Joe:

In this particular situation, we maybe hastily characterizing the Pa as "jamfaying" his other comrades, and that may not be the case.Let us assume that Jawara was given the amnesty, and that he can come home. He stated his position that the same program should be extended to his comrade. After an extended time of political jokeying, and of course the lack of trust from the parties involved, the government at least wanted the Pa to commit by accepting the amnesty and come home. Then the amnesty would be extended to the rest of his comrade. I am not a supporter of the Jawara regime, but looking at only what we have seen so far, it would not be out of place to assume that the Pa is not only looking out for himself. I am willing to believe that with all the political mistakes he has made in his life time, this is one political move that his decency will not allow him to make.

Thank

Musa Jeng




>
> From: Joe Sambou <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2002/06/07 Fri PM 03:15:20 EDT
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Give Jawara A Break
>
> No, you give Gambians a break and on the contrary, the hypocrisy lies in
> you.  What happened to loyalty to one's principles, comrades, and country?
> You seem to share the "Jamfa" mentality that describes Jawara all throughout
> his political career.  The man is worst than Brutus if you ask me.  Can you
> imagine Mandela being released from jail to join the Afrikaner Movement at
> the expense of not only his comrades in exile, but the countless many South
> Africans that has been massacred and victimized by the Apartheid regime?
> This loyalty to self is what is sinking our country and it is sad to see
> senior citizens leading parade.  On a personal note, Jawara can go to hell
> as far as I am concerned.  But hey, why should we be surprised.  This is the
> same man that in the 1980 mutiny, Kukoi et al held his family at gun point
> with threats to kill them should he attempt a come back, and what happened?
> We all heard over the radio the the whimpering of his wife... Modoor Ngi Nee
> Toog" etc..  His family could have been wiped out as far as he is concerned
> because of his love for self.  Not to forget all those that were forced at
> gunpoint to renounce him, and he knew that they did it against their will.
> The same man that set some of his ministers up with his facade of seeking
> their honest opinion regarding his retirement, only to turn around and sack
> folks that honestly spoke their mind.  Not forgetting his flip flop between
> the Church and the Mosque for political ends.  So, my friends Fafa is
> consistent in his love for self.  So, I say give us a break with your
> nonsense about Jawara resting in peace.  Jawara owe Gambians big time and
> for this last Judas act to his supporters, I say stick it to him.  It is his
> business to be the way he is and I think all Gambians reserve the right to
> judge him based on how they see him.  And, yes, you are within your rights
> to emphathize with him, so let others speak their mind too.  He is a weasel
> as far as I am concerned.  Please read on.
>
> Give Jawara a Break!
>
>
> The Independent (Banjul)
>
> EDITORIAL
> June 7, 2002
> Posted to the web June 7, 2002
>
> Banjul
>
> One again, the drum of political lilliputism has started thundering in the
> land, renting air and our political dance troupes are fast casting off their
> façade for an all-nude dance to the utter bewilderment and entertainment of
> the civilized world.
>
> Or else how can we explain the on-going murmuring and even rumblings in the
> opposition camp over Papa Jawara's return to the country whose air he has
> been longing to gulp? How can some people be so hypocritical, indifferent
> and even cynical to the travails of a former president in his late 70s who
> had spent eight turbulent years away in tortuous exile, as to engage him in
> a battle for no reason other than returning home when his comrades are yet
> to be pardoned by the government? Who among us, when put in Jawara's shoes
> will not accept to come back home?
>
> There are certain sufferings that enrich our humanity in that they make us
> sensitive to the feelings of others. Subjecting the old man to mean-spirited
> political bickering amounts to doing him a great disservice. He who wears
> the shoes knows where it pinches. Jawara has suffered enough in exile and
> should be given a break to enable him live the rest of his life in peace of
> body and mind before he joins our ancestors.
>
> The stance of the hawks in the opposition that he should have fought for an
> extension of the amnesty to a blanket one to cover other members of his
> regime as a condition for his return is too old-fashioned. In fact, those
> blaming him for reciprocating President Jammeh's reconciliatory gestures are
> euphemistically asking for his political martyrdom, which will neither
> benefit him nor the nation. Indeed, there is no pressure he can apply
> indirectly on Jammeh from outside that he cannot effect from within the
> country.
>
> Judging from political events in the country, it will be difficult to
> convince even an on-looker that our version of political democracy does not
> belong to the epoch of primitive societies. Such societies are characterized
> by mechanical solidarity in which all followers depend on their leaders for
> their position on virtually any issue, rather than exhibiting a dint of
> independent judgement or initiative.
>
> One can even risk saying we cannot forgive unless our leaders tell us to
> forgive. The fallout from such state of affairs is that there is so much
> bitterness within the ranks of our leaders which permeates down to the
> common man that it now seems our leaders are the major obstacles to our
> peace and tranquility. In our vindictiveness we have forgotten the golden
> rule or categorical imperative that we should do unto others what we would
> want them to do unto us.
>
> Jawara deserves a rest and we must allow him to rest peacefully. For
> heaven's sake give the old pa a break!
>
>
>
>
>
>
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