Culled from AllAfrica. It is not only UDP, PDOIS, PPP, or NRP supporters that are hungry and marginalized. APRC supporters are also dying, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not. We are at crossroads - speak your mind or keep quiet and hold the fort for APRC until you are found dead on your grip. Folks cannot hide their hunger for ever. At some point they will have to speak up when they are close to dying due to hunger and fear. Please read on. The Independent (Banjul) OPINION November 29, 2002 Posted to the web November 30, 2002 Bijou Peters Banjul Gambians have often been termed voiceless people because most of us are nervous to condemn or highlight any government policy or shortcomings. The media is always accused and taken to task for publishing news likely to incite the public. There comes a time when we must make our views known and the truth focused on. The unhappy situation of rising costs of every commodity in recent months that has affected us all has been a daily topic for discussion and people are heard bemoaning this desperate situation. Most of us are disgruntled about this financial crisis. After all the Gambia boasts of upholding democratic principles and freedom of speech is an element of true democracy Why should there be all this fear in expressing our views? There has been a constant allusion to peace in the country and the need to maintain peace at all costs, our president Yahya Jammeh, is acclaimed a champion of peace in the sub-region and every patriotic and peace-loving Gambian is grateful for the peaceful atmosphere we enjoy and cherish. All play a role in maintaining this cherished phenomenon. Journalists are often accused of writing articles which may incite the public and this is something we know that they have been detained for by the authorities umpteen times. The recent happenings in the country in the last few days is cause for great concern. Monday November 25, there was panic and an atmosphere of excitement and annoyance in the country due to the arrest and detention of the opposition leader, Ousainou Darboe on Friday November 22. This action at a time like this when people are disgruntled over so many things - inflation, the shortage of petrol, gas oil, kerosene and water and tempers are short, is like adding fuel to a burning object or insult to injury according to the adage. It is obvious that there was bound to be clashes between UDP supporters and the APRC militants at the arrest of Mr. Darboe. This rash action has really incited some members of the public and we now blame the government for disregarding the consequences of their action. We cannot be advocating for the maintenance of peace in the country when these drastic actions are taken against persons and other political party. We are responsible and educated Gambians citizens who take strong objection to any ill-thought out measures by the authorities to disturb our peace. We have viewed the result of strife in neighbouring states and we certainly do not want to go through any of these harrowing experiences of our neighbours. We must be allowed to voice out the truth when the occasion warrants it and no one ought to be picked up, victimised or killed for being courageous and bold in a democratic environment, for speaking out the truth. _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or 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] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~