My Dear Fellow Gambia-lers, Considering the present changing security environment in our beautiful country, The Gambia, which is persistently breeding lawlessness and the implementation of a well-planned and orchestrated tribal agenda and strategy under the leadership of President Jammeh, and coupled with mismanagement, corruption and total disregard for human life, it is therefore, incumbent upon us all to consider and table for discussion a far long shot and only option available to us to rescue our country from total disintegration. This option is: SHOULD SENEGAL AND NIGERIA INTERVENE ON MORAL PRINCIPLE TO RESTORE LAW AND ORDER AND HUMAN DECENCY TO OUR COUNTRY? To some of you, this may sound ridiculous and premature at this point, but this is a CASE STUDY that, at this point in our history after experiencing horrible circumstances and horrendous crimes against humanity, warrants a thorough and explicit consideration and debate as to what necessary steps we must take as a nation in order to restore peace, tranquility and human decency to our beloved country. It is a Case Study because this is right moment when we must redouble efforts to avoid the Sierra Leone-Liberia type situation before it is too late. I did not easily choose this final option. I am positively aware that making such arguments for others to weigh in is not an easy undertaking. There must be genuine and firm arguments advanced to support such a bold position; this is a contention for foreign intervention which would set precedence and create far-reaching political and cultural consequences for our country; and as a result, the chief purpose of restoring peace and tranquility could be thwarted. But after closely following developments at home for the past 6 years, I could see no progress, except worsening situations and total disregard for human life. This frightening trend at home has convinced me to believe that the sole option before us, though not a decent option is, for us as Gambians in our relentless efforts to restore Democracy at home, to consider REGIONAL INTERVENTION, though deep in my hearth, I am yawning for the emergence of a National solution. To further strengthened my Case Study, I have considered the various tangible options available to us in taking charge of situations at home. To my own opinion, we have only THREE tangible options available: A National Level Option, Regional Level Option and International Level Option. Each of these levels does have series of sub-levels and sub-sub-levels which must be thoroughly exhausted first before considering any other level of option. In advancing my arguments for the necessity to consider the second major option available to us to remove President Jammeh from Office, Regional Intervention, I have first of all chosen to lament on the components of National level option and how each component could greatly impact our relentless efforts to restore Democracy at home. I came to the conclusion that these components of national level option may not even come close to accomplishing our mission of restoring Democracy at home, leaving us scrambling for quick fixes which may be too little and too late. A National Level option to remove President Jammeh from Office are four fold: Through ballot box, Seasoned Journalism, Persistent Mass Demonstrations by all Concerned Citizens(including men, women and children) and the intervention of the Judiciary and the Legislature. Mass demonstrations organized by GAMSU ended up with the massacre of our innocent children, and despite outcries and international condemnations, President Jammeh is still standing, though seriously wounded. Demonstrations by children alone was not enough, groups of men and women should have joined the beloved and hopeful children to strengthen and support the children's course, but that was not done. Instead, about 18 students' lives was the price paid. Similarly, seasoned or professional journalism which often plays tremendous role in influencing political climate in a country, or in some countries could even determine what kind of policies a particular government adopts, is seriously lacking in our country. With the three main Newspapers we have in the country, only THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER and THE POINT measured to that level of season journalism, effective enough to influence political climate in The Gambia; and even these two seasoned Newspapers have been experiencing endless threats and intimidation in order to discourage them from doing the very good job there are doing for the country. The OBSERVER on the other hand, only hovers the edges of journalism. For the Observer to earn the title of seasoned journalism, it must vacuum deeper into journalism. I do not even mention FOROYAA in this category because Foroyaa has lost it completely. They are still navigating the galaxies locating the Moon and Sun. When other local newspapers are lamenting facts about prevailing precarious situations in the country, Foroyaa would be busy practicing a Deviationist or Deception tactics instead of pinpointing facts to educate the public. To put some light to this, taking into account the student massacre and the UPD ambush as an example, Foroyaa failed to take a stand, instead, it kept writing about dual Citizenship; and frankly, Gambia-Lers are sick and tired of reading that dry stuff. Foroyaa failed its basic test of independence. Now, only GAMBIA-LERS are throwing the LENOX LEWIS- MIKE TYSON punches, hoping to knock-out the dictator. Therefore, without seasoned or professional journalism, which reaches the level of those in the Western Countries in a free and fair atmosphere, there is of course very slim chance that the dictator will be easily forced out of office with the help of seasoned journalism. At national level, we are now only left with two main remaining components: THE JUDICIARY & THE LEGISLATURE. The judiciary and Legislature could also step in to stop the dictator's unlawful decrees that causes havoc and unhumane acts, but some of those law makers and judges were the very people who had helped the dictator enacted and effectively executed those unlawful decrees. Now that those decrees have come back to hunt them, they are now struggling to undo some of them; but the reality is, undoing those unlawful decrees entirely is now proving to be more that a mammoth task or utterly impossible. Again, other major national level option components are dysfunctional. The last resort: The ballot box, which we are all hoping would bring about the badly needed peace, tranquility and harmony we all dearly missed for 6 years under the dictator, also seem to be a long shot, if not impossible as current trend have clearly illustrated. Present situations surrounding next year's elections is very troubling. Jammeh is very determined to remain in power at all cost; even if he looses in a free and fair elections. The stunning question is, will he accept the defeat and step down? Knowing that he is wanted by Human Rights Courts to answer for all those evil deeds under his watch, the only choice for Jammeh is an unpleasant and risky one, that is, to remain in power at all cost till he dies; because if he steps down, where ever he may be, he will one day face the Courts to answer all charges against him. To my humble opinion, I do not think President Jammeh will be willing to step down, knowing that he must face the Courts. Now that we exhausted all options at national level, should we now move on to the second option, Regional Level option: SHOULD SENEGAL AND NIGERIA INTERVENE ON MORAL GROUNDS TO RESTORE LAW AND ORDER AND HUMAN DECENCY TO OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY? After thoroughly exhausting and analysing the national level option when even a FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS could seem to be more than just a name, I have therefore held the view that we would have no other pleasant choice on our hands, but to seriously consider inviting our neighbors and friends to come and give us a helping hand. These neighbors and friends are SENEGAL and NIGERIA. The third one may be our close neighbor, GUINEA BISSAU. But taking into account the solid relationship and friendship President Jammeh has developed with the President of Guinea Bissau, it is absolutely impossible for Guinea Bissau to contribute troops to eject the dictator. To be friends people must have interest in common, and Banjul and Bissau have interests in common. So that is a no-no. It would then have to be Senegal and Nigeria could be asked to help. We all must bear in mind that there will be a price to be paid if these too countries have decided to do the job, there is no priceless undertaking. Several motives could be advanced for choosing the Regional level option. Senegal should be the main contributor to the this efforts. Virtually, every reason could be advanced that would warrant Senegal's intervention as she did in 1981. First, geographically, The Gambia and Senegal are like a TONGUE in a MOUTH, as indicated on the map. The Gambia being the Tongue and Senegal being the Mouth. Without the Tongue, the mouth could barely function, and vice verse. This shows that we have a lot in common in terms of geography, history, economics, cultural, military and political situations. The instability of the Gambia would mean economic disaster in Senegal, since major Senegalese businesses badly need to transport there goods and services through Gambia's crossing points to have access to its Cassamance region; and without stability and openness in The Gambia, that task would be utterly difficult, thereby negatively impinging on economic advancement and growth in Senegal. And all vivid evidences, past and present, have indicated that President Jammeh and his Bissau dear friend seem to thwart that efforts by fueling the Cassamance insurgency. This has been troubling for President Abdoulie Wade of Senegal. Furthermore, President Jammeh has been providing military support(weapons) and financial support to the MFDC to accomplish their objectives. In addition, President Jammeh has offered a safe heaven for the MFDC in the country, and even provide them constant medical assistant for the injured MFDC rebels; this is very unbearable for Senegal, therefore, there this is a fair reason for Senegal to intervene. Nigeria, on the other hand, is also a very close friend and partner. Since colonial days, The Gambia and Nigeria have developed stronger ties and co-operation in virtually every area: Economics, Military, Cultural, political and Diplomatic areas. Nigeria-Gambia partnership dated back in the colonel days when Gambian Chiefs used to go to Nigeria to show Nigerian farmers how to grow Ground-nuts, and since then, the bond between the two countries have extensively strengthened. More significantly, Nigeria have been playing enormous role in the economic and military areas in the Gambia. They have been giving education scholarships to both military and administrative personnel. The most prominent contribution Nigeria made in the Gambia is that that their military personnel were once training the Gambia National Army; and it was under their watch that President Jammeh took power. But this happened during the time of Africa's worst dictator, Sani Abacha, who could not care less. What had embarrassed Nigeria is that under her watch, one of Africa's most leading democratic and human right countries had lost its innocence. Current Nigerian officials are now feeling that way. Furthermore, whiles the current Nigerian President, Obasanjo was on death row during the late President Abacha's time, President Jammeh had dispatched a letter signed by him to Abacha, urging him(Abacha) to kill Obasanjo. Now that God had speared Obansanjo's life and offered him the Presidency, that very letter signed by President Jammeh was seen on files. Tying knots together in the about analyses, I think Nigeria has all reasons to answer Gambians call for a help. In conclusion, fellow Gambians, lets not hope that we would even come close to considering the final and third option to remove President Jammeh from Office: International Intervention. This would ask for inviting the United Nations and other advanced countries such as the United states, Great Britain to step in to rescue our country. May Almighty God prevent that; we certainly do not wish that at all. International intervention always comes in at a time when there is total anarchy, which means that there would have to be Grasshoppers breeding in the Kaninlai Mansion and refugees fleeing across the border to senegal and Guinea Bissua. We certainly do not want that. Finally, even if it is not in the national interest for Senegal and Nigeria to intervene, there is certainly a cause for them to intervene on MORAL PRINCIPLES: There are human beings in The Gambia who also need to live a decent life and enjoy peace and tranquility without fear. And more importantly, intervening to eject the dictator is far better than having to deal with a situation where dead bodies will decay in the streets and refugees fleeing in mass numbers to neighboring countries. To that fellow Gambians, lets hope for the best. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD ANSWER THE PRAYERS OF OUR ELDERS. ANSUMANA KUJABI CONCERNED CITIZEN ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------