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
> > ________________________________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
> >
> >
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> > Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
> >
> >
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