>
> From: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2003/11/17 Mon AM 05:09:12 EST
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Coalition make it or break it
>
> Hello Mr. Sidibeh,
>
> Thank you very much for such an excellent lesson in the political history of The Gambia. I am not going to argue about the history and the analysis of the political situation of The Gambia you presented on the Gambia-L under the heading “ Coalition make it or break it”. I will on the contrary want to clarify the standing of the Save The Gambia Fund idea. After reading your article, I come to the conclusion that you are very much in support of the idea of an opposition coalition but like majority of people who wrote articles relating to this subject, came up with doubts and skepticisms but not in one instance propose a workable idea. I believe in this stage of The Gambia’s politics and economy, what we need is workable ideas and solutions. I am not discounting the fact that history is relevant in trying to find a solution to problems but its time we concentrate more on the solution. There is no doubt in any Gambian or friend The Gambia that change is needed.
>
> Save The Gambia Fund is an organization that is trying to answer the very questions that you raise in your article. Mr. Sidibeh you wrote:
>
> So here we are, with the UDP, NRP, NDAM, PPP and PDOIS with the potential of forming a coalition. The only party, that we can claim with certainty, stands ideologically apart from the rest is PDOIS. In spite of its pan-Africanist outlook, and militant inclinations, NDAM's political profile remains unclear to me. Counting PDOIS out, where concretely lie the differences between the other four? Are there ideological differences or considerations of political economy so prominent that one should vote PPP rather than UDP? Not just that they share a common anti-corruption position, vow to establish the rule of law, strengthen democratic institutions, and prioritise agriculture, these parties hardly evince opposing position on significant policy questions. I remain convinced that the major differences between them have little to do with politcal, economic, or cultural ideas. Herein lies the major difficulty of the proposed coalition. Given that the differences had to do with economic polices or principles of democracy for instance, the parties can appreciate each other's standpoints and negotiate with some flexibility on the bases of those differences in the interest of the common good even in the short term. But the differences between the parties seem to be based on fractured histories, personalised rivalries, and perhaps both ethnic and provincial considerations. Provided that the parties have active democratic structures, it is conceivable that backward leadership traits such as personal rivalries, could be eventually swept away. But these structures are either non-existent or hopelessly dormant. UDP vividly exposed this weakness when it failed to internally and democratically address the financial irregularities which led to Mr. Waa Juwara's resignation as propaganda secretary.
>
> Mr. Sidibeh once again I agree with the above analysis. But the answer to the above problem had been tackle by The Save The Gambia Fund by inviting all the opposition parties to Atlanta this past summer not only to commit to a coalition but also to let we the People in the Diaspora assist the opposition in formulating a common platform, framework for the coalition and help fund for the endeavor. Recently, we witness the solidarity within the opposition when Wa Juwara was held in Prison. I will inform you and the rest of the people in this forum that was as a result of the coalition meeting that we conducted in Atlanta. I am sure that most of us believe that the meeting and a coalition is already a failure but I will assure you that the mere fact that you and others are even discussing the issue all stem from that very meeting. We have set the stage for dialogue and consultation among the opposition parties on the ground. It will be gross misinformation for you to assert that due to personality conflicts, the opposition will not come together. What I am saying is, they are already engage in the process of dialogue and consultation and that is what we ask of them when they came to Atlanta. The sad situation is that they are fulfilling their part of the bargain but we in the Diaspora are lagging on our side. It is time we get down and dirty and put the rhetoric aside. I will be very happy to send you a videotape copy of the meeting. I will like to pose a question to you and all in this forum that if Kebba Foon, Joe Sambu, Musa Jeng and Momodou Drammeh did not organize the coalition meeting with the opposition leaders, was anyone planning to do so? I will take this opportunity to clarify a misunderstanding with people in this forum. The meet the Diaspora summit was separate from the coalition meeting. The meet the Diaspora summit was organized by AGERA and the above mention individuals under the umbrella of Save The Gambia Fund, organized the coalition meeting. The fact that the opposition leaders travel all the way to Atlanta for this meeting is enough to tell you that they need our help. They could have easily called for a meeting in Banjul among themselves. We in the Diaspora have a role to play and we should not let our people down.
>
> Mr.sidibeh you wrote:
>
> While a diasporan like me should never encourage people to take to the streets for anything, I should in all humility, ask Mr.Waa Juwara, in his capacity as a leader seeking political office, to mobilise his unique experience and organisational skills to take the lead in initiating consultations with ALL the opposition parties (if that indeed was not done prior to Waa's call for a peaceful demonstration), so that they may collectively draw out a strategy to deal with the disastrous consequence of the current economic and social malaise.
>
> Once again Mr. Sidibeh the whole idea of a peaceful demonstration stem from we the people in the Diaspora. We also contacted the opposition leaders to do exactly what you mention above namely to consult and draw out a strategy.
>
> I read in the past on the L your concerns together with Jabou and others about the structure of The Save The Gambia fund. I will post a compromise that will accommodate such concerns. I have no doubt in my mind that we all have good intention to bring about positive change to The Gambia. I agree with you all that we do not only need to get Jammeh out of office but most importantly to erect a dismantle structure. As a matter of fact we have to start building the structure.
>
> Kebba Foon
>

>
>

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