Breaking News: The Big Interview: Waa Juwara Speaks- Part One!! "I think we are correct to do that. You know the relationship between Cuba and America and yet Jammeh can said that we are friends to Cuba. And that's something. Despite of being a small country, we have to be respected. International relations cannot be over one person's thing. We have to respect other people's views, relations and every thing. I don't see anything wrong with the Gambia having good rapport and relationship with Iran, Venezuela or any other country. I don't think so. We have seen what had happened. Do you think Mugabe is evil as he is portrayed? Those who are castigating Mugabe now were supporting him? Was Zimbabwe not a colony? Those who colonized Zimbabwe are they democratic? If you have white minority rule is that democracy? Is that democracy?" Firebrand Gambian politician Lamin Waa Juwara posited. Juwara who was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Freedom Newspaper praised the Jammeh leadership for befriending Venezuela, Iran and Cuba. Juwara says The Gambia reserves the right to befriend the country of its choice, while he blasted Great Britain, a former colony of Zimbabwe of being undemocratic. The NDAM leader said The Gambia must jealousy guard its Sovereignty, adding that there is nothing wrong to befriend the said countries. Juwara used the interview to call on former PPP officials such as Saihou Sabally, Bakary Bunja Darboe, Sara Jangha, Alkali James Gaye and others to return home. Juwara says if Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara and his family can return to the Gambia, he sees no reason why the former public officials should go on self imposed exile. It's Juwara's belief that BB Darboe, Saihou Sabally, Jangha and others were running from their past status by giving their back to the country. Widely known as the Niamina Dankunku Lion, Waa Juwara argues that there is no point for these individuals to abandon their country when there is no immediate threat on their lives. He says if these people chose to stay abroad it's up to them but as far he was concerned they are free to come home without any problem. Juwara also voluntarily initiated to facilitate the return of the Freedom Newspaper Editor and any other Gambian interested to return home to the Gambia, through his connections. Juwara says he would talk to the President on his proposed gesture if approved by this editor, but the Freedom strong man respectively declined such gestures coming from Juwara. Juwara also said that the Gambia is not a failed state contrary to media reports. Below is part one of the interview. please read on... ................................................... Freedom Newspaper: What's your assessment of the current political situation in the Gambia? Lamin Waa Juwara: That is a vague question, you know. It depends on from what perspective. Freedom Newspaper: The question is: Is the Gambian opposition alive or dormant? Lamin Waa Juwara: Laughter Ha ha, ha, ha….Well, the whole situation is, that the opposition disappointed the people, because the people wanted a united front. Since we lost the elections, we lost our credibility in the eyes of the people. This is what happened. There is no politics without the people. Freedom Newspaper: Are you implying that Gambians lost confidence into the opposition? Lamin Waa Juwara: Yes, of course. That's what I said. It's plain. We have lost credibility in the eyes of the people. Very plain. I'm very categorical. I have said Jammeh won the elections freely and fairly. And really we have nothing to complain about. Freedom Newspaper: What's the way forward in such a situation. What should the opposition do right now? Lamin Waa Juwara: Laughter…. Ha ha ha ha.. Pa, I cannot say. I cannot say what we should do. I think what we should do is just to call the people and say we have failed. We should admit our failure. We are not the only people. There are other Gambians. That's the situation. I said it…I said categorically that Jammeh has courage. Freedom Newspaper: What kind of courage are you talking about? Lamin Waa Juwara: That he has self confidence, that's why he won. He said it all over. From the first elections, the second elections and the third elections. Jammeh has confidence in himself. Freedom Newspaper: What led your sudden change of heart towards the APRC leadership? Is it because of the popular will that the Gambian people voted for Jammeh, that is why you are accepting them as a legitimate government? Lamin Waa Juwara: I have not changed one bit, I'm just being realistic. All we need is to say the truth. The situation has changed and the situation is on the ground. What else do I need to say? If Jammeh can be the President of the Gambia for 13 years, that could not have happened without the support of the people. Freedom Newspaper: Do you have any intention of abandoning politics in totality or what do you have in mind? Lamin Waa Juwara: Laughter… Ha ha ha ha…These are some of the problems. You just want to make something sensation out of it. You are not asking the realities. I have not told you that I want to abandon politics. The reality is on the ground. This is what has happened. We lost the last elections as a result it was free and fair. We lost it because, we are not objective. We shattered the hopes of the people having a grand alliance which turns out to be a failure. We betrayed the people. Freedom Newspaper: Fine, I heard what you said. If you should give a fair assessment of the APRC, what areas do you think they have improved on? Lamin Waa Juwara: Now let me tell you one thing. Lets be very objective. Don't you think that establishing a University and creating a Ministry for Higher Education and Gambians graduating in their own country, these are all achievements. I'm telling you. These are all achievements. We have to be objective. Lets call a spade, a spade. I'm not saying that everything is rosy in the Gambia. I'm not a praise singer. I don't flatter anybody. I speak my own mind. Freedom Newspaper: Do you have any regrets for saying that the Jammeh government is developmental oriented? Lamin Waa Juwara: What regrets would I have? What regrets would I have? Freedom Newspaper: Do you harbor any grudge against the Jammeh leadership for the torture you suffered from the hands of their agents over the years? Lamin Waa Juwara: I went through all that and everything. I harbored no ill feelings against anybody. Freedom Newspaper: Are you saying that you have forgiven the people who tortured you? Lamin Waa Juwara: That's not what I mean. It's not for sympathy or any thing that I need. The fact that I'm in the Gambia, but you people left this country. Why don't you come back? I didn't run away, despite all what has happened. Freedom Newspaper: I read your interview with the Point and you were very bold in your statement that the opposition had failed. What needs to be done for the opposition to put their house in order? Lamin Waa Juwara: I made very clear. I made it absolutely clear. The reason why we left NADD is very clear. We have a memorandum of understanding that was cleverly written. What we said in that memorandum of understanding is that if we do not agree for single candidate, that means there is no consensus. That means we should go back to the people. We all flouted it. No body went to the people. Darboe and Hamat Bah decided to leave. We also sat behind close doors and decided to put up a candidate. We didn't consult the people. First of all, the UDP started the confusion. Hamat lost his seat in Saloum. He lost every single candidate he put up across the country. They have lost support. Five years ago, you have more votes than what you have now. And the same thing happened to NADD. Freedom Newspaper: NADD is still operational. Does NADD have the mandate of the people? Is it a legitimate party, in your own view? Lamin Waa Juwara: What do you mean? Freedom Newspaper: What I'm saying is that NADD used to be consist of different political parties. You have pulled out, the UDP have pulled out. It's only PDOIS, which is there. Do you see it as a credible party? Lamin Waa Juwara: I have no quarrel with them. Anybody can register a party as long as you are qualified to register with the IEC. That's one thing, but what I'm saying is that the opposition parties, in fact people were interested about only who is going to be what. That was the problem. Who got to be a candidate? Who have to be a candidate. I have never been a candidate for the last 13 years. This issue of candidate is secondary. That's primary. Freedom Newspaper: Do you still have Presidential ambition? Lamin Waa Juwara: Who? Freedom Newspaper: I mean you. Do you have harbor Presidential ambition in the future? Lamin Waa Juwara: Laughter… Ha ha ha ha…. Did you ever see it me that I have a Presidential ambition? Freedom Newspaper: No, I'm asking you a question. Do you have Presidential ambition? Lamin Waa Juwara: I'm telling you… I'm asking you now, did you ever see it in me that I had Presidential ambition? I'm here on the ground. I have said it, the first elections I don't agree with the results. The second elections, I did not, but the third one I agreed with the results because it was free and fair elections. And really this is democracy, you have to accept the wishes of the people. Jammeh is here because the Gambian people voted for him. Freedom Newspaper: How would you react to critics who are saying that you are trying to appease the Jammeh government by trying to say that there is democracy in the Gambia, when there is no democracy? That you want to solicit favors from the government by making such comments. Lamin Waa Juwara: Laughter… ha ha ha ha.. Well, tell them to come and take my place.. Ha ha ha…I don't go to the grand palace to gossip. I speak my mind. You know Pa… People have to be honest. Gambians we should be very honest ourselves. I have been very vocal, very clear in my ideals. I'm still the same Juwara. I have not changed one bit. I was not PPP. The PPP rejected me for somebody else. Because I have been an opposition when they were over thrown, I would have gone out with the APRC at the time. Did I do that? I'm on record. I'm telling you to contact OJ, I visited every PPP Minister in their own home when thing was very hot. I campaigned for the ban on the PPP to be lifted. Freedom Newspaper: Mr.Juwara what areas do you think the government needs to improve in terms of human rights and governance? Lamin Waa Juwara: I have said it and it is absolutely clear. There are some deficiencies in terms of governance. Notwithstanding, they have succeeded. The Gambia is not in turmoil. Imagine what had happened in Liberia and Sierra Leone? We have succeeded. We are a developing country. We absolutely without problems. Freedom Newspaper: This question might sound funny to you, but you might as well help to dispel this widely believed notion. Some people are saying that President Jammeh is a spiritual man who change the minds of his opponents to come his camp. Has Jammeh's spiritual powers played a role on your sudden change of her heart for the leadership? Lamin Waa Juwara: I don't believe in spiritual work. It's up to the people to think the way they want to think. One thing I will commend him he have self confidence. And he chooses his own friends. What's wrong with befriending Cuba, Venezuela and all these other nations. I think these are genuine partners. Freedom Newspaper: So you supported the Gambia foreign policy toward, Venezuela and Iran? Lamin Waa Juwara: Oh yeah…. Freedom Newspaper: Why? Lamin Waa Juwara: You want to choose Gambian friends for Gambians? Freedom Newspaper: No, no. I just want to have your reasons for supporting such a diplomatic move? Lamin Waa Juwara: I don't see anything wrong with the Gambia having good rapport and relationship with Iran, Venezuela or any other country. I don't think so. We have seen what had happened. Do you think Mugabe is evil as he is portrayed? Those who are castigating Mugabe now were supporting him? Freedom Newspaper: In your own view the government can befriend any country they deem it necessary? Lamin Waa Juwara: I think we are correct to do that. You know the relationship between Cuba and America and yet Jammeh can said that we are friends to Cuba. And that's something. Despite of being a small country, we have to be respected. International relations cannot be over one person's thing. We have to respect other people's views, relations and every thing. Freedom Newspaper: Are you saying that the Gambia should not be stooge for anybody? Lamin Waa Juwara: I'm saying that Jammeh have self confidence and the Gambia has the rights to choose its friends. Our relations with Cuba, what's wrong about that? What's wrong about having good relationship with Venezuela or any other country? We have the right to befriend any other country, whether America, Venezuela, Cuba or Iran. Freedom Newspaper: But critics say the Jammeh government is befriending these countries for the sake of "check book" diplomacy as you one time accused them. Your views? Lamin Waa Juwara: Absolutely not. You know that Cuba will not give you any check. Freedom Newspaper: How about Iran and Venezuela? Lamin Waa Juwara: No way. That's not objective. That is a genuine solidarity between our countries. They have to accept this reality. As I told you what is wrong with Mugabe? Freedom Newspaper: Is Mugabe a democrat? Lamin Waa Juwara: It depends on your own definition of a democrat. Was Zimbabwe not a colony? Those who colonized Zimbabwe are they democratic? If you have white minority rule is that democracy? Is that democracy? Freedom Newspaper: But Mr.Juwara, the United States and Great Britain accused Mugabe of undermining the Zimbabwean constitution as well as gross human right violations. Lamin Waa Juwara: I know. I know. I know everything they have been saying. I'm not saying that everything is rosy. We must understand that Mugabe was a champion who liberated his own people. That factor cannot be disregarded. We have to be honest with ourselves. In Zimbabwe, is a land question. Freedom Newspaper: Do you think history is going to judge you fairly Mr.Juwara? Lamin Waa Juwara: Laughter….I cannot say that. That is left to history. I have honestly and sincerely have the interest of the Gambia at heart. That's why I told you that I have stayed. I could have gone like as anybody else. My family and everybody just go …I decided to stay here and stay focused. Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 (Archive on Tuesday, August 28, 2007) Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI Return <http://freedomnewspaper.com/Homepage/tabid/36/Default.aspx> ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤