>From: Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: LET US FACE THE FACTS "ELECTION IN GAMBIA" >Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 19:21:42 +0000 > >"Uncle Jay", > >Well, I am the beneficiary of a whole host of information from a >wide range >of sources in and out of The Gambia: I feel that I have a good >overview of >the conditions prevailing and of the events transpiring in my >homeland, even >if I am exiled from it. > >At the same time, I am a student of Political Science and am fully >aware of >the tensions which accrue during the run up to key elections. Who >knows who >will win the presidential elections on the 18th of October? I >certainly do >not, but at the same time, I am doing my best to acquaint myself and >my >fellow Gambians with as much information and opinion as I possibly >can, in >order to ensure that the Gambian electorate has access to the >fullest range >of information and political spin. > >"Uncle Jay" may feel that he has the only reliable opinion on and >evidence >of events "on the ground" in The Gambia. He has told us in no >uncertain >terms that he is a supporter of PDOIS. My sources in The Gambia and >elsewhere, represent a whole range of political standpoints: these >are >matters for them, and not for me. > >Good for you "Uncle Jay", that you are not supporting Yahya Jammeh, >and that >you have developed your own political construct. What you believe is >your >business, and how you vote on Thursday is your business. > >I have to point out that I do not personally write to Gambia-L on >fantasies >or fabrications: my postings are based on facts as passed to me by >my many >sources and colleagues still at home in The Gambia. My sources >represent a >wide range of political views and opinions, and I respect them for >these: >as they in turn, respect my independence of thought. > >My role in forwarding messages from my sources is to ensure that >Gambians >have the fullest breadth of opinion and information, upon which they >will >formulate their own judgements (as I do). Again, I have to say that >I am >the messenger, and not the message. > >Our opinions may be different, but Thank God, we are at least united >in one >thing: Yahya Jammeh should not be allowed to win the election on the >18th. >The vote of every member of the electorate is crucial, and let these >votes >be for anyone except Jammeh. > >Whatever happens following the elections in The Gambia on Thursday, >I am at >one step removed from it by virtue of long-term commitments in the >UK. I >will not personally suffer if Jammeh does win the election: for the >foreseeable future, I am going to be based in the UK and not in The >Gambia. > >I am not looking for self-aggrandisement in my home country, or for >a >ministerial post in an opposition government !! BUT I have done >everything >in my power to give Gambians another side of the picture, a >different >viewpoint based on facts in the public domain, and comments and >opinions >from a range of Gambians in and out of the country. I believe that >it is >VITAL that Gambians have access to the truth in order that they can >make a >wise electoral choice. > >I believe wholeheartedly that I do not now, and never have, >"distorted the >facts". These are things that are on public record: I merely >comment on >them. > >Ebrima Ceesay, >Birmingham, UK > > > >>From: UNCLE JAY <[log in to unmask]> >>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list >><[log in to unmask]> >>To: [log in to unmask] >>Subject: LET US FACE THE FACTS "ELECTION IN GAMBIA" >>Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 03:01:13 +0000 >> >>Mr. Ebrima and Source, >> >>I am forced here to speak out my mind and observations. I believe >>that the >>best thing to do is to write what is prevailing. One should not >>write just >>to suit his taste but facts on the ground must be assessed as they >>are and >>not to the contrary. >>To tell you the truth,Come 18th Yaya is going to win based on what >>is >>prevailing in the Gambia. We cannot console ourselves by distorting >>facts. >>We will see who is speaking the truth. I am not going to vote for >>yaya but >>the truth is he is going to win this election from my >>observation.PDOIS is >>the only mature political party i have seen so far and my vote is >>for them. >>Time will judge who is saying the truth. I am on the ground and >>know what i >>am talking about. >> >>Peace and enjoy your coffee. >> >>UNCLE JAY > > >_________________________________________________________________ >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 > ><>//\\<>//\\<>//\\<>//\\<>