Juwara Urges Others to Defy Ban




Daily Observer
</publishers.html?passed_name=Daily%20Observer&passed_location=Banjul>  (Banjul)
October 30, 2000
Banjul
The UDP's Lamin Juwara has asked President Yahya Jammeh to explain why Buba
Baldeh, a former minister of the overthrown PPP government, is allowed to
campaign for the APRC while Sheriff Dibba, Assan Camara, and Omar Jallow and
other PPP ministers, continue to be barred from dabbling in politics.
The UDP's Lamin Juwara has asked President Yahya Jammeh to explain why Buba
Baldeh, a former minister of the overthrown PPP government, is allowed to
campaign for the APRC while Sheriff Dibba, Assan Camara, and Omar Jallow and
other PPP ministers, continue to be barred from dabbling in politics.
Speaking at a rally at Kanifing, Saturday, Mr. Juwara called on all banned
politicians to "immediately unban themselves and participate in Gambian
politics."
Unfair elections The UDP propaganda secretary has urged the chairman of the
Independent Electoral Commission, Bishop S Tilewa Johnson, to ensure free and
fair elections in the forthcoming elections.
"I want to inform Tilewa Johnson that we will not settle for anything less than
a free and fair elections. If there is no free and fair election, we will
protest and whatever happened, Johnson will be held responsible," Juwara said.
He claimed that the last presidential election was characterised by electoral
fraud and massive vote- rigging. Juwara claimed the UDP candidate, Ousainou
Darboe, defeated APRC's Yahya Jammeh in the 1996 presidential election.
Juwara said his party will not allow a recurrence of the alleged 1996 electoral
fraud.
He cited Cote d'Ivoire where a popular uprising ousted the military ruler,
General Robert Guei, who declared himself winner when only eight per cent of the
votes cast were counted after a sham election. Juwara said, "A revolution has
taken place in Cote d'Ivoire. The same revolution will happen here." Juwara said
once the IEC announces election dates, his party will demand "equal access to
Radio Gambia and GRTS. We will start with that first before we go to the polls.
If there is no free and fair elections, whatever happened in this country, no
one should blame us for that. No one will cheat us again. No one can manipulate
elections in this country. We are ready to die for The Gambia. That is why we
are here," Juwara said.
Carrot and stick Addressing the meeting, Ousainou Darboe criticised President
Jammeh for saying on his recent OEMeet the People's Tour' that people who do not
vote for him (Jammeh) will not benefit from his development package.
Mr. Darboe also questioned the constitutional relevance of President Jammeh's by
saying it was a political tour de force .
"Under the constitution, President Jammeh is required to present himself as the
head of state of The Gambia while on the tour and not as APRC party leader. What
we have seen on this tour is that the APRC went on campaign.
They were not out to listen to farmers' needs and concerns, they went to find
votes, but people up-country will never give their votes to Yahya Jammeh again,"
Darboe said.
Darboe alleged that president Jammeh has not gone for tour for the past two
years and attributed this to farmers nuts not being purchased.
Darboe said he supported President Jammeh's statement that "the soldiers are our
sons, people should not belittle them, people should not insult them because
they are working for the government."
But he criticised the soldiers who took to the road at Yundum dancing, while
welcoming President Jammeh at the end of the first round of his tour.
He said a disciplined force should not behave in that manner. He urged the army
chief of staff, Colonel Baboucarr Jatta, to advise his personnel to desist from
meddling in partisan politics if they want to command respect from all Gambians.
Works Mr. Darboe said a UDP government will introduce an integrated urban
development project and nationwide infrastructural development projects.
The UDP leader also deplored the current road conditions in the country,
particularly in the Kanifing municipality.
He added that a UDP government will also address the energy crisis, by providing
"adequate and constant electricity."
He also deplored the recent demolition of beach bars.


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