Phew, Ngorr, your conclusions on PDOIS borders between naivety and catatonic stupidity. If failure to perform in an electtion is the only yard stick you can use to pass judgement on PDOIS, well then you are politically immature. One fundamental thing that distinguishes PDOIS from other parties is its realisation of the fact that the struggle they have embarked upon is a protracted one, hence desirable as it may be for electoral results, it might not be realisable in the immediate future. The PDOIS leadership has reconcilled to the fact that they may never be elected by the people, nonetheless this does not ditter them from dispensing their civic duty as highly educated and well enlighthened politicians. I hope, instead of distracted such people from such a noble mission we give them at least the moral support. To accuse them of being Jammeh apologist is both futile and insincere after all the entire nation can bear wittness that they have been offered miniterial positions in the APRC but because they are principled people they decided to shun it. If they were really aspirants as is the case with many inconsistent politicians they would have jumped at the opportunity and argue that they were doing it for reconcilloiation and national intrest. But because they are who they are selfless and dedicated people they opted for the rough ride, a ride that is difficult and perilous. If they were not intrested in the welfare and enlightenement of the Gambian people they would not have sacrificed all their resources, time, energy and knowledge. After all you and I are sitting comfortably in the west and passing judgement on their efforts. I feel that is wrong and unfair, PDOIS has always been consistent, in fact I assisted them during the Jawara era to establish how corrupt the electoral process was, after a lengthy investigation and a court case at African Commission, they were vindicated as being right, that the process was flawed. They choose the judicial route because this is the only way one can question the legitimacy of a regime. If a government fails to take cognisance of a judicial ruling it dents both it democratic credentials and image and no civilised government would want to be described as autocratic and none law abiding. I this route to justice may be long nonetheless as democrats it is the most viable. Elections could be boycotted in circumstances where every method of reddress is explored and the government fail to comply, in such a scenarion it would be apparent and desirable. But jump of deck without any notification to the crews will certainly be suicidal and that is what UDP, PPP, did. I feel that they were ill-advised to take such a decision and leave a vaccum in the political landscape. In as much as I do not agree with UDP, I feel that their act of self omission will do more harm than good in the long run. After all Jammeh is given a free hand for the next five years, what can UDP do now except snipe at him from outside. It would have been better to fight from inside than outside, after all you cannot cook rice outside a pot. I we all realise that PDOIS participation is very consistent, only sceptics will try to make a meal out of it. If UDP was honest and true to their word this whole issue could have been resolved before the elections, after all it was PDOIS who never wanted to accept the legitimacy of the IEC due to the procedural violations that saw the appointment of the current chairman. Had UDP heeded this saga could have been avoided, for it would have been more meaningful then than now. If you want to kill a snake you don't wait until it's gone and you pursue its path, that would be futile and irrelivant and this is the position UDP has find itself. >From: Ngorr Ciise <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: So Has Jammeh Really Changed? >Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 09:13:46 +0000 > _________________________________________________________________ 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 To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>