>From: Musa Jeng <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Is Bloodshed Avoidable? >Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 22:54:48 -0400 > >With the long Atlanta commute on a daily basis, it has become an ideal >time to do lots of reflection, These days, although far away from home, >there is a preoccupation with the political situation in the country. >Terrible as it may sound, and rather convenient to us living in the >Diaspora, bloodshed is unavoidable. And it is part of the reality, and >may be the price to be paid to bring an end to the Jammeh nightmare. My >former classmate, Koro Ceesay, the children of the April 10 massacre has >already paid this expensive price, and many of the Soldiers that become >cannon fodder for the bringing about, or sustaining of this illegitimate >government. > >The solace and the consolation are the creation of a government of >National Unity. This is an opportunity to introduce and put together the >foundation for constitutional democracy. An Alliance victory will shake >up all form of political domination and no single party or people will >runaway with the new political reality, and a new political life would >be breath into the system. Such a government of national unity would >freeze any propensity for vindictiveness, retaliatory tendencies, and >instead would create a country of laws where the rights of all Gambians >would be protected. > >The other political dynamic is that the APRC government cannot even >fathom the possibility of loosing this election, and would do whatever >it takes to hang on to this imaginary power. It is perceived as a life >and death situation, and would take more than going to the pools on >Election Day to unseat the APRC government. This mindset is a recipe for >bloodshed, breakdown of civil society, chaos and lawlessness. Such dire >situation has already begun, the attempt by the Justice secretary to use >a technicality to disenfranchise the Gambian voter, and if that fails, >they will up the ante and eventually a breakdown of civil engagement. >Bloodshed, chaos and civil war is a very likely scenario, and contrary >to the notion that “Deka bi dafa am nyan”, maybe now is one of those >times that we really need that notion to materialize. > >This grave situation of bloodshed, death and lawlessness can be avoided >by the action of these principal players: > >The IEC (Gabriel Roberts) > >I am not the least professing to know the Man, Mr.Roberts, but can only >have an opinion base on decisions and positions taken in the past. Mr. >Roberts is one of the architect of this Electoral commission, and the >fact that he accepted this job offer after Mr.Johnson was removed from >the position without due process, tells one a lot about the man. >Mr.Roberts came from the Aku heritage- a people that contributed a lot >to what is considered Gambia as a nation. The Akus are known as >religious, hardworking, honest, well mannered and very principled. Their >human capital investment in the Gambia forms the foundation of whatever >civil service or governance the country can strive on. It is time for >Mr.Roberts to epitomize that Aku spirit that our country needs dearly. >Pardon me, if anybody feels uncomfortable of the tribal angle, but it is >necessary to put things in its proper perspective. > >Mr.Roberts, you would be doing injustice to a whole nation, to your >heritage and your self by compromising your integrity that will result >to bloodshed, chaos and lawlessness. Sir, you have a job to do and it is >a moral imperative to do it freely fairly and accordance to the laws >that you pioneered. If at anytime, whether it is from the government of >the day, Opposition, or some pressure force that rendered you impotent >to perform your job, please do the right thing. Do not be a participant >to a sham that can really create bloodshed. > >The Aprc: > >Most Gambians do not believe that the APRC government is interested in >conducting free and fair elections. Technicalities have been used in the >past, and have started to show its ugly head to disenfranchise the >Gambian voter. Logistical remedies-disallowing on the spot counting and >the tactic of intimidation are tools to be used to hang on to power at >all cost. This will be a recipe for bloodshed and lawlessness. The APRC >has ruled for seven years and has a record to run on. Take your message >to the Gambian people and let them be the final arbiter. Gambians have >witnessed a thirty-year rule under a PPP government, have witnessed a >second republic under an APRC government, and have gotten to know all >the different political parties; maybe they should be given a chance to >determine the direction this country should take. Nobody has the right >to use intimidation, lies, deceit and eventually bloodshed to affect >that sacred right. > >The Opposition: > >You are the hope that will take us to the promise land. There is a >feeling that if elections are held freely and fairly you will win. It is >also a fact that Opposition plays a vital and responsible role in the >political process, in fact a partner with government to conduct free and >fair elections. Just because you are bent on removing the present status >quo and you have the moral argument somehow gives you the right to win >at all cost. The people are the final arbiter, and if they have spoken >to maintain the present status quo, then it is your duty to go the extra >mile to be a partner in bringing about the business of governing. A >sitting government is bound to enjoy the position of incumbency, and >that cannot be used as a justification to cru foul and create chaos and >lawlessness. It is also incumbent upon you to fight to the end to make >sure the wishes of the people are reflected come election day. It is >imperative to do whatever it takes not to be part of a sham that will >disenfranchise the Gambian voter. > >GNA: > >The security apparatus are the ultimate professional group equipped to >protect the Gambia from any form of break down of civil society. Your >allegiance should be to the Gambian people and to maintain and protect >lives. Bloodshed, civil strife and lawlessness are a direct failure of >your responsibility. A repetition of the April 10 massacre only >reaffirmed the reality that GNA is an enemy of the Gasmbian people. You >have the key in making sure that elections are conducted freely and >fairly. Without your presence of taking sides, all the players will play >according to the rules. You participated in removing a democratically >elected government, and for seven years sit unconcern while the rights >of Gambians are been trampled upon. The new political reality is that >bloodshed and lost of lives are a reality come October. If you allow >your Organization to be manipulated or used to disenfranchise the wishes >of the Gambian people, then you have failed in your responsibilities. >Bloodshed, breakdown of civil society and lawlessness can be avoided, if >you act professionally. > >Folks, like you, I understand the naivete to some of the assumptions >been made above. But these are the assumptions and safeguards that can >bring about free and fair elections, and ultimately a constitutional >democracy. Each of the aforementioned players has to do its utmost best >to uphold what is expected from them. If any of the players straddles, >bloodshed will be unavoidable consequence. > >Musa Jeng > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >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. >----------------------------------------------------------------------------