EDITORIAL
CHURCHILL BALDEH IS AN ENEMY TO THE GAMBIA AND HER PEOPLE
September 17, 2005
The Ruling APRC majority leader in the National Assembly Churchill Baldeh,
is an enemy to The Gambia and her people. His recent newspaper comments
calling on the Commonwealth to "think twice about its willingness to help
enfranchise Gambians in the Diaspora, in the build-up to the 2006
presidential election." is not only undemocratic, but irresponsible
statement coming from a House majority leader.

Churchill's statement is treasonable. It is an affront to democracy. Baldeh
has once again demonstrated his hatred against Gambians residing abroad. Do
I hear him saying that Gambians residing abroad should be excluded from
taking part in our country's electoral process? Is Churchill really
conveying a message from The Gambian government? Or is this his own personal
opinion? Whatever reasons, it appeared that Churchill is conveying a message
from his boss dictator Yahya Jammeh.

Hear Churchill Baldeh here again "It is meaningless for us to consider those
in the Diaspora who have abandoned the country. And very few of whom are
participating in the development process of the country. He noted that
preference should be given to the stay-at-homes, who continue to support the
country's development process."

What a liar and political maroon is Churchill Baldeh. Baldeh is indeed an
enemy to The Gambia and her people. His attempts to disenfranchise Gambians
abroad is a cause for concern. We have no doubt in our mind that he is
conveying a message from his boss Yahya Jammeh. We are not the least
surprise by his irresponsible and misleading utterances.

We are more patriotic than Churchill who had aided and abetted the Jammeh
government. We never voted in favour of a bill that gave license to our
security forces to shoot and kill Gambians with impunity. Big "mouth
Churchill" did vote for such a draconian law. We also never voted or
supported a media law aimed at ending free media and free speech in The
Gambia. Churchill Baldeh indeed voted for the media bill. The list goes on
and on...

It is time for the Commonwealth and all civilised organisations across the
globe to mount pressure on this undemocratic regime to respect the rights
and freedoms of Gambians. There is no justification to bar Gambians in
diaspora from exercising their constitutional rights to vote. If poverty
stricken Guinea Bissau and other African countries are encouraging their
Nationals to vote, why not The Gambia?

We know that Yahya is not comfortable with the growing opposition he had
overseas. The said opposition against his government is a legitimate one. No
one with his or her right mind will vote for such an undemocratic government
bent on abusing the rights of citizens on a daily bases. Gambians don't want
their country to be ruled by a leader who does not have the country's
interest at heart. All what Yahya cares is his own personal interest and
nothing else. He seem to have forgotten that it is the people who voted him
in office and not the devils he used to brag about.

While Churchill argues that The Gambian Community abroad have abandoned
their country, we want to remind him that without the monetary remittances
made by these people you perceived as unpatriotic citizens, many Gambian
homes will starve to death. It is estimated that over $100million dollars is
remitted in The Gambia each year by those residing abroad. Some part of this
money goes into the coffers of Churchill's own government, as they leveled
exorbitant taxes against local banks and private business entities engaged
in monetary transfers. Yet Churchill is saying that Gambians have abandoned
their country? What a lie of the century? Churchill you are too old to lie.

In addition, we are also made to understand that thanks to the foreign
exchange monies sent by Gambian abroad, your government is able to raise
foreign exchange to import basic commodities such as rice, onions and sugar.
Churchill are you trying to bite the hand that feed you? Your recent
statement will cost Jammeh politically. Some families singing the praises of
your government are being fed by Gambians abroad. Such families have all
rights to renounce their support for the APRC, since Churchill is trying to
deny them their daily bread. The mere fact that you are wagging a war
against their sons and daughters, there is no way that they can continue to
support your party.

If this was in other countries Churchill will be fired the next day. But
Churchill and Jammeh shared the same characteristics. They are both anti
freedom and will do whatever it takes to deny citizens their God given
rights. We will certainly continue to fight for our rights.

Churchill can be best remembered as a traitor and also a so called
politician in disguised. He is nothing other than an enemy to The Gambia and
her people. Churchill has no place in true democracy. We rest our case.



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