Mr. Jobe, to make your debates interesting, i would urged you to be objective in your analysis. I always admire intelligent, decent, honest and unambiguous criticisms. You don't have to go into the family history of Manneh, Touray and Bensouda to denounce my arguments-Just tell us the facts if you know. It is absolutely OK for you to support any political party-who cares! Be civil. Lamin PF Manneh >From: Kebba Jobe <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: UDP EXPELS HON. ALMAMY TOURAY/INDEPENDENT >Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 13:39:26 -0000 > >What a load of bull**** from Lamin Manneh. Lamin, analysis of the reasons >why Hon. Almamy Touray won in Niani is total bull. You know it, I know it >and so does most right thinking Gambians. Any body or party that hopes to >exploit the ethnic or religious card to be elected to office will not only >loose, but will be humiliated. > >For the benifit of others, I'll throw more light into why Lamin Manneh's >analysis is rubbish. Like I said earlier, to say that tribalism influenced >the outcome of the last elections is absolute rubbish. Look at the >background of the various candidates. > >Mr. Almamy Touray comes from a very respectable family who initially hailed >from Kayai village. His father was one time a deputy imam of Kuntaur wharf >Town. Mr. Manneh hails from Mackah Saderr about 5 Km from Kuntaur. Mackah >Saderr was named after Saderr Manneh, his father who was Chief of Niani >district until he retired of old age giving way to the election of the late >Dodou Ndow. The NRP candidate, Boury Jawo hails from Kuntaur Fulla Kunda >and >was the son of the late Noperry Jawo a renown and respectable islamic >scholar and elder. > >Until his retirement due to ill health, Mr. Koita Cham represented Niani >district for the best part of post independence Gambia. The Cham family >originally hailed from Chamen, Nianija. The present upper Fuladu NAM, Mr. >Churchill Falai Baldeh was a ward of the late Koita Cham. Incidentally, >Niani district has never elected a wollof to represent them in parliament. >Therefore Lamin Manneh's assertion that tribal affiliation should be >considered when seeking the mandate of our peoples for representation is >not >only bull, but a very backward way of looking at things this day and age. > >To say that Talib Bensouda was unpopular in Niani is also absolute rubbish. >Talib Bensouda, whose ancestors originally hailed from Morroco was the son >of one of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara's sisters. He was a successful >businessman who went into politics after the retirement of the late Koita >Cham. He left politics of his own volition, when he was dropped from being >a >parliamentary secretary under Sir Dawda and was employed by Bimex. Right >now >he lives in the US with his family. > >I know all the above people intimately as I grew among them. Your posting >in >Janjanburray for a brief spell does not in any way qualify you to make such >derogratory statements. How dare you suggest that the people of Niani vote >on tribal lines? Do you know that Hon. Almamy Touray was once returned to >parliament unopposed? It is very important that people take their time to >find out about things that they don't know rather than just speaking for >the >sake of speaking. George Washington once said that "it is better to keep >quite and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt". > >When I first posted the resignation of Hon. Almay Touray, it was quickly >followed by another from Ebrima Ceesay allegedly from one of his sources. >What that source failed to say was that I posted the news as soon as it was >broadcast on GRTS. It was already known throughout the Gambia by the time I >posted that information. The impression given by the counter post was that >it was breaking news. It was not. It is very interesting reading other >papers or to listen to any of our local radios stations to get the facts. >If >the allegations levelled against Hon. Almay Touray are the sole reasons for >the UDP to "expel him" from the party, is the timing right? What good will >it do to the party coming soon after the party suffered a most humiliating >defeat in the recent bye-elections? People should ponder over this rather >than speculating about Almamy's expulsion or resignation from the UDP. > >Have a good day and bye 4Now, KB Jobe. > >To those wondering what my next move is, you don't have to wait long. >Kujabi, Jeng, Dampha, Hamjatta, Sanusi, Barrow, Saul, Mboge, I'll get back >to you very very soon. I am a bit busy these days and Colly's recent post >really upset me. I could not, however resist the temptation to respond to >Mr. Manneh's nonsence. > > >>----Original Message Follows---- >>From: Lamin Manneh PF <[log in to unmask]> >>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list >> ><[log in to unmask]> >>To: [log in to unmask] >>Subject: Re: UDP EXPELS HON. ALMAMY TOURAY/INDEPENDENT >>Date: Wed, 9 May 2001 13:09:01 -0700 >> >>Mr. Conteh, let me add my little thoughts on this issue. Hon. Touray >was >>sitting on a hot UDP chair in parliament. His victory in the last >> >National >>Assembly Election was mainly due to the fact that APRC failed to >select >>the >>candidate of people's choice. The majority of Nianinkas were in for one >>Sainey Manneh whose candidature was rejected by the APRC National >> >Committee. >>Over 3000 supporters of Mr. Manneh in that district change their >> >allegiance >>from APRC and voted for Hon. Touray. This was the same way he came to >>parliament in 1992 when PPP selected Talip Bensouda who was widely >> >unpopular >>in Niani. >>Please allow me for the sake of political analysis only to talk about >> >tribal >>representation in Niani, how it help Hon. Touray to victory and the >dire >>consequences it have on his next election campaign. First here are the >>polling stations of last NAM election in Niani. >>1. Nyaga Bantang mainly Wollof >>2. Gingori Mustapha Fullas & Wollof >>3. Kass Wollof maily Wollof >>4. Jukul Ndawen Mainly wollof >>5. Dinkirai Fulla, wollof >>6. Wassu mandinka, fulla >>7. Kuntaur mixed but more mandinka >>8. Sukuta mainly mandinka >>9. Kayai mainly mandinka >>10. Kataba Alh. Omar Fulla and Wollof >>11. M'bayen Wollof mainly wollof >>It is therefore a blunt fact that for anybody to win in Niani, the >person >>MUST have the Wollof majority(the same is true fot upper fulladu >west). >>You >>don't have to campaign on tribal line but you need to addresss specific >>needs of these people and must deploy tactics that will shift their >>confidence and support to your party. What really happened in Niani >last >>NAM >>election was that this Wollof majority was grossly dissappointed with >> >APRC >>when they rejected Mr. Manneh. Two days after nominations in >Janjanbureh, >>a >>delegation of five prominent people with 3500 voter's cards and D5000 >> >cash, >>stormed my office to nominate Mr. Manneh as Independent candidate. I >>rejected the application because nominations were closed at that time. >> >After >>an intensive conversation on the election degree, these ardent APRC >>supporters left with an ire in their eyes but strong in principle. >Their >>last word to me was "we will do to Jammeh, what we did to Jawara", >which >>implies voting for Almamo or UDP. The five reps. seemed to like Hon. >> >Touray >>but not UDP as a party. Hon. Touray eventually won because he got over >> >half >>of the divided wollof votes and almost entirely the whole of Kuntaur, >> >Kayai >>and Sukuta areas. >>To wrap up, UDP should find out why they are not getting support in >> >certain >>communities like Niani and help candidates who faces potential defeats >in >>their districts(like Hon. Touray) with appropiate campaign strategies. >In >>fact they should come out with a comprehensive campaign plan for each >>district as soon as possible. People like Wa Juwara and Jallow, both >> >former >>commisioners, could be very useful in that exercise. The way you handle >>Kombokas is different from Badibonkas and the same is true throughout >the >>country. We don't have to discuss that on this forum, but any section >in >>The Gambia has some interesting unique qualities. >>Cheers >>PF Manneh >>NOTE: Mr. Dampha and others, i am not very good in replying people's >>comments on postings due to busy schedules. I always appreciate your >>brilliant comments on the L. Will send you a private mail soon. >> >>From: MLJ Conteh <[log in to unmask]> >>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list >><[log in to unmask]> >>To: [log in to unmask] >>Subject: Re: UDP EXPELS HON. ALMAMY TOURAY/INDEPENDENT >>Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 20:22:03 -0400 >> >>Mr. Owens: >> >>It is interesting that we are in principle as a >>united front against the dictator. Whether we >>decide to critic issues in their entity, we have >>reasons to be critical of the dictatorship. >> >>It is disturbing to hear Hon. Touray's expulsion >>from Kebba Jobe, though he Kebba said the opposite >>of the truth. It will serve members of the L if >>UDP and NRP can have their propaganda secretaries >>listed on the L so that we can engage them in >>substantive debates. I commend Brother Halifa Sallah >>for coming forthwith with his analysis on PDOIS's >>position. >> >>My position on Hon. Touray's case has not changed. >>I believe that the UDP has a moral obligation to >>tell us what really happened rather than reading >>the trend of events from third parties. >> >>As we move in a threshold, we as an opposition must >>clearly define our purpose and seek unity. We should >>not be in any position to create disarray. I believe >>that the UDP leadership acted improperly in expelling >>Hon. Almamy Touray. >> >>Naphiyo, >> >>Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh >> >>------Original Message------ >>From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Sanusi=20Owens?= <[log in to unmask]> >>To: [log in to unmask] >>Sent: May 8, 2001 11:24:57 AM GMT >>Subject: Re: UDP EXPELS HON. ALMAMY TOURAY/INDEPENDENT >> >> >>Comrade Conteh >> >>This was a brilliant point. However, I wonder whether >>it is sensible for UDP to have someone like Touray in >>their camp. >> >>I have carefully followed the activities of Mr Touray >>as NAM of the UDP. At no time have I heard him made >>any significant contribution to the Adjournment >>debates. >>In addition, I have heard no contribution from Mr >>Touray on the following motions sponsored by the UDP; >> >>The Crude Oil Saga, >> >>The motion to defeat the Government's amendment to the >>Indemnity Act. >> >>Comrade Conteh, >> >>Lets face it Almamy Touray's expulsion from the party >>is a blessing in disguise. This man already has a >>criminal record and it would be difficult for him to >>defend his record as an NAM of UDP in the next >>parliamentary elections. I think UDP should have >>expelled Mr Touray after his release from Beligian >>jails. It was an embarrassment to the party, but thank >>God the matter has now been settled. According to >>reliable sources, Mr Touray is seen as a possible >>defector to the APRC. If this is proven to be true >>then surely they have taken a wise measure; EXPEL HIM >>BEFORE HE EMBARRASSES THE PARTY. >> >>Having said so, I agree with you that UDP should have >>waited until after the dissolution of parliament, but >>why should they tolerate someone who lacked the >>political courage to defend the party's interests in >>parliament? >> >>Finally, Mr Touray represents a constituency which >>were affected by the April 10/11 Students Massacre. If >>Mr Touray could abstain from voting on the Indemnity >>Act then surely we wonder why he should continue >>representing the people of Barrajally,who lost their >>kids in that brutal act by security forces of the >>APRC. What message does it give to the Gambian >>majority yearning for justice? The NAM who should have >>been at the forefront decides to keep silent about the >>whole issue. In all fairness, UDP has set its >>standards and we should commend them, other parties >>should take note that a principles must never be >>compromised for individual interests or else political >>freedom from APRC will be a myth. >> >>I understand that it was Kebba Jobe who first sent us >>this information entitled a Terrible blow to UDP. >>There again we saw our University Graduate in >>Engineering trying to act as a passive supporter of >>the APRC Government. One fundamental blunder committed >>by Mr Jobe was to regard Touray's "resignation" from >>the party as a terrible blow to the party. What's >>wrong with this man. I have read all his articles, but >>this one was the worst. We all know what is a terrible >>blow to a political party. Did he read Mr Tamsir >>Jallow's comments on Musa Suso's conviction. Did >>Tamsir Jallow not say that Musa Suso's conviction was >>a terrible blow for the ruling APRC? If Mr Jobe was >>honest with the situation, we would heard his views on >>this case. Here the party in power got humiliated and >>they had to recover by making Touray's expulsion a big >>issue. It is my view that Mr Jobe must have been >>acting on orders from above to disseminate news that >>Touray has resigned from the party in the hope of >>diverting attention from the Musa Suso's conviction. >>They have used this tactic before, take for instance >>the April Massacre. At a time when people were >>mourning the death of those youths murdered by the >>security forces, APRC decides to announce that Almamy >>Touray is serving a prison sentence in Beligium.In >>fact this news was always kept under the carpet and >>their decison to make it an issue was all political. >>The whole ploy by APRC was for people to focus on >>Touray's imprisonment and forget about the APRIL >>Massacre. >> >>With this in mind, the APRC have suffered a terrible >>blow from last week's sentencing of Musa Suso's >>conviction for drug trafficking. If APRC had the guts, >>they would have suspended Musa Suso from the party, >>but instead even gave him an award some two weeks ago. >>I think that award was to indicate that he will be the >>First Member of the National Assembly to be convicted >>in the Gambian Law Courts.Well Done Musa Suso for >>being Mile 2 Prison's VIP- very important person or >>vagabonds in power. >> >>I await your response. >> >>Have a wonderful day >> >>Sanusi >> >> >> >> >> >>--- MLJ Conteh <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >>Pah: >> > >> > I read with interest your posted message on >> > Hon. Almamy Touray's expulsion from UDP. You >> > indicated that one of the reasons was that >> > Hon. Touray did not follow party rules of >> > conduct and also was silent during the passage >> > of the last controversial bill in the legislature. >> > You further stated that he was working with the >> > enemy forces against the interest of UDP. >> > >> > I am really concern about the subjective >> > interpretation by the UDP leadership in this >> > situation. Hon. Touray was elected to represent >> > the people of Niani. His duty as a member of the >> > legislature is to interpret legislative issues >> > objectively and if he fails to do sure, he has >> > breached a contract with his constituency. >> > >> > I am further concern that with the present state >> > of affairs in our country, the opposition should >> > be engaging in building a family tree rather than >> > cutting it down. I do not condone Hon. Touray's >> > behavior, but I am concern with the lack of >> > independence that elected members must exhibit >> > during parliamentary proceedings. No elected >> > representative should robber stamp any initiative >> > endorsed by his or her political party. As we >> > reach a finer moment in our struggle, we need to >> > embrace each other rather than destroy the >> > bridge building initiative that the opposition >> > started. >> > >> > In this analysis, I condemn the leadership of UDP >> > for expelling Hon. Almamy Touray. Hon. Touray has >> > all the rights to be a renegade member of The >> > Gambian legislature. I have not heard from the >> > speaker or the clerk of the legislature of any >> > violations committed by Hon. Touray. If it is >> > true that the gentleman did not violate any >> > parliamentary proceeding, then the UDP leadership >> > acted unwisely to expel Hon. Almamy Touray. It >> > seems that the UDP leadership is enabling a void >> > in inflicting a serious wound to the image of its >> > party. Though I am a passive supporter of UDP, I >> > have a duty to disagree in principle in expelling >> > a member of The Gambian legislature from an >> > opposition party trying hard to unseat a dictator. >> > >> > Naphiyo, >> > >> > Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh >> > > >_________________________________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.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. >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------