>From: Mariama Diop <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Decree 89 Politicians >Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 10:58:14 -0400 > >Dear all, >I concur fully with your analysis and the need for a united >Opposition. I >would suggest that electability be determined by set criteria such >as : > >Excellent rapport with the electorate >Qualities of integrity , honesty and sense of justice >A fighter- Courage in exposing the unscrupoulous and unprofessinal >schemes >and scams of the Jammeh regime >Compassionate leader sensitive to the needs of the masses >A doer - ability to take on difficult tasks and to deliver >Aggressive advocate of the respect for the rule of law and human >rights >Unifier >Calm and pleasant disposition >Performance in past elections > >I'm only concerned that time is running out and the Oppostion barely >has a >month to come up with a consctructive strategy and a common ground > >Mariama > > > >>From: Dampha Kebba <[log in to unmask]> >>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list >><[log in to unmask]> >>To: [log in to unmask] >>Subject: Re: Decree 89 Politicians >>Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 09:44:18 -0400 >> >>Yusupha, Jassey-Conteh and Sanusi, thanks for your contributions. >>It is >>indeed a no-brainer that the Opposition should present a united >>front in >>the >>coming elections. Even if one single Opposition political party was >>convinced that it can go head to head with APRC and win, it makes >>better >>sense to have the endorsement of other Opposition parties. We can >>only have >>one president at the end of the day. Why beat Yaya by 30% if you >>can beat >>him by 60% with the help of other political parties? Remember, we >>have to >>do >>everything to ensure that he does not steal the elections. I hope >>the >>leaders on the ground ponder this issue thoroughly and assess their >>chances >>of becoming the next president of the country. Like Jassey-Conteh >>said, at >>the end of the day, let us give the man/woman that is most >>‘electable’ >>against Yaya, the chance to be our next leader. I know this is >>easier said >>than done. But with the right heart, our leaders should NOT have >>difficulties doing what is right. I have always refrained from >>endorsing >>one >>Opposition political party at the expense of others. >> >>But I will shift from that posture now and categorically say that I >>will >>NOT >>support a resuscitation of the old parties to run in this >>presidential >>elections on their own or to lead the coalition. I must say that I >>am very >>disturbed by revelations from Gassama about what OJ was alleged to >>have >>said. Until I read the newspaper in question or hear the >>revelations from >>OJ >>directly, I will reserve some of my comments about this latest >>development. >>As far as I am concerned, I personally will NOT support a PPP >>presidential >>candidate or a PPP domination of the Coalition. >> >>As Yusupha said, it might be a controversial proposition, but the >>bottom >>line is that we need these politicians. They have traveled the >>terrain and >>they understand grass-root politics better than some of the >>politicians >>that >>recently surfaced in the aftermath of the Dictatorship. But these >>unique >>qualities of the Decree 89 politicians can be offered to the >>current >>Opposition without asking for a leadership role in the Coalition. >>Again, we >>can only have one president. Most militants in these old parties >>can only >>hope to become parliamentarians if they want to continue to contest >>in >>elections. Why not support a candidate that is going to implement >>changes >>that will make future elections freer and fairer? After the >>presidential >>elections, any party can contest the parliamentary elections on >>their own >>if >>they so desire. >> >>The reason I will NOT support a PPP candidature is simple. We do >>NOT have >>time to defend the PPP record. I hasten to add that the PPP record >>is a >>very >>defensible record in light of Yaya’s despicable record. But why >>waste time >>defending something we do NOT have to defend? Let APRC defend the >>PPP >>record >>since they are the ones with Buba Baldeh, Fatoumata Jahumpa and >>others and >>they are the party that inherited the corrupt civil servants. Why >>NOT go >>with a candidate that has a clean record APRC CANNOT attack? If >>Buba Baldeh >>can go to APRC and do the job he is doing for them without >>demanding that >>PPP dominate the APRC, OJ should be able to help the good forces >>without >>demanding a quid pro quo. It is the patriotic duty of these >>politicians to >>help us clean this mess. But even if we forget about honor and >>integrity, >>political smarts demand that the old politicians take a backseat. >>We have >>two months to the elections. During that time, we would rather talk >>about >>Yaya’s horrendous record in the past seven years than revisit PPP’s >>or >>NCP’s >>record in the past 30 years. >> >>Few months ago, Jawara himself stood in that conference room in >>London and >>urged the Opposition to unite. The same patriotism that visited him >>then >>should resurface and urge him to call for the same unity and >>campaign >>vigorously for ANOTHER Opposition candidate. As far as I am >>concerned, >>tactically speaking, only PDOIS, UDP and NRP leaders deserve to >>lead this >>Coalition. Privately, I was giving myself until the end of July to >>make a >>decision about the possibility of a coalition. I still believe that >>it is >>doable. I have confidence that the Decree 89 politicians and the >>current >>Opposition will come up with a consensus candidate. I have >>confidence that >>our leaders know that when push comes to shove, personal >>aspirations and >>egos have to take backseat. We have a mad man unleashed in our >>midst. If we >>allow Yaya to continue to lead us, next time he orders the massacre >>of >>defenseless Gambian children, it will be our collective fault. Yaya >>will go >>down soon, no matter what. These elections might be our only chance >>to get >>rid of him somewhat peacefully. >> >>I anxiously await definitive word from SM Dibba, Assan Musa Camara >>and OJ. >>I >>also hope that the current leaders are aggressively working behind >>the >>scenes to convince these politicians to support a united Opposition >>led by >>either PDOIS, UDP or NRP (which ever has the most ‘electable’ >>candidate). >>KB >> >> >>_________________________________________________________________ >>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at >>http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >>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. >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >_________________________________________________________________ >Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at >http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >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. >----------------------------------------------------------------------------