Dampha, I generally focus on what Jammeh is doing to The Gambia and what we as Gambians can do to unseat him. I don't try to put Jawara or any other person down; I know many of these former PPP and NCP politicians from my days as a Radio Gambia reporter, and as an assistant secretary at External Affairs. I also think it serves no purpose to dwell on Jawara's era. However, I will not stand idly by to see Jawara's record trumpeted as anything but dismal. I lived in The Gambia during Jawara's reign, and I know how corrupt and ineffective that regime was. I respect his right to return and do whatever he wants. (I know you didn't call for him to assume a leadership role in the opposition). In my view, he doesn't deserve a heroes welcome in The Gambia. Jawara as a leader is HISTORY; and he is NO NELSON MANDELA as another writer indicated. Enlisting Jawara's help in fighting the October elections could only be a liability, and nothing else. An active role for him would definitely alienate many (like myself) and dash hopes for a concerted front. With this, I'm moving on. My point is clear: Jammeh must be defeated, Jawara is history! Amadou SJ "Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass" (J. Meyer). >From: Dampha Kebba <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Putting the Record Straight --- Decree 89 Politicians >Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 11:44:45 -0400 > >Anybody that says that I (personally) advocated for the return of Jawara as >a presidential candidate will be telling a blatant lie. I might have been >one of the most vocal advocates for Jawara’s return. But in what role? I >have categorically stated that the man should be encouraged to return and >support the presidential candidate that is going to be selected by the >CURRENT OPPOSITION LEADERS. Jawara can be very effective in defending the >PPP record and discrediting AFPRC/APRC justification for taking over. >Rather >than current Opposition leaders tackling Yaya when Yaya tries to compare >himself with PPP, let the PPP fight that battle. Simple as that. > >For people now to twist this logic and make it appear as if I am advocating >for Jawara to become our next president, is just mind-boggling to me. To >this day I can only name one person in the Opposition on G_L that is saying >that the Decree 89 politicians should also be given an opportunity to lead. >One person. Granted, I delete a lot of mails without reading them, but I am >pretty certain I would have read a mail under my heading advocating for >Jawara to return as a leader. To my knowledge, only Jassey-Conteh said that >we should not close the door on Decree 89 politicians’ chances of leading >he >Coalition. Although I do NOT agree with Jassey-Conteh on this, I respect >his >stance. Now, where is all this talk about people advocating for Jawara’s >return to the presidency coming from? Let us shoot straight and quit >talking >in innuendo. > >I still firmly believe that the man should be encouraged to come home and >defend his record and lend his support to the Opposition presidential >candidate. Even if I am convinced that the current Opposition can win >without Jawara, I will NOT recommend to the Opposition to snub Jawara. If >the Opposition can canvass for 90% of the votes, why settle for less? No >one >can deny that Jawara still has a following back home. Would we rather have >those people vote for APRC or abstain from voting for the candidate the >current Opposition is going to choose? If we want the support of these >Gambians (that are still loyal to Jawara) we do NOT go around alienating >them by attacking their leaders. What does the Opposition seek to gain by >attacking Jawara? Preventing him from becoming the next president? This is >premised on the notion that he wants to become the next president. Not a >single person can truthfully say here on G_L that Jawara said that he >wanted >to become the next president. Like I already said, apart from >Jassey-Conteh, >there is NOBODY in the Opposition is even remotely saying that they want >Jawara to become the next president. And even Jassey-Conteh is NOT saying >that he wants Jawara per se. It is practically impossible for that to >happen. So, why use this false premise in order to attack the man? > >Attacking the man serves one purpose. It helps Yaya and his gang stand up >and say that it was justified for them to take over. Attacking Jawara is >NOT >helping us right old wrongs by preventing him from gaining power again. The >law already says that he CANNOT run in October. Besides, it is practically >impossible for the man to go back and run a political campaign that is >going >to overshadow our current Opposition leaders. Our current leaders are lot >stronger than that. I hope the leaders on the ground will embrace the >Degree >89 politicians and ask for their support. We need NOT force these people to >the APRC camp or away from us. The ex-PPP politicians, in particular, are >very important because (among other things) they need to defend their >record >against attacks from APRC. We would rather that PPP fight that battle than >say UDP, NRP or PDOIS. For example, if Yaya wants to boast about a >University and belittle PPP, rather than Darboe tackling that, let Jawara >explain how Yaya built on what already existed in the form of GTTI, MDI, >Hotel School, Nursing School, Yundum College, etc. > >That is the wavelength some of us are at. Division of labor. Tactical >Alliance. Now, if the Opposition wants to use PPP in this manner in the >Coalition, we do NOT go around singing APRC songs like Jawara was here 30 >years and did not do a thing. >KB > > >_________________________________________________________________ >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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------