In a message dated 5/27/2001 11:53:55 AM Central Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << If the rationale behind such a very unwise move by the ALD organisers was to kill two birds with one stone i.e, shore up the chances of a United Opposition and at the same time heal the wounds of the Gambian peoples by reconciling the APRC with aggrieved Gambians , then they shall fail miserably. >> What they are very likely to end up with is losing the bird in hand and fail to capture the bird in the bush. Attempts at Gambian unification, as things stand - especially with Jammeh remaining unrepentant about his crimes - is an exercise in delusional grandeur.he head of the APRC delegation, Joseph Joof, has just finished adding his imprint to legislative junks that has invariably increased the country's democratic deficit. That man is not a man on the verge of repenting past ills but a man still in denial. How the ALD organisers or any other important guests of the weekend gathering for that matter can conceivably change such remorseless lackeys' minds about Jammeh beats me. Hamjatta, My sentiments exactly. Of course the outcry is going to be that the venue will provide a chance for dialogue as Latjor Ndwo stated, and I am not personally attacking Mr Ndow here at all. Your assesment of the situation is the same reason i offered to eat my hat if anything new comes out from any sort of so-called dialogue with the APRC representatives. I remember the first time that an attempt to reach out to this rogue government was made, namely by a proposal written by Dr Abdoulaye Saine, proposing a body of representatives from the government as well as religious and other representatives of the Gambian people be formed in order to see how we can establish dialogue to come up with a solution to what was very evidently a course headed for disaster. That proposal and all similar attempts to engage this government has fallen on deaf ears, and the actions and agenda of the Jammeh regime leaves no doubt, even in the minds of the daftest of individuals, that this is not a group of individuals who are interested in doing things according to the laws of the Gambia, international laws or any laws governing democracy, justice and human rights anywhere at any time. This is a fact that is as evient as daylight. What then is the purpose of continuing to try ot invite such a regime to come to any sort of venue where the interest of the country is the topic of discussion? Can we really say that this regime has the interest of our country at heart, and that their agenda indicates to us that they will infact do the right thing at any point in time? If we have come to the point where we are proposing a united opposition and a unity government for our country, surely then, this is ample proof that at least most of us have reached the conclusion that ours is not a normal circumstance based on what we have witnessed from the hnads of this regime, and this is why we have resorted to what is clearly not an idela solution for a nation with a supposedly democratic form of government. I think many of us still have not come to the realization that this is a crisis we are facing here, and that these are criminals who one cannot engage in any meaningful way because their's is a mission of self preservation from criminal prosecution for crimes they know they have committed and continue to commit against Gambia and Gambians. However, some of us continue to delude ourselves into thinking that extending a hand to this devil of a regime will actually achieve somethimg. How many times do we have to remind people that these are criminals who are well aware of the crmes they have committed, and who therefore have an agenda of hiding behind the positions they now hold because when that is gone, they will be exposed to face the consequences of their crimes, and that coinsequently, any actions from them will merely be an extension of the same thimgs they are now engaged in? Nothing changes, just the method of dispensing the same old nonsense. End of story. Why we still continue to see these rogues as people to have dialogue with is also beyond me . Some of us no doubt live in fantasy land, and all the roads will soon be paved with gold, but time will surely tell. Regarding the UDP's and the ALD venue you wrote: "The UDP's only crime happens to be that they didn't do the decent thing and voice out their doubt about the incompatibility of the composition of such a gathering with its professed goals. This, again lays bare a judgement i earlier passed on the UDP: the fact that its communication and presentation skills leave much to be desired for. To correct this deficit, the UDP ought to emulate the shining example of their compatriots, the PDOIS, who have always done a very good job in selling their position to an informed electorate. Better still, and as an interim measure, the UDP ought to acquire the independent help of a skilled and professional media operative who will advise them on such matters that relate to how they sell their political position without inflicting too much damage on themselves." Again, a good observation indeed. Even though I could understand the reason for the UDP's cancellation of their attendance at the ALD, I was left with a sense of bewilderment as to why there seemed to be no one who can serve as a replacement for Ousainou Darboe even if the previous reason given was true. Infact, it left me with a sense of panic because if Darboe is the only one who can negotiate on behalf of the UDP on the issues at hand, then they were begining to give me an impression of micmicking the APRC where Jammeh is the begining and end of everything, and that is not something we want to even think remotely of any aspiring future leadership. It is high time that the UDP leadership realizes that the Gambian population as well as the World are not mind readers, and that they better start vocalizing their reasoning because the absence of such gives a very negative impression indeed. Well, this state of affairs surrounding the ALD celebrations no doubt gave the APRC more of the ammunition they need to propagate even further their modus operandi of divide and conquer, by fanning the fires of chaos, and it seems there are always some of us Gambians willing to provide them with the opportunity. Their trip to Washington is not meant to accomplish anything new except to further mock at Gambians. Perhaps they are hoping that most of us have now gone brain dead so that we will now buy their arguments as to why we need to keep an oppressive and lawless rogue government in place so they can continue to kill our citizenry and damage our economy beyond repair, or perhaps that they have now changed and turned over a new leaf, and will be an ideal government that has our interest at heart. Even if the latter were true, can we believe it given what has already transpired and what continues to transpire? Does it also change the fact that those who will be making the promise already have the blood of Gambians on their hads, and have committed numerous other crimes, and have continued to commit more in addition to murder and for which they have yet to be answerable for? How does one strike up dialogue with a criminal goverment? Do we promise them immunity if they leave, or do we make a compromise with them that we will just forget what they have done and move on? On to what? Is it likely that we will have a fair election process in The Gambia with this regime in place? Is it likely that these people will just walk away from the power they have grown accustomed to abusing? What pray tell is there to discuss with this rogue regime? What is best for the country is that they leave but we all know that is not likel;y to happen. So we just continue to give them a venue to mock at us even more while pretending that we are engaging in actions demed honourable and proper in the eyes of the World, but which have no meaning whatsoever to the brutes we are dealing with. That is a waste of time and a mockery to all Gambians everywhere. Jabou Joh ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------