Kebba, I entirely agree with the sentiments you expressed regarding the
upcoming elections. The government has a two pronged strategy to make their
scheme of stealing the elections work. First they foolishly think they can
avoid complying with requirements they undertook albeit under pressure from
the UN, the EU, the commonwealth, the governments of the US and U.K by
proffering promises they don't intend to fulfill. Not a single condition
outlined by each of these entities have been met by the government of Yahya
Jammeh. As of this writing, not a single one of them agrees that the
conditions for a free and fair poll are in place, which is a direct prelude
to not recognizing the elections valid if and when they are held. This is why
you have not yet seen any repeal of the odious decrees, no access to GRTS or
even a morticum of responsible journalism on their part, an end to using the
security services to perpetrate cruelty and barbarism on innocent people or
using state resources as a charity spigot. I also know that a last minute
announcement of compliance especially if it is close to the poll date would
definitely tantamount to the same refusal to recognize. So this tyrannical
government can delude itself that they can outmaneuver all that are
interested in the well being of the Gambia who will settle for nothing less
than a thoroughly free and fair elections in which every one of our citizens
would exercise all of their rights unencumbered. It is not going to happen.
The second part of their strategy is to cynically exploit the hunger and
poverty that an atrophied and inflation laden-economy has created for our
people by putting millions of dalasis in government vehicles with their
so-called 'council of elders ' acting as primary accessories to bribery and
canvassing the nation. They are convinced a combination of dishing out
ill-gotten money and intimidation would be sufficient to let them squeak
through a victory. That strategy assumes two things. First the majority of
Gambians just don't understand the extent of the difficulties they are facing
and why. Second it assumes that fear of state-sponsored violence still has
the same level of potency in it's impact on ordinary people as it did 1996. I
personally don't know of any individual who does not view the issues of this
coming October as  being existential in nature warranting the utmost
sacrifice. The people would stand up to the bitter end and if Yahya Jammeh
thinks Gambians would forfeit their nation to a thirtysomething year-old
murderer and thief, he must also be a lunatic. He can do all he believes
would perpetuate him including leaning on the judiciary to bottle up
important constitutional matters currently being litigated despite their
urgency, refuse to allow all Gambians full rights of participation, continue
to lye to every government or organization and increase repression. None of
that would forestall the necessary change our people have resolved to make in
October.
Karamba

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