Bass, Well said,'PDOIS is always and will always continue to be CONSISTENT with their policies.' Greetings, Mboge >From: [log in to unmask] >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Taking Stock >Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2000 10:44:18 -0500 > >Coach, > You could not have said this any better. I consider them (FJ manneh, ML >Jassey >and et al) as the set of newbies that are out to attack PDOIS. I am yet to >see >any postings from ML Jassey and FJ Manneh after Latjor's posting on UDP >stance >for a coalition of the opposition, isn't this outright hypocrisy and >twisting >of the facts? Many of their likes have come and gone, but PDOIS is always >and >will always continue to be CONSISTENT with their policies. > >Thanxxx > >Bass Ndow > > > > > > >Quoting Pasamba Jow <[log in to unmask]>: > > > Hi Buhary, > > You deserve commendation for a well written piece.I was not infact > > going to > > engage in this debate ,but it is always difficult to sit back and listen > > to > > people make unconstructive and unsincere attacks on P.D.O.I.S. > > I am a P.D.O.I.S supporter who truely believes in their policies.I am of > > the > > fact that P.D.O.I.S is the only viable party to free the Gambia from > > both > > economic and political ruins we find ourselves today.P.D.O.I.S has > > always > > being consistent with its stance against any form of domination of the > > Gambian people.To accuse them of being soft or to be bought by THE > > FACIST is > > outright nonsense. > > When OUSAINOU DARBO was supporting YAYA'S revolution ,taking pictures > > with > > him ,Sidia and Halifa were challenging decree no.4, when the .P.P.P > > MINISTERS were clowning and showing allegiance to JAMMEH,P.D.O.I.S was > > battling with the A. F .P.R.C for the respect of fundamental rights and > > freedom.When SHERIFF DIBBA decided to go on a political leave HALIFA and > > SIDIA were getting ready to be arrested ,an arrest which SHERIFF DIBBA > > praised calling P.D.O.I.S trouble makers. > > I am always not supprise by such unfair,unfounded and outrageous > > accussations of P.D.O.I.S.I would take this opportunity to show you how > > people have habbit of spreading rumors .After the student massacre on > > April > > 10 ,i called halifa to suggest that he should visit the U.S.A in order > > to > > address some of the burning issues of the day.I called the organizers of > > the > > A.L.D to suggest the coming of HALIFA ,an idea of which they welcomed.I > > told > > them that they donot have to spend a dime ,that three P.D.O.I.S > > supporters > > myself included will finance his trip,only to hear people saying that > > HALIFA'S trip > > was financed by jammeh.Let us keep speaking the truth and working for a > > free > > and democratic GAMBIA.We need a Gambia of the people and not of > > leaders,aGambia that will guarantee her citizens liberty ,dignity and > > prosperity. > > PEACE > > PASAMBA JOW COACH > > >From: momodou olly-mboge <[log in to unmask]> > > >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list > > ><[log in to unmask]> > > >To: [log in to unmask] > > >Subject: Re: Taking Stock > > >Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 11:49:37 GMT > > > > > >Hi Buharry, > > > > > >I concur to the sentiments you raised in this reply to Hamjatta. We > > >reserve > > >the right to express our appreciation to whoever we feel is right in > > the > > >political arena in Gambia. I pride myself in commending people who i > > think > > >are sincere and constructive. My endeavour in this world is to learn > > from > > >others to help me be a better person. Those of us, to use Hamjatta's > > >words who are 'openly and nakedly PDOIS biased' seem to be more > > tolerant in > > >our debate with others. However, i appreciate the fact that all > > politicians > > >are to be kept on their toes. > > > > > >Lately, this forum has degenerated to name calling. I am yet to see > > any > > >politician in the Gambia who is willing to engage people as Halifa is > > >doing. > > >We might not belong to the esoteric circle of the Bamba Layes and co. > > but > > >we know from our small bearings how to make an informed choice. > > > > > >To all PDOIS cynics, thank you for keeping the 'Great Leader' and his > > >disciples(of which i am one) on our toes. > > > > > >Buharry, thank you once again for a brilliant piece. > > > > > >Greetings, > > > > > >Mboge > > > > > >P.S. I will keep you posted for the up coming debate between (Hamjatta > > and > > >HAlifa) > > > > > >>From: MOMODOU BUHARRY GASSAMA <[log in to unmask]> > > >>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list > > >><[log in to unmask]> > > >>To: [log in to unmask] > > >>Subject: Re: Taking Stock > > >>Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 04:17:54 +0200 > > >> > > >>Hi Hamjatta! > > >> When you wrote "over to you gentlemen", I assumed > > as > > >>one > > >>of those who has recently praised Halifa and co. that your invitation > > >>included me. Before going to the issues you raised, I don't think > > there is > > >>anything wrong with expressing one's appreciation of the personalities > > >>behind PDOIS and the personal sacrifices they have made for our > > country. > > >>That is a prerogative we are within our rights to enjoy. I for one am > > >>truly > > >>impressed by Halifa and co. and I take pride in making it known. In > > fact, > > >>you impress me and I have made it known on a number of occasions on > > this > > >>list and the first time I made it known was during your first debate > > with > > >>none other than Halifa. I had and still have the prerogative to > > declare > > >>that Halifa, you and anyone else impress me. Declaring such is in my > > >>opinion a better alternative to what we have seen lately on the L. > > >> > > >> That aside, you wrote: "Indeed, writer after writer > > merely > > >>stresses the point the Geat Leader, Halifa himself, makes in his > > missives > > >>to the Jammeh since the April murders. They claim there is no credible > > >>alternative to the Great Leader sitting in his Churchill's Town HQs > > >>penning > > >>letters which implore the dictator to have a rethink on his strangle > > hold > > >>on the Gambian people and advocating that elections [even if as their > > >>deliverance are being muddled by throw-away threats by the gov't which > > >>cast > > >>question marks over them ever taking place] and the political process > > are > > >>t! he only viable options existing to the Gambian people to deal with > > >>Jammeh." > > >> > > >> Maybe other writers claimed that there is no other option to > > Halifa > > >>penning letters. I can therefore not comment on that because I don't > > agree > > >>with the statement. As to whether the political process is the only > > viable > > >>option, I feel that the political process coupled with continuous > > internal > > >>and external pressure is a much better alternative than the repeated > > calls > > >>for violent means of bringing about change. Whereas change that is > > brought > > >>about politically can offer tested leaders who have had a chance to > > >>explain > > >>their policies and programs to the people, change that is brought > > about by > > >>violent and sudden means offers a Russian roulette alternative. It is > > >>granted that there is a possibility that such a change of government > > can > > >>be > > >>effectively and efficiently executed without loss of life and > > destruction > > >>of property and that such a change can produce a leader who has the > > >>interests of the nation at heart. However, the dangers associated with > > >>that > > >>method are plenty and cannot be ignored. Something can always go wrong > > >>even > > >>with the most carefully planned operation and the result can be > > >>devastating > > >>for our country. Another risk, given that the people executing such > > >>operations can be any Tom, Dick or Harry, is that we might have > > someone > > >>who > > >>is worse than Yaya. Much, much, much worse. What do we do then? Pray > > that > > >>someone else violently removes him? Isn't that akin to creating a coup > > >>industry whereby anyone with guts and the blessings of a marabout can > > >>attempt to overthrow a government? What are the implications of such > > an > > >>industry on the stability and security of our country? Another risk is > > >>that > > >>people propagating for a violent change of government might be doing > > so > > >>out > > >>of a wish to revenge personal wrongs meted out by the government or by > > >>Yaya. Instead of "praying" Yaya to "Tan" (just joking) and getting on > > with > > >>it, they might use the Gambian people as pawns in an endeavour that > > could > > >>go wrong with horrendous consequences. What would happen if such > > people > > >>succeed? Would they kill and imprison everyone associated with Yaya? > > Is > > >>that good for the continuity of our country as a viable entity? Even > > >>though > > >>the political option is not the panacea to The Gambia's ills or even a > > >>likely solution, the risks associated with the violent option are > > many. > > >>(On > > >>a less related note, acquire IP tracing software and trace some of the > > IP > > >>addresses of some of the people propagating violent change in The > > Gambia > > >>and claiming to be in The Gambia, "on the ground", "in the this" or > > "in > > >>the > > >>that" and you'll be really surprised when you see some writing from > > >>Russia, > > >>England, US etc.) > > >> > > >> You also wrote: "If as these Alumni of PDOIS/Foroyaa are > > >>gloating about the success or inevitability of success of the strategy > > of > > >>their party, surely it's about time one takes them to task and ask > > them to > > >>empirically state how the aforesaid strategy has made any concrete > > >>difference since the gruesome murders of April 10 and 11. It is time > > we > > >>ask > > >>ourselves what is working or practically workable as we struggle with > > the > > >>dictator." > > >> > > >> It is empirically impossible to measure whether PDOIS' strategy > > >>vis-à-vis the April massacre has had some effect just as it is > > empirically > > >>impossible to determine if it didn't have an effect. Why? Because even > > if > > >>one were to institute a study, the available variables would render > > coming > > >>to a conclusion practically impossible due to, among other reasons, > > the > > >>multi-pronged reaction and handling of the massacre. That aside, one > > can > > >>see that the total and universal condemnation, including but not > > limited > > >>to > > >>PDOIS' approach, has had an effect no matter how small. Yaya could > > have > > >>reacted when he came back from Cuba in his usual fashion and picked up > > the > > >>line of his officials, which so infuriated the Gambian people. He > > didn't. > > >>A > > >>commission was instituted. That also is an indication of the effect > > the > > >>pressures had. The Government's fear in releasing the Coroner's Report > > >>also > > >>indicates a fear of the reaction of the people assuming that the > > report is > > >>damning. I am not saying that all this is the panacea to the issue of > > the > > >>April massacre. It might even be counter-productive to the desire to > > get > > >>to > > >>the truth but at least giving in to the pressures levied by among > > others, > > >>PDOIS, is an indication of the effect that penning letters at > > Churchill's > > >>Town or strongly condemning brutal acts from Oxford can have. The > > letters > > >>of PDOIS and the actions of others made it possible for the ban on the > > UDP > > >>to hold rallies to be lifted. That also is testimony, no matter how > > small, > > >>that the PDOIS strategy is having an effect. > > >> > > >> On the issue of the political parties staging civil > > >>disobedience measures, maybe all the political parties can give you an > > >>answer. I personally respect the decisions of the parties to either > > engage > > >>in such or not, given that they are more in tune with the realities on > > the > > >>ground than I am. I respect the fact that such a move is a strategic > > one > > >>that has to consider timing,practicability, risk not only to one's > > self > > >>but > > >>also to supporters, resources and a host of other variables and has to > > be > > >>done after the parties feel that they do not have any other option. > > Whilst > > >>I can see the benefits of such a move, I can also see risks involved > > which > > >>include giving Yaya the opportunity to declare a state of emergency, > > >>rounding up all the political leaders and indefinitely postponing the > > >>elections. It has happened in other countries. > > >> > > >> Hamjatta, I have tried to deal with the issues you raised. I > > however > > >>have some questions for you if you don't mind, given that you wrote: > > "It > > >>is > > >>time we ask ourselves what is working or practically workable as we > > >>struggle with the dictator." The questions are: > > >> > > >> 1.. What has been your strategy since the April massacre as a > > concerned > > >>citizen to ensure that justice is served? > > >> 2.. How is it different from PDOIS'? > > >> 3.. How have you implemented the strategy or how do you intend to > > >>implement the strategy? > > >> 4.. Can you guarantee or at least gauge whether the results of your > > >>strategy will have a higher success rate than PDOIS'? > > >> 5.. What do you base such predictions or pronouncements on? > > >> 6.. What alternative approach can you proffer to deal with the > > current > > >>political impasse in The Gambia given that PDOIS' approach is not, in > > your > > >>opinion, working? > > >> 7.. How do you intend to institute your alternative? > > >> 8.. What do you expect PDOIS and the other political parties to do > > in > > >>the meantime? > > >> 9.. Given that you feel that the political process is not a > > workable > > >>alternative, do you believe that the only available or workable option > > >>would be a violent overthrow of the Government? > > >> 10.. When? What if that is not possible in the next one, two, five, > > ten > > >>years? > > >> 11.. Should the political parties stop all operations and wait for > > the > > >>alternative you propose or do you believe that they are obliged under > > the > > >>Constitution of The Gambia and their own to propagate by lawful means > > >>their > > >>beliefs? > > >> Sorry for the long list of questions. Anyway, The Gambia is in a > > >>quagmire and I don't think that PDOIS or their supporters claim to > > have > > >>the > > >>universal remedy for the country's woes. What they claim is to have > > small > > >>steps which are pursued through pressure be it in the form of letters > > or > > >>otherwise. PDOIS and their supporters are however not the only people > > to > > >>have a claim to The Gambia. If the other stakeholders, in the form of > > >>political parties and concerned citizens, contribute in their small > > ways a > > >>cure will eventually be found when all adds up. Thank you and have a > > good > > >>evening. > > >> > > >> > > >> Buharry. > > >> > > > >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >> > > >>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the > > Gambia-L > > >>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > > >>You may also send subscription requests to > > >>[log in to unmask] > > >>if you have problems accessing the web interface > > > >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > >________________________________________________________________________ > > >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 > > >You may also send subscription requests to > > >[log in to unmask] > > >if you have problems accessing the web interface > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > > 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 > > You may also send subscription requests to > > [log in to unmask] > > if you have problems accessing the web interface > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html >You may also send subscription requests to >[log in to unmask] >if you have problems accessing the web interface >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ________________________________________________________________________ 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 You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface ----------------------------------------------------------------------------