GAMBIA-L Archives

The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List

GAMBIA-L@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
"Movement for restoration of democracy in Gambia [NY]" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 30 Jul 2001 01:45:12 EDT
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (56 lines)
You're right concerned friend/citizen of Gambia. How do we on this forum
know, or does it matter that your name is Asbjorn Nordam? Since the inception
of this movement, around the April 10-11, 2000 massacre of demonstrating
Gambian students, this email address, [log in to unmask] had been the sole mode of
electronic correspondence and FYI,  'active' members has access/password to
this medium and an effective means of distributing each and every mail sent
or received. What you don't understand is that, only a handful of 'active'
members are versed in the Queen's mode of communication, Latin...[English].
Instead, Mandinka, Wollof, Jola, Sarahule, Fula and Arabic are the
comfortable means of expression within 80-90% of both 'active' and
'supporter' base members. As an outsider/insider on Gambian issues, you might
not be familiar with problems facing Gambian goups/societies/movements/clubs
past and present, especially, at the organizational level of participating,
funding, leadership roles, implementation, consistency and assertiveness.  We
lack organizational discipline period. Since each and everyone, wants to be a
leader and not follower/participant/supporter, a sickening reactionary
attitude of WATCHING FROM THE SIDELINE AND LOBBING CRITICISMS left, right and
center, praying and hoping for the group to falter or split. Due to past
experiences and lessons learned from past Gambian organizations, we decided
against the formal electoral process, mainly due to the fact that, not only,
exist a Gambian Society in the same NY Gambian community [more than half its
members  active participants/supporters of MRDG] but also, the avoidance of
labeling: "GAAYI JAANGA LANGE" [the educated guys], The
Wollof/Mandinka/Sarahule lead group, in London, It's the Former PPP
renegades, in Sweden, It's the old "KOTOS" from MOJA[G]....do you get the
drift? Try asking a Gambian, what are the main concerns with the current
regime in Banjul...oops kanilai? He or she will give you a ton of anecdotes.
Follow up with, what are the answers to the problems? I have a good job
abroad, I don't care; If Jawara or Yahya goes, there's no one to take charge;
and I don't want my folks back home to be harassed by the NIA. Upon further
probing, are you a member of any group or support any political party? The
answer, most of the time is in the negative.  Sometimes, one wonders how
gullible, selfish or egoistic, one could fall in such trappings, especially,
with such a rouge regime, whose record on corruption, human rights and
liberties and misguided priorities are mind boggling. Contrary to your and
many others assertions, we are not scared of Yahya Jahanama or his NIA dogs,
nor hiding under any form of bogus names. We never hide our names and faces
during our demonstrations [LIVE ON GRTS]; Our correspondence letters to
Gambia and USA are all signed with our names and addresses; Our
biweekly/monthly meetings are open to everyone; with the exception of a
treasurer and a bank account, everything we do is on a voluntary basis and
the love of country, Gambia.
Hope this will clear the air. If not, make an effort and show up at our next
meeting. We are not perfect and do not have the answer to all of Gambia's
problems and Yahya's death squads and NIA, damni, we are doing something.
What are you doing, instead of just writing on the Gambia-L? The ball is in
your court.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask]
if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATOM RSS1 RSS2