Mr. Sillah:

I appreciate your logic and will be more than glad
to answer some of your questions.

1)Being on the ground, so far i have not heard from
neither Dibba nor NCP about a marriage with the ruling
party. Instead Dibba's call on Jammeh as he put it
"was to renew his faith in the path to democratic
governance environment." But reading your message it
seems that your party has infact gone into some sort
of marriage with the ARPC. Is this your individual
position or that of the party's?

Answer: If I misled you, I am sorry.  I had earlier said that
if the marriage is approved by the NCP membership, I
will strongly support it.  I hope I did not mislead
you.  I cannot speculate the outcome, but I will
endorse such a marriage.

2) Am informed by highly dependable and usually
realible sources that all the opposition parties are
to have a meeting tomorrow (thursday) for a possible
strategic allaince. Are you telling us that your party
has oupted out of the strategic alliance?

Answer: I am not aware of such a strategic meeting that the NCP
will attend.  I hope I am right that NCP will not attend
such a meeting.

(3)You indeed called for an end to the unlawful hiring
and firing of civil servants, respect for human rights
and the rule of law. But interestingly during the
campaign your party did not take resolute firm
position on these issues either by uttarance or
manifestation when it was in the opposition during the
campaign. How when it is in marriage with the ruling
party will it maintain a stance on these important
pillers of a democratic state?

Answer: In fact I had said that I will not be a prisoner of thoughts
in my desire for a prosperous and democratic Gambia.  I had
said that the opposition is an integral part of nation building.
I said that I will condemn any inconsistencies, these of course
include arrests and firing within the civil service.  NCP will do
all it can to move the country to the center.  Political arrogance
has no place in a democratic society.

(4)In the wake of the marriage that you talked about,
what would become of the NCP as a political party?
Will die a natural death or will it continue to
maintain an independent bereau where it will still
function as a party?

Answer: I cannot predict what will happen tomorrow and years to come.       I hope NCP will remain a separate entity, willing to participate
in nation building.

5)Since the NCP could not muster 10% of the popular
vote in the just ended presidential election, what
weight interms of mutual issues of crucial government
decisions will your party have because i guess these
are some of the things you need to address in any
political marraige

Answer: Politics is compromise and understanding.  No leader should
promulgate ideologies that might induce fear.  Politicians must
be willing to navigate ideologies, but they have to be realistic
in reaching a concesus for the interest of the electorate.

(6)Since you said you are ready to pay a price for
your choice (which i very well respect), how far are
you ready to go in the face uncontrolled harassment
and intimidation of opponents?

Answer: I can categorically say that I will not hesitate to condemn
political intimidation.  An opposition today, could be a
government tomorrow.  We must be willing to reach out and work
together as a team for the interest of The Gambia.

I hope we can come to the realization that a political stance
is a clear indication of character.  We must be willing to
respect each other.  Our inner capacity reflects our interest
for The Gambia.  I hope we can realize that we are Gambians.
Political differences should not deter us to logically view the
big picture.

Naphiyo,

Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
Greensboro, NC/Kombo East Constituency

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