Musa,
Well, l don't want to beat a dead horse as they say, and l certainly do not
want anyone to launch at me with machetes held high for addresssing this
issue again, but,this echoes my sentiments exactly.
In all sincererity, l also do not see how Halifa Sallah can bear the sole
responsibility for the failure of government to abide by the Constitution. It
is not as if the government has experts sitting in panelled rooms reviewing
our constitution to look for loopholes that Halifa has left for them, in
order to justify what is going on in our country. It is clear as daylight
that even the most basic aspects of our Contitution are being ignored by the
Jammeh government, just ask any journalist who prints anything they do not
want to hear, or Citizens FM, or any average citizen who is afraid to speak
their mind.
l asked a question before which no one answered. Would this constitution not
have been in effect if Halifa Sallah had rejected it?.And let us suppose for
a minute that Mr Sallah had that weight behind his decision, and that a
Constitution acceptable in the eyes of his critics were put into effect, can
we really believe that this would have made much of a difference to an
administration such as we have right now in The Gambia?
The responsibility being heaped on Halifa gives the impression that this
guy is mightier than anyone in our country, as if his acceptance or
rejection of the Constitution could have stopped what has been unfolding in
our country. Could his condemnation of Yaya Jammeh's desire to run for office
have stopped Yaya from running? Also, Halifa's argument that Yaya has a right
to run for office is true. Everyone has a right to run for office, the
questions is, whether the people choose to vote for them or not, that is
where the checks can be applied.
Hamjatta has every right to perhaps criticise Halifa for his view or position
on these issues, and leave it at that, but to lay such a huge responsibility
on one individual, in the face of the rampant disregard for our constitution
that this administration has displayed is amazing to say the least.Does the
Constitution belong to Halifa? Why is it that an effort to create democratic
space is so much under fire, when those who are the real culprits of the
situation unfolding in our country should be the ones being challenged for
ignoring the most basic of human rights? What is the point here?
l would rather deal with an individual who is making attempts to create
"democratic space", than someone who disregards the basic tools of government
just to perpetrate their desire to be on top come what may.
l think the million dollar question here that Mr kanteh has not considered is
this:
Do we really have the kind of atmosphere in The Gambia right now where a move
to impeach the President will be undertaken with dilligence on behalf of the
people by those elected to represent us? No doubt some will speak up and come
forward, but where will their efforts lead in the face of a government that
has demonstrated that they do not necessarily have to abide by the law in
their efforts to get what they want?
In the interest of an intelligent debate.
Jabou Joh
In a message dated 1/19/00 10:00:24 PM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< Hamjatta:
I have been following your debate wih Halifa and Saul, and both of you have
elevated the discussion and the G-L is definitely the winner.But
looking at the above statements, do you honesly believe that a flawless
constitution would have made a difference to this administration, or
havee they even attempted to rule by this constitution you deemed to be
flawed. Are you suggesting that Halifa contributed to the political
situation we are presently facing. It is rather convenient to engage in
Monday Morning Quarter Backing, and lay everything on Halifa's heels.
Most of us supported this administration and saw them has an alternative to
a corrupted status quo, and it would be rather disingenuous to
blame Halifa who decided not to sit on the perriphery but be part of finding
a democratic path for our country. To even suggest that Halifa
has any role to play to the political situation you are describing is
ludicrous. And I am not in anyway against raising issues with Halifa,
but let us direct blame to the right individuals(Jammeh's Admisintration),
the Sheriff Dibbas, Hassan Musa, and other politicians that opted
to run rather than fight for their believes
Musa Jeng
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