Dad,
Thank you for your effort in clarifying for me. I guess my confusion issues from the fact that the Foroyaa editorial, after encouraging "All opposition parties" to rekindle the IPC and relying on Foofana's gratuitous caricature of Gambia opposition party leaders, in the same paragraph invokes section 222 which addresses public officials in the service of the public. Perhaps you will see where I had some anxieties if I share with you this Linkage of thoughts:
"Those parties that do not intend to give regard to this committee to bring it to life will be subscribing to the principle of isolationism and all its debilitating effect. The time has come for political figures in the Gambia to attain the statue that political leaders deserve as representatives of a people".
These were the statements that immediately preceded the quotation from the constitution's section 222.
It may just be an error of running thoughts together that ought to be in separate paragraphs by the editorial's author.
Thanx again Dad for your help.
Haruna.
-----Original Message-----
From: Modou Nyang <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, Nov 18, 2009 11:37 pm
Subject: Re: Foroyaa Editorial: IS THE MULTI- PARTY SYSTEM UNDER THREAT?
Uncle Haruna,
It a pleasure to hear your voice at the GPU meeting as well. On the point you raised regarding the editorial. this portion of the editorial as quoted:
"Notwithstanding the independence and sovereign existence of each party, it is hoped that the opposition in particular and all parties in general will see the Inter –Party Committee as the instrument to bring about unity to defend principles, even if they do not agree with each other’s policies and actions. Fundamental rights belong to all. It is the duty of all to defend them so that they could be exercised by all without hindrance. In the absence of an Alliance among the opposition parties the best mechanism to ensure concerted action to defend the rights of all is the Inter- Party Committee. Those parties that do not intend to give regard to this committee to bring it to life will be subscribing to the principle of isolationism and all its debilitating effect. The time has come for political figures in the Gambia to attain the statue that political leaders deserve as representatives of a people"
This portion of the editorial as i understand it is referring to the need to re visiting the Inter party committee and it's relevance in today's Gambia to help develop a healthy multi party existence. That is why it goes futher t obutress: "An Inter- Party Committee meeting can look into all complaints by any political party, send delegations and issue resolutions for redress of grievances. It can take joint Court actions and even involve our neighbours or the international committee to help in any mediation process."
Section 222 of the constitution clearly shows how irresponsible the IGP acted in refusing to grant the UDP a permit as required by the public order act.
--- On Thu, 19/11/09, Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Foroyaa Editorial: IS THE MULTI- PARTY SYSTEM UNDER THREAT?
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, 19 November, 2009, 4:18
Thanx Modou for sharing. I enjoyed your company at the recent GPU-USA meeting.
I agree with Foroyaa's editorial that the ongoing persecution of Femi Peters on frivolous charges of unlawful assembly affects all political parties in Gambia to include APRC. All you need for APRC to be adversely affected is for them to apply for a permit to assemble, the permit approved and issued but to NOT BE PROPERLY COMMUNICATED to APRC by the idiot IGP.
I also support Foroyaa's idea to re-invigorate the INTER-PARTY COMMITTEE (IPC) which I presume includes APRC, a party that is behind all the intimidations of the IGP to malign other parties. I therefore encourage PDOIS to work in concert with all political parties to strengthen the spirit of the IPC. Meanwhile, I encourage PDOIS to defend the constitution of The Gambia and Femi Peters' persecution is an excellent opportunity for Foroyaa to focus all Gambia's efforts on the odious prostitution of her constitution.
Just as a side-note, section 222 paragraph 13 is not applicable to Femi Peters and it affords him no relief in the extant matter of his persecution. It does however affect the IGP and his minions. I just did not understand Foroyaa's invoking of that clause to follow this:
"Notwithstanding the independence and sovereign existence of each party, it is hoped that the opposition in particular and all parties in general will see the Inter –Party Committee as the instrument to bring about unity to defend principles, even if they do not agree with each other’s policies and actions. Fundamental rights belong to all. It is the duty of all to defend them so that they could be exercised by all without hindrance. In the absence of an Alliance among the opposition parties the best mechanism to ensure concerted action to defend the rights of all is the Inter- Party Committee. Those parties that do not intend to give regard to this committee to bring it to life will be subscribing to the principle of isolationism and all its debilitating effect. The time has come for political figures in the Gambia to attain the statue that political leaders deserve as representatives of a people."
Do you?
Haruna.
-----Original Message-----
From: Modou Nyang <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, Nov 18, 2009 10:55 pm
Subject: Foroyaa Editorial: IS THE MULTI- PARTY SYSTEM UNDER THREAT?
Foroyaa Editorial: IS THE MULTI- PARTY SYSTEM UNDER THREAT?
When the killings occurred in Guinea Bissau which cost the lives of the President and the Army chief of staff, The Government of the Gambia invited representatives of the political parties in Guinea Bissau to come to the Gambia to discuss about reconciliation. Their presence was transformed into a major event. It culminated with the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding which borrowed all the words and principles of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by political parties in the Gambia in 2006 under the auspices of the Commonwealth and President Obasanjo.
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Interestingly enough, while the Government of the Gambia was giving lectures to the political parties in Guinea Bissau on the need to exercise political tolerance the instrument which has been created in the Gambia to promote political tolerance has literally been put on ice.
Very recently, attempts are being made to put the Inter-Party Committee into operation to review claims of rejection, by the Inspector General of police, of application for a Permit by the UDP in order to facilitate the exercise of the right to freedom of Assembly as provided for by the Constitution. Each political party is sovereign in its own right and does not need to be told how it is to conduct its politics. Each has its strategy and tactics and is prepared to build its own integrity in its own way. It is the support of the people for each policy, strategy or tactics which determine its viability.
Notwithstanding the independence and sovereign existence of each party, it is hoped that the opposition in particular and all parties in general will see the Inter –Party Committee as the instrument to bring about unity to defend principles, even if they do not agree with each other’s policies and actions. Fundamental rights belong to all. It is the duty of all to defend them so that they could be exercised by all without hindrance. In the absence of an Alliance among the opposition parties the best mechanism to ensure concerted action to defend the rights of all is the Inter- Party Committee. Those parties that do not intend to give regard to this committee to bring it to life will be subscribing to the principle of isolationism and all its debilitating effect. The time has come for political figures in the Gambia to attain the statue that political leaders deserve as representatives of a people. Section 222 paragraph 13 of the Constitution is very clear. Officers in the public service and the disciplined force are supposed to serve as trustees of all irrespective of party affiliation. It reads:
“A person holding an office in a public service or any disciplined force shall not-
a) allow his or her political inclinations to interfere with the discharge of his or her official duties ;
b) be a member of, or take part in any association of persons which might prevent him or her from impartially discharging his or her duties; or
c) take part in any activities which cast doubt on his or her capacity to deal impartially with matters or issues which are the concern of his or her public office or which interfere with the performance of his or her public duties.�
An Inter- Party Committee meeting can look into all complaints by any political party, send delegations and issue resolutions for redress of grievances. It can take joint Court actions and even involve our neighbours or the international committee to help in any mediation process. We at Foroyaa are convinced that Gambia has mature political leaders who can develop strategies and tactics to make our multi party system to work and accord all political leaders the dignity they deserve. However if they are not given a chance to make things work Gambian politicians will continue to be the pitiful political class Umaru Fofana spoke about.
We agree entirely with the special rapporteur for human rights defenders, at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Mrs Reine Alapini-Gansou who quoted Voltaire in their newsletter on freedom of expression as follows: “I may be against your ideas but I will fight for you to express them.�
No political party can be deprived of the right to assemble and promote its party policies, programmes and projects. Any such incident should be put in its context and resolved with speed. Any delay in resolving issues of human rights makes those who would not behave in mature and decent manner pariahs in the eyes of decent humanity. This is the verdict of common sense and it is incontrovertible.
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