Mr. Mbenga and Co. Some of us know who you are. The writer asked a very simple question and you jumped on some very irrelevant issue. Just "damni" if I may quote you, answer the question. If you are writing on behalf of the so-called movement, go ahead and sign your name. AOL gives only one scrren name access at a particular time, so serev yourslef better by being honest. I found your reply so intimidating. The ball is not in any one's court but yours. I know somew people of the movemnet like Manding Darboe, and I know if you are the only one writing for all these people, then there is a lot wrong with that organization. Do not kick or pass the ball. Play it. Lamin Ceesay >From: "Movement for restoration of democracy in Gambia [NY]" ><[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Movement for restoration of democracy in Gambia >Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 01:45:12 EDT > >You're right concerned friend/citizen of Gambia. How do we on this forum >know, or does it matter that your name is Asbjorn Nordam? Since the >inception >of this movement, around the April 10-11, 2000 massacre of demonstrating >Gambian students, this email address, [log in to unmask] had been the sole mode >of >electronic correspondence and FYI, 'active' members has access/password to >this medium and an effective means of distributing each and every mail sent >or received. What you don't understand is that, only a handful of 'active' >members are versed in the Queen's mode of communication, Latin...[English]. >Instead, Mandinka, Wollof, Jola, Sarahule, Fula and Arabic are the >comfortable means of expression within 80-90% of both 'active' and >'supporter' base members. As an outsider/insider on Gambian issues, you >might >not be familiar with problems facing Gambian >goups/societies/movements/clubs >past and present, especially, at the organizational level of participating, >funding, leadership roles, implementation, consistency and assertiveness. >We >lack organizational discipline period. Since each and everyone, wants to be >a >leader and not follower/participant/supporter, a sickening reactionary >attitude of WATCHING FROM THE SIDELINE AND LOBBING CRITICISMS left, right >and >center, praying and hoping for the group to falter or split. Due to past >experiences and lessons learned from past Gambian organizations, we decided >against the formal electoral process, mainly due to the fact that, not >only, >exist a Gambian Society in the same NY Gambian community [more than half >its >members active participants/supporters of MRDG] but also, the avoidance of >labeling: "GAAYI JAANGA LANGE" [the educated guys], The >Wollof/Mandinka/Sarahule lead group, in London, It's the Former PPP >renegades, in Sweden, It's the old "KOTOS" from MOJA[G]....do you get the >drift? Try asking a Gambian, what are the main concerns with the current >regime in Banjul...oops kanilai? He or she will give you a ton of >anecdotes. >Follow up with, what are the answers to the problems? I have a good job >abroad, I don't care; If Jawara or Yahya goes, there's no one to take >charge; >and I don't want my folks back home to be harassed by the NIA. Upon further >probing, are you a member of any group or support any political party? The >answer, most of the time is in the negative. Sometimes, one wonders how >gullible, selfish or egoistic, one could fall in such trappings, >especially, >with such a rouge regime, whose record on corruption, human rights and >liberties and misguided priorities are mind boggling. Contrary to your and >many others assertions, we are not scared of Yahya Jahanama or his NIA >dogs, >nor hiding under any form of bogus names. We never hide our names and faces >during our demonstrations [LIVE ON GRTS]; Our correspondence letters to >Gambia and USA are all signed with our names and addresses; Our >biweekly/monthly meetings are open to everyone; with the exception of a >treasurer and a bank account, everything we do is on a voluntary basis and >the love of country, Gambia. >Hope this will clear the air. If not, make an effort and show up at our >next >meeting. We are not perfect and do not have the answer to all of Gambia's >problems and Yahya's death squads and NIA, damni, we are doing something. >What are you doing, instead of just writing on the Gambia-L? The ball is in >your court. > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >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/intl.asp ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------