KB,
This was just great,I enjoy it,however thank you for the response.But if I
could understand it is not yet certain who the next president is.Take care.
For Freedom
Saiks
----- Original Message -----
From: Dampha Kebba <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2000 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: Mr. Samateh's questions


> Thanks Mr. Samateh for your response. You raised an interesting scenario
> that frankly I did not think about. But you are right to point out that I
> will not condone electoral malpractice even if APRC is the victim. I think
I
> had gone on record once saying that if Yaya was to be forcibly removed
> (because I don't believe he can be removed through the ballot box. This is
> another topic and I think Hamjatta's brilliant piece the other day echoed
> most of my feelings), it should not necessarily follow that APRC should be
> banned like Yaya undemocratically banned the PPP and other politicians.
This
> does not however mean that Yaya will be allowed to contest. Yaya has a lot
> of questions to answer and if he is convicted of just one felonious
offense,
> it would be justifiable to ban him personally. Note here the criteria for
> banning him. The same thing applies to every citizen. You can argue that
> such a move can de facto spell the demise of the APRC because it is
> controlled by criminals and therefore if the top echelon are banned, the
> party will cease to exist. I do not think there is anything wrong in
having
> laws that say that felons are not allowed to run for office. This is of
> course just a personal opinion. If Gambians want a Constitution that
allows
> the likes of Yaya to run for office, I can live with that too. But if Yaya
> is tried before an impartial court of law and convicted of heinous crimes,
I
> will gladly support any move to ban him. So no, I don't think I can see
> myself advocating for Yaya's participation in an elections back home. I am
a
> firm believer that if a system is unfair, it will just lead to anarchy.
Some
> of these views might sound idealistic, but we can achieve our goals if we
> set high standards for our leaders. If we are all motivated to try and do
> what is right and not follow our own selfish desires, the country will be
a
> better place. I think we should all raise these 'fairness' issues with all
> our leaders back home. We have to spell out the rules at the onset and
make
> sure we consistently apply them. When we set those rules, we should have
the
> interest of Gambia paramount in our minds and not the interests of Yaya or
> Darboe or certain individuals if those interests conflict with the
national
> interest. I hope I answered your questions adequately. I must say that am
> feeling a little down after witnessing the Americans reward mediocrity by
> voting George Bush into office (so far).
> KB
>
>
>
> >From: Saikou Samateh <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Ivory Coast: Reflections on people power
> >Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 01:10:36 -0000
> >
> >Mr Dampha,
> >
> >I hope I did not keep you waiting long.However yours was an interesting
> >reading.As you might find out,this is not just a question of principles
for
> >me.You did mention that if the same thing should happen in the Gambia you
> >will maintain the same position.You gave an example,and as you indicated
> >this was just an example to reason out your point.Here is another one;
> >I was also talking to myself,saying,if mr Johnsson should ban the AFRC
from
> >contesting the elections in the Gambia and only 30% of  eligible voters
> >happen to vote and Darboe wins the elections,would Mr Dampha call for a
new
> >election because the AFPRC,that might likely win the elections,were
banned
> >from contesting ?I mean in principle !Would you call the international
> >community to put pressure on the Darboe government if it fails to call
for
> >new elections and unless the AFPRC is allow to contest ?Would you
> >definitely
> >use the Gambian tax payers money for a re-election just to allow the
AFPRC
> >to contest ?It seems to me that you will do it,since for you ,as you
> >indicated,it does not matter who is affected,you just want to see justice
> >done.
> >
> >For Freedom
> >Saiks
>
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