United Democratic Party [UK] – Mission Statement

The United Democratic Party [UK] is a not for profit organisation founded on
the 27th February 2010 as an affiliated body to the Gambia’s main opposition
United Democratic Party [UDP], by concern citizens of the Gambia living in
the United Kingdom, whose primary aim and objective is to help end the reign
of tyranny and despotism in their beloved country, the Gambia, through
lawful and peaceful democratic means, and in partnership with the local
political opposition, help substitute it with a democratic, responsive,
accountable, transparent and law abiding government; a government that will
be sensitive to the plight of ordinary citizens and upholds the values of
human dignity and the constitution of the republic.

*Country's Political History*

The Gambia lies on the Western coast of tropical Africa, occupying an area
of 11,295 sq km, making it one of the smallest countries in Africa, and it
is a semi-enclave into Senegal. The Gambia has a population of about 1.5
million people and its capital city is Banjul.

The Gambia attained independence from Britain on the 18th February 1965
amidst doubts about its economic viability as a modern democratic sovereign
state. The first president of The Gambia was Alhagi Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara
who ruled the country from independence until 1994 when he was ousted in a
military coup headed by the then Lt. Yaya A.J. J Jammeh, who is now the
president. The coup was widely condemned by the international community
particularly the Commonwealth and the European Union.

Following the 1994 coup, Lieutenant Jammeh dissolved parliament and replaced
it with a military council called the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling
Council [AFPRC]. The constitution was also suspended and a ban on political
parties and political activity imposed.

In October 1994, the AFPRC announced a programme for transition to
democratic constitutional rule which provided for the restitution of elected
civilian organs of the state in four years. Both the local civic groups and
the international community condemned the length of the proposed transition.
The AFPRC responded to these pressures by establishing a National
Consultative Committee [NCC] to review the issue. The transition was later
reduced to two years but the ban on political parties and political activity
remained in force.

In April 1995, the AFPRC established a Constitutional Review Commission and
decided that the draft Constitution had to be submitted to a referendum
first before the ban on politics was to be lifted. Meanwhile, the junta
[AFPRC] had already formed its own 22 July Movement which manifested all the
features of a political party and was fully utilised to help Lieutenant
Jammeh [now Rtd. Colonel] contest the subsequent presidential election from
an advantaged position of incumbency. The transition process included the
compilation of a new electoral register, a referendum on a new constitution
and the presidential and parliamentary elections in 1996 and 1997
respectively.

In 1996, the ban on political parties and political activity was lifted but
the People’s Progressive Party of former president Jawara, the National
Convention Party and the Gambia People’s Party –the three main political
parties in the country prior to the coup – were banned from contesting the
forthcoming elections, as were all holders of executive office in the 30
years prior to the 1994 military takeover [the latter under Decree 89]. The
only pre-coup party authorised to contest the elections was a fringe party
called The People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism
[PDOIS]. These restrictions provoked strong criticism from the international
community particularly the Commonwealth, and eventually gave birth to the
United Democratic Party [UDP] in August 1996, exactly two weeks before the
presidential election. The UDP is headed by a prominent human rights lawyer
and former Vice President of The Gambia Bar Association.

*Human Rights and Political Governance*

In September 1996, the AFPRC transformed itself into a political party and
contested the presidential election which it won but the process was
rejected by the main opposition United Democratic Party as well as the
international community as neither free nor fair. Since then, the Gambia has
been faced with serious governance and human rights violation issues,
resulting to the creation of a repressive environment and a culture of fear
in the country.

Although the constitution provides for the protection of most human rights
and civil liberties, there are continuing cases of arbitrary arrests and
detentions without warrants or trial particularly against political
opponents and perceived opponents of the regime, and journalists -See US
Statement Department Human Rights Report 2009. Detainees also face prolong
pre-trial detentions and are normally held beyond the 72 hour constitutional
limit without charge.

On the 10th & 11th April 2000, 14 student demonstrators were shot dead in
broad daylight. A government own appointed Commission of Enquiry held the
security forces responsible for the killings but no prosecution has so far
being brought against anybody.

The 2008 & 2009 Amnesty International Reports also highlighted some
disturbing cases of suspected enforced disappearances. The fate of Kanyiba
Kanyi, an opposition activist arrested in 2006, remains unknown as the
government continued to deny knowledge of his where about despite repeated
ruling by the Gambian courts for his release or for a cause to be shown as
to why he should not be.

In July 2008, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice [CCJ] ordered the
Gambian government to release Chief Ebrima Manneh, a former reporter from
the Daily observer arrested in 2006. The government ignored the ruling and
continues to deny that he was in their custody.

The regime restricts freedom of speech and press through intimidation,
unwarranted arrests and detentions, and restrictive legislation. The
restrictive media environment that exists in the country has forced many
journalists into self imposed exile or out of business.

Although the constitution provides for an independent judiciary, the regime
continues to fire judges particularly those who made unfavourable decisions
against it, without the due process being followed. The most recent case
being the removal of the country’s Chief Justice, Justice Abdou Karim
Savage.

The lower courts tend to be corrupt and many a times subject to executive
pressure.

A recent report by the Millennium Challenge Corporation indicates that the
Gambia falls short in a number of governance indicators such as management
of state assets, government effectiveness and accountability. In addition,
the National Parliament is not effectively performing its oversight roles
and responsibilities particularly in the area of budget formulation and
public expenditure control.

*Aims and Objectives*

The United Democratic Party [UK] recognised that the UDP is inter alia;

*1*. By far the biggest opposition party in the Gambia.

*2*. Intends to make credible political and constitutional reforms that
would nurture in a vibrant democratic society based on respect for the rule
of law and fundamental principles of democratic representation, and in which
citizens are able to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms without
undue state interference.

*3*. Intends to introduce a presidential term limit into the constitution
[this is expected to be an entrenched clause] as a way of ending the culture
of self perpetuating rule.

*4*. Intends to strengthen and safeguard the independence and integrity of
the judiciary particularly the criminal justice system.

*5*. Is committed to making tangible investment in the productive sectors of
the economy so as to stimulate growth, and to the judicious appropriation of
taxpayers’ money.

*6*. Will persevere to improve the quality of state delivered social
services particularly in the health and education sectors.

*7*. Intends to create conducive environment for attracting the much badly
needed foreign investment into the country.

*8*. Have the political will to tackle the perennial issue of youth
unemployment head on.

*9*. Despite being the biggest opposition party, have serious capacity
issues. This is attributed to inadequate funding.

*10*. Lacks sufficient visibility on the ground due to limited campaign
tools i.e. T-Shirts, Billboards, Posters and political souvenirs.

*11*. Lack of funds hinders the party’s ability to conduct regular public
political activities.

*12*. Lack of regular public political activity tends to make their
upcountry structures dormant.

*13*. Communication between the executive and the upcountry structures seems
to be periodic and not robust.

*14*. The party’s overall political communication strategy and mechanisms
need improving – There has to be in place an effective and more robust
communication media outlet i.e. a website that could be regularly updated
with high quality information.

*15*. The party needs to take a proactive and more vigilant stand towards
the upcoming National Voter Registration to ensure that the integrity of the
process is guaranteed and safeguarded.

*16*. Campaign for the 2011 presidential election must begin in earnest.


The United Democratic Party [UK] intends to raise sufficient funds from
within the Gambian communities in the Diaspora to;

*a)* Help address the capacity issues confronting the party so as to make it
more competitive in the face of a wealthy incumbent.

*b)* Acquire enough campaign tools, i.e. T-Shirts, and posters among other
things, to create enough on the ground visibility for the party before the
2011 presidential election.

*c)* Help improve the party’s political communication strategy and
mechanisms

*d)* Help finance party leader’s nationwide tours and public meetings
[rallies].

*e)* Help strengthen the party’s local structures nationwide, and encourage
more grass root support and participation.

*f)* Help fund the party’s 2011 presidential and 2012 parliamentary
elections campaign.


The United Democratic Party [UK] urges every Gambian, particularly those in
the Diaspora, to dutifully support this venture by making generous donations
to the organisation, and together we can build a just, democratic and
prosperous Gambia.

Prospective donors can register their interest with the coordinator by
email; [log in to unmask] Alternatively, you can make payment[s]
into our NatWest bank account, details of which are as follows; *Account
Name: KD/UDP UK, Account No. 23644079, Sort Code; 602479*. For those living
outside the UK, our International Bank Account Number [IBAN] is; GB07 NWBK
60247923 644079.

*Donate money to the UDP-UK, and secure a real change for The Gambia in
2011. *

S.S Daffeh
*Secretary-General***


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