Hi!
     I would first of all like to thank the managers for re-subscribing me
and also take the opportunity to welcome back Sidibeh and Kebba. I would
also like to congratulate MRDG-UK for their successful program. I was
determined as I re-subscribed to be a silent subscriber (due to a backlog of
commitments and time constraints) and just read the interesting debates but
I can't help breaking that rule as the brilliant piece sent by Amie
Bojang-Sissoho seems to have escaped attention on the L and it would be sad
if the brilliant issues she raised, which have relevance both now and in the
future, should pass by unattended. The brilliance of the points she makes
stem from the fact that just as many were so preoccupied with getting rid of
Jawara that nobody seemed to have given a thought about what his successor
would be, the same could be said to be prevailing now. One should not
concentrate so much in trying to effect change that one ignores the
important issue of trying to effect positive, meaningful change and not just
any kind of change. Positive, meaningful change is change that would right
the wrongs being committed and ensure the continued propagation and practice
of good governance. The opposite is the equivalent of jumping from the
frying pan into the fire. There are many issues that should concern all
Gambians and Amie starts the ball rolling by giving perspectives from a
gender/occupation angle.

Amie wrote:

"What guarantee do we have that the mass media, Gambia Radio and Television
Services - GRTS in this case will practice according to constitutional
requirements for freedom of expressions, that is without discrimination
based on gender, political affiliation, ethnicity or religion .. will GRTS
be used as a tool for enlightenment for the masses and not only a mouthpiece
for those in power??

That editors and producers have their professional say in what is broadcast
and are not going to repeat the negatives points of censorship and fear of
dismissal."

While it is impossible for members of the L to give guarantees, I think it
is important to give guidelines as there are political parties and others on
the L who might one day be the rulers of our country. Just as Tombong is
incessantly lambasted every time he writes something here, I think we should
move beyond criticism and offer concrete guidelines so that the mistakes
that have been and are being committed now would not be repeated in the
future. We should offer guidelines to ensure fair and equal access to the
national media, define the use of the national media in development issues
and try to instil codes of conduct in all civil servants and not just those
in the media, to understand that their loyalty should be to the country and
not any passing government or individual.

Amie also wrote:

"The present situation may seem as tokenism, but it has brought to the
attention of the masses that it is possible to have women as leaders in
national affairs.  Where will women stand when there is change?  Are they
going to be chosen as leaders with power, window dressing to mask gender
politics or just as yai compines to be used as and when it suits the
politicians?"

The position of women in any society is important and the success and
advancement of women in a society signals the society's level of
development. It is therefore important for everyone proposing change to have
concrete plans for women's development and advancement as equal and valuable
partners and not just as tools to be utilised when there is the need to sing
songs and dance dances or rubberstamps for statistical purposes.

Amie further wrote:

"How will the selection processes of political parties ensure fair and
sincere selection of eligible women to stand for municipal, chieftaincy and
parliamentary or presidential elections? "

This is also very important in the fight against marginalisation of women
within the political parties. Maybe the political parties that are
represented here can address this issue.

Amie wrote:

"Are women's concerns to their right to take informed decisions on family
planning contraceptive use, to understand why they should not condone
traditional practices such as early marriage, female genital mutilation,
nutritional taboos for pregnant women, forced menopause, rape, and more
recent phenomena such as HIV/AIDS, baby dumping, back-street abortion and a
host of other concerns that affect them be left to the mercy of some men who
are after their selfish interest no matter what women go through?"

What institutions, guidelines etc. would be put in place to guard the
interests of women? For men in decision- and policy-making positions to hide
behind "it is our culture" and condone harmful practices whilst knowing that
they would never physically undergo what they are condoning is something
that should be discouraged. Culture, just like people, should not be static
but should rather evolve and develop. To take a position that was taken
hundreds of years ago under completely different environments without due
regard to the present environment cannot but be fallible.

Amie further wrote:

"Is there going to be so much emphasis on revenge that priorities for the
masses will be marginalized?"

This is a very important question. For any meaningful, effective and lasting
peace to take place, an emphasis on revenge should be avoided. This is not
to say that those who violated and abused their offices and powers should
not be held accountable just as those under the Jawara regime were held
accountable. Everyone should be held accountable for the good and bad deeds
committed whilst in office but the emphasis should be on transparent, speedy
and fair legal processes. Some might say why when justice has been denied
many a Gambian at present. To this I say, "Two wrongs do not make a right".
To avoid another group down the road clamouring for change because of
unfairness, I think any action taken against anyone should be based on
fairness. I also think that revenge should not be a priority in the first
place but rather development issues and the building of the basic
governmental, economic, social and other foundations of the country.

Amie finally wrote:

"And finally are commitment to policies and conventions be just a collection
from conferences, workshops at long hours of meetings for academic exercises
or implementation for the people on whose behalf they have been put
together."

I hope the results of policies and conventions would be concrete actions
geared toward the realisation of concrete aims for the betterment of our
dear country be it under the current or any other government.

I once again thank Amie for her brilliant piece and urge Lers to look into
the issues she raised. Thanks.

Buharry.

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