"PDOIS's struggle must be link to the struggles of the young people; it
must be link to the struggles of the Diaspora Gambians, and indeed it must
be link to the struggles of all people who want to contribute to the
evolution of a democratic culture and plurality in the Gambia.
The second phase of their struggle must find a way and the method to do
this.
-Rene"

Rene,

Your above statement needs reflection by the PDOIS folk.   Indeed, some
sections of the diaspora must be listened to and engaged with (here i am
not talking about the rabid and false posturers already using this
editorial to have a go at Halifa).  There are many who simply and genuinely
want PDOIS to succeed and these people agree in principle with the party's
approach to things Gambian.

I for one, I totally disagree with those folk who keep castigating the
opposition on the ground in the way they do things.  I equally think that
it is false to state that the opposition parties on the ground are afraid,
or not doing enough about the madness in Gambia or that their leadership
are selfish as some in the diaspora continue to insinuate.  For me on every
pertinent issue both the UDP and PDOIS are doing what they could in context
of what they deem fit.  Perhaps they could do more, I am in no position to
say.  I appreciate what they are doing in their capacity to bring democracy
and sanity in the Gambia.  PDOIS are as relevant as ever in our political
landscape.

In the struggle to rid Gambia off President Jammeh and his enablers, I will
not urge the opposition to do what I am not ready and willing to do in this
present time.  I am against the some of the violence some diasporans are
calling for to remove Jammeh granted that President Jammeh has been using
violence in all its shape and form since 1994.  I urge those who really
believe that they are more patriotic and willing to die for their beloved
land to pack up and go to Gambia and confront Jammeh and his goons in the
manner they urging the opposition on the ground to do.  After all we are
all adults and we claim not to be controlled by anybody.  We have equal
stake as the opposition leaders and we should not wait for them to do
anything on our behalf.  Many have claimed to be as educated, sophisticaed,
connected or even more than the 'weak and ineffectual' opposition leaders
on the ground.  I say go forth and do what you have to do.

That said, direct action such as the DUGA act in DC is legitimate, relevant
and useful in this struggle especially where the rule of law exist to a
certain degree such as the USA.  One must be reminded that Martin Luther
King Jr's great historic march in Washingston never occurred in a vacuum or
sponteneously.  There were many small direct action protests they the Civil
Rights Activists carried out that made them visible and ultimately gave the
courage to stage such the historic I HAVE A DREAM march which without a
doubt jolted the US authorities.  Small actions by Rosa Parks and the
everyday resistances of ordinary folk made it possible for King and X to
confront the government, thus it is uncalled for to ridicule others actions
which hey carry out responsibly.

Indeed, Halifa used direct action tactic on that ELECTION DAY against
Jawara just to inspire people and to make them not to be afraid of their
leaders. Coach Pa Samba must have learned from that. What Halifa did on
that day had symbolic meaning and dismantled the mysticism surrounding
Jawara.  To me the DUGA folks are no political novices, these people knew
and calculated their actions which was in my view  to generate attention on
the serious situation in the Gambian.  It was a success.  I hope the
momentum continues.

Direct action inspired the Y'EN MARRE youth in Senegal to take on the Wade
government and without a doubt the youth in Senegal forced the opposition
in the end to rally together and find a political solution to the
Senegalese problem.  These direct actions took place both in Senegal and in
the diaspora.  We are reminded of Sulayman Jules Diop's action against Wade
in Chicago.  It had a major impact in Senegal and beyond.

The oppostion parties in Senegal knew they would have died a natural death
if they stood on the sidelines and watch the then Wade government continue
with their violence against its citizen.  I hope DUGA's action is
replicated everywhere Gambia has embassies or such offices.  If we cannot
protest peacefully in the Gambia without being killed or arrested then we
should be able to do it in places where rule of law and human rights is to
some extent respected.  We should be supported or left alone.

Foroyaa which is obviously controlled by PDOIS erred on this editorial,
period.

Best,
Mboge






On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 1:01 PM, <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: rebadjan <[log in to unmask]>
> To: gambia-l <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sat, Oct 12, 2013 6:57 am
>
>
>    "If the DC Embassy action can be called EMOTIONAL AND INEFFECTUAL ONE
> WONDERS WHAT WAS HALIFA SALLAH'S ACTION all about AGAINST
> PRESIDENTJAWARA AT ROCKSY CINEMA ON AN ELECTION DAY DURING THE FIRST
> REPUBLIC."
>
>    Mboge, I was there and walking behind Halifa. This editorial is
> definitely uncalled for. Judging by the reactions on facebook and the
> publicity this has generated, it has arouse a deep sense of ownership to a
> lot of people. The gesture is symbolic and is in the tradition of a  civil
> rights activism that still has currency.
>
>    PDOIS's struggle must be link to the struggles of the young people; it
> must be link to the struggles of the Diaspora Gambians, and indeed it must
> be link to the struggles of all people who want to contribute to the
> evolution of a democratic culture and plurality in the Gambia.
>
>     The second phase of their struggle must find a way and the method to
> do this.
>
>     Rene
>  ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To
> unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web
> interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
>
> To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to:
> http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the
> List Management, please send an e-mail to:
> [log in to unmask]¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
>

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤