I am pleased to realize that the UDP after quoting Lincoln, expressed its committment to the concept of the PEOPLE making INFORMED decisions regarding the type and agency in their government.

It is the INFORMED part that distinguishes PDOIS from all political parties contesting the elections. Other parties believe that disseminating processed and prepared information through the media outlets to the people constitutes INFORMED. PDOIS on the other hand believes as Abraham Lincoln did, that the PEOPLE must know the language, syntax, and context of information germaine to their governance. That the PEOPLE must be provided with or allowed to acquire the tools with which they can present their independent decisions free of Coersion by bribery or intimidation by shunning or harrassment. That the PEOPLE, absent being INFORMED, may choose their agents of government by sheer desire, taste, and their God-given instinct.

I would therefore urge the UDP, in its fervent committment to the PEOPLE making INFORMED decisions on their governance, to join PDOIS in ensuring an APRC-free environment for a DEMOCRATIC Gambia. Quoting Lincoln will have to be supplemented with contemporary context of Lincoln's pronouncements and the history of these United States of America during Lincoln's era. And by the way, Lincoln was not speaking to Gambia and Gambians nor did he live in Gambia. So Geography, Geology, Meteorology, and Inflexion in speech have to be taken into account by the UDP. We can save time and energy by joining PDOIS now in its wide-reaching services to Gambia and Gambians, or we could come to realize after a year or two that we have another APRC on our hands and conscience.

Haruna - Together - in the service of LIBERTY, DIGNITY, and PROSPERITY.   

>From: Beran jeng <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: FWD:The UDP Manifesto
>Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 09:37:31 -0400
>
>The UDP Manifesto
>
>
>
>The Independent (Banjul)
>
>READER'S FORUM
>September 28, 2001
>Posted to the web September 28, 2001
>
>Banjul, the Gambia
>
>In our last Election Forum, we started a serialized publication of
>the
>United Democratic Party's manifesto by publishing the introduction.
>Please
>continue reading.
>
>Abraham Lincoln in 1863 described Democracy as 'Government of the
>people by
>the people and for the people'. We are committed to the concept of a
>representative democracy in which people choose based on informed
>decisions
>who they want to represent them and defend their interests and
>conduct the
>affairs of the state on their behalf.
>
>The present constitution was tailor-made to suit the members of the
>AFPRC,
>which was preparing to turn themselves into politicians. Despite
>popular
>demand the AFPRC ignored the wishes of the Gambia people. A UDP
>government
>will introduce constitutional amendments, which would amongst others
>include:
>
>a.) limiting the term of the Presidency to 2 terms of 5 years; b.)
>limiting
>the term of local government executives to 3 terms of 4 fours; c.)
>Making
>the office of chiefs and election one; d.) Entrenching provisions
>relating
>to the Independent Electoral Commission e.) Making provisions which
>would
>enable organisations other than political parties to sponsor
>candidates for
>elections.
>
>Commitment to democracy and human rights
>
>The UDP has a fundamental belief in and is committed to democracy
>and
>respect for human rights. There can be no sustained and meaningful
>development in the absence of a genuine democracy. The people of
>this
>country have an inalienable right to participate in all
>decision-making
>process on all issues affecting their lives and the conditions of
>their
>existence.
>
>Fraud, waste and embezzlement are absolutely no reasons for the
>seizure,
>abuse and demolition of the rights of the citizens of this country
>or any
>other country. All citizens of the Gambia must be treated equally as
>human
>beings in the eyes of the law.
>
>Everyone has the fundamental right to be listened to and be heard
>when
>accused or found to be in breach of the law.
>
>The UDP will ensure the establishment of an independent judiciary as
>the
>executive arms of the law to take all legal actions necessary to
>preserve
>the rights and privileges of the society.
>
>We are strongly committed to the protection of the citizen at all
>times as
>reflected in the constitution of the Gambia, the Universal
>declaration of
>Human Rights and similar legal instruments that seek to protect the
>individual against the might of the state. We shall give full
>support to the
>individual against the might of the state. We shall also give full
>support
>to the strengthening of the democratic institutions in the country.
>These
>will include:
>
>i. Political parties
>
>Political parties will be recognised as the vehicles for expressing
>the
>political will and aspirations of the citizens. As one of the
>pillars of
>democratic practice, political parties shall provide the necessary
>framework
>for the effective participation of the citizenry in the political
>process.
>We shall support and encourage the operations of a multi party
>environment
>that will subscribe to the process of affecting a change of
>government. Any
>law that seeks to restrict the operations of such political parties
>shall be
>abrogated. As important agencies in the political educational
>process, the
>UDP government shall provide support to political parties in
>carrying out
>their civic education programs.
>
>ii. The Press The press has a particularly important role to play in
>strengthening democracy. It has the responsibility of informing and
>educating the citizens as well as the government on the concerns,
>needs and
>possibilities of the ship of state. To fulfill this role effectively
>calls
>for an active press and committed journalists whether from the
>public or
>private sector.
>
>We will support and encourage a free press as a pillar of democracy.
>We will
>abolish all unjustified restrictions on the press. We shall also
>ensure that
>individual privacy and personal information are protected for all
>citizens.
>
>iii. Civic education
>
>Civic education can only take place effectively in an atmosphere
>devoid of
>authoritarianism. We will encourage and support civic education
>through the
>national committees, the schools and the political parties so that
>the
>citizens can play a more active and enlightened role in the
>political
>development of the country.
>
>An enlightened population will be a bulwark against political abuse
>of power
>and defense against military interference in politics.
>
>To be continued in next issue.
>
>
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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