Sanusi and KB,

Initially i had wanted to concur with Comrade Conteh's argument that the opposition should boycott the coming election.  Infact, i'm still with the view that participating in these elections will certainly legitimise the moron infested APRC party.  However, given the persuasive points you argued in your postings, i am incline to agree with both of you.  The idea of a national conference is a good one. Such a forum should help the opposition to thrash out all the issues that concerns them. 

I hope the opposition will exhaust all avenues before taking any final decisions.  

regards,

Mboge 

>From: Sanusi Owens <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: WHY I CALL FOR A BOYCOTT
>Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 11:56:34 +0100
>
>Comrade Conteh
>
>I beg to defer on this issue. Any attempt by the
>opposition to boycott the October Elections would be
>regarded an act of treachery to the gambian people
>anxious for change.
>
>I note your reasons for boycotting the forthcoming
>elections. However, I remain of the view that they do
>not warrant opposition parties to boycott any
>elections.
>
>You will remember that in October 1996, there were
>rumours that UDP will boycott the parliamentary
>elections, on condition that certain steps are taken
>by the PIEC(IEC). Following a fruitful negotiation
>between the UDP and the IEC,the UDP lifted its threat
>of boycotting the elections. According to analysis the
>UDP "poor" performance is a direct result of their
>protracted negotiations with the PIEC(IEC). In other
>words, they entered the campaign platform a bit late.
>In fact it was reported that the UDP Candidate for
>Serrekunda East had already started campaigning for
>Halifa Sallah, believing that the UDP won't be
>participating in these election.
>
>My suggestion to the opposition is as follows;
>
>Organise a multi-party conference and discuss the
>problems they are encountering.
>
>Submit recommendations to both IEC and the APRC on how
>the elections should be conducted.
>
>Coming to the reasons which you believe should warrant
>a boycott, I beg to say that these could be addressed
>separately.In fact some of these do not warrant a
>boycott. I refer you to the following;
>
>(1)I do not believe that the continued ban on Sir
>Dawda and his former minister is sufficient enough.
>Yes the continued ban on first Republican politicians
>is unlawful, but there is an avenue which these
>politicians should have taken. The likes of SM Dibba,
>Assan Musa Camara and many others should have taken
>their case to the law courts and not expect a Moron to
>repeal Decree 89.
>OJ Jallow has already taken up this issue and I pretty
>sure a just decision would be delivered on his behalf.
>It is without doubt that Decree 89 is contrary to the
>1997 Constitution, a point already mentioned by
>Justice GSB Janneh in the OJ Jallow Case.
>(2) With regards to the unlawful firing of civil
>servants, once again, I consider an issue unworthy for
>the opposition to boycott any election. Civil Servants
>who feel affected by the constant hiring and firing,
>should resort to the law courts.
>
>(3) Concerning "One man rule by dictator of
>kanilai",to be honest with you, this should be a good
>reason why the opposition should participate in the
>elections. If not, how are we going to say Good Bye to
>Yahya and his reign of terror. Remember that in the
>past some opposition parties in other African
>Countries have used this as a factor for their
>boycott, only to see the Dictator being re-elected.
>
>Classic examples are
>
>Ghana in 1996-Opposition decided to boycott the
>parliamentary elections.
>
>Benin 2001-Joe Soglo decides to boycott the second
>round of the Presidential Elections
>
>Cameroon in 1997-SDP boycotts the parliamentary
>elections.
>
>The ultimate result in all these boycotts was that the
>ruling party stayed in power and received recognition
>from the International Community.
>
>With all this in mind, my suggestion for the
>opposition is to start making plans for pre-election
>conference on how a free and fair election should be
>conducted in the Gambia. I personally think to
>advocate for a boycott without making proper
>presentation to the relevant authorities is certainly
>a disservice to the Gambian majority yearning for
>change.
>
>Come October Gambia shall be free.
>
>
>Have a wonderful day
>
>Sanusi
>
>
>
>
>--- MLJ Conteh <[log in to unmask]>wrote: >
>Comrades:
> >
> > May I begin by thanking Sister Jabou Joh and Mr.
> > Edrissa
> > Njie for their courage in endorsing the opposition
> > to
> > boycott the forthcoming presidential election in The
> > Gambia? I also want to thank PDOIS for its
> > courageous
> > foresight in intimating its desire in boycotting
> > future
> > elections in The Gambia. I emphatically want to
> > repeat
> > my call that no single opposition party in The
> > Gambia
> > can claim to have the soul right to our struggle.
> >
> > In a more simplistic term, Gambians must understand
> > the
> > underlying decisions or conditions that are
> > conducive
> > for a free and fair elections. No opposition
> > political party can ignore the plights of the
> > disbanded
> > politicians under Sir Dawda's legal government whose
> > rights are repeatedly been violated by moron
> > dictator yahya
> > jemus. No genuine free thinking Gambia who claims
> > to
> > induce himself or herself with political rhetoric
> > can
> > unilaterally avenge the political plight of the
> > majority
> > Gambian with a self-imposed political agenda in
> > freeing
> > The Gambian people. Our journey in this
> > far-reaching
> > struggle is a testament that ignorance and
> > selfishness
> > will result in the opposition wondering after the
> > unfaithful
> > day in October of what really happened to our
> > struggle.
> >
> > Does this mean that a new generation of Gambians
> > will seek
> > to salvage The Gambia in a traditional Gambian
> > style? I am of I the opinion that my
> > conscience and willingness
> > to speak the truth will enforce me to join others
> > after
> > the dictator rigs the elections. I cannot
> > consciously advocate for a participation
> > in the elections when those innocent Gambians who so
> > vehemently fought for the rights of all are
> > been constantly violated. Politics should not be
> > based on an ideology of vocation where individuals
> > are only
> > interested in their own achievements at the
> > detriment of
> > society. It is indeed refreshing that our attitudes
> > and convictions must be yielded in a phenomenon of
> > political indifference for the good of society. We
> > have
> > engaged in substantive dialogue for the good of The
> > Gambia. We believe in one kind that the dictator of
> > kaninlai is the worst thing that ever happened to
> > The
> > Gambia, and therefore our attitudes in summation
> > must be
> > sanctioned to a capacity of good will. The Gambian
> > country under the dictator of kaninlai is doomed to
> > fail
> > and as such our collaborative efforts must be
> > guiding
> > principles for a better and free Gambia.
> >
> > For those of us who have voiced our sentiments in
> > this
> > struggle, we must clearly define our intended
> > purpose
> > and draw parallel to historical precedents in
> > understanding
> > our engagement with the enemy. Why rock or ride a
> > broken
> > car that will stall at any moment? Why subject
> > yourself
> > to intimidation by the enemy who continues to deny
> > you
> > the right to political process? Why engage in
> > disunity
> > and refuse to admit that our own individual
> > political
> > satire against each other will backfire on our face?
> > Why will the opposition guaranty the dictator the
> > right
> > to deny us another five or six years of freedom?
> > The
> > opposition should know better. Please follow the
> > lead
> > of PDOIS and plan to boycott future elections if
> > Mr. Johnson and Mr. Fatty are not reinstated.
> >
> > These are the following reasons why I call for a
> > boycott:
> >
> > 1. Continued disbanding of Sir Dawda and his former
> > ministers.
> > 2. The unlawful firing of Bishop Johnson and Mr.
> > Fatty.
> > 3. The murder of innocent Gambian students.
> > 4. Dictator yahya jammeh's continued donation of
> > public
> > funds to social organizations without
> > appropriation.
> > 5. Continued one man rule by the dictator of
> > kaninlai.
> > 6. The buying of votes in the last bi-elections in
> > Central Badibou and Kiang East constituencies.
> > 7. The control of the media by the illegal
> > government.
> > 8. The unlawful imprisonment of Mr. Dumo Saho et al.
> > 9. The unlawful firing of The Gambian civil
> > servants.
> > 10.The use of local chieves as propaganda tools
> > against
> > our comrades.
> > 11.The establishment of the NIA aka KGB and
> > continued
> > harassment of our comrades.
> > 12.The innocent rape and killing of a Gambian school
> > girl.
> > 13.The torture and butcher of Mr. Ebrima Barry.
> > 14.The recent law passed by the house that is
> > retroactive
> > in protecting the security forces.
> >
> > Comrades, I am certain that numerous violations and
> > illegal
> > activities by the illegal government of the day will
> > serve as reasons that dictator yahya jemus will use
> > all
> > costs to continue his terror against innocent
> > Gambians.
> >
> > I want to reiterate that if the opposition
> > participates
> > in the presidential election, I will continue to pay
> > my contribution to help in unseating the dictator
> > despite
> > the fact that I strongly advocate a boycott.
> >
> > Naphiyo,
> >
> > Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
> >
> >
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