The Gambian Movement based in the United States, under the umbrella of the Movement for Democracy and Development (GMDD), hereby express our sincere thanks and appreciation to our fellow citizens at home for the peaceful and orderly manner in which they conducted themselves in the Presidential election held on November 24^th, 2011. Today The Gambian democracy is a disgrace where an opposition politician like Femi Peters of the United Democratic Party (UDP) would be jail for one year just for organizing a political rally. Today the Gambian democracy is a disgrace where there is no freedom of the press and speech.

 In a genuine democracy, elections belong to the people. Principles for democratic elections are usually traced to the precept that Citizens have the right to take part in government and in the conduct of public affairs of their countries. This precept is enshrined in Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Universal Declaration) and Articles 25 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as in other international human rights instruments.

This election tells the whole world that Gambians are peace loving people otherwise the signs and symptoms of violence were visible all over the country when President Jammeh went on a “Meet the people” tour in July 2011 telling electorates that no elections or Coup d’etat would remove him from power but God.  He further told Gambians that whoever want to succeed him have to put your life on the lime line because as he put it, he came to power through a Coup d’etat in July 22^nd, 1994 but not through elections. His messages were disturbing but understood by Gambians that they have to choose between peace and violence meaning to vote for him and remain in peace otherwise violence.  For the past seventeen years under the tyrannical and dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh, Gambians have suffered a great deal. He has cracked down on political freedom and continues to commit human rights violation with total impunity. Freedom remains an illusion for most Gambians, who live in fear of arbitrary arrest, torture, unlawful detentions, unfair trials by some Nigerian mercenary judges, and disappearance.

The election was neither free, fair no credible. This election was a mockery for democracy and to all those who believe in democracy.  The official campaign period was from November 12 th, 2011 to 22^nd. Before the commence of the campaign period no political party was allowed to hold a political rally or access to the State Radio and Television (GRTS) but the ruling party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC).

The Independent Electoral Commission(IEC) failed to conduct a voter education campaign in the lead –up to the election focused on providing voters with basic information needed to participate effectively in the election, including notification of voting locations, dispelling rumors of secret cameras been installed in the polling booths. Distribution of Posters, Stickers and Flyers would have eradicated some degree of fear on the side of the voters.

We commend the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Observer delegation to the Gambian Presidential runoff election for their impartial and accurate assessment of the electoral process and political environment surrounding it. They have demonstrated to the Gambian people that ECOWAS is fit to solve the injustices in West Africa and example is the case of Ivory Coast.

We also appreciate the honest and positive statement from Professor A. Bolaji Akinyemi Chairperson of the Commonwealth Expert Team. His statement purely reflects largely the team observations on the pre-election environment, the polling day itself and the pose election phase. During this short stay they were able to identify the level of intimidation and fear on the Gambian people.

Finally we call on the International Community, democratic organizations, Human Rights Organizations worldwide to disregard the results of the November 24^th presidential election in which president  Yahya Jammeh was declared as the winner through an unfair, incredible and lack of accountability of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).  Over two hundred thousand Gambians residing outside the Gambian borders were denied from voting.

 

Sincerely,

Signed:

Saihou Mballow

For the Executive Committee

GMDD

 

CC:

UN Secretary General

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor- State Department

American Embassy, The Gambia

Commonwealth and Foreign Office

ECOWAS

AU

Carter Center

NDI

IFES

Freedom House

World Movement for Democracy

Freedom Now

Human Rights Organizations

IEC

Gambian newspapers