My fellow Gambians,
The days are relentlessly going by, and very soon, the presidential election
time will be upon us in The Gambia. Time, they say, waits for no man;
therefore, "tempus fugit" or time flies" should be our watchwords. The
Presidential Election date, although it may seem far distant to us, is in
fact just around the corner, and we have to be fully prepared for it.
Let us not be caught ill-equipped or unawares. Instead let us use every
single moment to get ourselves prepared for the electoral battle. Now is the
time for action – for decisions – for the right choices.
We are all agreed on one thing at least, and that is our determination to
see Jammeh out of office. We all know Jammeh as a "criminal" and as a
totally ineffective leader: we have had abundant evidence of his misuse of
power and of his corruption. Consequently, if we are serious in our intent
to oust this dreadful "leader", then we should be doing the necessary
groundwork NOW in order to be successful in our aim.
Some people are advocating a violent and premature end to this tyrannical
regime: they call for Jammeh to meet the same type of violent overthrow and
usurpation of power as he effected on the former regime. Whilst
understanding people’s anxieties and the urgency of their need to get rid of
Jammeh as quickly as possible, I still cannot acquiesce to these demands for
another coup d’etat.
The ballot box has to be our choice of preference: violence will only breed
violence in the medium and long term. In the short term, a change of
government based on a show of arms may achieve our desire to see the back of
Jammeh and the APRC.
However, it would create more problems than it would solve, and the danger
would always be that violence would spawn further violence. We want no part
of this scenario for our beloved Gambia. None of us want The Gambia to go
down the route of countries like Liberia or Sierra Leone. The costs of an
abortive (or successful) coup d’etat would be too great for our country to
countenance or bear, and the danger would always be an escalation in the
violence.
Therefore, our only feasible and viable option (despite the scepticism of
many) is the ballot box. The elections are our weaponry in our battle to
unseat Jammeh.
Consequently, it is imperative that we take these forthcoming elections
seriously. It is necessary that join hands and hearts in order to isolate
the APRC regime under Jammeh. All our efforts have to be harnessed to
ensuring free and fair elections, and we need to be working as a unilateral
team to achieve this.
As a people, we have a DUTY to be monitoring the whole electoral process
with eyes wide open: if there is any fraud, any small transgression, any
presidential or APRC interference then we need to shout these things out
from the roof tops: we have to make sure that our voice is heard by every
Gambian at home and abroad.
And the good thing is that on the international scene, people are well aware
of the ineptitude and misgovernance of Jammeh and his followers: there is
no doubt in people’s minds that Jammeh has done The Gambia a grave
disservice over the last six years. He has resorted to illegalities and
active repression, and he has brought our country into terrible disrepute on
the world stage.
No-one takes The Gambia seriously any more – we have the reputation of being
a small country led by a small-minded but hugely egoistic imbecile. Jammeh’s
extravagant manner of presenting himself to world leaders fools no-one:
behind his back, people laugh at him and ridicule him for his profligacy.
My fellow Gambians, with this background scenario, it is imperative that we
Gambians mobilise ourselves and start to act NOW to get rid of this travesty
of a president. We have to keep up the pressure on Jammeh and the APRC. We
have to voice out our fears and doubts about him and them to the
international community: we have to tell the truth about what is happening
right now in The Gambia. Jammeh should not be allowed to get away scot-free
with anything.
As concerned Gambian citizens, we have two major roles to fulfil: the first
is to spearhead the opposition to the current regime; the second is to
prepare ourselves for the Presidential elections in particular. We have to
be of one mind in order to rid ourselves of despot Jammeh, and we have to
ensure that the mechanisms for a free and fair election are firmly in place.
Tyrants like Yahya have every reason to hang on to power: it is their life’s
blood and their nemesis. And as the incumbent president, Jammeh will try to
play around with the electoral process; he will attempt to skew the
procedures of lawful and free elections.
This therefore makes it doubly vital that we, The Gambian People, monitor
every stage of the electoral process: it is incumbent on us to ensure that
Jammeh and the APRC do not have the upper hand without critical comment.
We have to be watching these dreadful people every step of the way to true
democracy. Let us place not one iota of belief in Jammeh’s rectitude and
human decency. The man is power-hungry, and he will stop at nothing to
continue his term of office.
We have to become super-critical of what is happening in our nation: we have
to be watchful of every last nuance and tactic of this despotic regime.
Clearly, people have lost faith with Jammeh: all they need now is further
enlightenment and coordination to exert their political will. There is
no-one on earth who could alter the will of the people, if the latter are
organised, coordinated and informed.
If we look at the example of Zambia under Kenneth Kaunda, then we see the
history of a One Party State whose people had finally had enough: they
called for, and got multiparty elections in 1991, and these led to a
peaceful change of government which put Frederick Chiluba in power. Kaunda
certainly did not want to relinquish power, but the collective voice of the
people as expressed through the ballot box, saved the day for democracy.
There are other examples on the African continent to give us heart in our
powers as voters: not least Senegal, who gave the red card to a leader of
thirty years standing, peacefully and successfully.
Surely, our task is not going to be easy, but it is do-able. We therefore
have to take our elections seriously; we have to monitor the process to
ensure fairness and impartiality, and we have to take the long-term view for
our country and its future generations.
We, the people, can make a difference: all we need to do is get our act
together and make a solemn declaration from the heart, that Jammeh must go.
This will be our simple and powerful slogan: Jammeh MUST go.
It is time for us all to harness the power which is ours by right: we have
to stop the talking and the moaning: we have to speak our voice openly,
clearly and loudly and say "Jammeh MUST go". The man has disgraced our
country and our people: he has brought our nation to ridicule.
He has sent the wrong people at the wrong time to the wrong jobs, and we are
paying the full costs of all this incompetence. We have to restore pride in
our nation: both in our own citizenry and on the international forum.
We do not want our country to be associated (as it is at present) with hard
drug running, with arms dealing of the worst sort, with the illegal diamond
trade, with prostitution and corrupt dealing: these are the end-results of
six years of Yahya’s despotism. This is not how we want our nation to be
perceived internationally or internally. Our intention is to build a Gambia
whose bedrock is integrity, honesty, incorruptibility and sincerity.
We have to be checking and re-checking that the forthcoming presidential
elections are free and fair, and I now advocate several routes to ensuring a
democratic and peaceful change of government and leadership.
1. Safeguarding the Electoral Process
During the last elections of 1996, we learned many lessons, and we had
direct experience of the under-hand practices of the military regime
transferring from the AFPRC to the APRC mode. We watched as the Security
Forces intervened in the process of the elections (especially the Army).
Their agenda was to buttress Jammeh in his power base, and they used every
tactic in the book (and out of it) to fulfil their agenda.
They interfered in all stages of the electoral process, up to election day
itself; they threatened the people to the extent that the democratic rights
of people to vote freely and confidentially were put at severe risk.
Following the voting, there were irregularities in the reporting of the
votes cast. The whole of the election process took on a tone of
underhandedness and shady dealing.
We now HAVE to learn from this experience, and as an electorate, demand that
this next tranche of elections takes place on a level playing field, with
impartiality and confidence guaranteed, and with no interference from any
source whatsoever.
It is therefore vital that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) comes
up with a published Code of Conduct so that no-one can be in doubt about the
correct procedures. And our Opposition Parties in particular, have to be
instrumental in ensuring that this Code of Conduct is known and respected by
the whole electorate.
Above all, the people alongside the IEC should be policing the electoral
process: at any hint of transgression, irregularity or outright flouting of
the law or this proposed Code of conduct, then there should be a call of
alarm. We need to be calling FOUL whenever this call is justified.
Any type of interference in the electoral process by individuals or groups
should meet with the most stringent condemnation by the IEC and the people.
Also, the IEC has to ensure that all political parties have equal access to
TV and Radio transmission as part of the electioneering programme. There
should be no favour offered to any one faction.
Furthermore, during the last presidential elections, the deposit required
from each individual wishing to contest the parliamentary elections was set
at a very high level. We have to reduce the size of the required deposit,
and bring it into line with our country’s economy. In fact, in my view, the
issue of depositing money should not even be part and parcel of our
elections.
My fellow Gambians, the IEC is legally and constitutionally charged with the
responsibility for the correct conduct of the elections. Consequently, any
restrictions on campaigning rights should be reported immediately to the
IEC. We have the right to expect that the IEC will monitor this area most
stringently. If (God forbid) we get to the point where it is apparent that
GROSS UNFAIRNESS is being perpetrated, then the IEC could declare that the
election process is null and void and postpone the elections. In that case,
we will all join hands and heart to further isolate Jammeh’s regime both at
home and internationally.
The good thing is that Yahya Jammeh is a true coward of the first order. His
hot air tends to disguise the pressure under which he is operating at the
moment. It is likely that if he is defeated at the elections, he may well
seek to ignore the will of the people, but if we maintain our pressure on
him, and keep steadfast and true to our aims, then Jammeh will go.
Also, in a bid to safeguard the electoral process, it is vital that our
Public Servants, (especially the Police and GRTS), put their country ahead
of their own selfish needs, and before job security. If the IEC demands
equal access to TV time for the opposing parties, then it should have the
right to expect that our public servants (Tombong Saidy included) will
comply with their (IEC’s) requirements. It is time for us all to demonstrate
our love of country and our integrity: if our actions are called into
question, then we should be prepared to follow what we know to be the right
path.
I hereby urge our people to monitor the election process at each stage:
a. Ensure free and fair registration of voters (for all qualified
Gambians).
b. Report any transgressions to the IEC: monitor any hint of fraudulent
practices, and expect the IEC to undertake a full investigation.
c. Ensure that the Opposition Parties have the same rights and privileges as
the incumbent party.
d. Ensure fair dealing from all public servants.
e. Play an integral part in the election process.
f. Ensure the incumbent party plays its part in ensuring free and fair
elections.
g. Ensure that the IEC is the body which sets the standards for action and
conduct. On electoral issues, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should
not be involved except to ensure that law and order are properly maintained.
2. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)
The members of the IEC should fully understand that they have been empowered
to organise and supervise the elections. They should therefore have nothing
to fear as long as they are fair, transparent and responsible.
The Gambian people will ensure that they offer full and necessary support to
the IEC, for as long as they are certain that the organisation is
INDEPENDENT AND FAIR.
The IEC members have the duty to ensure that elections are conducted freely
and fairly. We do understand the constraints under which this group
operates, but we still urge them to expose any instances of arm-twisting or
illegality.
Let the IEC members remain aloof and impartial in their judgements: they
have integrity and we should allow them to exercise this in full.
Furthermore, let the IEC ensure that it has sufficient funding and specific
resources to undertake their vital job, and in particular to ensure that
they remain impartial and independent.
The IEC HAS to start organising itself and its programme NOW. They have to
be monitoring the registration of voters, and ensuring that there are
sufficient voters cards, and that properly indelible ink is used.
If the IEC feels that it needs more in terms of material and financial
support, then it should straight away inform the International Community for
assistance in this regard.
3. Role of the Opposition Parties
All Parties will need to give full respect to the IEC and its Code of
Conduct.
The Police and Security Forces should be assisting in ensuring the
maintenance of law and order throughout the nation, but they should not be
operating any sort of power base.
The Opposition Parties need to ensure that their messages to the electorate
are clear and to the point. With Jammeh as an opponent, it will be far
easier to win the hearts and minds of the people. The opposition would not
even need to spell out each and all of the occasions upon which Jammeh has
let us all down. Every body now knows what Jammeh and his despotic regime
represent.
Also, the Opposition parties should avoid the use of invective language: we
need to avoid invective and abuse. These have been Jammeh’s hall marks, but
they certainly do not need to be ours. Let us aim for moderated and
considered language to undertake this campaign.
The Opposition needs to be sure that they have the wherewithal to fight the
fight to the finish with Jammeh. The will need money, but this money is not
to be used to buy votes (as has happened all too often in the past).
Instead, it is meant to ensure that they have necessary resources to
undertake an effective Nation-wide campaign. Gambians, especially those of
abroad, should not hesitate to give financial support to the opposition
party of their choice if we wish to defeat Jammeh at the elections.
4. Coalition/Tactical Alliance
Even though Jammeh is a doomed man, we should not be overly optimistic that
we can unseat him, unless certain preconditions are met.
I believe that a tactical alliance of all the Opposition Parties is an
absolute must, and that we should not go into the first round of the
elections without this tactical alliance in place. It matters not at this
point in time how powerful or popular the Opposition might find itself in
terms of people’s votes cast. If we allow ourselves to be divided, then
Jammeh will surely continue to rule.
We absolutely HAVE to go into the first round of voting as a united front,
setting aside our political differences for the sake of getting rid of
Jammeh.
For the sake of The Gambia and its people, I again urge our Opposition
leaders to try and get together in consultation and come up with an election
package acceptable to all for the time being. The time for political
differences lies in the longer term future: certainly it is not appropriate
now, in my view.
Our catchword has to be UNITY if we are going to be sure of defeating
Jammeh.
It is crucial that our Opposition leaders remain flexible, and open to
suggestion. I urge them to be realistic as well as idealistic.
The catchphrase is "JAMMEH MUST GO!"
Ebrima Ceesay
Birmingham, UK.
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