MusA,

You know the problem is that the Gambian people are deny  access /possibility
to speak their minds as free people,the problem is not G-L but the effort and
desire of the this brutal regime to control the minds of the people.It is only
in the Gambia-L that one is free to speak his or her own mind and be defended
to do so even if the issue is not relevant to the person defending,you are
very right,we have perhaps never come so close to democracy,even though
sometimes we see tendencies that are meant to discredit this forum,but the
rules are here and they are always put to action.That this forum is taken as
an anti-Jammeh forum should not worry you that much,the reason being that
those who are speaking their minds against the Jammeh regime are perhaps at
this moment the majority and have nothing to lose.In any any real democracy
the majority decision prevail and at the same time take note of the minority
decision,the minority are speaking their mind and they are defended to do so.
As Saul rightly said,this is the only place where Gambians can speak their
minds without fear of losing this forum or their jobs.The day after the
massacre of the students,people were speaking their minds in the radio
programmes, more powerfully than we have ever done here in the forum.Saul is
very right to say that we are not saying much,I wish your cousin in Banjul  is
able to provide you with a recorded version of some of these programme,then
you will get to understand that we are  just not saying much,or perhaps some
one should help you to get access to Padacostas speech.
Concerning some of the proposals coming from the G-l.I think MUSA,every
sincere Gambia should not sit and be a passive onlooker to all the events that
are unfolding in that country.We have a conscience,if we cannot remove Jammeh
then the little we can do is to speak   our minds.There is nothing wrong for
some members of  the G-L to write a letter to Jammeh or any body else to say
that we are expecting a free and fair elections or that they should stop
murdering our brothers and sisters,Musa I dont think you are telling us that
such is wrong and could be undermining the credibility of the G-l.?,leaving in
this peaceful Europe we should be able to say to our people we are with you in
these difficult times.Such moves does not mean that we share any political
ideology,my political believes with that of Ebrima Ceesay or Saul Khan could
be very different,but we might have one thing in common and that is concern
for our country.The traditional Bantaba is able to survive back home because
it is from there that many events in the life of the village unfold.The G-l is
popular in the Gambia because it is in line with popular opinion at home,this
will only increase the value and credibility of the G-L and there is nothing
to fear,no need to ring a bell.JAMMEH MUST GO BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY !!!

For Freedom
Saiks

You hit the nail on the head concerning the state of Gambia-L. Gambia-l is
here for all to spill out their obstinate opinion without fear or favor, but
until we learn to disagree and work toward the 'big picture', Africa's
problems will forever remain ominous.

Malafy "Mafy" Jarju



On Tue, 09 May 2000, Musa Jeng wrote:

>
> Is Gambia-L trying to wear too many hats?
>
> Gambia-l has become one of the most popular lexicons in most Gambians
> households both in the Diaspora and at home. My cousin, residing in
> Banjul will call me in the middle of the night asking me to help him get
> subscribe to the –L, everybody at home believes it is the only place
> that the real truth can be heard especially during the April 10 massacre
> of students. Every Gambian yearned to have access to the truth, and
> Gambia-l is seen as a source of the truth that is not under the wimps of
> any controlling authority. The winds of change is blowing rapidly and
> the G-L is beginning to have quite a few tentacles; also unconsciously
> forces and opinions are trying very hard to cloth the G-L with a wrapper
> of their own making. Fact, the G-L is popular because any force does not
> manipulate it and every opinion can be heard, especially if civility and
> reciprocal respect can be buttressed in our dialogue. One of the major
> criticisms so far leveled against the G-L is seen as an anti-Jammeh
> forum, whether that characterization is completely accurate is
> debatable. Clearly, most of the opinions aired by individuals on the G-L
> are against Jammeh, but are equally against the former Jawara regime and
> I can see them to be also critical of our future leaders. Instead of
> complaining, we should be celebrating for our embracing of democracy
> where the power of opinions can be a source for governance and policy
> making.
>
> But is it also accurate to point out whether the G-L is getting carried
> away? Is the role of the G-L clearly defined for everyone to understand
> its function? Has the Gambia-l adopted a cult like mentality, and anyone
> perceived to have opinions outside of this cult is attacked and to be
> silenced? Personally, I am confident that there is no conspiracy of any
> sort within the G-L, but clearly having an opinion that is not seem to
> be main stream does receive an unwarranted and unfair treatment by some
> members of the –L. It is fundamental to differentiate opinions of
> individuals on the G-L, and the defined role of the G-L. the Gambia-L
> has recently adopted a role that I believe operated outside of its
> perceived function. Not to impose my own definition of the role of the
> G-L, I think of the G-l as a Gambian forum where ideas and issues
> relevant to our country is debated and argued upon, and hopefully can
> have an impact on governance and to our socio-economic challenges. The
> name Bantaba from the old country gives one of the important elements of
> participation, family-like dialogue and civility. Clearly, the G-L
> cannot be monolithic as indicated by some of the contributors, or even
> be seen as driven by an ideology or spinemaster who are only interested
> in promoting their political candidate or will for that matter. The
> above can be done through the medium of the G-L, but it is important to
> differentiate them from the opinion of the G-L. In fact the G-L should
> not have an opinion. In America, the media is usually attacked by
> conservative as being a liberal media, but yet still every shades of
> opinions are to be heard whether as an advocate or from a credible
> journalist. The G-l is being attacked as an anti-Jammeh forum, and of
> course we all know that is not by designed, but when Jammeh supporters
> are not allowed to be heard with civility and respect, it only
> reinforces that argument and fairly so.
>
> Also, there have been letters written to Jammeh and other organizations
> coming from the G-L and I am not sure how prudent such a move is.
> Certain opinions of the G-L base on their political proclivities (to
> borrow one of Hamjatta’s favorite) can put forward such letters and try
> to impact policy, but the G-L should not be seen as taking a position in
> terms of promoting an ideology or a political force. The G-L is a forum
> for all opinions and will not be effective in this endeavor if it takes
> position base on opinions of some of the contributors.
>
> Personally, the G-L is the closest thing Gambia has ever gotten closer
> to democracy, and where opinions of every individual can be heard if it
> is done in civility and respect for the forum itself. The forum will
> continue to effectively function in this role if it differentiate the
> G-L medium from the opinion of individuals, groups or any popular
> political leanings. The G-L is the source of truth where every Gambian
> can be heard, and if you disagree, you have every right to be equally
> heard. Yet still I will like to extend congratulations to the pioneers
> of this brilliant forum, and together we can take it to another level
> worthy of emulation at home.
>
> Thanks
>
> Musa Jeng
>
>
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>
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