>Sent: Mon, Mar 17, 2014 10:01
pmSubject: Re: [G_L] How to Bring down Yaya and Build Democracy - My
Take in contrast to Burama Jammeh's PlanNyangI will be sure to email
you a copy of ‘The Draft Working Paper’. I will not abridge it for the
purpose of this conversation - too much work. You may or may not read
it but flipping through it will hopefully give you an idea what I
viewed ‘A National Democracy Vision’.I am not against the removal of
Yahya as you want it. However there is not practical political
solution.You ended with election with some qualifications will do it. I
want to say Yahya’s refereeing of election is not just the control over
IEC- He appoint Governors and fire them- He appoint chiefs and village
alkalis and fire them- He cam even fire National Assembly members in
some instance - He only resources of any kind- He the only viable
business man- He feed families- He kill and kidnap- etcEssentially
Yahya control the very fiber of Gambian society that - marry, bury and
christen us. There is no amount of organization, reorganization and/or
union of other political forces will win election as long as these
conditions prevail.Am with you on demands for electoral reforms.
Remember election laws are part of The Constitution - if we can build
political leverage why stop at demanding just a sub-section of The
Constitution. I will still take the sub-sectional approachPlease give
us in a step wise approach, say (1……..20…..) or A……Z) how we demand and
ensure reforms. Its still Yahya in the helm. What can we do for him to
adhere?I would avoid taking y
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤To
unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interfaceat: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to:
http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-lTo contact
the List Management, please send an e-mail
to:[log in to unmask]¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the
Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to:
http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
--
"Be the change you want to see in the World"
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤To
unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interfaceat: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to:
http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-lTo contact
the List Management, please send an e-mail
to:[log in to unmask]¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
|
