Am Ready to Die for Gambia NDAM's Juwara Does Not Regret Life in Prison

The Independent (Banjul)
NEWS
June 28, 2004
Posted to the web June 28, 2004

By Makalo, Njie & Darboe
Banjul

In another of his trademark fire-and-brimstone speeches the released leader
of one of Gambia's opposition parties has said that he harbours no regrets
over the "preposterous" cause of his incarceration at Mile Two prisons and
was always ready to die for his country.

Speaking a few hours after his release on Friday after four months six days
in prison for supposed sedition, Lamin Waa Juwara matter-of-factly told a
restive crowd of supporters and sympathisers who had gathered in his
Brikama residence: "I have nothing to regret about this at all. If this is
the price I will have to pay to help save this country from political
misdirection so be it. I am ready to pay it a hundred times if only to make
political prudence and economic prosperity triumph over dictatorship,
corruption and political and economic mismanagement. If it is the price I
will have to pay to see the whole Gambia freed from the evil grip of a
lacklustre leadership, I am prepared to go to jail for it again and again.
In short I am ready to die for my country".

Mr. Juwara who appeared fit, sturdy and sound in his first public
appearance hours after he left Mile Two said NDAM would unreservedly throw
its whole weight behind the coalition, in its bid to change the political
status quo from one of ineptitude and bring betterment to the life of the
average Gambian. He said after ten years of political misdirection under
the APRC stewardship, it was time the opposition came together to put The
Gambia back on track. "We should do all we can to rescue democracy, good
governance and the rule of law for the Gambian people" he said,
adding: "there is no turning back in the struggle to free the people from
the dictatorship and economic hardship, and the biting corruption".

Juwara who was secretly whisked away from Mile Two Prisons while his
supporters and sympathisers including Ousainou Darboe (UDP), Omar Jallow
(PPP) Dulo Bah (NRP) and Honourable Halifa Sallah (PDOIS) were waiting
outside the gates to receive and give him a heroic welcome to their fold,
and dumped at Tabokoto added: "I am for the coalition. It is the only way
out of our political crisis. We the opposition need to iron out our
differences. The Gambia is a primary cause for all of us".

"Let us not think otherwise when we hear statements from the government
because those who stood up since 1994 with the ultimate aim of restoring
democracy in The Gambia are the people winning not the regime of the day.
The oppressor is losing the battle every passing day. That is why democracy
is on its way to be restored in The Gambia" he further opined.

Flanked by leading coalition members the fiery politician argued that if a
leader of President Jammeh's calibre should parade himself as a demigod,
while hypocritically pretending to be a democrat, it is incumbent on the
citizens of the country to take the political initiative and decide their
destiny. He described President Jammeh's utterances against journalists who
defied the media commission as irresponsible and desperate, from a leader
who wants to be seen in public as tough but has no moral high ground to
justify it.

"If journalists were to go to hell as he said, Jammeh, I and others will be
going with them" he said, emphasising: "the struggle for the truth to
prevail is a collective responsibility of all Gambians who should emulate
independent-minded journalists who are enemies of this regime because of
the revelations they make about it. If you are asked to do this and it
contravenes the constitution, say no" he said.

Meanwhile Honourable Halifa Sallah, Ousainou Darboe, Omar Jallow (OJ) and
Dulo Bah made a unified call for solidarity to salvage the Gambia from its
present political and economic gridlock.

"Lets abide by the law and struggle for the cause" they stated.

According to OJ the peculiar presence of the Police Intervention Force at
the Mile Two Prison gate armed with riot gears betrays the government as
having a hidden agenda.

"We were not there for trouble. We always want to protect this country but
not to destroy it. So we should not allow them to provoke us. We know
exactly what they want" he said, adding that it was better to distinguish
themselves from those who may act irresponsibly to provoke them.

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