Friends, yesterday I arrived home to Copenhagen after being to the Gambia since beginning of October. And my mail-box was closed because it has passed the limits of 1000 mails waiting. Itīs long time since I wrote to the list. My archive tells me that I have 4 notes saved as draft starting July 31, when there was a comment/note that OJ has held a press-conference. The 4 notes are all comments on the political situation, my points of view on the coming election, but due to problems both with my computer, and later the net, they never reached out from here. Reading them in a retrospective light of the outcome of the election is interesting, but I will spare you for that "old news". Let me just summarize from them, 1) that I found it interesting and solid "political game of chess" that Jammeh lifted the ban just giving short time for the "old guard" to play a role, which I thought a) would split the votes, b) give the sitting president and ruling party even more advantage, because they could use the former PPP in the campaign to give a more stronger emphasize of the results obtained by 7 years of APRC compared to 25 years of PPP-ruling, c) giving the critical "west" credit 2) that after OJ put former PPP into the game, a) without even saying so or playing the Jawara-card many gambians (also on the Gambia-L) already saw Jawara back in town as a comeback-kid, b) it gave the gambians who did not believe in the former PPP a chance to say "no-thanks" by the polls, which Jammehs take-over has denied them, b) that Darboe as the head of the formed coalition would not be helped by carrying the PPP-bag around his neck, I saw it as a backlash for him 3) that I was sure that the sitting president should win, because he had the "results" on his hand, and the different other candidates only had promises to cast to the people, and the human rights issues would not come up in the campaign. 4) I prayed that the election would be peacefully organized. Well I will not elaborate more on that but go to short comment on my notice before, under and after election day. I spend my days in western division, every day travelling around, but not up country or to the north bank this time. I attended 3 rallies when the candidates came in from up country. I have traveled The Gambia since 78, and have friends in all "political camps", and representing different parts of the society. Some serve in ministries/ departments, in business and banks, as well as teachers, mechanics, carpenters, small businessmen-women in the streets or in local markets etc., peasants, unemployed, students etc. But I will never say that my friends and their families are a representation of the Gambian people. Nor will I say that my observations are objective. No one can be objective, when it comes to judge information, what you see and hear. How things are seen and what you learn from it is depending of the person seeing. So my comment must also be taken in that perspective. Itīs not the "truth" so to speak, but what I have observed, sorted out for you to have. That is in a way also how journalists are working. They select what we should get from them, later their respective agencies TV- or Radio stations make priorities and "gate-keepers" will maybe sort things out, which it would have been interesting for us to have. Like that mine observations are also "selected" and sorted. At my hotel there were a group of French journalists covering for France radio/TV, like a US-group from Alabama with strong connection to the World Conference of Mayors, who were monitoring the election. I watched GRTV every day to see the coverage and comments on the election. And if possible I got some of my Gambian friends to help with translations and explanations. Let me give my comment on the TV coverage first. It was to my opinion OK. There is a tradition al over the world to cover the Presidents every steps closely, and also in The Gambia. And that didnīt change because election-campaign was ongoing. (I remember from last year the President on Tour - programs running every night). I can not compare to danish TV, because we donīt have this presidential system. But it is natural here that the prime minister are given more TV-coverage, simply because of the status he has. I donīt know if itīs possible to differ between President Jammeh as President - coverage, and Yahya Jammeh as presidential candidate - coverage. The latest should not be different from the other candidates TV-presentation -coverage. But you could also see that the different candidates had not the same campaign-money, were not all that professional addressing the TV media. I think that some of them should have tried and produced better coverage from their campaign and presentation/information videoīs. Now it seems that the President was very dominant in the media, which he was, but it was not easy to judge if it was not fair coverage. The election night we jumped from GRTS-studio to the IEC-office and back to have votes officially given by Mr. Roberts, repeated in several local languages, followed by a sign with the figures and % for each candidate, and with two - four persons to comment. In between there were entertainment. It was like here in Denmark, only that the process is very very slow, the resources of GRTV very limited and you can see the program "suffers" from that lack of resources. I have more detailed comment on that, but will send them to GRTV later. Over all, as a trained viewer with limited knowledge in local languages, but a fair overall view on the Gambia for more than 20 years, I find it OK, maybe with a coverage too much in favor of the sitting President. I hope that both the coverage and the technic can become better next time, and next time. The rallies and the campaign. I met party members, ordinary gambians, people in public jobs, who have advocated long time for their personal candidate. Itīs strange to me to find that persons in a job-position where they have to serve all the people of the Gambia, when on job or on duty openly speak for their favorite candidate. Here in Denmark we expect public servants and offices to be totally clean for all propaganda. (The picture of the Queen is in all states buildings, and I would also accept that portraits of The President in public buildings in The Gambia. This is not propaganda, but can ordinary people see that ?) Here in Denmark people who serve will not in public tell anyone who is their favorite or the party they vote for because they will have to be recognized as "neutral" from as well the administration as the parties, politicians and the people they have to serve. No matter who rules, which party has the majority in parliament or the local councils, times and parties and politicians can change, but you as a servant has to stay, so stay neutral when in office. It is also an experiment for me to sit under the green flag with long time friends in one compound and people singing the praise of Jammeh, and see them point fingers of their neighbors for many, many years in the next compound, just because one person in that compound has openly advocated for Darboe. Last year we celebrated a naming ceremony the two compounds together, but right now I felt like there was a kind of neutrality between them. They were not hostile, but close to. In one small village they all voted on the same candidate, and when I asked why, they were all very sure and could tell all the good reasons why. Even the Alkalo has actively walked the streets in weeks to advocate. In some areas they see the infra-structure progresses as a direct result of voting for APRC and Jammeh. They often say: "look here, after so and so many years with PPP, we only got promises, and look now after just 7 years with Jammeh we have got new road, school-building, and Nawec and Gamtel is on their way out here as well." And in other areas they could just say: "Darboe will win, we donīt want Jammeh anymore" Else itīs like here. I had friends in families where the father will vote for Darboe, the mother for Jammeh and the student son for Jatta. When we discussed the different candidates they could debate and have a nice chat. When the candidates came into Kombo the partisan youth from both the coalition and APRC became more active and agressive, shouting /singing slogans or slander. I witness Jammeh passing three times, different places, with the normal escort in front and after. He was waving, throwing T-shirts and posters. The days just up to the election, many people was parading Jammeh/APRC t-shirts and caps, and many women has made dresses of green cloth with portraits of Jammeh and wife. Saturday 13. in Banjul there was a party held at the Arch to celebrate Jammeh. I estimate that half of the participants were non-voting youth and children. I also watched how the children song "ligay jotna" was used as a sort of campaign-song for APRC. Jammeh and APRC banners were in place strategic places in Banjul-Jeswang- Kanifing-Serekunda. In all I find Jammehs campaign more "modern", appealing the old fashion way and at the same time appealing to the youth and the children. (The voters in the future). Jammeh and APRC had,- as all sitting presidents and parties have it, the advantage that he could show up "results", and that was how his campaign was build up. It was his direct way of speaking out, no diplomacy - "look here what I and the APRC have provided you - more to come if you vote for me/us - and what did the former government do for you ? " And at the same time he was also direct where he felt that he had some ground to win "if you donīt vote for me, you have only yourself to thank if you will not see progresses here in your area". This way of campaigning is also seen here in Denmark. The sitting prime minister repeat all the good results and ask people to vote for him to get more, and if they donīt itīs their own fault if they will not get it. Then itīs up to the opposition to point fingers or nail the sweet spots. Or tell that they can do even better. From an outsider I think that he had the best cards in his hand and he played them very well. And under his way he came up with proposals which every gambian family could understand, free education for girls should be nationvide, the Gambia should within short be selfsufficient with rice. And the day after election more promises were given. Many families, specially many women I visited were for Jammeh. The opposition coalition, didnīt run the same kind of campaign. I think that they was not totally coherent, well-knit on the program they intended to base an eventually government. And I didnīt feel that they whole-heartet fighted one for all-all for one-campaign. They gave promises for a change, but the "problem" was - did you believe them ? Here I think it was not easy for Darboe. First he lost last time, and secondly he should try and convince many gambians that with him you would not get the old PPP back. He had a lots of supporters out there, who would vote for him no matter what he said. But to win he had to come up with a trump card to get more "new" voters to walk away from the other candidates to his part. And I did not feel he had that card to play. I felt it was difficult for him to put distance to the former PPP-ruling period and at the same time be loyal to the formed coalition. I think that the UDP failed by joining the coalition - my opinion. But even alone I still think the advantage for Jammeh was so strong that he should win no matter what. The "old guard" in Bakau is a strong place for the coalition, but they did not succeed to get many new voters in the districts. When the leaders came into Kombo the parties held rallies different places the same day, night, and tried to reach around without causing problems. But there were problems. One night I was waiting close to London-corner for PDOIS-Jatta -meeting, that was announced there. I left after waiting 2 hours, and later I learned that the meeting was not held until close to 10. There were heavy problems in Serekunda. Many UDP - supporters has passed. Later the crossing at the market and the whole area was blocked. The traffic into Serekunda was very difficult. The military came and fired into the air to warn the people. I left and walked different streets up to Westfield. Tuesday the 16. late afternoon I came from Brikama, but just shortly after Tabokoto the traffic on the road was so slow and the cars stood in a long row. UDP-youth were running alongside and when we came up to Tallinding I stepped out for the transport could not pass. I told a few youth in a group that in my opinion it was the worst they could do - blocking the Brikama-highway-traffick, it could only give the UDP bad- will from all of us, who was on the way. I told them that to block the road was the same as inviting the police to come and spread them. They just shouted at me, that they would stop Jammeh, and it was their right to held meeting where ever they liked. I walk up to the Shell petrol station at the corner of Mosque road, and found that the police had made a road block. At this time a big lorry with maybe 10 soldiers passed and went up to the UDP demonstration, and I saw them jump from the car. At the same time the fire-brigade arrived. I was a bit nervous and decided to walk up to Westfield and take transport. I passed a corner of Churchillstown, where APRC has just held a meeting. I think that this way of campaigning where you disturb the public order, must be changed. I know its a part of the "game" and a tradition, but it can lead to clashes, when meetings from different parties are held so closely in time and place. But if we compare to many other places, also here in Europe, I think that the rallies and incidents, clashes are not worser in The Gambia than here. So I think that even there were tragic death over the weeks of campaign and something can be done to avoid so, the way the campaign were conducted was OK. I have some friends who are dedicated to PDOIS. They knew that Jatta could not win the election, but they were happy with the campaign, even there were reported that a part of the country has declared themselves PDOIS-free-zone. In my opinion the people out there were acting very undemocratic by trying to deny the candidate to hold a meeting. When I got the information I laughed, but it is really tragic. If you donīt want to here all candidates before you make your choice is one thing. But when you at the same time will forbid your neighbor the right to listen, or even will try and forbid the candidate his legal right to hold meetings and speak, that is censorship of the worst. You can only learn by listening. Well, I asked some of my friends, whom I thought maybe were in for PDOIS, why they didnīt voted PDOIS. I got from two of them the answer: "we maybe know that Jatta is as good as Sallah - but why is it not Halifa Sallah who candidate ? itīs like you want to ride a car and you know the driver of the car very well, and when you sit in the car the driver comes to sit beside you in the back seat and he let his trusted man take the wheel - but you donīt know how this trusted man can drive - so you become unsafe and uncomfortable, and leave the car" I saw the presentation on TV think that was OK. My last comment will be on NRP - Bah. I didnīt know him before I arrived the Gambia and followed the campaign (my fault). But he was very lively, smiled, joked, and had some charisma. I was very surprised that he came out with that result. And because I did not know the man I had to ask my friends. many of them said that they also found him as a coming man into politics. The voting process was shown on TV for all people to understand. All parties had got the possibility to have party members at all poll stations and control the voters identification, and the process. I stayed in Banjul and went to see two of the polling stations. People lined up from the morning, and even it took long time for the queue to move everything went on fine. I have never seen Banjul like this. So quiet, very few cars, not many people and certainly no business in the streets. I had the feeling of visiting a totally different place, not a ghost town but close to. I was not allowed inside the room, but could from my view just outside see how the procedure was running. To me it looks very controlled. Two times I observed that the people present discussed voters registration, but solved the problem. To me it look orderly. I know that there in the days up to and after were rumors of foreigners present with voters card, people with voting cards but not in the register. But I think that IEC has given the voter credit, and has explanation to the problems. And to me it seems strange if the party representatives present did not protest or refused to sign the report, IF they felt that the voting was not according to rules and regulations. That is exactly what they were there to do. They should guarantee that everything was orderly done. And it seems to me that the whole process was very liable and transparent and a democracy worthy. Over the night it was clear for all that Jammeh has got over the 50% needed. But it took up till next days afternoon until IEC Roberts had all results. I went to 22.july square with a lots of APRC supporters. They were happy. The military present were also happy. The press were present. We were waiting. A Lorry with two big cattle and sheep came. The message flew other the place that Darboe has called and congratulated - the supporters cheered. Then the final declaration over the radio, and Jammeh came out in his car and took a short tour round the stadium and back. You could see he was tired but glad. I think it was a good signal that Darboe called and congratulated. Some of my friends (Darboe-supporters) found it humiliating to do so - they think you signal that you are weak. But I explained it is not, this is a part of the game. Like they have to say hello to their neighbors the next day even they supported Jammeh. We are all gambians no matter what. That the coalition was not strong founded was shown over the next few days, when GPP said that Darboe didnīt spoke on behalf of the coalition, when he called Jammeh. It was on his own behalf. Saturday at 22. july stadium was celebration. People were in from all parts of the country, many by foot. There were different bands, there were traditional groups, and first of all there were many - I donīt know how many, but I think more than 30.000. I waited to listen to Jammeh, and he held a strong speech - as usual. He repeated the results, renewed promises, send the signal to the west asking respect, and he was dancing, also the wife. But I think that you have already seen and heard about that. The gambian people has spoken, the said was clear. We give Jammeh 5 more years. In my opinion there is no doubt that you all has to be proud of the campaign, the democratic system, the transparency. I donīt ask all of you to like the result. But as I see it this was a fine step to take. In my opinion the political process has to be continued and continuous. Jammeh, and other politicians from parties said after election, that now the politics and the debates and discussions was over, the rallies must stop. But that will be a mistake. If politics are only the few weeks up to election every 5 years, the political education, and party-founding is not strong. A party and its politicians must work all days, all years round. A politician must go to see people at a factory, students a institute, farmers, fishermen, come to the market, the garage and out there in the compounds, the villages, the bush. Every day you must out and listen to the people, meet the people, talk, debate, form your ideas, politic, strategies, discuss, convince etc. New people - new ideas, and more entusiasme. In my opinion it is very important that a political party tries very hard to make a platform inside the party, where new, young politicians can learn, become trainees in the political business, can be tested and contested. They must out and meet the people, and see if they have any appeal. I think that both APRC, PDOIS but mostly UDP and PPP must try very hard to find a new generation of politicians, train them, make them well known, so they can step in and take over. The best thing a politician can do for his party is to create a platform, so younger talented people can step in, when the old ones step down. A politician who has been in the game for many years, must one day take a step backwards, and let people with new faces, new ideas, new energy take the first row. The elder is there to give advise, but he must understand, that even itīs not the african tradition, an elderly leader must prepare for his successor. Itīs not that we donīt respect the older man/woman, itīs just that we think he/she has served well for many years and deserve to retire gradually, sit in the background and advise and let the new generation step in. The coming parliamentary election Soon after the Ramadan the campaign starts again. I donīt know what the opposition parties will come up with, but I feel that APRC has got entusiasme by Jammehs reelection. The election can in my opinion very easily lead to a total majority for the APRC. Maybe I will comment on that later on. Under my stay I made other observations, and I will come back to them later. I wanted to concentrate on the election because the gambia-l has been full of comments and predictions on that. Regards from Asbjørn Nordam <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>