Hamjatta, you wrote: "Hamjatta: Here you are not only lying but have garbled certain historical facts.First, Gabriel Roberts wasn't the chairman of the Consitutional Review Commission [CRC]. Instead, it was headed by a Ghanaian judge by the name of Justice Quaye. Sencondly, it was not an allegation that the draft consitution was doctored: it was based on the testimony of Gabrial Roberts, [in an interview with the Daily bserver], a key member of the CRC, in an interview with the Daily Observer shortly after he was named the chairman of the Provisional Independent Electoral Commission [PIEC]. Roberts DID say that the draft they handed to the AFPRC recommended a two term presidency of 5 yeears each and the age of the president should be at least 40 years of age. Since this was counter to their aspirations and or agenda, it was expunged from the midst of the draft that was later thrown at the unsuspecting Gambian public. So it is NOT an allegation to say that the 1997 constitution was doctored/tailored to suit the AFPRC's ambitions and or agenda. You might want to have a quiet word with Roberts on this. After all, he is on your payroll". Hamjatta, saying that Gabriel Roberts was the chairman of the CRC is an error on my part. However that Roberts made these revelations about the doctoring of the CRC interim report, is news to me. Perhaps you or Ebrima can provide specific references. Your absurd insinuation in the last sentence of the above section will be taken with a pinch of salt. You again wrote: "Hamjatta: Where did you get the absurd notion that parliament is "an independent arm of government"? From Jammeh himself, no doubt! Or might that just be a Freudian Slip on your part, since this is precisely what currently prevails in the Gambia? For an apparently intelligent man, you are capable of uttering garbage and silly stuff. For your information, parliament is the legislative arm of the State and in a clearly demarcated democratic polity which has strong checks and balances, is independent of the gov't of the day - well, at least in theory. There is an enormous difference between the notions or phenomena of the State and the gov't. The State is the body politic of a collectivity or society in practical continuity whilst government refers to those mandated to govern the State of affairs of a polity whose legitimacy is assured through periodic consultation of the consent of those governed and living in the said polity. You might want to go back being a sophomore and study some basic gov't texts. Or you will continue to make a fumbling ass of yourself". Hamjatta you are not only a self-opionated idiot, but a narrow minded one for that matter. That parliament is the lesgislative arm of government was pointed out by me on a number of occasions. The point I was trying to make is that successive parliaments failed their representatives time and again. That parliament's effectiveness in providing checks and balances were severely eroded by the cross-carpet phenomenon and that many of our past members of parliament changed allegiance to the ruling part, not out of conviction, but out of greed. I was also trying to say that the president was effectively leading a one party state even though he did not legislate it as other dictators did. Period. You also wrote: "Jobe": The build-up to the ushering in of the second republic also saw the formation of the UDP and NRP parties and resumption of party politics by the PDOIS. The former having been banned earlier was not allowed to contest. The political campaign was nasty, to say the least. There were frequent clashes between the APRC and UDP supporters and their militants. The APRC campaigned openly with the security forces and a massive following of civil servants. The UDP was prevented from using the public media, allegedly for their insults and incitement of people. The security forces severely harassed the UDP supporters, arresting their key members, often for weeks contrary to the constitution. Journalists, considered to be sympathetic to the UDP, were constantly picked up, detained or deported if they were foreigners. The UDP militants also retaliated with more insults and inter-party fights became common. Some international observers withdrew from the country saying that the elections cannot be regarded as free and fair considering the virtual monopoly of the public media, which incidentally had nationwide coverage, by the APRC. When Yahya coughed, it made the headlines. This nasty situation continued throughout the campaign period and beyond". "Hamjatta: In light of that heavy indictment of the AFPRC and its mutation APRC, are you still willing to wager your integrity any further by calling the freakish presidential elections of 1996, free and fair? If not, why do you still think that the APRC is a legitimate gov't? Having said all that you said above and in lieu of the procedural discrepancies that dogged the electoral process throughout the so-called "transition period", do you still believe that Jammeh had really "won" that freakish presidential elections of 1996?" Precisely. Hamjatta precisely. That I am still willing to wager my integrity despite the above? You can bet on that. Some of the reasons I will put forward for still supporting the APRC have already been supplied by you and some other myopic bigots in your camp. This, I will do after concluding my opinion of the political situation in the country. As for the legitimacy of the government, that's not in doubt. The whole world, including the opposition party/parties you support also think so. Have a good day and bye 4Now, KB Jobe. >----Original Message Follows---- >From: Hamjatta Kanteh <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list > ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Why I can still support the APRC Government despite...Pt4 >Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 01:40:44 EDT > >"Jobe": << This committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. >Gabriel Roberts, now the chairman of the IEC, also did their job as > >mandated >and handed their to the AFPRC. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------