Mr. Mbenga and Co.
Some of us know who you are. The writer asked a very simple question and you
jumped on some very irrelevant issue. Just "damni" if I may quote you,
answer the question. If you are writing on behalf of the so-called movement,
go ahead and sign your name. AOL gives only one scrren name access at a
particular time, so serev yourslef better by being honest.
I found your reply so intimidating. The ball is not in any one's court but
yours. I know somew people of the movemnet like Manding Darboe, and I know
if you are the only one writing for all these people, then there is a lot
wrong with that organization.
Do not kick or pass the ball. Play it.

Lamin Ceesay


>From: "Movement for restoration of democracy in Gambia [NY]"
><[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Movement for restoration of democracy in Gambia
>Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 01:45:12 EDT
>
>You're right concerned friend/citizen of Gambia. How do we on this forum
>know, or does it matter that your name is Asbjorn Nordam? Since the
>inception
>of this movement, around the April 10-11, 2000 massacre of demonstrating
>Gambian students, this email address, [log in to unmask] had been the sole mode
>of
>electronic correspondence and FYI,  'active' members has access/password to
>this medium and an effective means of distributing each and every mail sent
>or received. What you don't understand is that, only a handful of 'active'
>members are versed in the Queen's mode of communication, Latin...[English].
>Instead, Mandinka, Wollof, Jola, Sarahule, Fula and Arabic are the
>comfortable means of expression within 80-90% of both 'active' and
>'supporter' base members. As an outsider/insider on Gambian issues, you
>might
>not be familiar with problems facing Gambian
>goups/societies/movements/clubs
>past and present, especially, at the organizational level of participating,
>funding, leadership roles, implementation, consistency and assertiveness.
>We
>lack organizational discipline period. Since each and everyone, wants to be
>a
>leader and not follower/participant/supporter, a sickening reactionary
>attitude of WATCHING FROM THE SIDELINE AND LOBBING CRITICISMS left, right
>and
>center, praying and hoping for the group to falter or split. Due to past
>experiences and lessons learned from past Gambian organizations, we decided
>against the formal electoral process, mainly due to the fact that, not
>only,
>exist a Gambian Society in the same NY Gambian community [more than half
>its
>members  active participants/supporters of MRDG] but also, the avoidance of
>labeling: "GAAYI JAANGA LANGE" [the educated guys], The
>Wollof/Mandinka/Sarahule lead group, in London, It's the Former PPP
>renegades, in Sweden, It's the old "KOTOS" from MOJA[G]....do you get the
>drift? Try asking a Gambian, what are the main concerns with the current
>regime in Banjul...oops kanilai? He or she will give you a ton of
>anecdotes.
>Follow up with, what are the answers to the problems? I have a good job
>abroad, I don't care; If Jawara or Yahya goes, there's no one to take
>charge;
>and I don't want my folks back home to be harassed by the NIA. Upon further
>probing, are you a member of any group or support any political party? The
>answer, most of the time is in the negative.  Sometimes, one wonders how
>gullible, selfish or egoistic, one could fall in such trappings,
>especially,
>with such a rouge regime, whose record on corruption, human rights and
>liberties and misguided priorities are mind boggling. Contrary to your and
>many others assertions, we are not scared of Yahya Jahanama or his NIA
>dogs,
>nor hiding under any form of bogus names. We never hide our names and faces
>during our demonstrations [LIVE ON GRTS]; Our correspondence letters to
>Gambia and USA are all signed with our names and addresses; Our
>biweekly/monthly meetings are open to everyone; with the exception of a
>treasurer and a bank account, everything we do is on a voluntary basis and
>the love of country, Gambia.
>Hope this will clear the air. If not, make an effort and show up at our
>next
>meeting. We are not perfect and do not have the answer to all of Gambia's
>problems and Yahya's death squads and NIA, damni, we are doing something.
>What are you doing, instead of just writing on the Gambia-L? The ball is in
>your court.
>
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