Joe and LJD,

As usual I thank you for your interesting observations.

Best,
Mboge


On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 12:47 PM, Joe Joe <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Kejau, yes indeed and if lonjevity is on our side we shall as a people
> recognize the inevitable at some point - forceful overthrow of this
> government. I know you have converted but time takes care of things.
> Militancy is the best option because Gambians will in the end control their
> destiny and to say never again. However, due to our lack of a history of
> taking back what is ours, those with the guns will beat us to the punch and
> when they do, you think they will tell the politicians, here, take it from
> here. No, they will do like Yaya, Jerry, and countles other dictators to
> take off the uniform and we'd have another round of the same. If neither
> happens, then the murderer will die in his sleep. Lolu Dung Mor Fee Neh! I
> do understand your new buy in, but in the end, "Wedi, Gis Borkucha. Nange
> Dem".
>
> On a side note, Nit Daal Daa Gaawa Fateh. Here we are celebrating the life
> and meaning of Mandela, yet, we forgot how and why he is celebrated. It has
> less to do with his profession, or that he was the first president of SA,
> etc. Rather, he used any means necessary to get to where he ended up with
> all South Africans. He started with the school of peaceful movement and
> when that was futile, they formed a militia to give the same medicine the
> abuser had used on them for centuries. That continued with the children who
> saw their parents and friends murdered right in front of them to pick up
> from where his generation left off. When the abuser had enough, was he
> willing to sit on the table, nuclear weapons and all. Nange Bayi Nahateh
> Bi. Jokh Rek Mor Worr.
>
> Regards,
>
> Joe
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 13:04:56 +0100
> From: [log in to unmask]
>
> Subject: Re: [G_L] In sympathy with PDOIS and FOROYAA’s approach in things
> Gambian
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Cheers Joe.
>
> From your analysis,  it seems the way forward is militancy and as you
> said, most Gambians are not interested in that even those in the diaspora.
> Kejau.
>
>
> Sent from Samsung Mobile
>
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Joe Joe <[log in to unmask]>
> Date:
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [G_L] In sympathy with PDOIS and FOROYAA’s approach in things
> Gambian
>
>
> Folks, am sure you got my point even with the many typos and
> grammeroitical errors. The good thing is I'm not selling a publication, so
> you have to live with the mistakes and this will not be the last time
> either. :-)! Multitasking is the new way. Off to bed.
>
> Joe
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 17:54:28 -0600
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [G_L] In sympathy with PDOIS and FOROYAA’s approach in things
> Gambian
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Mbodge, a good summary of what PDOIS is to Gambia and how they continue to
> work towards change and educate Gambians, in their own way. I don't think
> any Gambian with commonsense will argue what PDOIS does for Gambians daily,
> especially when there are no elections in sight. As I write, I know our
> people are at their doorstep (regardless of party affiliation) seeking
> their help, support, advise, school fees, etc. And so the insults I'm
> hearing towards their persons is surprising and one can clealy see it is
> displaced agression or settling of scores. No question, they are doing what
> they can with what they got and I salute them.
>
> You are also right that change can come from the people, like we saw in
> let's say Senegal, the Arab Spring, or to some extent in South Africa.
> However, there is a difference in context and history when you juxterpose
> the Gambian situation with the above examples and in some instances they do
> overlap. What do I mean. Yes, in Senegal, the youths, Rappers, etc. started
> the struggle to get rid of the Wade Machine, but complemented by vocal
> opposition and civil society organizations against a regime that is very
> aware of the legacy of Senegal with her clean record of democracy. Those
> folks knew that Wade knows not to order the Military to have open season on
> them and the Military establishment will not have gone along because of the
> intertwining nature of politics and religion in Senegal. Every Colonel has
> a Seringe and belongs to an "Askan".
>
> In the Gambia that is not the case. We have a history of military coups
> and also a history of the Military mowing down any group of a couple of
> hundreds in front of them with the issue of an order. We also do not have a
> history of opposition political leaders being in the forefront of
> challenging detrimental laws crafted to sponsor state murders. The
> opposition are for the most part reactive and their route of choice is to
> file a legal brief or go the the press whenever the state murders 1, 10, or
> more of it's citizens or nabb their own comrades to torture. That is a a
> good arrangement for a dictator. Because he knows that he can litterally
> stay on until he dies in his sleep. The question is, can any of us live
> with that? On the flip side, the students did stood up in protest and 12 or
> so of them were murdered with countless wonded for life. A perfect
> opportunity for the opposition politicians to support the students, but
> instead at best they kept quiet or joined the Religious Dealers and
> psycophants to further abuse abuse them with language that supported the
> powers that be. With that kind of history, Gambians know that if they stand
> up against this regime they will be murdered and none will care. Gambians
> also know that political leaders, Imams, civil socity leaders, etc are not
> immune from this murderous regime. So , when each is vulnerable, alone, it
> makes perfect sense to stand as a group for a fighting chance. That is
> where the chicken or the egg debate commences. The opposition leaders know
> that they did not inculcate militancy within their ranks and if they were
> to stand up, they will not have anyone to stand up with them, just like
> when a certain Imam was nabbed illegally his congregation sympathised with
> him but did not have it in them to rescue him. In other parts of the world
> they will go for the head of whom ever ordered their arrest, much less
> torture them. The opposition in turn makes the case that if the people want
> this regime out, they will vote them out, even though all of us know that
> at this stage of our situation, elections where Yaya manipulates them with
> threats, murders, inducement, etc. is neither here nor there. And so, what
> gives? I fervently believe that it will be a waste of our time doing the
> same things we did the last 19 years to get rid of this murderer. Let me
> take this opportunity to bring a snippet of the South African context at
> this moment. Sharpville was a turning point and Mandela in his own wards
> told the world that their tactics up to that point was not working for a
> Murderous regime that did not hesitate to kill them. Thus, the birth of the
> military/militancy wing of the ANC. In the Gambian context where all aspect
> of life is threatened, it will be very wishfull for us to think that
> citizens can stand up, when they see their leaders even more vulnerable. It
> makes perfect sense for political leaders with following to use their base
> to if nothingelse protect themselves and their supports, forget the rest of
> Gambia for the moment. Yes, PDOIS can stick to their script and live by
> that moto to Yaya's natural life, but how does that help the rest of
> Gambia? Are they in this to help stop the bloodletting now, or are they
> more interested in their dogma? For PDOIS to say that they will not be part
> of any change but "Peaceful Change" means no matter how well meaning they
> are, that is not what Gambians need at this time. If they are of the view
> that even if it takes Yaya's eternity for that kind of change to happen
> they will still stick to their cause, then I am sorry that is not what
> Gambians need at the time. Coming to terms with that outlook is what a lot
> of diasporans who believed that PDOIS was a change agent to begin to look
> elswehere. Dogma is one thing, but when you begin to loose friends and
> sympathizers in a numbers game consistently and you continue to insist on
> your way or nothing, that is where PDOIS is at with many diasporans. They
> are not willing to change with what the people are asking for but without
> the people they will continue to see the same lukewarm response that they
> have experienced the last nineteen years. It is amazing to hear Gambians
> from the generation of the 80s and 90s who were inspired by PDOIS to
> manifest their disapointment with them with them. How does a party loose
> those generations and not see any need for change?
>
> Transitioning, diasporans, due to their proximity can say a lot of what's
> on the minds of the majority of Gambians who are inside Gambia. By so
> doing, the vocal among us cannot step foot in Gambia because the only folks
> who will know you dissapeared are those that came to meet you at the
> airport. It appears though that is the perfect line the politicians now
> utilizes - "if you are that great, why don't you come on the ground". For
> the most part, the only Gambians venturing in and out of Gambia in the open
> are Gambians who do not say a word about Yaya. If you are vocal and set
> foot in Gambia that is the last you will be heard from (especially men),
> and folks would be on this very distro to write about how wreckless you
> were or that you committed suicide knowing what awaited you. So, if you
> know that if you venture in the Gambia you will be minced meat and none
> will care, and if you say a word from the outside for those in the inside
> to tell you to come on the ground and say it, then like most of us do, we
> keek quiet like the rest of us, and the misery continues. Our society does
> not have a history of individual sacrifice. The ony way to break the
> stranglehold by Yaya is either a military take over, a militia, or mass
> protest. The first can happen sooner than the second and third, by virtue
> of the fact that they have guns, however limited in the their hands.
> Militia is a possibility but not many Gambians are interested at the
> moment, especially those on the outside. Mass protest by politicians and
> their supporters is the more remote for they told us it will happen on
> their dead bodies. And so, what is the meaning of our existence in relation
> to the situation in the Gambia?
>
> Dssclosure, my relationship with some of the leadership in PDOIS predates
> PDOIS and I was not in Gambia when PDOIS came into being. However, I have
> worked with them in their efforts to help the average Gambian in need over
> the years and will continue to do so as my location permits. However, I do
> not share their view of what Gambia needs to liberate from the clutches of
> a murderer, especially when we tried those tactics for 19 years, almost 2/3
> of Jawara's entire regime. The route they and other political parties
> continue to follow will allow Yaya to die in his sleep still clutching our
> neck. By that time Moe would be of age for us to have a "Baby Doc" on our
> lap.
>
> An exchange with a fellow Gambian is stamped in my mind forever. In the
> heat of the exchange, he asked rhethorically, " I do not recall where
> Gambians asked you to care, so your caring is your busines". Walahi he got
> a point. So, as I voice my thoughts about our situation, I am always
> reminded about that question, who asked you to care? If the true answer is
> none, then what am I talking about? A very funny position to be in. Anyway,
> PDOIS have done many good things to add value to the lives of many Gambians
> and none can take that away from them.
>
> Regards,
>
> Joe
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2013 23:41:36 +0000
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [G_L] In sympathy with PDOIS and FOROYAA’s approach in things
> Gambian
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> *In sympathy with PDOIS and FOROYAA’s approach in things Gambian*
>
>
>  *By Momodou Olly Mboge, Norway*
>
>
> Where can I start?  Well, I acknowledged PDOIS as the kind of political
> organisation I would have joined if I were to commit myself to any
> political party structure at the very moment it appeared on the Gambian
> political terrain.  I have been attracted to the 'discourse' pioneered by
> PDOIS's Sam Sarr and Halifa Sallah the first time I was given a publication
> by a Koto who was an early member of the party.  The publication dealt with
> the now defunct 'Senegambia Confederation'.  This was in 1985 during or
> after the Zone 2 football tournament.  Prior, I was lucky enough to have
> been among the Maths (I was among the dullest)students taught by Sam Sarr
> at GHS who was always busy in trying to augment the welfare of the
> underprivileged students whilst making sure every student regardless of
> status equally got the best education they deserved.   I  was as well a
> keen follower of Halifa Sallah's radio programmes with broadcaster Alhaji
> Assan Njie of the then Radio Gambia.  The programme was very popular.  The
> kind of rapport between Alaji Assan Njie and Halifa mesmerized all
> listeners whilst at the same time educating us about our society's
> sociology.  When Sedia Jatta published his resignation letter and join the
> PDOIS party, I thought 'woow' now Gambia has a real political alternative
> to Jawara's PPP.  Sedia’s letter was a masterpiece.   I became an avid
> reader of Foroyaa, which I use to get from my Koto, and when I was able to
> afford one, I would of course purchase a copy from vendors.  I use to buy
> the paper from MR Jones who use to stand by the Education Department near
> McCarthy Square in Banjul.  I was very disappointed when I heard Jones
> 'jumped' ship and joined the APRC.  Now he is history.
>
>
>  Anyway, PDOIS at the time became the party all the youth wanted listen
> to.  The Jawara regime did all it could to destroy the party. The PPP
> supporters of SereKunda East ferociously attacked Halifa Sallah where he
> stood against their candidate.  They did it in the nastiest and most
> derogatory manner one can imagine.   In addition, I remember that
> captivating moment when Sam Sarr challenged President Jawara on Radio
> Gambia and if I am not mistaken it was something about the Senegambia
> Confederation.  All those who were listening to Radio Gambia knew Jawara
> was not happy with Sam Sarr’s line of questioning. Following this
> confrontation with the then president Foroyaa was excluded from all news
> conferences that were held at the State House.
>
>
> During the 1987 elections, PDOIS was able to present only five candidates.
> At LatriKunda German, Adama Bah the Hotelier was the candidate if I
> remember well.  I voted for the PDOIS for parliament and NCP for the
> Presidency since the PDOIS had no presidential candidate.  Some of us who
> had voting cards were illegally (21 years was the legal age to vote)
> registered by the ruling regime's members in the hope of getting our
> votes.  *THE PARTY'S PROGRAMME AND its PRACTICAL DEVELOPMENTAL
> INITIATIVES WERE* the main attractions to me.  It is, as it was unusual
> for a political party in the Gambia to have a newspaper to spread its
> message and to open schools to educate the poor as well as virtually
> running a social clinic where people come for help.  It is also through
> reading PDOIS writings I started to understand the functions of state
> institutions and what the purpose of a nation state’s constitution was. I
> was as I am still attracted to PDOIS because they use dialogue and
> conversation to communicate their position.
>
>
> They have stated since their inception that they will only be part of a
> government that is in the real sense the choice of the people.  It is only
> through peaceful democratic changes that PDOIS will ever be in power. *THUS
> AS FAR AS I AM CONCERN PDOIS HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR WITH THEIR POSITION AND I
> DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE EXPECT PDOIS TO DO THEIR BIDDING.  **I MUST
> ADD THAT ACTIONS SUCH AS THAT OF DUGA MUST NOT BE CONDEMNED BY PDOIS* or
> anyone else. I UNDERSTAND, IT WAS BECAUSE OF MANY YEARS of a RELATIONSHIP
> BETWEEN A DUGA MEMBER AND THE PDOIS FOLK THAT PROMPTED an opinion from the
> senior member of PDOIS.  I still think the criticism could have been made
> differently.
>
>
> In countries where people take to the streets and confront a government,
> that is abusing its power such as was the case of WADE’s Senegal or the
> so-called 'Arab Spring’ countries, political parties never lead in the way,
> they always pursue the political solution.  For example in Senegal, the
> youths said enough is enough and took the initiative to take on the Wade
> government head-on.  Some set fire to themselves in the streets and died
> whilst many fought running battles with the police and other security
> structures for change to happen. Human Rights organisations were vocal in
> condemning the excesses of the regime and some rights activists such as
> Alioune Tine were beaten seriously but stayed on to finish the fight.
>
>
> Youths and other groups in the *SENEGALESE DIASPORA WORKED WITH GROUPS OF
> THEIR CHOICE TO EFFECT CHANGE.  SOME in the DIASPORA WHO WERE COMMITTED AND
> WERE READY TO BE MAIMED, IMPRISONED OR DIE FOR THEIR COUNTRY WENT BACK HOME
> AND JOINED THE FRONTLINE IN* the FIGHT FOR WADE to go.   They did not
> spend their time condemning politicians and others for not doing what they
> would not do.  *ORDINARY PEOPLE TOOK THE LEAD AND THE POLITICIANS HAD NO
> CHOICE BUT TO GIVE THEM SUPPORT.*  A political solution came into being
> when the whole Senegalese nation including religious leaders and other
> stakeholders realize that the country was going down if WADE DIDN'T GO. The
> opposition joined forces during the second round of voting in April 2012
> and the rest is history.  It is the ordinary *PEOPLE WHO WOULD
> SPONTANEOUSLY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE WHEN THE CRITICAL MOMENT COMES*and POLITICIANS will not PROMPT them.
>
>
>  I have been hearing people talking about the South Africa experience in
> comparison with Gambia.  The comparison is wrong in my view.  The ANC and
> some of the major groups in SA in the late eighties and nineties were less
> confrontational.  Actually, one can safely say that it was the youths
> following the *1976 SOWETO UPRISING *and influenced by BIKO's militant *BLACK
> CONSCIOUSNESS* message that made South Africa ungovernable in the
> eighties onwards. A political solution eventually had be found.  One must
> understand the ANC philosophy, which obtained during the time it took power
> in 1994 was non-confrontational and it is this that justified its elite to
> shamefully attempt to makeWinnie MANDELA the villain because she was with
> the youth.  Anyway, I have digressed.  Like any of us, the PDOIS people are
> human beings and sometimes they make mistakes in communicating their
> message. The PDOIS party must be persistently challenged and be able to
> endure such in good faith.    I have no doubt they are up to the task.
>
>
> That said the PDOIS critics must criticise in good faith.  Given the
> recent flood of insults in the name of criticism one is inclined to believe
> this would not be the case.  I wonder how in the name of disagreeing with a
> party’s position, one will outlandishly call its members and leaders
> names.  I am still trying to understand why the persistent lies and
> innuendoes.  Furthermore, I am still unable to comprehend the wretched
> excuses put forward when the critics’ accusations and insinuations are
> given attention by the slandered.  *IT IS EVEN RATHER MORE SHAMEFUL TO
> SEE disgraced HUSTLERS AND FORMER ENABLERS WHO HELPED JAMMEH CONSOLIDATE
> HIS GRIP BEING APPLAUDED* for their pretentious heroism and the trashy
> *CARICATURING* of opposition leaders on the ground.
>
>
> If the critics *OF THE OPPOSITION PARTIES LIVING IN THE DIASPORA* who
> themselves were abused by the regime in The Gambia are honest given the
> soundings of their rhetoric, why are they not on the ground leading by
> example. Are these so-called very angry Gambia loving self-stroking heroes
> and heroines ready to walk the walk and go to the Gambia where it really
> matters to be maimed, imprisoned and murdered in the hope of hastening the
> exit of the *CRIMINAL JAMMEH*.  Are our female diaspora critics ready to
> be Gambia’s Aline Sitoe Diatta who fought oppression and *HAD TO BE*imprisoned outside of Senegal by the French?  Will our Gambian Steve Biko’s
> or Chris Hani’s (gallant men who died because they refused to abdicate
> their responsibilities to others) stand-up and be willing to die so that
> their people could be free*?  UNLESS AND UNTIL WE ARE REAL TO OURSELVES,
> NO AMOUNT* of self-stroking delusional heroism and gloating over some
> ill-perceived timidity or selfishness of the opposition leaders on the
> ground in the Gambia will bring about Jammeh’s immediate exit.  In the
> interim, I salute the great men and women of the opposition against Jammeh
> both at home and abroad who are doing what they could without disparaging
> other peoples genuine efforts to bring real democracy to Gambia.
> ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
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