Sarian,
Thank you for your contributions. You are right about the term limits. It
will help deter leaders that are just interested in perpetrating themselves
in power. It is extremely vital that we include that provision in our
constitution. I recognize the importance of continuity, but that advantage
has to take a back seat to the advantage of having a new set of eyes every
10 years or so to tackle our problems. The 22nd Amendment to the U.S.
constitution has served them very well, in my opinion. It can serve us too.
You also point out an important danger about the intoxicating effect of
power. This is also on our minds which is why we have to be really careful
who we pick to head the interim government. It would be unfair to compare a
seasoned Gambian currently enjoying tremendous success in his field, with
Yaya when he took over power. He started off by appointing a military junta
to take over the running of the government. All his subsequent actions (as
opposed to what he was saying) pointed towards staying in power by any means
necessary. For example, the first few weeks they were in power, they stole
the idea of the former regime about vision 20/20 and started planning about
what to do in year 2020. So people like me knew from the Monday after the
Friday they took over, that these people wanted to stay. These people were
people who had nothing to go back to once they tasted power. Our next
interim leader will be different. Unlike Yaya, and his cohorts, he would not
need the celebrity of the presidency or high office in order to have basic
necessities like marrying a wife. I know cynicism is good, but there are
Gambians as honorable as Nelson Mandela who will come to power and then
relinquish it in the interest of peace for our country. We all know that
Yaya is not among those Gambians.
I share your hope to remove Yaya through the ballot box. But, would that
happen before another April 10 massacre? If he is removed through elections,
would we enjoy lasting peace?
KB
>From: Sarian Loum <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Sarian Loum <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Jammeh's Departure (ATTN: Asbjørn Nordam )
>Date: Mon, 8 May 2000 16:16:42 -0700
>
>You wrote:
>
>As we explained in our May 3, 2000 piece, we prefer that the leaders of the
>interim
>government be Gambians with no political aspirations. We believe that it is
>only
>then that we can have a smooth and real transition.
>
>Lets be very careful here about political or no political aspirations.
>Power is
>very sweet and when tasted its hard to relinquish. Didn't Jammeh himself
>said he
>wasn't interested in politics and that he would either go back to the
>barracks or
>take up farming. Did he do that? So what makes you think that somebody
>with no
>political aspiration won't do the same. I think term limits would be the
>way to go.
>Its the only way to shatter the dreams of power hungry politicians without
>having to
>resort to the gun.
>
>It would be really great if Jammeh can be removed from office through the
>ballot box
>rather than resorting to any means. We truly do need peace in the Gambia.
>
>regards,
>sarian
>
>
> > X-Authentication-Warning: ebaymail1.EBay.Sun.COM: noaccess owned process
>doing -bs
> > X-Authentication-Warning: ebaymail1.EBay.Sun.COM: noaccess@localhost
>didn't use
>HELO protocol
> > X-Originating-IP: [204.71.174.14]
> > Mime-Version: 1.0
> > Date: Fri, 5 May 2000 10:30:09 EDT
> > From: Dampha Kebba <[log in to unmask]>
> > Subject: Re: Jammeh's Departure (ATTN: Asbjørn Nordam )
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
> > X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by
>engmail3.Eng.Sun.COM id
>HAA05678
> >
> > Nordam,
> >
> > Thank you for your comments about the way forward for The Gambia after
>Yaya.
> > You raised some very important issues which Gambians and all peace
>loving
> > friends of The Gambia should be thinking about. I posted a piece a few
>days
> > ago entitled: MEMORANDUM: RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY THE 1ST 100 DAYS in
>which
> > we addressed some of your issues and promised to send follow-up pieces.
>We
> > invite discussion on these issues. Regrettably, the discussion started
> > yesterday in a rather negative light when someone purporting to be Mr.
>Demba
> > Jawo posted something on this subject. I want to take this opportunity
>to
> > extend my sincere apologies to Mr. Jawo and hope and pray that nothing
> > negative befall him as a result of that posting.
> > You touched on the issue of elections. Frankly, apart from a few issues,
> > there is nothing wrong with our electoral laws. It is the way the laws
>are
> > applied and the people who administer those laws that need a lot of
>fixing.
> > We can have very transparent elections in The Gambia by first of all
>making
> > sure that: (1) the registration process works. That would involve making
> > sure that all Gambians 18 years and over are given a fair opportunity to
> > register and vote. This should not be a problem. The size of the country
>and
> > our neighborliness would minimize the risks of non-Gambians registering
>to
> > vote. The safeguards that are going to be put in place would be very
> > comprehensive. (2) There would be a level playing field where every
> > political party would be able to campaign freely without intimidation.
>Even
> > Yaya's party would not be banned. However, anyone under the cloud of
> > investigations (for certain illegal activities committed during the Yaya
> > regime) would not be allowed to run for office. (3) We would ensure that
> > voting is carried out in a transparent manner. Every candidate will have
> > representatives present at every polling booth together with law
>enforcement
> > officials. These representatives will also be present when votes are
> > counted. (4) Mechanisms will be put in place to deal with all elections
> > irregularities swiftly. Election petitions will be filed with the Chief
> > Justice of The Gambia and he or she has to deal with the petitions
> > forthwith.
> > I can go on and on about having a transparent electoral process to
>ensure
> > free and fair elections but I want to invite debate and get other
>people's
> > perspectives on this very important issue.
> > We do not have a shortage of people who can rule Gambia. It used to be a
> > common and dangerous saying in Gambia during the Jawara regime: "who
>will
> > lead us after Jawara?" We got the answer in Yaya. As we explained in our
>May
> > 3, 2000 piece, we prefer that the leaders of the interim government be
> > Gambians with no political aspirations. We believe that it is only then
>that
> > we can have a smooth and real transition. After that, it is up to the
> > Gambian people to choose our leader through a free and fair election
> > process.
> > I will take this opportunity to also say that it is extremely important
>that
> > this time around we entrench in our constitution a provision for term
>limits
> > for all elected positions. We should make sure that these provisions
>will
> > only be changed through a referendum where 75% of the voting population
> > supports it. Again, we invite debates on these issues and want to assure
>you
> > and everyone else that there are dedicated and able Gambians who are
>ready
> > to step up and take over after WE GET RID OF YAYA BY ANY MEANS
>NECESSARY.
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: Asbjørn Nordam <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> > ><[log in to unmask]>
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Re: Jammeh's Departure
> > >Date: Fri, 5 May 2000 00:34:30 +0200
> > >
> > >Hello Mr. Ansumana Kujabi , Mr. Dampha Kebba and Mr Obrien-Coker,
> > >and friends on gambia-l
> > >
> > >First I will say that it´s alarming the news from the Gambia, if the
>free
> > >press is now threatened to keep silent from the coroners public
>hearings.
> > >And also that the student-leader is nowhere to be found.
> > >
> > >Next I will turn to the now upcoming comments on the time "after
>Jammeh".
> > >Short time after the april-incident in one of my notes to Gambia-L I
> > >focused
> > >on the coming period as very important. To say it briefly, we can all
>shout
> > >that Jammeh must go, but would at the same time focus on the time
>after.
> > >If
> > >we will gain respect we must be ready to take over, or at least have a
>plan
> > >for how to get on and give our contribution to a new and otherwise era
>in
> > >the Gambian history.
> > >I understand that many are impatient like Obrien-Coker. But these days
>I
> > >ask myself what will come afterwards, after we forced our leaders to
>go.
> > >Please, Obrien-Coker try to give your opinion of different scenarios,
>IF
> > >Jammeh for one reason or another really packed his things and continue
>life
> > >as a farmer ! (or could anyone imagine him back to his former job in
>the
> > >army ?). What do you think or suggest should happen next ? How should
>he
> > >step down/withdraw, who do you suggest will take over etc., etc. Try to
> > >elaborate on the "imagined" situation and the time after, with
>different
> > >scenarios.
> > >
> > >Fore me there are very many questions, some are practical and some are
> > >more
> > >political, personal and moral ones.
> > >
> > >As a foreigner who want to understand how systems exists in other
> > >countries,
> > >specially in our Gambia, I would like to ask you to give more
>information
> > >how is elections held in The Gambia ? I have never been to The
>Gambia,
> > >when rallies taking place and voting organized. But it´s my plan to
>come
> > >next time.
> > >
> > >Who can vote ? what are the elementary rules to get the right to vote
>and
> > >is
> > >there a reason you can lose it or the authorities take it from you?
>where
> > >to vote ? can you vote by letter, when you live abroad? how do you set
>up a
> > >list of candidates? can you just be nominated in one district only or
>do
> > >you
> > >have to be a candidate in a region or the country ? can you campaign as
>an
> > >individual or is it necessary that you register as a party-candidate ?
>and
> > >has it to be registered when and where ? who is monitoring the system
>at
> > >the different places/villages ? is it the authorities, or like here in
> > >Denmark voluntary people from the different parties nominated for the
> > >election who are responsible? how and who is collecting the ballots ?
>how
> > >is
> > >it practiced ? who is responsible for counting and publishing the
>results ?
> > >etc.
> > >Where in the process are there a risks of manipulating ? it seems to me
> > >that
> > >many of you don´t think there can be free and fair elections in the
> > >country,
> > >that is why I´m asking.
> > >
> > >Why do you think that the international community will not be invited
>to
> > >come and monitor the elections ?
> > >
> > >I will come back to the more political and moral issues. Those
>questions
> > >have more to do with the themes for a political platform and changes,
>and
> > >who can we trust.
> > >But let me for a beginning just ask if any one on this gambia-l could
>come
> > >up with names of past or present gambians, from all kind of positions
>in
> > >the
> > >society, who you believe has such a potential that in your opinion
>they
> > >could serve as a role model as a political figure you would recommend
>as a
> > >candidate and be glad to vote for? I´m not asking for the name of the
> > >coming president, but try to give examples of role-models for a
>politician
> > >working locally, in parliament or even as president. All names on
>people in
> > >the gambian history, A person whom you personally would like to cast
>your
> > >vote on, whom you think could be or have been a fine political leader.
>If
> > >we get many names, maybe we can spot what are the characteristics for
>the
> > >persons named, and is that what we are looking for in our coming
>political
> > >leaders ? From my side this is an experiment.
> > >If we can not go by names, then maybe some of you could try to give the
> > >characteristics you think is necessary for an ideal political figure.
> > >Imagine we should advertise for applicants to a job. How would you
>describe
> > >what is needed, what you are looking for from that person ?
> > >
> > >In Denmark it is easy to become a local elected or parliament member,
>if
> > >you join a party. But many people, who we all would be glad to
>nominate,
> > >would never dream of involving themselves into politics. For them
>politics
> > >would become a "dirty spot" on their reputation. They never want to
>become
> > >a
> > >part of that game, they feel that their integrity would never be the
>same.
> > >
> > >Comments and many questions from Asbjørn Nordam
> > >
> > > > The massive demonstrations held in New York City, London, Sweden and
>in
> > >many
> > > > other Cities around the world is a clear indication that President
> > >Jammeh
> > > > MUST GO and safe our country from total destruction and blood-shed.
>His
> > > > behavior has not only turned-off the entire Gambian population, but
> > > > turned-off also every international community. I have been talking
>to so
> > > > many Black Americans and Asian community who have all expressed
>their
> > > > outrage over the killing of innocent students in a country which had
> > >known
> > > > peace for decades. Now the word PEACE IS MORE THAN JUST A NAME to
>every
> > > > GAMBIAN living in and outside the country.
> > > >
> > > > The important question WE GAMBIANS NOW FACE is how do we GET RID OFF
> > >JAMMEH?
> > > > Do we use the BALLOT-BOX, or do we use ANY MEANS NECESSARY? Another
> > > > important question we face is, WHO IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO REPLACE
>HIM?
> > > > Starting with the former question, could Jammeh be voted out in a
>free
> > >and
> > > > fair election? And will he accept a defeat and step down? I think
>the
> > >answer
> > > > to this question could only be possible if Jammeh lifts the ban on
>all
> > > > political parties and encourage the atmosphere for a free and fair
> > >election
> > > > where INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO COME AND ORGANIZE
>AND
> > > > MONITOR THE ELECTIONS. But past and present experiences have clearly
> > > > illustrated that Jammeh will not be willing to invite International
> > > > observers to come and arrange and monitor a free and fair election;
> > >because
> > > > he knows that even past elections, he rigged it by force, that could
> > >have
> > > > been the elections which he could have won squarely. Now could he
>win
> > > > elections under such turmoil and dislike and anger, ofcourse not. So
> > > > therefore, could Jammeh be removed by ballot box? Obviously, he
>would do
> > > > what ever it takes to remain in power.
> > > >
> > > > The above analyses takes us to our latter question, ie BY ANY MEANS
> > > > NECESSARY?
> > > > ANSUMANA KUJABI
> > > >
>________________________________________________________________________
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> > > >
> > > >
> >
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