Well, OUS. It is true we have to struggle to dislodge Jammeh because he is a tyrant and a brute with no conscience, but then we must not take off our eyes from what is happening around the UDP simply because as an opposition party it is a government in waiting, hence all their statements and actions must augur with the desire to usher peace and tranquility, after all Cassamance and the Fonis has an umblical cord and we must not invite a situation that will open up cracks that can easily allow for an independent movement in alliance with the MFDC. If the Jolas fell intimidated by the UDP they can only revert to their natural constituence Cassamance for protection and they do not need this because they are as Gambian as any of us. Just because Yaya happens to be Jola does not mean to say that Jolas should answer to his actions, after all there are lots of Jolas who do not support him equally there are lots of mandingoes who support him, so it is a fallacy to assume that those that try to thwart the course of democracy in the Fonis are representing the majority position. I recalled a similar experience PDOIS had in DUNGBALI, meaning no entry, during the PPP era but they handled it differently because they understood that it was ignorance that provoked such actions and not necessarily allegiance. We must cease reffering to the Jolas as none Gambians just because they have that close affinity with the Cassamance The UDP most not reduce itself to the level of Jammeh they must temper their language when it comes to tribal issues they must not allow themselves to be seen as trying to defend a tribal position. They should rise above this. T But then,the party is so obsessed with Yaya that it is losing its head as a national forum and this is dangerous, for in doing so it can be as bad as Yaya. If for instance people at the apex of the UDP are making blatant general statements about Jolas we must endeavour to reject such tribal inclinations. Because by doing so advertently or inadvertently one is craftly appealing to another tribal group or groups on tribal sentiments and this is unacceptable. If a group of ignorant people decided to interfere with the electoral process they must be taken to task rightly, but that does mean to say that we must lose our national duty to unify the people and exploit ignoranceto make unwarranted statement, this will lose us focus and believe me this is what Jammeh and his accolytes want. To reiterate, I agree that it is absolutely wrong for any Gambian of whatsoever tribe to try and stop any political meeting but I beg to differ that all the Jolas in the Foni are responsible after all there are Jolas in the UDP as well as all the other parties. Hence we must not get carried away and use inflamatory language to incite conflict. If Yaya should encourage any tribal appeals we should without reservation condemn him however, so does this apply to all the other parties. I was bemused when mr juju man KB was very elated about the offensive remarks made by a senior UDP spokes person about the FONI incident, instead of condeming such unwarranted language he condoned it and even express delight and congratulations at the way this man conducted the whole affairs. In my opinion this is appaling it is just synonymous to the hysteria and hatred built against moslems, in the immediate aftermarth of the US bombings, a lot of immature and highly misled people wanted to make all moslems guilt. Am sure not all Jolas would condone the attempt to stifle the course for democracy hence to make general statements that would tar them with the same guilty brush is highly erroneous and provocative. This was the same mistake UDP made in the last elections, they anatagonised the armed forces, concluding that they were natural APRC supporters failing to acknowledge the fact the arm forces is not necessarily homogeneous, there can be mute elements that do not condone what is happening under the APRC, but under the circumstances they cannot manifest it. To govern the country the UDP needs the support from all the tribes, they do not have to play with Jammehs pretence or assume that all Jolas are APRC. This erroneous precept will only lead to one way and that is to the Sierraleone scenario, and god forbid if this should happen in our small country, we shall forever live to regret it, we must not advocate for tribal sentiments to gain power the parties should focus on their programmes and appeal to all Gambians irrespective of tribe, if any one is trying to exploit tribal sentiments all should expose him. The examples of tribal politics and its consequencies are all over the world for us to see, it never, ever resolves anything, if anything it creats more than it can solve. On this note I call on all Gambians to exercise restrain and caution in in refrence to any tribe. Tribalism all it does is foster hatred and divide the people and as a small nation we cannot afford a conflict of the type that afflicted both Liberia and Sierraleone. Further to your remarks KB that I am confused that Jawara is residing in the UK and this elections is not about him you might be partially rigth because physicall he is noT in the Gambia, however you are demonstrating to me how politically naive you are. Jawara was operating in a system and any system is analogous to an organism, because it has people as tentacles,it is such people who help this organism to thrive and at this point in time such a people do exist in the country albeit most of them are octogenarians they are there blowing their trumpet under the protective clothing of UDP. You only have to follow the campaigns to listen to them struggling to impress the people about their achievements during their 30 years of misrule, sometimes you even wonder if they are not trying to torpedo Darbo, it is sad to see such elderly senile bunch trying to make a come back, I hope KB, you will realise that these people are the achilles heel of Darbo, Mr Darbo could have earned much more respect had he defined his relationship with the PPP, but it appears he cant, from the inception of the UDP a lot of people had urged him to make an independent departure but he must have owed them so much obligation that he has become a hostage to them. And by continug to do so he will always be treated as the shadow of the PPP. >From: Ousman Jallow Bojang <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: A MOJA CASEFILE >Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 21:05:01 EDT > >Jabou, >Well said. Kebba Jallow has a lot at stake here. The guy is struggling as >much as he could. He cannot afford to hear anything about the PPP. >Anyway, knowing his history tells all. > >Ousman Jallow Bojang. > ><<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> > >To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface >at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > ><<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>