STATEMENT ON THE PDOIS POSITION
Following the London Briefing Session of the 28th February 2001, which was held at the British Houses of Parliament, the Peoples Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) published a series of articles in their official newsletter the Foroyaa, which were highly critical of the London meeting and most of what it achieved. Between the 7th and 15th of March, the Foroyaa published three such articles, one of which was a statement from the Secretary General, which we believed, sought to denigrate the successful briefing session that was organised by the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy in the Gambia UK (MRDGUK), in conjunction with Mr. John MacDonnell MP for the London Constituency of Hayes and Harlington, who both hosted and chaired the session.
The first of these articles published on the 7th March made certain erroneous claims. First of all it claimed, that the meeting was organised by John MacDonnell MP, to receive briefing from the Gambian opposition about the plight of the Gambian refugees in his Constituency. The article also stated that "for a PDOIS representative to go to Britain to brief a British MP would tantamount to the acknowledge[ment] of impotency". These issues were the subjects of our Chairperson's earlier rejoinder to the said article and we believe that the matter was adequately dealt with in his response, which was issued on the 9th March. A subsequent article also published in the Foroyaa on the 15th March entitled "April 10&11 and the London Meeting" also sought to further this misinformation. However it suffices to say, that we vehemently reject all of the adverse claims and assertions made by the Foroyaa articles. Taken together, these articulations not only confuses the main objective of the meeting, but also act as evidence of the PDOIS,s hostility to the London Briefing Session in particular and by extension to the Movement which was the main organiser of the London Briefing Session.
The Movement would like to state for the records, that all the opposition parties in the Gambia as well as other institutions were invited to the meeting and that invitation letters were sent to all the invitees in advance of the meeting. Apart from the invitation letter from Mr. John McDonnell MP who convened the meeting in the House of Commons, a separate invitation from the Movement, addressed to Secretary General of PDOIS, was attached. It was necessary for the MRDGUK invitation to be dispatched to all the named officials that were invited, since John McDonnell's letter did not addressed anybody in person. You will find that the salutation simply read "Dear Colleague". We are surprised to learn that the attached invitation letter from the MRDGUK, dated 4th February 2001 was not received by PDOIS, we have no explanation for this, since all the other parties acknowledged receipt of both letters.
That invitation letter stated the reasons for the Session and what we intend to accomplish by convening such a meeting. It should be clear to both PDOIS and to anyone who cares to look that our Movement cannot convene a meeting at the House of Commons without an invitation by a member of the Parliament. This is why it was necessary for John McDonnell MP to issue an invitation as well. The meeting was organised by the MRDGUK, who had sole responsibility for the guest list. This we hope sets the records straight once and for all.
The Movement considers the general reaction of the PDOIS to the London meeting as both ill informed and counter-productive. We also note, that the request for clarification made by the PDOIS was preceded by the negative portrayal and the deliberate misinformation about the meeting. One would have thought, that the request for clarification, should have been the first line of inquiry for the PDOIS and not a postscript to uninformed and disparaging articles from the Foroyaa.
The Movement concedes, that it remains the prerogative of the PDOIS to form their own opinion of the activities organised by the Movement, but as a Movement, we also retain the right not to be drawn into a protracted war of words that has no positive bearing on national issues and the abysmal social and political conditions that are prevalent in our country today. The questions about who organised the meeting and for what reasons have been clearly answered.
In any case, to avoid endless exchanges that may not necessarily serve our course, the Movement issues this statement to inform the PDOIS and all concern, that we will not be seized by issues and matters that will not assist in the furtherance of the objectives of the Movement and the interests of democracy, good governance and civil order. The Movement will be concentrating it efforts and time on the more practical issues concerning the democratic deficit and the despotic rule of the current administration, and to searching for ways of redressing these terrible conditions. Notwithstanding, the Movement will continue to accommodate the genuine concerns of the wider community and will endeavour to address any such concerns with respect, honesty and tact, unless it becomes necessary to defend the Movement and it principles from adverse and idle comments and from willful sabotage.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE MRDGUK
LONDON
20TH MARCH 2001