Hi Kebba! I thank you for the brotherly advice and wish to convey to you that your decision to comment on my mail is welcome as we are both concerned with the well-being of our country despite our different methods. It is however through dialogue that we can educate each other. You wrote: "Something eye-catching in your piece was your attempt to paint a dismal picture about the removal of Yaya by violent means. For example, although you conceded that the transition can go smoothly, you lamented about the fact that we might want to kill Yaya and everyone associated with him (out of revenge). Nothing wrong with that fear on your side, but I do not think it is fair for you to predict such a gloomy future for us when you deliberately refrained from discussing with us what our plans for the future after Yaya entailed. We tried to set the parameters and debate about our plans during the transition. You decided not to partake in that exercise for reasons best known to you. I believe it would then be very irresponsible for you now to speculate about what we are going to do; especially if your speculation is aimed at scaring off ordinary Gambians and portraying us as villains." I did not attempt to paint a dismal picture. I discussed the dangers associated with the violent method. I even accepted the fact that such an operation can be carried out without damage. That is a possibility. Another possibility is that it can go wrong with dire consequences. Even where it succeeds it can become a destabilising industry. I am glad that you accept that the fear of such a possibility is justifiable. I did not direct what I wrote at your group per se as you are not the only one on the L calling for a violent overthrow of the government and there might even be people within The Gambia who are also considering the possibility. That is a wide list with a correspondingly wide list of motives, abilities etc. I am not therefore speculating as to what your particular group will do but what is a possibility. Even though I did not directly participate in the debate as to what your particular group would do if you succeed in your endeavour, some of my postings as you alluded to in an earlier correspondence, indirectly tackle issues that will be relevant. Do you remember the "Transitional Justice" series I sent? I sent them when some were talking about taking this person and that person when the government is overthrown to the stadium and blowing their brains out. I did that because I realised that I can only write my views on the methods of change and what I feel is the better option for our country. That will not stop others who are determined to do otherwise. If those people take the chance and succeed and do whatever they like, they might plunge the country into a deeper crisis. Regarding Halifa's statement, I cannot say that it is different from what you have been saying. Maybe he can clarify. The state of our country is getting more worrying and it is very difficult to say what the best thing to do is as both the peaceful and violent methods are fraught with difficulties. The peaceful means is fraught with difficulties as it is increasingly becoming difficult to ask people to exercise restraint when new and unjustifiable acts of barbarism are perpetrated everyday. The violent means is laden with difficulties in that it can plunge our country into further crisis. We are therefore in a very serious dilemma. We have something in common in that I am neither a politician nor an aspiring one. Have a good day and thanks again for the advice. 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------