Hi Pasamba, I can not help but to sincerely agree with you entirely.There are people here think PDOIS is a reserve party for the other political parties.These people are not doing justice to themselves and the entire Gambian population.But time will be the best judge. >From: Pasamba Jow <[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 03:58:34 GMT > >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 >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ________________________________________________________________________ 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------