Gambia-L: The unedited e-mail below is a short commentary from a source in the Gambia. Ebrima _______________________________________________________________________ >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Cheyassin: No Consultation with people on proposed Constitutional >changes >Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2000 > >Ebrima, > >This Jammeh Administration is characterised by many as inept, dishonest and >corrupt. Pap Cheyassin is an epitome of such characterisation. At his news >conference, he blatatly lied to the press and the general public, by giving >the impression that a process of consultation with those whose lives will >be affected by the proposed amendments, that is the political parties, >members of civic society and the population in general, has started. When >he said that "the State has completed its consultations on the (various) >changes it seeks to make on the 1997 Constitution", he was attempting to >convey the impression that indeed the stakeholders had been consulted on >the proposed changes. This is >indeed furthest from the truth. In fact, up to the moment that I am >scribbling this message, the members of the public are unaware of which >section of the Constitution is being proposed for amendment by Cheyasin >Secka. If the people were consulted, there would certainly not be the >uncertainty and speculations as to the affected sections. > >In anticipating that such a charge will be levelled against him, he assured >Gambians that "the State will give its reasons for the proposed changes and >that the press will inevitably make their contribution." This process is >totally unacceptable. There should have been a national conference or at >least a national workshop/seminar where the merits and de-merits of each of >the Government's proposal are discussed with the participation of members >of civic society and political parties. The manner in which Cheyassin >intends to proceed with this extremely important proposal is unacceptable >and will be resisted by at least the UDP and the NRP. Since PDOIS may also >be affected directly, they are also likely register their opposition to >both the proposed amendments and the process of consultaion adopted by >Cheyassin Secka. > >All the same, indications are that both the UDP and NRP may boycott the >presidential election in 2001, if the National Assembly should ever endorse >these proposals. The elections will be left to the APRC alone to contest >and then face the wrath of the International Community. What these >nonentities fail to realise is that the current Jammeh Government is an >illegitimate Government which should be trying to gain legitimacy in the >months ahead. But instead, they are deepening and widening the isolation of >the Gambia. > _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.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 and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------