The Launching of Opposition Coalition Marks The End of Jammeh's Rule -
Darboe

The Presidential candidate for the new opposition alliance Ousainou Darboe,
who is also the leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party, (UDP)
has said that the formation of the opposition coalition marks the end of the
corrupt, despotic and dictatorial Jammeh administration. "Today is the
beginning of the end of the dictatorship in this country. The PPP, GPP and
UDP are determined to bring to an end the terrible dictatorship in this
country," said the coalition leader. Mr. Darboe who was applauded by
thousands of jubilant party supporters chanting slogans "Jammeh Gepo, Jammeh
Gepo" meaning "Jammeh step down from office. Darboe added: "Our coalition is
open to other parties. We welcome any other party who wish to join us in
partnership in this coalition.

I am confident that there are no deep ideological differences between the
coalition partners and the other opposition parties." Darboe added that he
is convinced that the coalition and other opposition parties are deeply
committed to one common cause, which is to get rid of the Jammeh regime.
While paying tribute to some of the UDP supporters who died during the cause
of what he called the struggle, Darboe also paid homage to the victims of
April 10 and 11 student unrest. The opposition leader who requested his
supporters to observe two minutes silence for the April 10 victims said the
innocent and defenseless students were murdered in cold blood by the
country's security forces. Darboe told this audience that a coalition
government would not tolerate human rights violations in the country.

"Our coalition offers a different approach for the Gambia people. Under an
UDP government every one will enjoy the full and equal protection of the
law. We will have zero tolerance for abuses of any kind. We pledge that
every institution from the Police to the judiciary, to the Army would be
entirely transformed to serve you in a transparent and strictly lawful
manner." said the coalition leader whose speech was marked by drumming and
singing. Commenting on the forthcoming presidential elections Darboe called
on Gambians to vote for the opposition alliance, which he said, is committed
to restoring democracy, human rights and the rule of law in the Gambia. "I
am confident that the Gambian people would unite and render a resounding
verdict that would reject the APRC regime on account of its own awful record
that have brought most of our people to the doors steps of destitution,"
Darboe charged.

Darboe told his supporters that "President Jammeh is actively working
towards reducing you the Gambian people to paupers and manipulating you into
forming charity queues and lining up his residence. He added that Gambians
are proud and decent people and not beggars. "You are entitled to the
resources of your country and any one that works hard and plays by the rules
ought to be able to forge ahead in dignity," Darboe admonished Gambians. The
coalition leader also warned against vote buying in the coming presidential
and parliamentary elections. He advised Gambians not to disenfranchise
themselves. "As the polls gets closer this desperate regime and its cronies
will employ every unorthodox, unethical and illegal means in a bid to
frustrate your inevitable verdict. They will come to you with worth of cash
and materials. It is a ploy to exploit the misery and the poverty they have
inflicted on you." Through incompetent and neglect, Darboe went on, every
sector vital to the well-being of the nation from agriculture, tourism,
education, health care and the economy have collapsed.

He added that average Gambians are living in abject poverty because
according to him the Jammeh administration is bent on destroying the
country's economy. He cited the rising inflation and the unfavaourable
investment policies for new investors. He added that the Jammeh government
could not facilitate the purchase of farmers' groundnuts for the past three
years. High on their agenda according to Darboe would be economic reforms.
He said a coalition government would improve what he called the country's
sick economy. Addressing a political rally for the first time, in the second
republic political situation Assan Musa Camara, Chairman of the opposition
coalition and also the GPP leader said the lifting of decree 89 should not
be seen as a gift to the unbanned politicians. Mr. Camara added that the
local and the international pressure which was mounted on the Jammeh
administration resorted to the freedom of the three political parties.

Since the banned was lifted, he said, the GPP, PPP and NCP decided to meet
to discuss the possibility to form an opposition alliance, including the
existing opposition parties. UDP's Lamin Waa Juwara alias 'Mbarodi'
described the occasion as special, adding that Gambians abroad would return
home come October 18 as Gambians are determined to vote out the Jammeh
government. Juwara who was chanting the slogan 'Jammeh Gepo' told his
supporters that the game is over as he predicted a resounding victory for
the opposition. He said at the time of launching of the UDP he was detained
at the Mile Janjanbureh Central Prisons yet he (Juwara) pledged his full
support for the party. He criticised the ban that was imposed on the PPP,
NCP and GPP. Juwara said he spoke to former Finance Minister Bakary Buaja
Darboe, Ex-Vice president Saihou Sabally and Dr. Momodou Manneh and they all
extended their greetings to the opposition and would return home in due
course.

He added that former president Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara would also return to
the country. Former agricultural Minister Amadou Omar Jallow, better known
as OJ, who is also the chairman of the PPP's steering committee said peace
has come to this country. Peace has come to this country, Yahya Jammeh is
finished. OJ who told his jubilant supporters that he spoke to Sir Dawda
Jawara before attending the meeting. He said the former president is
extending greetings to Gambians and is also praying for peace and stability
to prevail in the country. He called on all peace loving Gambians to vote
Ousainou Darboe in the October election. OJ said an opposition alliance
government would end tyranny and injustices in the country. He added that it
would also restore democracy, and human rights in the country. He said the
coalition would be committed to uplifting the conditions of the youths by
providing them with job opportunities. OJ also strongly criticised the
Jammeh administration for confiscating Sir Dawda Jawara's landed properties


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