Sir Dawda Vindicated?



The Independent (Banjul)

EDITORIAL
September 22, 2000 

Banjul 

'A lot of water has passed under the bridge' says an old cliche. For six years Gambians have lived under a new government. For six long years Sir Dawda Jawara has been licking his wounds in exile. For that amount of time he has been smarting from the indignity of his overthrow, perhaps silently coming to terms with being out of power.

However was he not vindicated recently when the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights ruled in his favour and against the APRC government that some serious human rights violations are the order of the day here and need to be remedied? If the former president had calculated it to size up the AFPRC-cum- civilian administration, then the outcome is as good as achieved. Jammeh may have succeeded in a coup to oust and discredit him, but Jawara, thanks to the verdict, has made as good a come back through his own silent coup. He obviously wanted Gambians and the international community to take note of the 'gross human rights violations' in the country since July 1994 and because of the case's outcome people will obviously review their appraisal of the Gambian situation.

'The old Pa' or 'the champion of human rights' will react to it in a flourish and a good hearty laugh. Excuse us for being somewhat cynical but that's the only way to conjure the image of a relieved old man who regarded himself as the be-all and end-all of Gambian democracy for as long as thirty years.

Under such circumstances the government would be the one licking its wounds with a perceptible blush. The Commission in the course of the verdict has dealt with a great deal of truth and its approach to the merits of the case has been outright frank - disarmingly so. With studied disinterest, it has arrived at a verdict which partially, inevitably vindicated the former president and highlighted the far- from-satisfactory health of our democracy.

Those who have been hammering away at government flaws will be obviously gloating with an I-told-you-so kind of self-righteous air.

It is a rude awakening for those who knew the truth but kept quiet for fear of the now ritualised interrogation by state intelligence agents.

Those who weren't concerned may begin to show interest. Contrary to an age-old myth the government after all is not always right.

Sir Dawda's allegations have rightly rekindled attention to some bad old problems riddling the state. Certainly all is not well when violations upon violations in the form of intimidation and harassment keep occurring with impunity. It is also serious when disappearances and mysterious deaths continue to haunt the national psyche in very disquieting ways. A lot remains unsatisfactory with the manner in which government relates with that vehicle of free expression - the press.

Gambians have also had to grapple with an economic situation, which is getting harder by the day despite post-coup promises of an improved state of living. Transparency, accountability and probity have been relegated to the backwaters. We dare say that Jawara's administration condoned a backlog of excesses, which resulted in hardships for the common man. But we also dare say that the government, which succeeded it, has added to this socio-economic malaise. When even outsiders know the pungent smell on our backyard and tell us, we should take serious note. We expect the government to see it in this light.

The regime may be rendered uncomfortable following the verdict. But the willingness of the government to make amends is on trial. The whole situation could be a blessing in disguise if only the state acts wisely and heeds the Commission's call. Nothing else apart from this will suffice.

Drawing from lessons past and present The Gambia must create and sustain conditions for political pluralism and abandon policies, which promote political patronage or a one-sided monopoly of political power.