Sanusi, sorry I could not get back to you yesterday. The debate you wish to
engage in, is a very important one because it will help us get closer to
forming a United Opposition against Yaya come October. Note my emphasis on
the election I mentioned. It is important that during the negotiations that
people bear in mind that we have both the October 2001 and January 2002
elections to think about. The different elections call for different
strategies and different concessions as far as forming a coalition is
concerned. I am sure you will agree that it is more difficult to form a
coalition in the parliamentary elections where we have more players involved
than in the presidential election where we are dealing with a single
candidate.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I sensed that your paramount issue is that of
fairness. You do NOT want the person that won as a result of the coalition
ticket to reap benefits he does not deserve. A genuine concern if this is
your position. You went further to suggest how to remedy this apparent
undeserved advantage our next president might get. You suggested that the
person stay in office for no more than 24 months. It is in the remedy phase
that we differ a little. But I share your view that the next leader should
not have a free ride on a coalition ticket.
However, I think the situation can be remedied without resorting to having a
government for less than 2 years. I think at the stage when we pick the
leader of the coalition, we can conduct the process such that the most
deserving person is picked to lead the coalition. In my book, the most
deserving person would be the person in the best position to defeat Yaya one
on one. The ideal way to have done this would have been to conduct a
'primary' election. But we all know that time is running out and we have
very limited resources to run two elections in order to choose our next
president. So how do we select the most deserving person? The Parties should
come together with the Diaspora (that is supposedly Neutral) and present
their facts and figures. From those we can tell who has the most support in
the country. This is by no means an easy task. But it is doable if people
put the plight of the Gambians at the forefront and approach the matter in a
selfless manner. At the end of the day, we should be able to reach a
consensus as to who is in the best position to defeat Yaya and therefore
deserves to lead the country for the full term.
But I guess this does not address all your concerns. Another concern of
yours is perhaps to level the playing field that has been rigged by Yaya in
favor of the incumbent government. The political landscape is such that it
gives numerous advantages to the government of the day to 'steal' elections.
Parties going into the negotiations also have to have this somewhere in
their minds. That is, people might be worried that if they help elect
another party's leader in October, that party might use that advantage (of
incumbency) to 'steal' future elections. This concern has to be addressed.
Cutting the time of the government's initial incumbency from five years to
two years, goes some way to alleviating this problem. But we can do more.
Before the coalition, the parties need to agree, on the record, that the
future government is going to implement certain reforms that will ensure a
level playing field in future Gambian elections. For example, as you rightly
pointed out, Decree 89 should be repealed forthwith. Powers given to Yaya to
appoint and fire Chiefs should also be removed from our law books. The IEC
has to be overhauled. The are a number of other 'political' laws that can be
amended or repealed to ensure a level playing field for all the members of
the coalition in coming elections. I think that is where the focus should
be; i.e. try and remove the benefits of incumbency rather than cutting the
term of the presidency short. You might argue that we can do both. Why not?
The Parties can certainly negotiate on that. I just think that the next
government need not be a transitional government. It should be given full
opportunity to implement a program over a five year period. This program
will entail other reforms apart from the political ones stated above. While
the political playing field is being leveled, the next government should
also be embarking on projects to lift our people up. You cannot overstate
the suffering of the Gambian masses. You just have to call home and talk to
people. That will give you a dose of depression to last you for a long time.
We need a government with some reasonable amount of time to implement
certain programs in the economic/development front. Otherwise, we leave that
government vulnerable to another AFPRC/APRC. In other words, if we have a
government that is there for a short amount of time and is unable to do
certain things, you hear lieutenants trying to justify a coup. You also hear
what is left of the APRC outfit (after the criminals are weeded out and
jailed) saying that the new government did not change people's lives for the
better. So unless we have a very solid development program that can reap
meaningful benefits within two years, I would rather give the next
government a five year term if the leader is picked fairly by the coalition
and some of the benefits of incumbency are removed.
On the truth and reconciliation/compensation commission, I guess we are not
far apart. I have to say that I do NOT at all believe in impunity; not that
am implying that you are either. However, I realize the benefits of plea
bargaining. In order to get to certain truths, some undesirable elements
have to be accommodated somewhat. As far as I am concerned, it is going to
be a case by case basis. There are simply some people whose crimes are so
heinous that even if they gave us Yaya's head we should not let them go with
impunity. All these can be done within the confines of our current legal
system. I do not believe in kangaroo courts. Although I recognize that not
all commissions of inquiries are bogus, I am just uncomfortable with the
nomenclature. I would rather have a system where criminals are brought
before regular courts and tried as common criminals. If we NEED to 'bargain'
with certain people to get certain testimony from them, fine. So long as the
prosecutor is not giving the witness something he/she does not deserve in
return for testimony we can have otherwise.
In short, no blanket amnesties. Each case checked on its merits. The only
blanket statement I will make is that anybody with blood of our children in
their hands, WILL HAVE TO PAY.
Thanks again for your contributions.
KB
Ps: I took the liberty and changed the heading of the posting.
>From: Sanusi Owens <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Mr. Owens: Re: My opinion. - Kebba Dampha
>Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 11:37:22 +0100
>
>Comrade Jassey-Conteh
>
>Good to see that you have move on.
>
>Well, I beg to say it but based on the Gambia's
>current political situation, it would be wrong for a
>united opposition if elected into office to rule for
>the entire 5 year duration. Lets face it, a united
>opposition would have been solely set up to get rid of
>Yahya Jammeh and the APRC. To quote a phrase "seek ye
>political kingdom and all other things shall be added
>unto it" -Kwame Nkrumah's CPP political slogan. Once
>this task is accomplished, the need for the opposition
>parties to return to their respective platforms is
>essential. I can't see UDP/NRP/PDIOS standing on a
>same platform for a longer duration, since all of them
>have different political ideologies.
>
>With this in mind, the United opposition if elected
>should remain in power for a period of not more than
>24 months in which they should embark on reviewing the
>bogus transitional period set up by the defunct AFPRC,
>I am sure you will agree with me that we never had a
>proper transitional programme.The AFPRC Transitional
>Programme was primarily set up to legitimise Yahya and
>the APRC in office. Take for instance Decree 89 and
>the Transitional Arrangements of the Second Republican
>Constitution Decree 89 was introduced primarily to
>make Yahya and the APRC have an easy ride for the
>Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. The Likes of
>Sherriff Mustapha Dibba and many others who spent most
>of their political career in the opposition had to be
>denied the opportunity to contest the Presidential
>Election.
>Our current constitution is in need of proper reform,
>so many unnecessary laws have been incorporated in
>it.The United opposition if successful will have to
>honestly review this constitution.
>
>With regards to my initial suggestion for a Truth and
>Reconciliation Committee, I will have to replace it
>with a Truth and Restitution Commission, so many
>people have suffered under the AFRPC/APRC regime and
>it would just if some of them are compensated for the
>brutality meted on them by the AFPRC. Having said so,
>a truth commission will only be successful if we
>embraced reconciliation to a certain extent, going to
>a commission simply to seek justice may be right but
>for us to get the truth, one needs to grant amnesty to
>some of the perpetrators who have decided to reveal
>the whole truth about their activities.
>
>Any alternatives or criticisms to my suggestions are
>highly welcomed, as this is just a debate.
>
>Have a wonderful day
>
>Sanusi
>
> --- MLJ Conteh <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >
>Mr. Owens:
> >
> > I am glad that we have reached a plato in
> > recognizing
> > our desire for a free and democratic Gambia. We in
> > the opposition must acknowledge our crusade, and
> > thus
> > work in uniting rather than tearing each other
> > apart.
> > We are in this struggle together, and therefore our
> > inconsistencies and selfishness will result in
> > the dictator furthering his evil
> > ideology.
> >
> > If the opposition sets up a unity initiative, any
> > government elected freely by Gambian people must be
> > given
> > the green light to rule. It will be disastrous to
> > set
> > a transition government for 18 months and call for a
> > special election. A boycott by the opposition will
> > force
> > the dictator to eventually oblige to a free and fair
> > presidential election. Mounting pressure on the
> > dictator
> > may even force him to resign so that a transition
> > government can be set.
> >
> > The Truth Commission should be set after the
> > dictator's
> > defeat. I do not recommend a Reconciliation
> > Commission.
> > There should not be any reconciliation until those
> > responsible for evil deeds against The Gambian
> > people
> > face justice.
> >
> > In the event that the opposition prevails, laws
> > passed
> > by the rubber stamp legislature will become null and
> > void. The Gambian people will be glad
> > to live freely. This is why I do not add
> > any sense to the passage of the indemnity law under
> > dictator yahya. This illegal law will
> > cease to exist under a democratic government. After
> > all, the kaninlai dictator has been the greatest
> > violator
> > of laws passed by his stooges.
> >
> > Naphiyo,
> >
> > Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
> >
> > ------Original Message------
> > From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Sanusi=20Owens?=
> > <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Sent: May 22, 2001 8:07:41 AM GMT
> > Subject: Re: Mr. Owens: Re: My opinion. - Kebba
> > Dampha
> >
> >
> > Comrade Conteh
> >
> > Thanks for the clarification.
> >
> > Lets move on now on a fresh debate as time is of the
> > essence. If there was a United Opposition for the
> > October elections what policies should be included
> > in
> > their manifesto?
> >
> > (1) Suppose the United Opposition were to unseat
> > Jammeh, Should they set up a transitional government
> > for 18 month and call fresh elections?
> >
> > (2) Set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to
> > investigate into the human rights abuses committed
> > during the defunt AFPRC/APRC regime.
> >
> > (3) Nullify the decisions of the Commissions of
> > Inquiry set up during the Jammeh era.
> >
> > Happy to hear your views and that of others on this
> > issue.
> >
> > Have a wonderful day.
> >
> > Sanusi
> >
> > --- MLJ Conteh <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >
> > Mr. Owens:
> > >
> > > I want to assure you that I do not hold hard
> > > feelings
> > > relative to our disagreements. In fact the more
> > we
> > > disagree, the quicker we both realize that
> > dictator
> > > yahya is the worst thing that has ever happened to
> > > The Gambia.
> > >
> > > My stance for a boycott on the condition that
> > issues
> > > raised by the opposition are not obliged by the
> > > dictator
> > > is in fact a genuine theory in dealing with
> > > dictators.
> > > History has told us from time to time that you
> > > cannot
> > > take a lawyerly attitude with those that overthrew
> > > an
> > > elected government. It does not make any sense to
> > > set
> > > conditions not followed by the opposition and the
> > > dictatorship.
> > > What good will it do for us come October when the
> > > dictator
> > > steals the election? Are we going to cry for
> > > another five years?
> > >
> > > I hope you reconsider contributing to the election
> > > fund drive
> > > in the event that you endorse a boycott. When the
> > > boycott
> > > strategy is applied, it will only be temporal
> > > because there
> > > will be pressure on the dictator to hold free and
> > > fair elections.
> > > The Gambia cannot be an isolated basket.
> > >
> > > Naphiyo,
> > >
> > > Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
> > >
> > > ------Original Message------
> > > From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Sanusi=20Owens?=
> > > <[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Sent: May 21, 2001 5:21:53 PM GMT
> > > Subject: Re: My opinion. - Kebba Dampha
> > >
> > >
> > > Yus and KB
> > >
> > > Thank God both of you have now realise that the
> > > battle
> > > of words should come to an end.
> > >
> > > To be honest with you, your constant tussles was
> > > only
> > > a mere distraction to the reality.
> > >
> > > With 6 months to go before polling for the
> > > Presidency,
> > > both of you could be instrumental in making some
> > > positive suggestions to the opposition on how to
> > win
> > > the next elections if they are to be held on a
> > level
> > > playing field. I await your response on that
> > aspect.
> > >
> > > Comrade Conteh
> > >
> > > Sorry for not responding earlier to your email.
> > >
> > > It appears you are so keen to see me make a
> > > financial
> > > contribution towards the Election Fund, since I
> > have
> > > been merely talking without making any positive
> > > "contribution".
> > >
> > > Well, As you may know I am currently residing in
> > the
> > > United Kingdom and if I should make any financial
> > > contribution, then surely this should sent to the
> > > Mrdguk. With that in mind I shall contribute once
> > I
> > > am
> > > pretty certain that the opposition are going to
> > > contest the Presidential and Parliamentary
> > > Elections.
> > >
> > > Moreover,I must be frank with you that your stance
> > > on
> > > boycotting the elections without exhausting all
> > > other
> > > avenues, does n't in any manner convince me to
> > > contribute towards the Election Fund. To cut it
> > > short,
> > > why should I contribute when people like you are
> > > advocating for a boycott?
> > >
> > > Please note that my reference to your affiliation
> > to
> > > the defunct National Convention Party was just an
> > > example of when a political party ever boycotted
> > an
> > > election in The Gambia. I know as a fact that
> >
>=== message truncated ===
>
>
>
>
>
>____________________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk
>or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie
>
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