Gambia-L:

The unedited e-mail below is a short commentary from a source in the Gambia.

Ebrima

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>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Cheyassin: No Consultation with people on proposed Constitutional
>changes
>Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2000
>
>Ebrima,
>
>This Jammeh Administration is characterised by many as inept, dishonest and
>corrupt. Pap Cheyassin is an epitome of such characterisation. At his news
>conference, he blatatly lied to the press and the general public, by giving
>the impression that a process of consultation with those whose lives will
>be affected by the proposed amendments, that is the political parties,
>members of civic society and the population in general, has started. When
>he said that "the State has completed its consultations on the (various)
>changes it seeks to make on the 1997 Constitution", he was attempting to
>convey the impression that indeed the stakeholders had been consulted on
>the proposed changes.  This is
>indeed furthest from the truth.  In fact, up to the moment that I am
>scribbling this message, the members of the public are unaware of which
>section of the Constitution is being proposed for amendment by Cheyasin
>Secka. If the people were consulted, there would certainly not be the
>uncertainty and speculations as to the affected sections.
>
>In anticipating that such a charge will be levelled against him, he assured
>Gambians that "the State will give its reasons for the proposed changes and
>that the press will inevitably make their contribution." This process is
>totally unacceptable. There should have been a national conference or at
>least a national workshop/seminar where the merits and de-merits of each of
>the Government's proposal are discussed with the participation of members
>of civic society and political parties.  The manner in which Cheyassin
>intends to proceed with this extremely important proposal is unacceptable
>and will be resisted by at least the UDP and the NRP. Since PDOIS may also
>be affected directly, they are also likely register their opposition to
>both the proposed amendments and the process of consultaion adopted by
>Cheyassin Secka.
>
>All the same, indications are that both the UDP and NRP may boycott the
>presidential election in 2001, if the National Assembly should ever endorse
>these proposals.  The elections will be left to the APRC alone to contest
>and then face the wrath of the International Community. What these
>nonentities fail to realise is that the current Jammeh Government is an
>illegitimate Government which should be trying to gain legitimacy in the
>months ahead. But instead, they are deepening and widening the isolation of
>the Gambia.
>

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