Mr Jallow, We would wish to disassociate ourselves with your assertion pertaining to the coalition efforts. Though we are dissatisfied with the state of affairs in that regard, we strongly subscribe to the concept of a coalition to unseat the Jammeh regime. Thank you for calling our statement a manifesto. To be candid, we do not see it in that light, but if you insist on giving it such elevated status, we would not quarrel with you over that. We have no doubt that the mindset which led you to make the former assertion, is also the source of your unconsidered dismissal of our disposition as radical, marxist or leninist. Pleased be informed that we are not apologist for any ideological standpoint or block. Suffice it, however, to say that we find it fresh to indulge in rhetorics which do not have anything to do with the subjugation and exploitation of our continent and peoples. As for the radical tone of our statement (which you graciously called a manifesto), be rest assured that we do not intend to compromise it. We are convinced that the Jammeh regime has presided over the degeneration of our nation to such an extend that any effort which can bring about the rejuvenation of national welfare, must be radical. "Softly-softly" efforts will only play us into the devil's own hands! As regards you indication that Waa is not fit to comprehend the "intrecacies" of republican democracy or the complex electoral process as obtained in the US, I do not have much to say. I simply wish to remind you that you have no justifiable rights, whatsoever, to treat Mr Lamin Waa Juwara with any form of intellectual/academic snobbery. His credentials by far exceed yours and that of the entire top brass of the A(f)PRC combined. You have asked clarification as regards certain assertions in our statement, and I hereby endeavour to render such. (1) "mentally developed voter":--- Over the years, an obnoxious system of political patronage has been established in the Gambia, which completely distracts the voter's mind from the issues that are supposed to be paramount in determining which party one votes for. When voters are liberated from such shackles, one can consider them competent to make free and fair political decisions. The term has no biological connotations; (2) "Critical juncture of world politics":---- In NDAM we believe in "thinking globally and acting locally" in a radical way. This has a lot to do with our present global realities; (3) The extent of our liberation struggle:--- I refer you to two above. Finally, your cautionary statement has been noted, and we wish to assure you that we do not have a hidden agenda. NDAM is seriously in the business of constitutionally providing an alternative political leadership to the misrule of Yaya Jammeh. In carrying out this legitimate task, all our pronouncements and actions will be tailored to effectively counter the politics of banditry, brutality and criminality of the dictatorial A(F)PRC regime. In this regard, be rest assured that NDAM shall never shy away from taking appropriate action. I thank you for your reaction. Omar Joof. >From: Ebou Jallow <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: NDAM SWIMS AGAINST THE TIDE >Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 00:24:00 -0500 > >Mr. Joof, > >I think it shall be proper to infer that this new "manifesto" is an >official statement from NDAM and such I will direct my comments to the >party otherwise its leader, Waa. >I can appreciate the need for a change in the political culture of the >Gambia, and in this respect I would agree with NDAM in principle. I >also believe that the coalition effort is a very foolish adventure if >not an imprudent political disposition. Beyond these two general >observations the rest of this party 'manifesto" is garbled up with a >hotch-potch of radical rhetoric, Stalinist cynicism and a rather >convoluted understanding of basic democracy....No in fact I doubt >whether Waa, who had been brain-washed in a backwater communist >university in Eastern Europe, has a refined understanding of the >intricacies of a republican democracy much more a very complex electoral >system as practiced in the US. Tell me what is a "mentally developed >voter"?, and define for me the spatiality of that "critical juncture of >world politics", and the extension of your "libration struggle" to the >world at large etc etc. >On a cautionary note, it is not all together an over-stretch for one to >read an implicit suasion for an armed struggle in order to effect >political changes in the Gambia in your this "manifesto". The writing >is all too obvious. The language is Marxist in tone and Leninist in >ambition. The last thing your party should do is to wave the banner of >terrorism. > >I would advice your party to play by the rules and engage the incumbency >through a democratic process....And you know exact > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: >http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l >To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: >[log in to unmask] > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface >at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. 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