PDOIS HAS A DUTY TO CARRYOUT,THEY HAVE THEIR OWN WAY OF DOING THINGS.PDOIS
UNLIKE OTHER POLITICAL GROUPS,WILL NOT DANCE TO ANYBODY'S TUNE.

PLEASE ALLOW THEM TO CARRY ON,IF NOT THIS GENERATION,THE NEXT GENERATION
WILL BE POLITICALLY PREPARED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF PDOIS.

WE TALK ABOUT THE ELECTION WILL BE RIGGED.THE PAST ELECTIONS IN THE US WAS
SAID TO BE RIGGED,WHAT DID WE SAY?WHAT DID THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SAY?
NOTHING.

AM SURE EVERYBODY IS WAITING FOR THE RESULT,JUST TO SAY THE RESULT IS
RIGGED,EVEN IF NO BODY WINS.

LONG LIVE THE GAMBIA
>From: edrissa njie <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: PDOIS and Coming Elections
>Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 21:04:41 -0000
>
>PDOIS,
>You are busy scrutinising and enlightening!!! The BUTCHER is
>strategising!!!
>The elections will be RIGGED right under your very noses! Tell us something
>PRACTICAL that the average person in Bundung, Latrikunda or Fatoto can
>identify with on the ground and effect appropriate action. We stand to lose
>these elections particularly if we continue hallucinating and skyriding
>toying around with concepts that the ordinary man cannot decipher!!!Let's
>bring things to ground level if we want to make a difference!!!
>EDRISSA
>
>
>>From: foroyaa <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: PDOIS  and Coming Elections
>>Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 15:38:53 +0100
>>
>>We have followed the debates on the L regarding elections. PDOIS's
>>position
>>is that there can be no sovereign people without the exercise of their
>>right
>>to be architects of their own destiny. Representatives are mere emissaries
>>of the people. Elections are instruments through which the people assert
>>their authority to determine their manner of government.
>>In our view a sovereign people can only take charge of their destiny if
>>they
>>are free from ignorance. They must know that they control power and must
>>be
>>determined not to allow any representative to usurp their power through
>>intimidation or inducement and rule over them like monarchs. The
>>unfortunate
>>thing about the Gambia is that when it became a republic in 1970 no effort
>>was done to spread enlightenment so that a new sovereign Gambian people
>>would be born. Consequently, a sovereign republic emerged without the
>>development of the sovereign people who could truly be the guardians of
>>their destiny.
>>Notwithstanding since periodic elections took place to determine
>>representation, the sovereignty of the people still remained the corner
>>stone for acquiring authority to manage the affairs of the country.
>>The Coup of 1994 abrogated the essence of having a sovereign republic. A
>>government was imposed not by inducing or intimidating voters but by
>>negating the electoral system all together. This also negated the republic
>>and transformed the country into a semblance of a monarchy.
>>The fundamental task before the Gambian people was to restore the republic
>>by restoring the sovereign rights of the Gambian people to select
>>representatives. This is what had given birth to the second republic.
>>PDOIS's position is that the restoration of the sovereignty of the people
>>appears meaningless as long as the people are not enlighten to know how to
>>ensure their liberty and prosperity through the ballot box. This however,
>>is
>>the task of democratic awakening. While a republic and the sovereignty of
>>the people can be restored through the ratification of republican
>>constitutions and holding of elections democracy has to be built by making
>>the people to own their minds and make their own informed choices without
>>fear or inducement.
>>Secondly, restoration of the sovereignty of the people, become meaningless
>>if elections can be rigged. The task of enlightening the people is a duty
>>for every Gambian who loves his or her country. The task of creating an
>>election machinery that would prevent elections from being rigged is also
>>a
>>duty that should be shouldered by every Gambian. This is precisely the
>>reason why PDOIS is conducting civic education among the people while
>>scrutinising the election machinery to ensure that standards are
>>maintained.
>>The 1997 constitution created an Independent Electoral Commission, which
>>is
>>suppose to be focal point for exercising management and supervision over
>>the
>>electoral system. It is empowered to demarcate constituencies, districts,
>>and wards, register voters, set dates for elections on the basis of
>>constitutional provisions, accept nomination papers, establish campaign
>>period, control the issuing of permit, the coverage of candidates by the
>>media, the introduction of a code of conduct, the conducting of voting,
>>the
>>counting of votes and the declaration of results.
>>There is a constitutional guarantee that in the performance of its
>>responsibility, the commission shall not be subjected to control by any
>>authority.
>>Prior to the by elections, the commission was under scrutiny by the
>>Gambian
>>public. It had demarcated constituencies by relying on the principle of
>>equal representation for equal number of inhabitants. The actions of the
>>commission was subjected to national scrutiny and even those who disagree
>>with the commission could not advance any reasonably justifiable argument
>>to
>>back their disagreement. This gave the commission clout. It held elections
>>in Sami and declared the results of each polling station, which ultimately
>>led to unexpected results. This increased the confidence of the people.
>>The
>>commission went to court in order to get the Supreme Court to interpret
>>certain provisions of the constitution, which affected its work.
>>In short, the commission wanted to be bound by no other authority except
>>the
>>law. The commission created an inter-party consultative committee with a
>>view to settle any disputes regarding the electoral system. A day was
>>established to inaugurate the consultative body.The day before the
>>inauguration, the chairman of the commission was removed as well one of
>>its
>>members. Out of the five members of the commission, one person died and
>>another resigned prior to the removal of the chairman. Only one member was
>>left, the commission was completely paralysed by the decision of the
>>executive. It is clear that if the executive can actually remove members
>>of
>>the commission and create a state of total paralysis, how can its
>>independence be safeguarded? What would prevent the executive from waiting
>>until three months before an election, remove all the members of the
>>commission and replace them with new appointees. The reason why the
>>constitution established a fixed tenure and asserted for a tribunal of
>>three
>>judges to be established to review any allegations against a member of the
>>commission is precisely to safeguard the independence of the commission.
>>This is why PDOIS considers it a matter of principle to wait for the
>>Supreme
>>Court decision on the removal of the two members of the IEC one of whom is
>>the chairman before working with the IEC. The Supreme Court has made a
>>ruling that it will not stop the current appointees from doing their work
>>prior to determining the constitutionality of the removal of the two IEC
>>members. This gives the current appointees the Supreme Court mandate to
>>operate. This is what legitimises their conduct of the by elections. PDOIS
>>did not object to UDP participation in the by elections. PDOIS's position,
>>however, is that a relatively legal legitimacy cannot be equated with
>>constitutional legitimacy. In this case, the longer it takes the Supreme
>>Court to determine constitutional legitimacy, the more a culture of
>>impunity
>>is consolidated. A wrong action that cannot be redressed with immediacy is
>>given a cloak of legitimacy. This undermines standards in democratic
>>governance. This is why PDOIS's refusal to cooperate with the current
>>appointees is precisely to focus attention on the unconstitutionality of
>>the
>>action of the executive and the danger that poses to the independence of
>>the
>>electoral commission. The issue therefore is not whether PDOIS intends to
>>participate in elections or not. That is a foregone conclusion. As long as
>>we are convinced that the Gambian People can go in a voting booth and vote
>>in secret; as long as our polling agents can be present in every polling
>>station to monitor the exercise; as long as all the ballot boxes are
>>opened
>>at the beginning to be checked and closed in front of our polling agent;
>>as
>>long as those ballot boxes are at all times within the sight of our
>>polling
>>and counting agent; as long as counting takes place in front of our
>>counting
>>agent, PDOIS will participate in elections. Inducement and intimidation
>>can
>>only work if the people are not properly sensitised and emboldened. This
>>is
>>the challenge that all democratic forces must confront in the building of
>>a
>>democratic political culture. There will always be forces, which rely on
>>inducement and intimidation to acquire or consolidate power. The just
>>forces
>>which aim to liberate and empower the people must become stronger if the
>>forces based on inducement and intimidation are to be rendered
>>insignificant.
>>The question which, should be raised, is whether the Supreme court is an
>>appropriate body to give the power to be an interpreter and enforcer of
>>the
>>provisions of the constitution. The provisions of the constitution cannot
>>enforce themselves. As long as there are rulers who see themselves as
>>monarchs instead of leaders who are mere public trustees and who should
>>perform their duties according prescribed laws, constitutional provisions,
>>which are designed to safeguard standards of governance and the integrity
>>of
>>the sovereign people will always be encroached on. The Dictum that justice
>>delayed is justice denied is applicable here. If the Supreme Court acts
>>with
>>speed to resolve the constitutional dilemma, there will no obstacles to
>>PDOIS's participation. The obstacle therefore at the moment is our
>>commitment not to compromise with the culture of impunity and the failure
>>of
>>the Supreme Court to act with immediacy to redress such impunity. In fact,
>>one policy on terms of constitutional development that PDOIS is
>>considering
>>is the establishment of a constitutional court with a time frame
>>established
>>to determine all constitutional questions with immediacy. This is how
>>matters stand.
>>
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