I am saddened by the election results.We spend whole night following the elections here in Ghana with the hope that Jammeh will be a history. Jammeh re-gaining his political powers at home is a deep lost to all the human rights advocates. My opposition to Jammeh and his government continues, however the choice made by the Gambian people is well respected.
As Dr Saine said "we must remain engaged, many burning issues remain." He is right, the struggle continues, this is not the end of it. There are so many things we can do and engaged on, we owe it to our people. We have a lot to do and offer to our people. We have to give them our support no matter what. This is also a lesson for the opposition to look at the things they have done wrong and things they could have done better. Their contraints and new strategies for the furture. Jammeh winning is not the end, this is were the struggle really begins.
Regarding the offer of the Olive Branch . All i have to say is that we need to look at this very carefully. What ever agreement we came at needs to be carefully looked at. Personally, i would not venture in it but if the majority agrees that is fine.
Due to difficulties in accessing mail and as well as trying to settle down in my new home(Ghana), it will take me time to fully participate in the ongoing debate on the L. Hopefully by January i will settle down and continue the struggle for a better Gambia.
My opposition to Jammeh and his government continues.
Greetings from Accra/Ghana
The Struggle Continues!!!!
Ndey Jobarteh
>From: Abdoulaye Saine <
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>Reply-To:
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>To:
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>Subject: PLEASE DO NOT MOVE ON!
>Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2001 16:24:21 -0400
>
>G-L Community:
>
>While some are disappointed in the outcome of the October, 2001
>Presidential election, we must all take pride in the fact that the
>election was "free and fair" and an improvement on the referendum over
>the Constitution and the 1996 Presidential election. More important,
>Decree 89 was lifted, perhaps a little too late, but nonetheless,
>LIFTED. Access to the media by opposition political parties though not
>equal, improved somewhat. A Governance Conference was held, even if
>some members of the opposition walked out. Most of us advocated for a
>United Opposition, three parties out of five opposition parties did. And
>many donated, however little, to the party/candidate of their choice.
>These are what many of us fought for (See the G-L Position Paper). In
>fact, careful analysis would suggest that Gambia-L played an important
>role in ensuring a more level and open political terrain and atmosphere
>. ( I will write a longer research paper on this later). AND WE HAVE A
>LOT MORE TO DO!
>
>When we started to send petitions all over, about two years ago, many
>felt that it may lead to nothing. To the contrary, the petitions we
>sent around the world(including The Gambia) and the responses we
>received made a difference. Equally important, is that the APRC and /or
>its representatives on the G-L listened and debated us. We HAVE AN
>AUDIENCE.
>
>The activities of the New York, UK based MRDG, in addition to other
>organizations in D.C, North Carolina, Scandinavia, Germany etc., and
>numerous petitions, demonstrations and writings by members of the G-L,
>helped set the agenda for change, leading to the elections we just
>witnessed. In order words, combined international, domestic and G-L
>pressure helped move the political process to where it is now. In sum,
>the political system has opened some, in part because of our activism
>and its impact on civic education. Today, Gambia's civil society is
>perhaps stronger for it.
>
>NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO MOVE ON BUT TO STAY PUT AND STRUGGLE FOR MORE!
>
>The Gambia-L, rightly or wrongly has come to constitute, despite our
>differences and occasional squabbles, a VOICE(s) that can not be IGNORED
>or SILENCED. All but two of the Presidential candidates addressed
>various Gambian communities in the US and Europe and those who could not
>sent representatives.
>
> WE MUST REMAIN ENGAGED! Many burning issues remain. These include:
>
>* Release/ Amnesty of/ for all political prisoners;
>* More Press Freedoms;
>* Voting Rights Bill for Overseas Gambians;
>* End to illegal arrests and emphasis on due process;
>* Right of Return and Protection of all exiles(self-imposed or
>otherwise);
>* Deploy students for civic and community service;
>* Return of all seized properties to their lawful owners, (if found
>innocent of wrong doing);
> (These are just a few things that came to mind.)
>
>Democracy in The Gambia is a work in progress. DO NOT MOVE ON. REMAIN
>ENGAGED.
>
>Abdoulaye
>
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