Ebrima, thanks for the forward. Matter of fact, I was about to respond to
Karamba's piece with the same sentiments from your Source when I saw the
mail you sent. The decision from the UDP leadership showed that they
appreciate the crucial nature of the registration process we are embarked
in. This is not to say that other parties that wish to attend do not
appreciate the importance of this exercise. I am glad to hear that ALL the
political parties in the Opposition are taking this matter very seriously
and would ensure that ALL and ONLY eligible Gambians are registered to vote.
The 'challenges' should be prepared NOW. Right here we have a genuine reason
to boycott the elections IF we detect foul play during the registration
process that we cannot remedy through court challenges. As your Source said,
this is do or die.

I will also take this opportunity to appeal to Karamba and the UDP
leadership to explore means of having a representation at the ALD programs.
Spreading their message in the Diaspora and raising funds is also a
worthwhile enterprise. Although we recognize that there are pressing issues
on the ground that need to be taken care of, it will not also hurt the party
if they have a representative (could be one of their stalwarts in the
Diaspora) out here to present a paper at the ALD symposium. I also hope that
talks with the Diaspora to form a United Opposition is NOT also put on hold.

We have not heard from the other parties yet, so I assume that they will be
attending as promised earlier on. If the other parties have a strong
machinery back home to take care of the registration exercise, I see no
reason why they cannot attend the events here as planned. Personally, I will
not hold it against any party that declines to send a representative from
Banjul. Likewise, I will not criticize any party that decides to send a
powerful delegation, leaving behind a strong presence at the registration
venues in Gambia. Basically, as far as I am concerned, I will accept the
good faith reason of any party for attending or declining to attend.

Ebrima, thanks again for your contributions and those of your Sources.
Karamba, we also thank you for your tireless efforts and we hope people like
you or Mballow can do something about the ALD presentation; depending of
course on what the organizers want to do also.
KB


>From: Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: UDP almost blundered
>Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 14:50:57 -0000
>
>Gambia-L:
>
>The unedited e-mail below came from one of my sources in The Gambia.
>
>Ebrima
>
>_______________________________________________________________
>
>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: UDP almost blundered
>>Date: Tue, 22 May 2001
>>
>>Ebrima,
>>UPD's leadership almost blundered by planning to attend the ALD
>>celebrations in Washington DC this week end.  However, they were advised
>>against travelling at the time when the critical registration exercise is
>>underway. The war will be won and lost in the next six odd weeks during
>>which time the APRC will try every means possible to register every moving
>>object.  Recognising this, the UDP leadership wisely decided to put all
>>foreign trip for now and to concentrate instead on the registration
>>exercise.  The Opposition recognises the need to be vigilant during the
>>registration period.  They seem determined to register all their eligible
>>supporters while scrutinising every move of the APRC who are hell bent on
>>registering foreigners, Cassamance rebels, Guinea-Bissau refugees and any
>>moving object. The war will be won and lost during the coming few weeks
>>and
>>I am happy that the Opposition is now aware of this and thus the need to
>>postpone all foreign trips until further notice and participate vigilantly
>>in the registration exercise.
>>
>
>_________________________________________________________________________
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