>From: Bakary Kanteh <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: WHY WE GAVE UP ON SM DIBBA FOR lAWYER DARBOE >Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 20:57:35 +0100 > >Dear Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh, > >The priority of all truly patriotic Gambians at this crucial point >in our >nation's history is to unite towards getting rid of the Jammeh >Dictatorship >rather than to rip open wounds of the pre-1994 era. Indeed, the >bloody 1981 >attempted revolution and its immediate aftermath was a very sad and >regretable episode in our history during which human rights >violations were >committed by all sides of the conflict.However, should one place the >ordeal >and sufferation faced by Gambians as a result of those fateful >events in its >true perspective; it would be evident that the bloodshed,lawlessness >and >chaos that ensued prior to the intervention of the Senegalese forces >was >first perpetrated by Kukoi and other anti-PPP elements, either >deliberately >or through default of proper planning and execution of the attempted >1981 >revolution.It was an armed civil conflict brought upon the Gambia by >Kukoi >Samba Sanyang: an ex-NCP parliamentary candidate and therefore when >the >attempted dictatorship failed,some members of the come-back PPP >regime >orchestrasted unjustifiable acts of atrocities against some NCP >militants >and others who were percieved as supporters of the attemtpted >revolution.But >for the direct intervention of Sir Dawda, (of whom i am no admirer >but even >the devil deserves his due)the politics of retribution that some >members of >the PPP wanted to bear upon their political opponents would have >been >worst.Sir Dawda always advocated for the due process of law to >brought upon >all such people which unfortunately was not always heeded by his >supporters. >Had Yahya been in a similar situation, he would have ordered >extra-judicial >killings and secret night burials as he did during November 11, 1994 >or even >ordered a broad daylght massacre as happen to the students on April >10 & 11, >2000. >As a member of the NCP pre-1994, i fervently belief that Jawara >failed the >Gambian masses but also held the view that so did SM Dibba in July >1994 when he embark upon his self-imposed exile from politics and >abandon >the masses to the 'unknown' during those days when he was needed >most. At >least when members of Foroyya stood up for their rights and in >effect for >the genaral right to expression of opinion, he should not have >labelled them >as 'agent provocateurs'.However, when he did, many others like >myself gave >up on SM as a person capable of providing the leadership that the >Gambia >craves for.We want leaders like Mandela, who would not let down the >people >but SM did! for whatever flimsy reasons and i am of the opinion that >he just >lacks the >courage to take on Jammeh and his gun-tottling hoodlums. >On the other hand, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe and members of the UDP >leadership >has demonstrated that even at the expense of their lives, they are >ready to >moblise Gambians against the dictatorship.They have faced unlawful >incacerations, torture, assasination attempts,and all sorts of >trials and >tribulations but have not relented to injustice. >I thought this was also like SM but how wrong he proved himself to >be. >Therefore compatriots, let us all rally behind the genuine >opposition >coalition to free the Gambia from tyranny.We should all learn from >the >past but always remember that the Gambia should come first. >THE YOKE OF OPPPRESSION MUST BE SHATTERED! come October. > >BMK > >>From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> >>Reply-To: [log in to unmask] >>To: [log in to unmask] >>Subject: WHY I WILL NOT ENDORSE THE ALLIANCE! >>Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 22:53:08 -0400 >> >>Comrades: >> >>I am very appreciative in engaging numerous comrades in >>this strugle. I am fortunate to meet many Gambians, and I >>must admit that I am indebted to many who have provided >>valuable information in knowledge and attitude. One should >>not feel above anyone in their assertion for equity, >>fair-dealing and truth in the pursuit of a free Gambia. >> >>Many of us must understand that the quality of life and our >>own idealistic sentiments must provide guidance in an >>endeavor so vital in searching for truth. The Gambia is our >>country and as such, we must provide reasonable assurance in >>how we threat each other in this struggle. The voices of >>those who fought dearly, especially Hamat Bah and Halifah >>must not be burried under a rug. I cannot as a Gambian >>join the alliance of PPP/UDP/Assan Musa Camara at the >>expense of Hamat and Halifa. >> >>I have to reach out to Illiasa Gibba, a jola and a trusted >>friend, who was unjustly imprisoned by Sir Dawda after the >>failed takeover by Kukoi Samba Sanyang. Within the same >>district of Kombo East, Mba Debo Sanneh was arrested and >>remanded for no just cause. Her sin was that she was a >>member of the National Convention Party. I cried for the >>deaths of Momodou Modibo Conteh and Saikou Fatty, who were >>shot to death because they were suspected of being Kukoi >>Samba Sanyang's sympathizers. In Perang, at the urging and >>approval of Lamin Kitty Jabang, Famara Sanyang and Tombong >>Jabang were beaten so severely that the latter was left >>almost crippled. Momodou Binta Sanyang was unjustly >>imprisoned for ten years. Momodou's late grandfather, >>Seyfo Fa Touray Sanyang made Sir Dawda of who he was. I >>cannot join a group that has Sir Dawda's blessings. It >>will be suicidal for me to trust the PPP. I know the late >>chief, Fa Touray Sayang is looking down on meeting with >>approval. >> >>During Sir Dawda's witch-hunt numerous Gambians were arrested >>and imprisoned. Any Gambian with a Sanyang last name, who >>happened to innocently danced during Kukoi's brief tenure, was >>arrested and detained. The late Essa Barajo Jarju, who was >>heard saying "jola massa kunda" was dismissed as an executive >>of the area council. The late Hon. Famara Wassa Touray, >>who fearlessly campaigned for Sir Dawda by riding his >>bicycle from Gunjur to Brikama and other villages in the >>Kombos, died pennyless because he fell out with Sir Dawda. >>The late Seyfo Fa Sanjally Bojang was fired. Before that, >>Sir Dawda unjustly fired the late Seyfo Jereba Bojang. I >>just cannot trust the PPP. I must also add that Fa Hali >>Jammeh of Bakau, a founding member of the PPP was unjustly >>detained. Fa Hali died in custody. >> >>When Sir Dawda was restored to power, he continued on his >>witch-hunt by dismissing and detaining Gambians. The >>selected few who have now surrounded the leader of the >>UDP, enabled Sir Dawda in his payback strategy. I cannot >>consciously endorse a group that violated the rights of >>Gambians. The PPP has a regrettable history. >> >>The PPP in my view cannot be trusted. If the UDP wins, >>those same individuals who were part of the payback >>strategy will embark on the worst kind of arrogance. The >>Gambia should know better. We do not need any repetitive >>arrogance. We need equity, fair-dealing and truth. >> >>As we revisit history, we must have compelling reasons >>to narrate and vividly illustrate with certainty why >>the PPP will never change. As a Gambian, who was raised >>with Jolas, I cannot endorse an alliance whose members >>had exhibited tribal sentiments on the Jolas after Sir >>Dawda was restored to power. >> >>I wished Ousainou had not given the selected few leadership >>roles. I wished Ousainou had reached out to the rest of >>the opposition. I wished Ousainou had done what he promised >>me. I wished Ousainou was open. I wished Ousainou had not >>engaged the UDP in a suicidal marriage with the PPP. >> >>While I remain loyal to this struggle, I want to reiterate >>that I cannot endorse the PPP/UDP/Assan Musa Camara alliance. >> >>I hope Allah guides me in this pursuit. With Allah's >>blessings, the truth will prevail. >> >>Naphiyo, >> >>Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh >>Greensboro, NC/Kombo East Constituency >> >>-------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Mail2Web - Check your email from the web at >>http://www.mail2web.com/ . >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >>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. >----------------------------------------------------------------------------