>From: Hamjatta Kanteh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Attn: Jassey-Conteh
>Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001 17:22:36 EDT
>
>In a message dated 07/07/2001 12:10:43 GMT Daylight Time,
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>
>
> > << I concur with your sentiments. I have these very important questions:
> > 1. Why waste valuable time and resources in endorsing the UDP to
> > participate in an election already won by dictator yahya?
> > 2. Why can't we seek unity rather than selfishly taking different
> > routes to flush out the dictator?
> > 3. What will we do after the dictator steals the elections? >>
> >
> >
>Jassey-Conteh,
>
>Why don't you snap out of the funk and get a grip! All these needless,
>unwarranted and unproductive gripes ain't gonna bring about your desire for a
>united opposition. Matter of fact, it merely makes life difficult for the
>very peoples you are dying to see be one. Do you think constantly and
>irritatingly haranguing the UDP - yes the UDP; they are the target of your
>senseless ridicules - will make them forge an alliance when it takes more
>than the UDP to bring this about? Man, you need to get real! Get out of that
>ivory tower of yours and sober up a bit!
>
>You have been told for the umpteenth time that the UDP leadership is, in
>principle, not opposed to a political alliance with the other parties.
>Indeed, to show its seriousness about this, the party showed how it had
>teamed up with the NRP during the Kiang by-elections and is very much
>interested in continuing with that cooperative trend. During Mr Darbo's
>recent tour of both the States and Europe, he emphatically made this point.
>But a coalition doesn't simply happen because one party want's it to happen.
>Every party has their principles, programmes and agendas. When parties
>contemplate an alliance with other parties that are different from them, they
>have to factor how an alliance with a party totally different from them will
>impinge upon their programmes, principles and agendas. Much as an alliance is
>the best we have got to end the tyranny in the Gambia, we have to be
>reasonable when parties raise conditions under which they will consider an
>alliance with other parties. Matter of fact, i haven't read anywhere the UDP
>stiffly comes up with conditions that can never be met. The party that has
>stated conditions under which it would be prepared to consider a coalition is
>the PDOIS; conditions that even i, a strident critic of the PDOIS, sees much
>sense and honour in. I don't, however, see you go after the PDOIS for this
>principled stance.
>
> When you are trying to bring people together to form an alliance and each
>already has a stated and principled position, you don't bring them together
>by engaging in a shouting-match with one group and blaming them for
>everything wrong or that hasn't materialised under the sun and moon. When
>some of us - the MRDGUK - reviewed the situation, we came to the conclusion
>that the best that can be hoped for is to work on a formula that all parties
>can use as a negotiating tool to reach a consensual alliance. Hence the
>MRDGUK's recent documents on a possible political alliance. This is what all
>those interested in an alliance should have been working on to help the
>opposition parties to narrow down their differences. This is far more
>honourable than the senseless, unproductive and irritating shouting-matches
>you incessantly engage the UDP in. Where is Jassey-Conteh's formula to help
>narrow down the opposition's differnces?
>
>For all our sakes, i hope i've made you realise the futility and
>senselessness of this game of yours. Kindly snap out the funk Brother and get
>a grip. If you want people to do something for you, you don't yell at them to
>do what you want them to do or else all hell break loose. Talk about
>dictatorships! Get out of the ivory tower and sober up a bit! Sorry i have to
>be this harsh with you. But my God someone has got say it sooner or later
>
>Hamjatta Kanteh
>
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