Comrades:
Please read the following developments narrated
by The Point Newspaper:
"Omar Jallow former PPP minister along with representatives of
NCP, GPP, UDP and NRP left yesterday for London, UK. They
will be meeting British parliamentarians at the House of Commons
today to discuss issues pertaining to Gambia's political
situation. The Point has reliably learnt that Gibou Jagne will be
representing the NCP, Femi Peters, GPP, Kemeseng Jammeh the
UDP and Hamat Bah the NRP.
In an interview with Omar Jallow before his departure, he said the
session is being organised by some members of the British Labour
Party in consultation with the Liberal Party, on the theme: "The
campaign to restore democracy in the Gambia."
"We hope by consulting with those members of parliament, particularly that
the meeting is taking place in the House of Commons, will help the
politicians and the British Government to have an insight and proper focus
and understanding of what has been happening in this country since
1994.
We are strong believers in the rule of law, democracy and respect for human
rights. Therefore, we thought the British Government which has a
base and foundation for such principles, and a country that has
privileged relations with the Gambia, being our former colonial
master, is really interested in the restoration of democracy in the
Gambia. This we thought is very important, and a noble move.
"We hope after the meeting, and the resolutions passed, the
Jammeh administration will start to listen, not only to the
opposition elements and organistions in the country but, of course,
countries that mean well for the Gambia."
In another development the paper stated the
following:
Fabarkary Kuloir Camara a former July 22nd youth leader
from Jarra Soma in the Lower River Division has
announced his defection from the ruling APRC to the
opposition UDP, because of what he termed the regime's
neglect of the people, bad human rights record and empty
promises to the youths. Mr. Camara made this announcement
yesterday when he visited this paper to pledge his total
support to the opposition UDP.
"I was a strong supporter of the AFPRC/APRC since July 1994,"
Camara said, but according to him, he and his collegues have
now realised that Momodou Soma Jobe, Baba Jobe and the APRC regime
were only using them as bad political tools inorder to achieve
their interests, while "we are left as public enemies."
Camara disclosed that he was among those July 22nd movement members
who ejected Lamin Waa Juwara from the good governance workshop
held in Pakalinding some time ago.
He said they were instigated by Momodou Soma Jobe, and have now
deeply regretted their action, and are therefore apologising
to Mr. Juwara for their deeds. Camara noted that since the
Gambia gained her independence from Britain, three decades ago, the bad
governance, the human rights violations, the arrest and
detention of innocent Gambians, the economic burdens that the
Gambians have suffered from have never been so in the history
of this small country.
We have lost confidence in the APRC and of all the 300 people
in his association in Jarra Soma, 60% of them all have
already joined the UDP, and that they will make sure they
fight to the last drop of their blood to make sure the APRC
is flushed out of office through constitutional means in
the forthcoming elections. The Gambian youths, he said, do
not need any charity from either Baba Jobe or Yaya
Jammeh, but rather for them to bring development projects
to their doorstep. Commenting on the coming by-elections, Mr.
Camara described as an insult for the people of Kiang
for Buba Baldeh, Baba Jobe and Alhagie Banta Camara to select
their candidate for them.
Mahawa Cham Camara, he said, is not the choice of the people
and, according to him, they will make sure that they lose
miserably. Jammeh refused to honour our fallen MP Buba Samura
and therefore the people of Kiang will also not honour any of
their candidates put up for the by-election by voting for
them. Finally, Mr. Camara called on the Gambian people,
particularly the youths, to emulate countries like Ghana
and Senegal. The UDP, he said, is the only party that can
restore respect for human rights and the rule of law in the
country.
The Point eloquently stated the following:
A Shame For Government- Lawyer Darboe
UDP's Lawyer Darboe has said the British House of
Commons' meeting with Gambia's opposition parties on the
"current crises in Democracy in the Gambia" should be
a source of shame for the APRC government. He was speaking
during an interview with The Point at his Kairaba Avenue
residence on Monday. Darboe believes that for the British
House of Commons to invite opposition parties in the country to a
briefing meeting in UK clearly spelt out the type of government
currently in the Gambia.
He said the APRC government has very little respect for the
norms of good government, adding that the regime has
also reduced some Gambians into slaves in their own
country by preventing them from taking part in
politics. Some Gambians, he noted, had been excluded
from standing as candidates or sponsoring candidates during
elections. Such people, Mr. Darboe pointed out, were
not allowed to even attend political rallies.
The UDP leader said the invitation extended to them
shows that some people outside the Gambia are concerned
about the state of affairs. He disclosed that his party
would be represented by Kemeseng Jammeh who would go with a
prepared statement on issues relating to governance in the
country, which he described as very bad. Darboe emphasized
that if the UDP were to be at the helm of government, the
present meeting with the opposition by UK House of Commons would not
have been convened since their government would be a model worthy of
emulation by others in terms of good governance and democracy.
The UDP government, he said, would even set a two-five
year term limit for its presidency. He further said
their civil service would be better organised, better
motivated and well-disciplined. Meanwhile, NRP's Hamat Bah is said to be
presently in London, and will be attending the meeting as
well.
Jammeh Under Pressure
President Yahya Jammeh has been for sometime now under pressure.
This pressure has been mounting to a climaxing finale with
the current London meeting between The Gambian opposition and the
British MPs. Events have succeeded one and another in many areas.
The energy crisis, last year's Groundnut Season, the students
demonstrations, the Basse incident, the reception of
Government's decision on the reports on the April 10 and 11
events, the Casamance and Guinea Bissau debacle, the issue
surrounding the death of the two UDP MPs and the remake about this
year's Groundnut Season.
And now, some influential British MPs are mounting a serious
campaign against his administration. The man is really under
pressure. Who to blame? Of course the cohort of advisers of
the past two years or so who must have failed him. Or as many
people believe, is it a case of no adviser at all? Maybe it is
too late to apportion blame. Now what is important is for
Jammeh to address these issues with the seriousness and urgency
they demand. The farmers problems must be tackled in the
most satisfactory manner.
The minister is meeting the press today and we hope he
gives us a true picture of the situation and a final solution
to this vexed issue, which has been with us since last
year. On the recommendations of the Commission of Enquiry,
we hope government would live up to the aspirations of the
people. On Casamance and Guinea-Bissau, we hope they would
offer their assistance in the spirit of good neighbourliness
and stability of the sub-region without fanfare.
Now, on the London meeting and in fact in correlation with
the recent visit of Secretary General Mc. Kinnon, government
should endeavour to repeal, as a matter of urgency, the
decrees that are inimical to good governance. For The
Gambia to take a rightful place in the comity of nations,
the government must be prepared to play the governance game
by observing its rules. For instance, in an international
match, The Gambia can only file 11 players for a football match
and not 30 or can only file 6 players for a basket ball
l match and not 2.
The answer then to the London meeting and CMAG is the
observance of the Harare Declaration. Now, CMAG is an arm of
the Commonwealth where we might have sympathy but the British
MPs can spearhead the unleashing of devastating measures
against the government. - We do not need to catalogue
the type of measures but they are many. Suffice it to
mention the one that provides for travel embargo. - "The First
Law of Journalism:to confirm existing prejudice, rather
then contradict it."
If things hold right, the dictator will soon be
flushed out of The Gambia.
Naphiyo
Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
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