>From: Jungle Sunrise <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: FWD:Questions for Jammeh >Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 14:00:11 +0000 > >Honestly I cannot understand all this hulla baloo about on the spot >counting >of ballots. If not for hypocrisy, what is the matter here? These >opposition >people were making these same noises about on the spot counting of >votes >when the IEC first announced that ballots were to be counted on the >spot for >recently concluded by-elections. On that occasion The IEC was >accused of >trying to rig the results on behalf of the APRC. Some opposition >members >even comtemplated boycotting those elections. Now Lamin Waa Juwara >is saying >that nothing short of counting on the spot is acceptable to their >party. Why >can't the opposition please spare us all this nagging. All past >elections in >The Gambia used a centralized counting of ballots and nobody ever >querried >its transparency or fairness. Why can't the opposition worry about >their >lack of strategy rather than boring us to death with all this >rubbish. The >government has decided that they will not allow on the on the spot >counting >of votes as it does not have all the necessary logistics or manpower >for it >and the opposition knows full well that their incessant grumblings >will not >sway Jammeh one inch and yet they are treating this very irrelevant >issue as >a life or death matter. Are these people for real? Pleeeeeasssse get >your >act together and stop boring us to death!!!! > >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:Questions for Jammeh >>Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 08:53:24 -0400 >> >>Questions for Jammeh >> >> >> >>The Independent (Banjul) >> >>EDITORIAL >>August 13, 2001 >>Posted to the web August 14, 2001 >> >>Banjul, the Gambia >> >>Our democracy is under the most acidic test as we prepare ourselves >>for >>October's election show-down. People across the acrimonious >>political >>divide >>are mud-slinging each other hoping to win the people's favour. The >>ruling >>party accuses the opposition of exaggerating wrongs committed by >>the APRC. >>The opposition on the other hand say the ruling party is intolerant >>and >>forment a climate of hate against its adversaries. All these though >>do not >>take anybody anywhere not least Gambians who over the last couple >>of years >>have rekindled interest in political matters perhaps more that ever >>before >>in our political history. >> >>However, one of the more salient political misgivings entertained >>in many >>quarters have been linked to President Jammeh's dogged refusal to >>bestow >>his >>blessings on the idea of on-the spot counting of ballots once the >>polls >>close. His curt stance on the issues could very well explain the >>level of >>intolerance for the opposition's view on matters that definitely >>affect all >>Gambians. Jammeh's lame assertion that on-the- spot counting is not >>anywhere >>mandated by our constitution left us all cold and shivering over >>the >>dreariness of our democratic future. It is weird that although the >>constitution is loudly silent over the process of vote-counting >>during >>election, the Sami chieftaincy election and the bye-elections >>results came >>after a successful on-the-spot counting of votes was conducted and >>concluded >>without incident. Gambians who have been divided politically all >>agreed >>that >>the elections were free, fair and transparent. Our democracy >>received >>thumbs >>up gesture of appreciation internationally. >> >>Another points, which President Jammeh clutched at was that >>on-the-spot >>counting was practised nowhere except Uganda and The Gambia would >>not >>second >>this so-called exception. While this assertion is incorrect we are >>left to >>wonder whether the President of the Republic has been very >>conversant with >>events around the world. He knows how his "next door brother" >>Abdoulaye >>Wade >>came to power. >> >>All political pundits agree that one of the more important things >>ever to >>happen in Senegal's elections was the counting of the votes there >>and then >>after the last votes were cast. The same worked well for Ghana, >>Guinea- >>Bissau and Uganda due to its transparent, quick and >>security-insulated ways >>of determining who wins where without the likelihood for the usual >>post-election anthem of riggings and irregularly claimed by the >>opposition. >> >>We would not want the opposition to cry foul over the popular vote. >>So in >>the best interest of reconciliation President Jammeh should >>consider the >>views of the opposition who are important stakeholders in the >>election >>process. It should not cost anything to entertain the opposition, >>who in >>all >>fairness argued convincingly for on-the -spot counting, which would >>make >>them more trustful of the election process. >> >>Although the security question in polling stations could be a >>logistical >>equation it is not sufficient to stamp a "presidential no" to the >>idea, >>which has proven to be the best bet for everyone in the political >>game not >>least incumbents. It worked in other countries so why can't it work >>here? >> >> >> >>_________________________________________________________________ >>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. >----------------------------------------------------------------------------