Mr. Conteh,
  The assertion made here is a fallacy. There is no provision in the constitution requiring members of parliament to resign their seats inorder to be able to run for the presidency, as you put it. Halifa Sallah has been nominated as NADD's flagbearer and it would be left to the electorate to determine who is best to run the affairs of the nation. the choices are as clear as day. On another note, if Ousainou Darboe runs, will the opposition?
   
  "It is apparent that sitting members of the house cannot run
for president, until they resign their seats.  Since tomorrow is the 
deciding day for Halifah to consider, he deserves the ultimate right
to choose whatever he wants.  If he resigns and runs, will the 
opposition win?  I don't think so."
   
  Pasamba Jow
  



Jassey Conteh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
  Mr. Kujabi:

I concur with your assertion. It is frightening that it is 
less than 4 weeks before we know our faith in The Gambia.
Regardless of our differences, it is integral that we assess
our opportunities and conclude with good reasoning the eventual
outcome of the Presidential election. If the trend continues and 
we cannot come together, I am afraid the dictator will win.

One consolation may be the fact that the dictator has pull another
trick. It is apparent that sitting members of the house cannot run
for president, until they resign their seats. Since tomorrow is the 
deciding day for Halifah to consider, he deserves the ultimate right
to choose whatever he wants. If he resigns and runs, will the 
opposition win? I don't think so.

After many years of talk, we have made a mess to a point that we have
given the enemy leverage to decide our faith. It is highly unrealistic to have
two opposition parties running against a repressive government. As much as
I would like to see a yahya-less Gambia, our chances are slipping away by every
second because of our indecision. Most of us on Gambia L will not vote, 
but some of us have negatively impacted our chances of winning. Tribal politics 
and open hatred against Darboe, Hamat and their respective tribes should be 
condemned by every Gambian.

It is so sad.

Naphiyo,
Comrade Jassey-Conteh

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Pa.Saikou Kujabi" 

>Sent: Aug 26, 2006 3:13 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: RE; HALIFA''S ATTACK DOGS
>
>I have read the inept reactions from some Halifa
>attack dogs in protest to my article published on
>Gambia-L, Allgambian.net, and the Freedom Newspaper.
>
>I would like to take up Mr. Muhammed. L. Touray first.
> Mr. Touray made the waters even muddier by claiming
>that "I hate Halifa, that Halifa saw the out come of a
>"NO VOTE and defended the Draft Constitution by
>propagandizing for a "Yes Vote" because the junta
>wanted to stay for as long as it was possible, that
>the 1997 constitution was better than the 1970
>Republican constitution, that until it was recently
>ammended, the 1997 constitution had a term limit
>provision for the office of the presidency, and
>provisions that promote democracy, rule of law, and
>freedom". 
>
>First of all Mr. Touray, UDP did not campaign for a NO
>VOTE because it simply did not exist then. You may
>want to know for your political orientation that UDP
>came to being only fourteen days before the 1996
>presidential elections. You may also want to know
>that despite PDOIS been uninterruptedly existing for
>fifteen years then, UDP pulled over a hundred and
>forty thousand votes, while PDOIS ended up with less
>than twenty thousand.
>
>By all indications, Mr.Touray, you don't get it just
>as Halifa always got it wrong. As I said in my last
>article, only Halifa failed to understand that Yaya
>Jammeh was determined to stay way beyond the
>Transition period. Not after on or about November
>24Th 1994 when he announced the Junta's Four year
>transition programs at the Independence Stadium in
>Bakau. Only Halifa and his cohorts could not read
>Yaya Jammeh's lips. Besides, Muhammed, Yaya Jammeh
>and his gang of criminals have always said in no
>technical terms that they will never hand over power
>to no one before they completed their development
>programs. Every sensible Gambian knew that it was
>humanly impossible that the junta's programs could not
>have been implemented within two years. If Halifa
>could not read Yaya Jammeh's lips, who Else's can he
>read? You will also agree with me that by the time
>the Draft constitution was being put together Yaya was
>already condemning those who opposed the coup,
>emphasizing strongly that he had to put his life on
>the line to overthrow the PPP government, and
>therefore whoever wanted to rule The Gambia must also
>do the same. I don't know what better way or how many
>more times could Yaya have said these statements
>before Halifa could understand. Perhaps Halifa knew
>that all the existing parties and politicians were
>going to be baned, thus opening the doors of the State
>House wide open for a PDOIS leadership. 
>
>I totally disagree with you on your assertion that the
>1997 constitution is by far better than the 1970
>Republican constitution because it has provisions for
>rule of law, freedom, accountability, etc, etc. Mr.
>Touray, the 1970 Republican Constitution also had
>provisions that guaranteed the rule of law, democracy,
>freedom of movement, freedom of speech, freedom of
>association,etc. You may want to know that it is one
>of those provisions that guaranteed PDOIS's coming to
>being as a political party. It is embarrassing to
>realize that you are not even aware that the
>two-five-year term limit for the office of the
>president was never in the 1997 constitution. It was
>the original draft constitution that was presented to
>Provisional Ruling Council by the National
>Consultative Committee(NCC) that had the two
>Five-Year- term limit, forty year age qualification, 
>citizenship qualification, among other important
>clauses. In addition to the deliberate ommission of
>the two five year term limit for the presidency, the
>junta also omitted the forty year age limit to run for
>president and replaced it with a sixty five year age
>limit. I have no doubt that you also don't know that
>the junta has indemnified themselves in this 1997
>constitution. Muhammed, the omission of the two five
>year term limit for the presidency alone was a genuine
>cause for every true and sane Gambian to reject the
>constitution in its totality. I hope you will agree
>with me that a term limit would have taken care of the
>troubles we are facing today, because would have long
>gone by now. This most important provision would
>have saved many lives, including those who were so
>mysteriously murdered recently for their alleged
>involvement in the alleged coup plot. We as Gambians
>would have had the opportunity to hold the junta
>accountable for their actions during the two year
>transition period. This would have been the first
>execution of the checks and balances that you
>ignorantly talked about in the 1997 constitution. 
>Your argument, which is a direct quotation from Halifa
>that "he supported the constitution, but that it is
>the same constitution that Ousainou Darboe rely on to
>argue cases in court" is utter nonesense. This
>argument has certainly failed the test of common
>sense. As a Lawyer, it is not Ousainou's job to
>ammend the constitution. To the contrary, it is
>Halifa's job to introduce a bill on the floor of the
>House and seek an amendment of these abnoxious clauses
>that so badly affects our lives. Halifa is the one
>who has that privilege as a member of Parliament. 
>That is what Halifa gets paid for by you and I. How
>can Ousainou alone effect an amendment to the
>constitution or protest by not going to court because
>there are clauses that are not acceptable to the
>people. It took a whole nation to ratify this bad
>constitution through the help of your flag bearer-
>Sallah's aggressive campaign across the country,
>along side with the July 22nd Movement, commissioners,
>Seyfolu, and Alkalolus.
>
>You and your colleagues in NEW PDOIS(NAAD) simlpy
>cannot distinguish truth from fictions. The MOU that
>you keep referring to is just a paper that was signed
>by the parties concerned. The most important thing
>about that paper is to follow and complete all the
>process that was clearly outlined in it, otherwise it
>cannot be regarded as legitimate. You just
>contradicted yourself by complaining that Yaya Jammeh
>constantly flouts the provisions of the very
>constitution that he tailor made. Won't you
>understand from now on that words on a piece of paper
>cannot mean anything until all the stipulations
>therein are followed sincerely to the latter without
>fear or favor. That is what lacked in the execution
>of the NAAD flag bearer selection process. The
>conspiracy back fired and the traitors shot themselves
>in the foot, which eventually lead them all to fall
>deep into the ditch. Halifa has been falsely crying
>wolf for the past twenty five years, and now he faces
>a real threat from a wolf, but there is no one to come
>to his aid. Leadership is about telling the truth
>even if it will cost you your life, job, friends or
>and sympathizers. 
>
>Mr. Touray, your explanation about the registration of
>NAAD as an Alliance as instead of a political party
>was yet another indication of your lack of
>information, even though you claim to be current on
>the daily political issues in The Gambia. The then
>NAAD Executive was advised by Ousainou Darboe about
>the consequences of registering NAAD as a party. Your
>jack of all trade, Halifa and his cohorts, out of
>arrogance insisted against Ousainou's advise that they
>should not register NAAD because there was a potential
>danger. Lawyer Darboe further advised them not to
>have the serving Members of Parliament append their
>signatures on the MOU, but the !!!chief clerk,
>political scientist, and prominent Lawyer Sallah!!!
>defied Ousainou's caution. What did it cost us when
>the Clerk of the House declared their seats vacant
>while the delegation was in U.S? Were we not forced
>into a by-election which cost the opposition a hell
>lot of money. Did any of you NAAD drum beaters raise
>any questions? Did you find out who led us into that
>mess? In a Town Hall meeting in New York with the
>then NAAD delegation from The Gambia, I took up this
>matter with Halifa. I asked him how come they over
>sighted the clause in the constitution that
>effectively cost them their seats, considering the
>fact that they have amongst their midst a prominent
>Lawyer and formidable politician in the name of
>Ousainou Darboe, and also taking into account their
>individual experiences and knowledge about
>constitutional matters. This is what Halifa had to
>say "When we wanted to register NAAD we came to
>realize that there was loop hole about registering it
>as a political party, but as an experiment, we just
>took the chance hoping that the government does not
>notice it. In the process, he continued, the IEC
>registered it as a political party instead of an
>Alliance which in the government's interpretation
>meant that we have switched our allegiance from our
>original political parties". He went further to
>disclose that their Lawyer (Ousainou)argued in court
>that NAAD did not intend to register a party but
>instead an Alliance. But the presiding judge ruled in
>favor of the government". Now if I may ask you a
>question Muhammed, can you tell me what your
>conclusion is by Halifa's own explanation? Ousainou
>Darboe is one of the toppest Lawyers in The Gambia.
>Besides being the most popular and one of the only two
>credible and capable politicians in The Gambia, 
>Ousainou is also one of the topest Lawyers who is
>very, very, very familiar with the Laws of The Gambia,
>especially those that govern the electoral system. 
>Again if it were not Halifa's arrogant we would have
>avoided that by-election which ultimately cost Hamat
>Bah his Saloum Parliamentary seat. You will also
>recall that before the birth of NAAD, Hamat had been
>comfortably elected twice to the National Assembly,
>where he proved himself way beyond Halifa and Seedia. 
>A word is enough. Go figure out who hate Halifa Mr.
>Touray. Not me. All that I say here and elsewhere
>are solid facts that are too hard for minds like yours
>to absorb.
>
>Let me now turn on to Pa. Morro Jallow, a Halifa
>attack dog who does not know which way the wind blows
>around him. You also demonstrated clearly your word
>deficiency for a healthy and objective debate. First
>and foremost, I thank you for not loving me. I am
>not a gay, and am not interested in joining your gay
>club. Thank you. 
>
>Secondly, I would like to assure you and all the
>readers of this article that I will never reduce
>myself to your level by calling you names that are not
>appropriate in this forum. I know better than that,
>and I was not at all taken by surprise for the harsh
>words and nasty names you called me. I expected that,
>and I knew there were the Muhammed Tourays, Caw. Demba
>Baldehs, and of course the Pa. Morro Jallows out there
>willing to defend the indefensible Sallah. I will
>never get mad at you Pa. "Talibeh" for two good
>reasons: one, you are my "Machudo", and two, I know
>already know your level of maturity both politically
>and socially, which gave me a good guideline in
>dealing with an individual like you including a proper
>choice of language. 
>
>Just like all the NEW PDOIS(NAAD) supporters, you have
>also surfaced in an ocean of ineptitude and deception
>which is the hall mark of being a NEW PDOIS(NAAD) fan.
> You claimed in your article that APRC trashed UDP/NRP
>Alliance in Kafuta in the last by-election. You
>should have done your home work properly Mr. Jallow. 
>UDP/NRP had the largest votes casted in Kafuta than
>APRC and NEW PDOIS(NAAD)combined. You also alleged
>that I heard from other sources that Halifa Sallah
>campaigned single handed for the adoption of the Draft
>constitution. Pa. Morro, I did not hear this from
>anyone, I was in The Gambia when all these happened,
>and every informed Gambian can testify to that, even
>Halifa did not deny these facts. Sorry, I connot help
>you out of your word deficiency which truly defines
>the type of home boy you are. 
>
>You also charged in desperation that we UDP are
>murderes, that we murdered one Alieu Njie of
>Basse(MHSRP), and that you had a word for Haruna
>Darboe. Well, Mr. Jallow, the courts in The Gambia
>never convicted anyone for the unfortunate death of
>Alieu. We in UDP/NRP love every Gambian regardless of
>their sex, tribe, religion, or political affiliation,
>but only those whose five common senses fit together
>well can understand that. We are not interested in
>befriending arrogant and selfish traitors. 
>
>You described Hamat Bah as an old hotel bedroom
>Manager who suddenly became an MP. I can comfortably
>say that you have no respect for those hard working
>men and women in our Hotels who work out their swet to
>put food on the table, cloth and send their kids to
>school. Hotel job is as decent and skillful as any
>other job. Therefore, provoking Hamat with that kind
>of crap does not just make any sense at all. I
>wonder what your job is Morro. One thing abundantly
>clear though, is that Hamat Bah is a rising star in
>The Gambian political arena, and he has proven himself
>to be the most effective member of Parliament time and
>time again. Halifa, and Seedia are rarely heard of in
>the Parliament. As a matter of fact, your Halifa can
>only be remembered for his leadership ambition in the
>Parliament. A Minority Leader, an AU Parliamentarian,
>Head of the Au Parliamentary Committee responsible for
>the Dafur crises, and now a NEW PDOIS(NAAD)
>presidential candidate, so that he can go back to
>Southern Africa or elsewhere and invite the the Radio
>and Television search cameras once again. I cannot
>imagine how Halifa can be in charge of puting out the
>Dafur fire while ignoring the fire that he set off in
>his own country with his own hands. I wish I had
>enough time to orientate you better on political
>issues in The Gambia. Do not fool yourself by
>pretending that you know me. If you do, you would
>have known that I am not bringing up these facts just
>because I am a name caller or disrespect for Halifa. 
>I was on the ground when all thses events took place,
>and for me there are no short cuts in telling the
>truth. I tell it exactly as it is, regardless of what
>anybody things about me.
>
>With regards to your comments about Haruna Darboe,
>"Fangna Morri", I can assure you that Haruna is not
>your match just as Ousainou Darboe and Hamat are not
>Halifa's match. Haruna's intelligence and decency are
>unquestionable. Certainly not by your narrow mind,
>and you better belief that. Haruna will never go down
>with you on this path.. 
>
>Folks, may I ask your indugience to pull the plug on
>Demba Baldeh, another Halifa thin head attack dog. 
>Demba, you described me as one of the ill informed and
>desperate Pseudo old hand UDP/NRP supporters who
>lacks information about the current political events
>in The Gambia. 
>
> You seem to be close to Halifa and the events that
>surround him, more than anyone else. I can imagine
>why you almost had a heart attack when you read my
>article. Life would still go on had you fallen dead. 
>You ignorantly muddied the waters as you desperately 
>tried to defend the indefensible Sallah. Demba, if
>you are as informed as you claimed to be, and as newly
>educated a man who understands every English word that
>Halifa uttered, how come you did not know that Halifa
>and Seedia's arrests happened in only a couple of days
>after the July 22ND coup-DE-tat in 1994 and not in
>1995 as you claimed. You also claimed that I am ill
>informed about the political events in the Gambia. 
>Well, "Maudo Demba" you should have named me at least
>one or more events that are currently going on in The
>Gambia that you think I am not aware of. You clearly
>don't know why Yaya Jammeh sent Hamat, Oj, Halifa and
>Waa to jail. It was not at all about the open letter
>Halifa wrote on behalf of NAAD. It was an exercise of
>power that Yaya has always been proud of. Mr. Newly
>schooled, didn't Yaya promise on National TV that he
>WILL GIVE THE OPPOSITION A KORETEH "KORITEH GIFT"? 
>Didn't he say that before their arrests? Did you not
>belief him? You must be out of your mind if you would
>not have believed in Yaya's craziness. Yaya was
>determined to send our brothers to jail anyway,
>regardless of how good or bad the evidence were. I
>wonder what new school you attended Demba? Meanwhile,
>you have made it abundantly clear that your only
>influence about Halifa is the GOOD ENGLISH that he
>speaks. No wonder why you just cannot connect the
>dots right. You don't measure one's seriousness by
>the good English he or she speaks, rather, the sense
>behind the good English. You must have been busy take
>note of every English word that Halifa uttered at the
>Seattle meeting. I can also imagine how you could be
>easily carried away by any GOOD ENGLISH speaker, if
>you should sit on a decision making table.
>
>Mr. new school, I am particularly disappointed that
>with all your faithfulness and ambition for Halifa
>presidency, you are not even aware that on the May 20,
>2006 Halifa made a usual irresponsible press release
>regarding the Kombo East by-election in which he
>cowardly pointed an accusing finger at me for NEW
>PDOIS(NAAD)'s humiliating performance in that
>election. What kind of English graduate are you
>"Machudo Jola"?. Do you want to tell me that you can
>only understand Halifa's spoken English but cannot
>read his writings. You questioned if I cannot
>understand the English when I read Halifa's writings. 
>It is evident to every one now that despite the fact
>that you are so close to Halifa, you still cannot
>read his writings.!!What a shame on you "Caw Demba". 
>
>You alleged that "UDP has made blunders that will lead
>it to committing political suicide, and that we have
>been all over the map on the issue of unity, that
>first it was lack of trust, second a mistake was made
>by agreeing to be equal when we are not equal". 
>Demba, if ever UDP and NRP leaders have made any good
>decisions, the withdrawing from NAAD was the best they
>could have ever made under the circumstance, and if
>that is what you consider to be a political suicide,
>then you dont know what politics is. NAAD was never
>meant for Ousainou and Hamat,and no matter who says
>what at what given time and place, Hamat and Ousainou
>have the same view regarding now NEW PDOIS(NAAD)Party.
>I know for fact that I personally can mentor you in
>politics for the rest of your life and you will not
>get to the tip of my finger. You should not worry
>about UDP/NRP committing political suicide. In fact,

=== message truncated ===

 		
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