If you picked up the phone and called Sedia Jatta at home , he will gladly
discuss public policy with . The same is true for Ousainou Darboe. It
wouldn't make a difference if you have never met neither man. Similarly if
you picked up a phone and called Haruna Darboe in Atlanta , or Joe Sambou in
Chicago or Jabou Joh in Memphis, you could engage in fruitful dialogue about
Gambian matters. What all these folks have in common is not a unanimity of
ideas  on  how best to move Gambia forward. The binding thread among them is
a strong and fundamental believe in democracy and the rule of law. Having
spoken to all of them I also know that they bring incredible passion and
integrity to issues of our country. I have not always agreed with them on all
issues, but with a uniform commitment to open and fair contest of ideas,
engaging them has always been a worthwhile exercise. I have a strong sense as
a citizen I could do business with people of this caliber not because there
is anything special about them as individuals, but because of their strong
devotion to a law based foundation for our national journey. Once we all
agree on the rules and follow them scrupulously and fairly, constructive
engagement becomes almost inevitable as various ideas compete for public
support. Our system of government and more importantly will be better of for
it.
      As I have said before the government of Yahya Jammeh cannot ever be
constructively engaged precisely because the regime and its entire
configuration is not interested in a process and institution based form of
government. Their agenda is the molding of a thorough Banana republic by
collapsing  or severely compromising all institutions leaving the people with
only an appearance of a government.I will not question the motivations of
those who advocate a dialogue with the regime of Yahya Jammeh. For the record
I will never ever be part of such an effort because of the following reasons:
1-The government in my view is illegitimate because it did not democratically
assume power in manner prescribed by Gambian law.
2-The President is personally responsible for murdering innocent Gambian
citizens, directing the abductions, torture and detention even more of our
people in a deliberate and willful scheme to terrorize a civilian population
into submission
3-The President has by design subverted the laws of the Gambia by presiding
over a Gestapo like regime that uses law enforcement as an instrument of
terror on his political opponents. Equal protection under law which is at the
very essence of a civilized country has long been set aside in the Gambia.
4-Gambians cannot count on judicial redress of their grievances in their own
country because of the dictatorial tendencies of the regime that has
succeeded in compromising the judiciary.
5-The pillage and plunder of the poor Gambian to finance the insulting
excesses of a President of country in which most people can't afford decent
food. (I will soon submit a ten page piece on an exhaustive analysis of State
Houses expenditures both on and off the book accounts. Tens of millions of
Dalasis of the Gambian people's money being squandered .)
    To those who understand all the above and even agree with them, I ask you
a simple question. What do they mean to you? What do you hope to uphold if
all these significant issues do not merit your total repudiation of a regime
that is the closest thing to evil? I am yet to see anyone come to this list
and say well you know what Yahya Jammeh murdered my relative or jailed my
sister but I want to leave all that unresolved and move on. Justice is at the
heart of any resolution of the Gambian problem. This regime has committed
unforgivable crimes against our nation and people. The key to forging ahead
must first adequately address these serious national grievances in way and
manner prescribed by our laws. I find all these prattle about moving on
utterly unpersuasive especially when it is paraphrased with a contention that
the regime has committed all these serious crimes. If murder, pillage and
plunder do not sufficiently perturb us as a people who wish our country well,
what will? We are not talking about buttonholing Halifah or some other decent
politician about  issues. Yahya Jammeh and his entire regime are nothing but
an incestuous cabal of criminals who want to appeal to the worst instincts of
Gambians . They want you to be accessories to their ongoing evil enterprise
by having you in effect rationalize crimes against your own people. It is
always easier when the victim is not close enough but don't ever assume it
doesn't hurt. One high school kid from Brufut I was watching on tape the
other day at an event that was held in Sept of 2001 summed the entire battle
. He stood before a crowd in the center Brufut and said he was there to urge
the people of his town to oppose the brutal regime of Yahya Jammeh who
murdered his friend and classmate in cold blood on April 10 of the previous
year. He said his friend bled to death almost in his hands and the trigger
man is walking streets thanks to a creul regime who both murdered his friend
and was mocking his memory. In a brave show of character, he also told the
assembled crowd that his parents have thrown him out of their home for
opposing Yahya Jammeh. He then turned and pointed out  another friend he said
has taken him in and was sharing what little he had with him. He told the
crowd he felt the only thing he could do for his friend who the gov't has
killed was to do all he can to bring about a regime change and ultimate
justice for the victims. In a conservative town like Brufut, to defy one's
parents was a pretty traumatic thing for a high school kid to do, but this
chap did it because it was the right thing to do. We all have to stand for
those who can't readily stand for themselves. This whole idea of us being in
the Diaspora somehow making us detached frankly strikes me as a canard. I am
part and parcel of what happens to my country and to my people. My own mother
suspended medical treatment so that she can travel 300 miles to my native
Georgetown to go an vote for President. I have a responsibility to vindicate
the very purpose of her vote which was illegally diluted by ineligible voters
and other shenanigans.
     My objective is to work for the establishment of regime composed of
honorable people chosen by the Gambian people of their own volition. That
cannot be this regime under any circumstances. They are irredeemable
criminals in my mind.
Karamba

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