Great work Saihou.
If you'll oblige me, I will share the statement of GMDD, omitting the penultimate paragraph, on The GDP's website. Please inform me if this is ok.
Thank you.
Hauna.
-----Original Message-----
From: Movement for Democracy and Development <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Mon, Dec 5, 2011 12:16 pm
Subject: [G_L] FWD: Statement on the Presidential Election 2011
GAMBIAN MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY ANDDEVELOPMENT (GMDD)
2153 Valentine Ave, Bronx, NY 10457
Email:[log in to unmask]
Phone: 347-444-6056. Fax;347-271-9117
December 4th, 2011
Statementon the November 24th, 2011Gambia Presidential election
The Gambian Movement based in the United States, under theumbrella of the Movement for Democracy and Development (GMDD), hereby express oursincere thanks and appreciation to our fellow citizens at home for the peacefuland orderly manner in which they conducted themselves in the Presidential electionheld on November 24th, 2011. Today The Gambian democracy is a disgracewhere an opposition politician like Femi Peters of the United Democratic Party (UDP)would be jail for one year just for organizing a political rally. Today theGambian democracy is a disgrace where there is no freedom of the press andspeech.
In a genuinedemocracy, elections belong to the people. Principles for democratic electionsare usually traced to the precept that Citizens have the right to take part ingovernment and in the conduct of public affairs of their countries. This preceptis enshrined in Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(Universal Declaration) and Articles 25 of the International Covenant of Civiland Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as in other international human rights instruments.
This election tells the whole world that Gambians are peaceloving people otherwise the signs and symptoms of violence were visible allover the country when President Jammeh went on a “Meet the people” tour in July2011 telling electorates that no elections or Coup d’etat would remove him frompower but God. He further told Gambiansthat whoever want to succeed him have to put your life on the lime line becauseas he put it, he came to power through a Coup d’etat in July 22nd,1994 but not through elections. His messages were disturbing but understood by Gambiansthat they have to choose between peace and violence meaning to vote for him andremain in peace otherwise violence. Forthe past seventeen years under the tyrannical and dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh,Gambians have suffered a great deal. He has cracked down on political freedomand continues to commit human rights violation with total impunity. Freedomremains an illusion for most Gambians, who live in fear of arbitrary arrest,torture, unlawful detentions, unfair trials by some Nigerian mercenary judges, anddisappearance.
The election was neither free, fair no credible. Thiselection was a mockery for democracy and to all those who believe in democracy. The official campaign period was from November12 th, 2011 to 22nd. Before the commence of the campaign period nopolitical party was allowed to hold a political rally or access to the StateRadio and Television (GRTS) but the ruling party, the Alliance for PatrioticReorientation and Construction (APRC).
The Independent Electoral Commission(IEC) failed to conducta voter education campaign in the lead –up to the election focused on providingvoters with basic information needed to participate effectively in theelection, including notification of voting locations, dispelling rumors ofsecret cameras been installed in the polling booths. Distribution of Posters, Stickersand Flyers would have eradicated some degree of fear on the side of the voters.
We commend the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)Observer delegation to the Gambian Presidential runoff election for their impartialand accurate assessment of the electoral process and political environment surroundingit. They have demonstrated to the Gambian people that ECOWAS is fit to solvethe injustices in West Africa and example is the case of Ivory Coast.
We also appreciate the honest and positive statement from ProfessorA. Bolaji Akinyemi Chairperson of the Commonwealth Expert Team. His statementpurely reflects largely the team observations on the pre-election environment,the polling day itself and the pose election phase. During this short stay theywere able to identify the level of intimidation and fear on the Gambian people.
Finally we call on the International Community, democraticorganizations, Human Rights Organizations worldwide to disregard the results ofthe November 24th presidential election in which president Yahya Jammeh was declared as the winnerthrough an unfair, incredible and lack of accountability of the Independent ElectoralCommission (IEC). Over two hundred thousandGambians residing outside the Gambian borders were denied from voting.
Sincerely,
Signed:
SaihouMballow
For theExecutive Committee
GMDD
CC:
UN SecretaryGeneral
Bureau of Democracy,Human Rights and Labor- State Department
American Embassy,The Gambia
Commonwealthand Foreign Office
ECOWAS
AU
Carter Center
NDI
IFES
FreedomHouse
WorldMovement for Democracy
Freedom Now
Human RightsOrganizations
IEC
Gambian newspapers
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