Dampha, Hamjatta and co. Please take note of these developments. Do not say I did not warn you. Have a good day, Gassa. >From: Beran jeng <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: FWD:Jawara's Lost Opportunity >Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 14:32:59 -0400 > >Jawara's Lost Opportunity > > > > >The Independent (Banjul) > >EDITORIAL >August 6, 2001 >Posted to the web August 6, 2001 > >Banjul, the Gambia > >Sir Dawda's impending return has raised blinding dust in our political >landscape. The eddy of confusion that his proclamation to return has >propelled has drawn confusing and contradictory remarks from secretaries of >state Sedat Jobe and Yankuba Touray. Sedat says yes, he's welcome and free >to return. Yankuba says the ex-president should face a commission of >inquiry >for some past deeds. > >The Gambian people, who in reality should decide who takes control of their >political lives, are equally and naturally divided over the merits and >demerits of Sir Dawda's return. Some, like Sedat Jobe, say Sir Dawda should >indeed come back to The Gambia. Others, like Yankuba Touray, would have >none >of the ancient 'Jawara diko'. The Gambia, they argue, should and could move >forward without Jawara. As we had indicated before, the repeal of Decree 89 >is a long overdue step in the right direction. We know that like all unjust >laws, the decree had always been a law of the iron grid, imposed not >because >of its moral and essential qualities, but to satisfy the whims and caprices >of a regime that came to power through unconstitutional means and that was >confidence-starved. We know also, that the decree was repealed not because >the president has suddenly seen the light and grew an angel's heart, but >because first, he was forced to; and second, he feels confident that he had >bought enough Gambians' favours that he had nothing to fear from an old and >spent guard of politicians. > >Certainly, Sir Dawda Jawara, apart from his nurturing of the democratic >spirit in The Gambia, which is by no means a mean achievement, has little >else to show for his thirty years in power. We know that he had allowed >himself to be mystified and almost worshipped by his cronies. We know that >he had nurtured the shameful and harmful mansa mentality that continues to >be a bane of our national politics. We know that he refused to put in place >the constitutional framework required to make possible smooth, peaceful and >periodic change of leadership with the result that the equally power-hungry >soldiers found an acceptable excuse to step in. We know that his extremely >sweet tooth for power rendered him blind to reality and believe in the >fatal >illusion that he could be president for life. We know, ultimately that Sir >Dawda had a chance, an excellent opportunity to set this country firmly on >the path to eternal bliss and he blew it. > >We certainly are dead opposed and shall remain opposed to the wanton >'powertics' of the Jammeh regime. But at the same time, we do not >sympathise >with the excesses of the Jawara regime. The fact that he told the BBC that >he had no alternative but to accept the invitation to lead the PPP shows >that the Pa had learnt little in exile. Why could he not say 'no, look we >need to revamp the party. Let's recruit a new young membership. Let's >inject >new blood into the party. We old guards should be active members and >advisers, but should not seek leadership roles or political office again.' >But no, Sir Dawda is still hungry for leadership. He still wants to be the >great leader who did us more harm than good. He still feels and is made to >feel indispensable. He is still out of touch with political realities. > >We truly wonder why our African politicians never learn. > > > > > >_________________________________________________________________ >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. >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------