Two reports culled from the Independent Newspaper. When we predict an
Alliance LANDSLIDE, this is what we are talking about. Endorsements from
other political parties in the country and mass defections from APRC. Yaya
is FINISHED.
KB
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GDP Stated its Position

Botto Fatty who said he is the campaign manager of The dormant Gambia
Democratic Party (GDP), has called on all supporters of his party to rally
behind the opposition coalition led by Lawyer Ousainou Darboe to change the
course of Gambian politics, which he believes is aggravating beyond hope.
Fatty told The Independent Tuesday that although the GDP has been inactive
for a long time, it is far from "certified dead". He emphasised that his
party of which little is known will be active in the political atmosphere of
the country in the coming months as the nation prepare for the National
Assembly election.
Although the GDP have not made a presidential nominee for the October 18
polls Fatty said members of his party are interested in the triumph of the
opposition coalition in the presidential contest and have urged all their
supporters and sympathizers to vote for Ousainou Darboe, who is being seen
as President Jammeh's main challenger. Fatty acknowledged that the GDP is
hamstrung by financial problems, denigrating it s capacity to be
consistently active in Gambian politics.
He said the party would however put up candidates for the National Assembly
elections after its sponsors have been consulted. He categorically denied
allegations that the GDP was being sponsored by the ruling ARPC government.
He said that lack of funds prevented the GDP from contesting in the last
elections. He also dismissed claims that his party was associated with the
APRC. Fatty exhorted Gambians to be resolute in their determination to
tackle the problems brought by an ailing economy and what he saw as seven
years of misrule by the APRC dispensation.
He noted that for the past few days his party has been monitoring with a
degree of apprehension the political violence in the provinces. He said that
despite government media reports, which he dismissed as propagandistic,
Baddibu especially Kerewan and Salikene are fully behind the coalition. Mr.
Fatty said that Gambians are interested in knowing how much money was in
nation's coffers at the time of the coup. He called on the police to be
neutral in politics and to pursue justice without fear or favour. He also
thanked The Gambia National Army (GNA), for "not openly interfering in the
current political situation". Mr. Fatty said he also has confidence in the
Independent Electoral Commission whom he commended for presiding over a so
far orderly election process.
________________________________________________________________________
In Jammeh-to-Darboe defection 3000 voters cards surrendered to opposition
coalition

The chairman of APRC committee in Dingri has announced his defection to the
UDP-led coalition, taking with him three thousand of his supporters. A
meeting by the coalition in the village Tuesday saw the surrendering of the
defectors' voters cards to the leadership of the coalition.
Alhagie Papa Saho who led the defectors told the meeting attended by
Ousainou Darboe that the villagers felt betrayed by President Jammeh who was
allegedly given D25, 000 by them for the construction of a borehole to help
in their agricultural production. Papa Saho said the president did not
facilitate the process nor did he hand them back the money. He said it has
been made clear to him and his followers that the ruling party was not
established to help Gambians out of poverty and decadence but to foment
tribalism and practise discrimination across the country.
The APRC detractor also blamed the ruling party for our farmers' plight
after their produce went unsold. He said that despite some truth in
President Jammeh's claim about ex-President Jawara's neglect of Gambians his
years as the country's leader witnessed a stable economy, a stable local
currency and an excellent relationship with the outside world.
The coalition leader Ousainou Darboe said The Gambia's problems were being
compounded by bad governance from and misplaced policies from President
Jammeh. He said in Jawara's days no visa restrictions were in place for
Gambians wishing to travel to many European countries. Darboe said all this
was to change after July 1994 when President Jammeh destroyed democracy and
spoiled the impressive foreign policy Jawara had built over the years. He
warned Dingri villagers not to listen to a leader "who killed your sons and
daughters." Omar Jallow or OJ for his part said sixty ministers have been
hired and fired since President Jammeh came to power. OJ called on the
villagers to resist the appointment of chiefs or Alkalolu by President
Jammeh. He said Jammeh is guilty of pursuing policies that could cause civil
disobedience and war.


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