Joe,
Thanks for your observation and comments. You have really made a point here.
"Folks, the least we can do is to be realistic about our situation and stop the endless complaining
and praying for devine intervension and finally do something"
We have to be realistic about the fact that Yaya and his APRC will never leave through the ballot box. We must have a unique opposition to end this Yaya Jammeh and APRC Show.What is realistic is a united opposition that is geared towards the common goal of getting rid of this banditry. This will successfully take care of Yaya and his gang of criminals. Great observation Joe. I like that
Binneh s minteh
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Sambou <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, March 29, 2004 12:05 pm
Subject: Re: IEC Raises Hopes of Diaspora Gambians But -/Joe
> Binneh, thanks for your observations and I agree with most of them.
> However, I have a different take from your below statement.
>
> "Why should people even bother to participate in an election under
> such a
> government? What Gambians need to do is to boycott any form of
> elections?The more elections, the more we even legitimize the APRC
> under Jammeh."
>
> Binneh, Gambians for what ever reason are not willing to challenge
> thisgovernment regardless of the murders and massive corruption
> and abuse that
> obtains. I am hoping that the terrible conditions that our people are
> subjected to will be so unbearable that the people will snap
> before 2006,
> making an election with the AFPRC a none issue. However, if we
> get to 2006
> without this prediction maturing, Gambians will have prepared
> themselves to
> put these criminals out of business for good. What do I mean by
> that. The
> Alternative leadership with the support of the masses should be in the
> throat of the IEC and be ready to fight the IEC, AFPRC, and the
> courts each
> step of the way if it comes to that. We knew the game that was
> played in
> 2001. If the voter registration is not accepted by the
> Alternative, then
> there will be no elections and the Alternative leadership will be
> armed with
> that backing from the people, thus, the fight to force Yaya to
> step down
> will commence. When his term lapses without an election, even his
> friendson the outside, like the US and UK will step away from him.
> Thus, it will
> be Yaya against Gambians and I have my buck on Gambians.
>
> If he gives in and accepts the registration demands from the
> Alternative,but hope to steal the ballot, again, we would be armed
> with proof of that
> theft and he will still be forced to step down by mass movement.
> Contraryto his posturing, Yaya is a coward and will run away as
> things heat up.
> Well, he has to pass through Senegal, and so we would have
> informed Senegal
> to look out for the Raccoon. So, this scenario will net us an
> ultimate gain
> either way we look at it.
>
> Now, let's look at what boycotting elections will do for us. In
> all the
> countries that the opposition boycotted their presidential
> elections, the
> tyrants are still presiding comfortably both in and out of their
> countries.Our world is full of hypocrisy and so, the international
> community will on
> the one cheek say the election was not free and fair, but on the
> other cheek
> are meeting with the same dictator giving him more loans, getting
> into all
> kinds of agreements, and in the end, it's business as usual.
> Guinea is the
> latest example in our neck of the woods, and Russia another.
>
> As you also recalled, the UDP boycotted the National Assembly
> elections,right? What has Gambia gained from that aside from the
> rubberstamp that
> manifested? The Assembly is still legislating Yaya's laws and is an
> extension of the executive branch. Is the UDP, PDOIS, NRP, PPP,
> or NDAM
> stopping the Assembly from pushing Yaya's agenda? How about the
> international community? Now, it would have been logical for UDP
> to boycott
> the elections and followed that with putting pressure on the
> Government or
> bring the masses to conduct civil disobedience to demand a free
> and better
> Gambia. Have they done that? As a matter of fact, what have they
> donesince they prematurely helped Yaya stayed on and handed him
> the Assembly as
> bonus? Their leader has also been detained and harassed and they
> still have
> not done zilch. How many times have they even called a rally
> since 2001 to
> address anything? In short, they ain't saying much of anything
> and are not
> even running a soup kitchen. Thus, I say, the strategy does not
> make sense
> if you are not willing to complement that strategy with mass action.
>
> Unlike most Gambians, I will be happy if some disgruntled group in
> the Army
> should put Yaya out of his misery. Those that volunteer for that task
> should also understand that Gambians are not going to allow them
> to stay
> pass the parade. They shall be recognized and will help in the
> reformationof the army to allow true democracy to flourish in our
> nation. In short,
> the country will be handed to pure civilian rule not military turned
> civilian leader. That will be the best thing for themselves and
> you and I
> and the future of our nation. May some group be so inspired.
> True to form,
> I know some will quibble that, that is not the Gambian way, Ya da,
> Ya da....
> However, did we not shed our own blood without fighting for
> anything in
> 1981? How many of our forefathers had perished in Burma and other
> placesfor a war they to this day do not understand? How many of
> your fellow
> citizens and kids have Yaya killed and maimed or severely abused and
> continues to do so? Where were you when he threatened the whole
> nation with
> "Six Feet Deep"? So, who are we kidding about the "Gambian Way"?
> The US of
> all places is the bloodiest landscape any of us ever lived in.
> You could be
> killed by just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, whether
> in your
> bedroom or in Beverly Hills, yet, I do not see any of us packing
> to leave.
> Folks, taking Yaya out of his misery is an extension of democracy,
> just like
> Hitler was pressured to kill himself, or Savimbi was killed, and
> countlessother brutes. The only time we seem to notice Yaya's
> murderous ways is when
> it hits close to home. Then, we see all kinds of folks that were
> mute for
> ten years all of a sudden want us to torch the whole place, for
> they were in
> essence murdered. Now, that I can testify, is truly "The Gambian
> Way" - say
> nothing or do nothing until your own flesh is mowed down, then it's
> emergency for all. As long as it's on someone else's doorstep,
> the murderer
> is not that bad. We are our worst enemy and will knowingly go to
> bed with
> the murderer himself if we think we can mooch for some trinket and
> Yaya'strips to the US is testimony to that. Some of those that
> call themselves
> neutral are what populates his audience in all his trips. I may
> not be on
> the same side of the fence with Tombong when it comes to Jammeh,
> but he's
> right to state that some of us that let loose on the post and L
> are the very
> people that will be seen running the streets in Gambia, with the
> Jammehsycophants. They will be the very ones talking about how
> those on the L and
> post are so useless etc. I know this does not came as a surprise
> to most
> Gambians, if you know "The Gambian Way".
>
> Some may wonder if it is safe for me to say these things in
> public. To
> that, I say why not? If Yaya can tell you'll he'll put you six
> feet deep
> and you're ok with that knowing he can do just that, why should
> you be
> afraid of Joe in Chicago, expressing his disgust at our murderer -
> Yaya?Even Haruna is now convinced that I am not capable of doing
> harm to him.
> That is, until he starts to murder our people. :-)! Folks, the
> least we can
> do is to be realistic about our situation and stop the endless
> complainingand praying for devine intervension and finally do
> something. Binneh,
> thanks for being patient with this response.
>
> Chi Jaama
>
> Joe sambou
>
>
> >From: Binneh S Minteh <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: IEC Raises Hopes of Diaspora Gambians But -/Joe
> >Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 18:28:16 -0800
> >
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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