Malamin,
I cannot agree with you more.The answer to this realistic problem is uncompromising term limits set upon the office of the presidence.I believe that and many of you will agree that, if any of the opposition had the same access to the same powers and resorces at their disposal, like Yaya, they will win with a much more margin than 2%. Not that i believe that the results of the last election reflect by any means the majority of Gambian peoples desire. Since the resources used are assumed illegally this election is a robbery in itself. Imagin someone used a stolen asset to make a business profit; is that profit not illegal as well?
If anyone follow the speeches of Yayas camp one of the rallies in Brikama one speaker made a stunning speech about seven months ago,he said to growd in a typical Gambian style, dont worry we know the results of the upcoming elections already. How can they possibly be so outward about what everyone know will surface anyway.
If Mr.Jammeh was to be removed by force tonight anyone who remove him and do exactly what he did will win any upcoming elections just as well. For an election under a miltary rule to be fair the opposition should have enough weapons and ammunition to defend themselves, They should have the same access to the countries funds media and vehicles. There should be no threats to anyones security that will limit their willingness to participate in the electoral process.There should above all be no fear hanging over the opposition of loosing their livelihood as a result of their political affiliations after elections.
Many of you will agree that these are impossiblities given the atmosphere of our cultural and political realties today. In order to encourage demogracy term limits should be impose otherwise dictorships will hijack the electoral process to mask their true colours just like we are witnessing today.
kalilu
>From: Malamin Barrow <
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>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <
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>To:
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>Subject: Re: PRESIDENT JAMMEH'S REMOVAL IS INEVITABLE/ MBK
>Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 00:25:44 +0300
>
>Mr. Krubally,
>With all due respect, I think you and many others are reading to much into
>this Jammeh victory. That he is the declared winner of an election that
>appears to be keenly contested is without doubt. But if you look at Gambian
>electoral history, this says nothing much about Jammeh being a shrewd
>operator
>or some political guru.
>You have to remember that Jammeh's predecessor was not removed by an
>election defeat, and would not have been so removed but for the coup of July
>94. To me that says two things about winning national elections in The
>Gambia. The first is to be in control of the machinery and resources of the
>government of the country; and secondly, to have an opposition that though
>has sacrificed a lot, but lacks the courage and the necessary brinkmanship
>to take it up with the incumbent as far it wants to go.
>Unknown in the Gambia as many of us on the L are, if by some quirk of
>African
>politics, any of us suddenly becomes CEO the country, you will surprised how
>instantly your actions will become heroic and your utterances full of
>wisdom. Unfortunately, at this level of our political development, all you
>need do is to have the means to impose yourself on the Gambian people, and
>there will be many who will do your bidding.
>The danger in this kind of politics is that a smooth transfer of power
>becomes difficult to achieve, and there continues to be a persistent feeling
>of instability. A state of affairs that cannot be good for overall
>well-being of the country.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: M.B.Krubally <
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>To: <
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>Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2001 3:14 AM
>
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