Hi Matarr!
Thanks for your mail. I tried to find where I wrote
"those who advocate peace and violence to change the system are living a
fallacy;" but couldn't find it. I am as concerned about the future of our
country as everyone else and that is why I am truly concerned about calls
for violence. I have in my readings come across positions which support the
threat of the use of force as a form of sanction. In "The Applicability of
International Law Standards to United Nations Economic Sanctions
Programmes", the authors espouse that "the military instrument may have to
be used first, initially by threat communication..." I have however
abstained from going by it for fear that if that threat is not regulated and
co-ordinated it might lead to more harm than good. I do not believe in the
"Yalla bahna" approach. That is why I wrote that we have to have both
proactive and reactive non-violent methods some of which I listed. Thanks.
Buharry.
----- Original Message -----
From: Matarr Sajaw <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2000 5:38 AM
Subject: For Buhary Gassama
> Hello Mr. Gassama,
> I want to thank you for your postings on the challenge for
those
> advocating violence to change the system. Just curious what challenge you
> have for those advocating peace would be, because in my view the
consequences
> in the latter are death, torture, etc..
> Your Fears are very genuine because you are in your own
rights
> underestimating the power of the people. You state in your positing that
> "those who advocate peace and violence to change the system are living a
> fallacy;" What in your view is the right approach to free our people from
> this oppressive government.
> I hate to quote another people in our struggle to liberate
our
> people because of my sincere believe that power belongs to the people and
> change is brought about when people feel the need to change their
> circumstances. Given that position, I have tried to post my feelings and
> foresight for a better Gambia. To call that kind of conviction a fallacy
> without a definition undermines the survival and success of our struggle
to
> move forward.
> Benjamin Franklin once stated that "those who give up
essential
> liberty, to preserve a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty
nor
> safety." Being a man of great wisdom and foresight, I believe that you can
> understand that for our country to be liberated, it must be stripped from
the
> vicious circle of human degradation, intimidation and oppression. To do
> anything less would be unpatriotic.
> Now let me clarify why I advocate the use of force to rid
our
> system of these Bandits.
> The only form of discipline that a criminal understands is the use of
force.
> I know that some social scientists on this list will differ with my
> statement. The reason why we build prisons and rehabilitation centers is
to
> first capture these social rejects and reorient them to humanity. You
cannot
> have rehabilitation without conviction. The country that we call home is
> being ruled being sociopaths and the only way you can send these kinds of
> bullies a message is by capturing and convicting them.
> By your own admission, your stated that violence has some
> severe consequences. I share the same believe, because if these idiots
find
> it necessary to blow up people to secure their position then why can't we
do
> the same to them and regain our country. If they feel the need to torture
our
> people why can't we send them to the electric chair. If they can arrest
> citizens and question their citizenship then why can't we tell them that
they
> are wrong.
> You cannot say damn the war and damn the peace while
> maintaining that you are patriotic and express genuine interest for the
> people of your country. If you hate the war then you must join and fight
for
> peace. If you hate piece then you must join the bandits and wage war. You
> cannot have it both ways.
> One thing that is very clear is that present situation in the
> Gambia is a timing bomb ready to explode. Humans cannot live in
circumstances
> that restricts their lives to decency and the pursuit of happiness. If a
> position to defend our sovereignty is not taken, then we can go ahead and
> sign it over to some guy name Foday Sonko who took is people to the dark
evil
> of indiscriminate vengeance. If we do not act now then we will be selling
our
> country to a man name Charles Taylor who took is people to worthless
victory.
> What we need is to strike a compromise with our conviction
and
> make a sacrifice for our country. We can do so by rallying behind the
> opposition. I can see that a lot of that is being written about. If UDP is
> the vehicle through which we can eradicate these vermin from our land,
then
> lets provide them with a structure to guarantee their survival. UDP
likewise
> must come out and tell us what their position is in the struggle is. If
they
> want to recreate the same oppressive government as Jammeh and the defunct
> Jawara Government then we must forge an alliance with a minority party and
> muscle them up with a framework for success.
> I hope that you understand my frustration and conviction for
an
> immediate resolution for change. People of your intellect and experience
can
> help stir us further by being firm and direct. We can all disagree in our
> political paradigms but if our goal is the same then lets explore all
> possibilities. Lets not take the "Yalla bahna" approach. Lets build a
> phenomenon that will ultimately help us realize our goal for lasting
> democracy.
> Lastly, I want to thank you for your postings to the net. I
> want to remind you that Matarr is willing to join and die for the Gambia.
> Fear of the unknown should not be a retardant for a peaceful ending for
our
> people. Ones conviction for ones country is not a measure of distance but
in
> my view the dedication one has to put words into actions and actions into
> reality and reality into prosperity for the common person. If ones
position
> is to serve his master then he should be proud to say "sir yes sir."
> I will leave you with the following song
> Although it is an American liberty song, i think it serves some
> significance for our struggle
>
> Come Join hand in hand
> Brave Americans all
> And rouse your brave hearts
> At fair liberty call
> No tyrannous acts
> Shall suppress your just claim
> Or stain with dishonor
> America's name.
> In freedom we're born
> And in freedom we'll live....
>
> Till next time have a great day.
>
> Sincerely,
> Matarr Sajaw.
> Live free or die.
>
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