Brother Modou Sidibeh, I stand corrected. I was not in Gambia when the incident you speak of occurred, the Eku Mahoney affair, so I got it all mixed up with the attempted coup.My mistake. So I really cannot speak to that. However, regarding Senegalese troops having killed Gambians during the attempted coup of 1981, I am sure that happened and given the circumstances where they were coming in to put down an armed group of people, I am sure none of the two sides approached each other with white flags, and without any sort of enquiry into what happened as far as who was responsible for which deaths by the Gambia government, and which was their responsibility, we will never have the hard facts and figures to make a credible argument.So perhaps to take our own government at the time to task here would be more productive as far as our interest is concerned. Brother Momodou, yes we can condemn the actions of others, but the gist of what I was trying to convey is that condemning others is all well and good, but we must take care of our own affairs so that we do not leave room for others to take advantage of us. Simply condemning Senegal will not solve our problems. We have had leadership that has opened the doors that enables these situations to develop, so we can condemn Senegal all we want, but I still say that they did not initiate this nasty issue that led to the arrest of the NADD trio and I repeat that the facts are still not known as to whether the Gambia government is innocent in this affair, so perhaps, instead of forgiving the culprits as some of are wont to do, we better concentrate our energies in taking our own government to task to tell us the truth about the affair before we go after the Senegalese. We can protest, but putting our own house in order is the only solution. As for me calling on Senegal to come to our aid on the tam tam program, I think you must have misunderstood what I was trying to convey on the tam tam programs I was involved with. The aim there was to educate our Senegalese neighbours about the plight of our people most of whom they are related to, and to bring to light information that the APRC regime was meddling in the Casamance issue which had the potential of fermenting conflict between the two countries and the third purpose was to remind Senegal that we are the same people despite the misdeed of Yaya Jammeh and his regime. Senegal could hopefully then take the issue of Jammeh meddling in the Casamance and the flow of arms in that effort to an international community concerned with terrorism and the uncontrolled flow of arms and which could result in trouble for only Jammeh and those involved in that nasty business with him. However, this misconception on your part about the objectives of those radio programs is just one of many by others that came to my attention and it is unfortunate that the most important thing we were attempting to accomplish, namely exposing the misdeed of the Jammeh regime has been relegated to an attempt to invite Senegal to come rescue us among other unsavoury allegations I have also heard. It is one of the reasons I retreated from that effort. On the NADD flag bearer issue, well, frankly, I had assumed that the idea was that NADD would choose a flag bearer that did not belong to any of the opposition parties involved and that a subsequent interim government would also consist of people who were not members of any of the parties involved in the coalition, with the opposition party bases simply providing a voting block by urging their party supporters to put their vote behind such a candidate to bring such a government into power. The idea behind this suggestion being to avoid any potential power struggle between these opposition parties that will bring about a stalemate in the process. It would also provide a situation where an interim government would be comprised of an independent group of people who can then work with out any sort of party bias to provide a level playing field in which all the various opposition parties would come in to participate in future elections. This interim government would also have a lot of house cleaning to do, from enquiries into all the atrocities of this current regime to restoring our constitution so that it has meaning again. This would also have avoided the necessity of registering a new party as was the case with all the set backs that issue brought with it. However, not to pre-empt NADD's decision, but at least from my own perception, and after all the things that have transpired so far, it appears this will not be the case and perhaps that is one of the reasons that the choice of a flag bearer has been delayed? I will also reveal that this is also my biggest disappointment with this effort. Power struggles between the different political parties involved are what causes coalition governments to disintegrate and that is why the choice of an independent body of people that does not owe allegiance to any party, and which I was expecting to be the case would have been a brilliant move. So, when it appeared that the above would not be the case and that perhaps the choice will be from among the various opposition party officials or representatives, I expressed my support for someone who I know is capable and has the best interest of Gambians at heart, well aware that others are free to do the same. I was not trying to promote any party in this case, simply expr essing an opinion and advocating someone whose character, capabilities and dedication to what is best for Gambians across the board are in line with some of the ideals I hold dear. Simply, we need a leadership that puts what is best for Gambia and it's people first, and who stand for the truth always under all circumstances no matter what, whose aim is not just power for the sake of power and the protection of that power by any means, but who know that they are there to do a job, not just posture and steal. If that is the case, the rest will naturally fall into place and the right choices that advocate and protect what is best for all will follow. Sister Jabou Joh In a message dated 12/16/2005 4:11:58 A.M. Central Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Sister Jabou Joh, Please accept my apologies for this tardy response. Many many thanks again for a wonderfully readbale piece. The clarity in your expositions is exemplary. Indeed you had a whole load in your chest, but it was a welcome torrent, needing no apologies from you. On the whole, we both agree on a lot of things but I need to clarify a few points, and then we can perhaps lay this to rest, especially as you have made important references to NADD and our most pressing issues. Indeed they all purport to act on behalf of national interest, even when that invariably translates into the interest of a greedy minority. Naturally, believing that Senegal should contemplate coming to our rescue - a theme alluded to implicitly in especially the Tam-Tam show Mr. Fye and yourself helped arrange - is almost naive, to put it mildly. But that matter is clearly tangential to the positions I have advanced. Deliberate realism and the subtle nuances of diplomatic arrangements is what, in the main determine the conduct of international relations. But blunt fact is, it is ultimately the hidden hand of military might that lies behind the expressed interests of nations. Behind every McDonald's restaurant, we must discern the hidden presence of a McDonell Douglas cruise missile, this observation, a seemingly fresh insight from Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, is actually old wisdom packaged in a new format. But this realisation Sister Jabou is simply not enough. It is not just okay to interprete the world and explain how it works. Our task as the downtrodden lot is to change it completely. Senegal, like any other nation "worth its salt" will act in pursuance of its interests. But when that spectrum of interests infringes upon the sovereignty, the best interests of other nations, then we must call Senegal's behaviour imperious. This is what the global anti-war enterprise was all about. The U.S and the U.K may frother all they want about the legitimacy of the war against Iraq. The rest of much of the world took to the streets to declare unanimously that it was all based on a pack of lies; that their action was neo imperialist and a severe violation of international law. Some opponents of the war have even sacrificed their lives to reverse that aggression. We should not expect Senegal to deliver us from our torpor, but if their actions make it more difficult for us, them we must simply tell them so. Another question wanting clarification stems from what you wrote: "We must be honest in admitting that in 1981, the Senegalese army did not just decide one fine morning to invade Gambia in pursuit of some national agenda. They were invited by Jawara whose government was in the throes of being overthrown, and they came in to resolve the situation and regain control of his government for him. I think we can all agree that in such a situation, an air communications tower at the airport such as the one where you brother Momodou were a trainee is one of the most strategic points in a situation of a coup d'etats. Therefore, a Senegalese soldier commanding control of such a place was to be expected I would say unless the assumption is that the soldiers should have come in and work with the rebels instead of to honour the security pact between the two countries and work to contain the attempted coup which by the way they did". Obviously, you are juxtaposing two seperate historical milestones. The killing of Eku Mahoney occured in October 1980, nine months before the July 1981 rebellion. People believed to be Moja militants, including Koro Sallah were arrested and tried on flimsy charges. Senegal judged the situation to be unstable and in early November they landed at the airport and at July 22 square causing panic in the Gambia government, which, just like the rest of the population was completely shocked at their invasive, uninvited presence. To veil this cruel humiliation, President Jawara went on air to explain the Senegalese military presence as the result of a joint military exercise. Even "Faa Sana" knew it could not be true. Nine months later, they came again, this time after president Jawara dusted clean a cobwebbed document on some mutual defense agreement. That was an entirely different matter. It is true that Gambians killed one another for all kinds of incredible reasons. But many were also killed by Senegalese paratrooopers. Unfortunately, there are no accurate figures anywhere. But trust me, I was in the midst of it all. Besides that, I agree that NADD should perhaps name a flag-bearer. Brother Lamin Darboe's and your own arguments are strong. Halifa Sallah may be Gambia's finest gift to the world, but naming him NADD flag-bearer might upset the arrangements and the spririt of understanding that went into creating NADD in the first place. There are many sincere individuals who sacrificed careers, jobs, and their positions in political parties to cobble together the arrangements that made NADD's MOU a historic document. It is momentous and honourable to reconcile past differences and to forge a new composition for the interest of the nation, temporarily putting on hold the evolution of ones own party. Naming a flag-bearer is of great moment. But in my view what is even more important is NADD's organisational preparation at the grass-roots level. A well organised mebership, equipped with NADD's transition programme, determined to push it through and capable of holding a NADD government accountable to its promise and able to act independently of the pressures from different politcal persuasions (expected to surface after a NADD government is firmly in place). We have seen how coalitions disintegrate once the common obstacle to progress is removed from office. (Ukraine is a stark example). Let us urge NADD to name a flag-bearer. But let us urge them also to get on with the business of organisation-building. It is the only thing near a guarantee that NADD's programmes will be carried out. Gambia is going to need that. Many thanks for a useful exchange, Modou Sidibeh いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい 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 Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい 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 Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい