Dave,  Yus,

I strongly believe that the most important reason behind the APRC
candidate's victory at the October
Presidential elections is the relatively sudden transformation of Gambia's
infrastructure since the AFPRC ceased power in 1994. Since last summer,
months before the elections, some friends and I, both in Copenhagen and in
Stockholm, concluded that Jammeh was going to win the Presidential
elections, even in the absence of psychological intimidation. It was also
clear that Human Rights issues, in as much as they could affect the outcome
of the elections, were closest to the hearts of relatively "informed and
educated" Gambians, especially those based overseas. The questions I have
tried to grapple with was not just the logical WHY? but perhaps more
importantly, what to do about the answer(s) to it?
My immediate concern right here is simply to point out that dismissing
infrastructure development issues as insignificant or rather separating them
from issues relating to democratic freedoms narrows down the struggle for
Human Rights into compartmentalised icons vulnerable to manipulation by
political opportunists. (Rights to basic health care, to decent housing, to
education, and food security, all fall under the U.N Charter for Human
Rights).
I am afraid that failure to appreciate the importance of the construction
projects to overall development and its effects on the national psyche risks
costing you your credibility as proponents of a loyal opposition. On the
other hand you seem to directly enhance some APRC supporters usurp the
reputation of proto-nationalists.

 I will submit my take on these matters in a separate post to the list by
the week-end.

Have a good day.

Momodou S Sidibeh
(Stockholm/Kartong)

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