Two reports culled from the Independent Newspaper. When we predict an Alliance LANDSLIDE, this is what we are talking about. Endorsements from other political parties in the country and mass defections from APRC. Yaya is FINISHED. KB ______________________________________________________________ GDP Stated its Position Botto Fatty who said he is the campaign manager of The dormant Gambia Democratic Party (GDP), has called on all supporters of his party to rally behind the opposition coalition led by Lawyer Ousainou Darboe to change the course of Gambian politics, which he believes is aggravating beyond hope. Fatty told The Independent Tuesday that although the GDP has been inactive for a long time, it is far from "certified dead". He emphasised that his party of which little is known will be active in the political atmosphere of the country in the coming months as the nation prepare for the National Assembly election. Although the GDP have not made a presidential nominee for the October 18 polls Fatty said members of his party are interested in the triumph of the opposition coalition in the presidential contest and have urged all their supporters and sympathizers to vote for Ousainou Darboe, who is being seen as President Jammeh's main challenger. Fatty acknowledged that the GDP is hamstrung by financial problems, denigrating it s capacity to be consistently active in Gambian politics. He said the party would however put up candidates for the National Assembly elections after its sponsors have been consulted. He categorically denied allegations that the GDP was being sponsored by the ruling ARPC government. He said that lack of funds prevented the GDP from contesting in the last elections. He also dismissed claims that his party was associated with the APRC. Fatty exhorted Gambians to be resolute in their determination to tackle the problems brought by an ailing economy and what he saw as seven years of misrule by the APRC dispensation. He noted that for the past few days his party has been monitoring with a degree of apprehension the political violence in the provinces. He said that despite government media reports, which he dismissed as propagandistic, Baddibu especially Kerewan and Salikene are fully behind the coalition. Mr. Fatty said that Gambians are interested in knowing how much money was in nation's coffers at the time of the coup. He called on the police to be neutral in politics and to pursue justice without fear or favour. He also thanked The Gambia National Army (GNA), for "not openly interfering in the current political situation". Mr. Fatty said he also has confidence in the Independent Electoral Commission whom he commended for presiding over a so far orderly election process. ________________________________________________________________________ In Jammeh-to-Darboe defection 3000 voters cards surrendered to opposition coalition The chairman of APRC committee in Dingri has announced his defection to the UDP-led coalition, taking with him three thousand of his supporters. A meeting by the coalition in the village Tuesday saw the surrendering of the defectors' voters cards to the leadership of the coalition. Alhagie Papa Saho who led the defectors told the meeting attended by Ousainou Darboe that the villagers felt betrayed by President Jammeh who was allegedly given D25, 000 by them for the construction of a borehole to help in their agricultural production. Papa Saho said the president did not facilitate the process nor did he hand them back the money. He said it has been made clear to him and his followers that the ruling party was not established to help Gambians out of poverty and decadence but to foment tribalism and practise discrimination across the country. The APRC detractor also blamed the ruling party for our farmers' plight after their produce went unsold. He said that despite some truth in President Jammeh's claim about ex-President Jawara's neglect of Gambians his years as the country's leader witnessed a stable economy, a stable local currency and an excellent relationship with the outside world. The coalition leader Ousainou Darboe said The Gambia's problems were being compounded by bad governance from and misplaced policies from President Jammeh. He said in Jawara's days no visa restrictions were in place for Gambians wishing to travel to many European countries. Darboe said all this was to change after July 1994 when President Jammeh destroyed democracy and spoiled the impressive foreign policy Jawara had built over the years. He warned Dingri villagers not to listen to a leader "who killed your sons and daughters." Omar Jallow or OJ for his part said sixty ministers have been hired and fired since President Jammeh came to power. OJ called on the villagers to resist the appointment of chiefs or Alkalolu by President Jammeh. He said Jammeh is guilty of pursuing policies that could cause civil disobedience and war. _________________________________________________________________ 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 <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>