Tombong,

For once, I have to agree with you. This lack of strong conviction to believe 
in something and stay the course is the very reason why we as a people will 
not get far until we change this tendency, and I wonder if that will ever 
happen. 
What you have described is called a "survival tactic" and it is the most 
disgusting habit a human being can have.  The wollof describe it as a fly 
tendency, they go to anywhere there is something sweet. 
In addition, it is also the very same tendency that makes supposedly 
intelligent people put on blinders and trade human decency for personal gain, and so 
they label clearly tyrannical regimes as being what is best for our country. 
To believe strongly in one's convictions and fight for it even in the face of 
fear of loss of one's life, wealth and freedom is what it takes to liberate a 
people from tyranny.

However, I wonder if the Jammeh loyalists would also stay the course after 
this regime falls, or will those who get unfair advantage and whose wallets are 
getting fat at the expense of their compatriots also start squirming to keep 
what they are accustomed to.
If one looks closely, there are a lot of people playing this game you 
describe, it is just that some can mask it a little better than others.
Since we are making observations, I think it would also be fair to note 
another observation, which is that those who have received the boot and are still 
inside the country, whether they are able to connect to other resources from 
the powers that be or not, tend to also be the ones who continue to profess 
their loyalty but perhaps there is honour even among thieves so that even among 
these, there are the ones who consider themselves more honouraboe that others.

The most notable observation however is that there is still a marked and 
unmistakable difference between right and wrong, moral and immoral, freedom and 
tyranny and those, like East and West shall never meet and can never be 
synonimous. I pray that all Gambians will be able to tap into their innermost selves 
where God has endowed every one of his creation to recognize these noble 
atributes and hopefully abide by them.

Jabou Joh

In a message dated 1/21/04 3:54:02 AM Central Standard Time, 
[log in to unmask] writes:> 
> I have always wanted to write my opinion on this matter but never had the 
> time but with the current debate or exchange between Essa Sey and Abdoulie 
> Njie, I am inspired to contribute my thoughts.
> 
> 
> Abdoulie Njie has raised an important issue and that is what he calls “the 
> KAKATAR Nature of Our People”. This is a serious phenomenon and it is 
> undermining the very fabric of our society. It is very important to be consistent, 
> however this does not mean that one cannot change after being more informed on 
> a certain issue or matter. For instance, I am a very strong support of Yahya 
> Jammeh and I supported him from day one, when nothing was nothing, when most 
> believed that the coup will not succeed. I continue to support him even after 
> he fired me as the Director General of GRTS. I support him because I still 
> believe he is best thing that happens to The Gambia, that he has the interest 
> of the country at heart and he is dedicated and determined to develop The 
> Gambia.
> 
>  
> 
> But the KAKATAR syndrome is showing its ugly face everyday. I don’t know how 
> many of you have been following the Honourable Phoday Lang Sarr issue 
> regarding him trying to disassociate himself from Honourable Baba Jobe. These are 
> the types of people who are setting this country back. A KAKATARR tendency 
> makes the individual very dishonest and self-serving. These types of people when 
> they happen to be close to the leadership, they always give bad advices, 
> implicate innocent people, undermine authorities of other just to hide their 
> KAKATARR tendencies.
> 
>  
> 
> I had the opportunity to watch the videotape of the first public meeting of 
> the AFPRC at the then McCarthy Square (now July 22nd Square) and I just could 
> not believe my eyes. Here we are with President Jawara gone and in less than 
> two weeks, you see some of his staunch supporters embracing and praising 
> Chairman Jammeh and the AFPRC Council. How can you be with Jawara for 30 years 
> and just abandon him like that. The same phenomenon is being exhibited every 
> day. I can understand that one can change political or even religious 
> conviction as he or she feels, but it has to be done based on PRINCIPLE. Dr. Sedad 
> Jobe resigned as Secretary of State for Foreign Afffairs based on principle and 
> I respect him for that. If one feels that he or she do not believe in Jammeh’
> s programme, why not just resign.
> 
>  
> 
> The KAKATAR tendency is unfortunately a Gambian problem. When one looks at 
> the political history of this country, particularly the history of political 
> parties, we have seen people abandoning P. S Njie in the sixties and seventies 
> to join Jawara, we have seen people joining Jammeh from the Jawara camp, we 
> have seen people abandoning Jammeh to the Anti-Jammeh camp etc. But the 
> amazing thing is those affected ( those with the KAKATAR tendency) would look at 
> you straight in the eye as if nothing is wrong. Something is wrong here.
> 
>  
> 
> This KAKATARR tendency is the main reason why we have sycophants, who would 
> accept any thing from the leadership as long as they are not directly affect. 
> This KAKATAR syndrome is part of the problem President Jammeh is currently 
> facing. We have many people surrounding him who are not dedicated to anything 
> but themselves and their pockets. Whatever advice they give, is in most cases 
> self-serving. 
> 
>  
> 
> On the Gambia-L, we have different groupings, we have the Pro Jammeh, Anti 
> Jammeh, those who are indifference, those who claim to be neutral (don’t ask 
> me how come one is neutral when it comes to Jammeh), we have observers etc. 
> What I cannot stand is the constant vacillations from one camp to the other. If 
> I am not wrong, I am one of the few veterans of the Gambia –L who have been 
> around since 1995. I have seen a lot over the years and it is disheartening.
> 
>  
> 
> This KAKATARR tendency is manifested in other manners too. I have seen 
> several case of these so-called Anti Jammeh, who would write regularly criticising 
> the President and the APRC in the Gambia-L, but when you talk to them in 
> private, especially when they are in The Gambia visiting, they are completely 
> different and it makes me wonder which camp do these people really belong. We 
> have similar elements within the Pro-Jammeh camp too. The KAKATAR tendency, 
> allows the individual to blend in with any camp at any time without his or her 
> conscience bordering him or her.
> 
>  
> 
> The KAKATARR tendency is one phenomenon we have to fight together as 
> Gambians and it does not matter which camp we belong to. Lets say the truth there 
> and then no matter where you are.
> 
>  
> 
> PEACE
> 
>  
> 
> Tombong Saidy
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> 
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