As Opposition Coalition Holds PDOIS Makes Position Clear The Independent (Banjul) August 20, 2001 Posted to the web August 20, 2001 Sheikh Al-Kinky Sanyang Banjul, the Gambia As the coalition of opposition parties is riddled in political turmoil, the Peoples' Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) have spelt out their position. Speaking to The Independent at their Bundungka Kunda bureau on Friday Halifa Sallah said their position was that opposition parties must create an agenda to empower the people and then form a coalition in the first or second round of the forthcoming October presidential elections. He said once there is an agenda to empower the people, PDOIS can always be part of any coalition, but would never help any party to come to power just to preside over the ignorance, poverty and subjugation of the people. Mr. Sallah warned that a country needs a government, which is sensitive and responsive to the needs and aspirations of her people. He also said that an alternative government, should be sensitive and responsive, and shadowed by a mature opposition. Explaining PDOIS' absence at the inter-party meeting of the opposition at the YMCA, Sallah said they did not receive any letter of invitation and heard of the meeting after it had started. He added that during a telephone conversation with the chairman of the meeting Assan Musa Camara of the GPP they suggested for a postponement for at least a day or two to enable them participate. But he added that to their surprise a press conference was held on that same day indicating that Darboe has been selected to be the coalition's presidential candidate. 'In our view the opposition made a big blunder and instead of having a united opposition, factions have now developed," he charged. To convene a meeting of opposition parties, Mr. Sallah suggested that each party should state its minimum programme for a coalition and where there are no points for agreement to dislodge the Jammeh administration they could still agree not to form a coalition in the first round by expressing intention to form it in the second round. However, the renowned sociologist claimed that the fundamental error made by the organizers was their failure to get the ideas of all opposition parties regarding the meeting. He said PDOIS would have told them to form an ad-hoc committee comprising the administrative secretaries of all the opposition parties and give them the mandate to prepare the venue, time and agenda of the meeting. He added that a minimum guideline should have been prepared indicating the procedures to make a decision either by majority vote or by consensus, which would require a unanimous vote. To encourage transparency, he said civic societies and organizations could have also been invited to witness. "A coalition candidate selected under such circumstances would have earned tremendous support, respect and authority," he suggested. To still uphold the integrity of the opposition Mr. Sallah, revealed that PDOIS have written another proposal for a coalition to all opposition parties based on the one year transition programme, comprising civic education over radio and TV to enlighten the people to free them intimidation or inducement. Further more, he noted that all political parties would have access to radio and TV with a view to putting their programmes before the electorates without insults or promoting any sectionalist feeling. According to Mr. Sallah all constitutional and legal provisions hindering the pursuit of rights to stand in election or to ensure redress or grievance would be repealed. He said in that sequence elections would have been held after the expiration of one-year term by the president of the coalition. He clearly pointed out that if their proposal was not accepted PDOIS would go alone or consider alliance with any political party, which agrees with the agenda to empower the people. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------