I have read the inept reactions from some Halifa attack dogs in protest to my article published on Gambia-L, Allgambian.net, and the Freedom Newspaper. I would like to take up Mr. Muhammed. L. Touray first. Mr. Touray made the waters even muddier by claiming that "I hate Halifa, that Halifa saw the out come of a "NO VOTE and defended the Draft Constitution by propagandizing for a "Yes Vote" because the junta wanted to stay for as long as it was possible, that the 1997 constitution was better than the 1970 Republican constitution, that until it was recently ammended, the 1997 constitution had a term limit provision for the office of the presidency, and provisions that promote democracy, rule of law, and freedom". First of all Mr. Touray, UDP did not campaign for a NO VOTE because it simply did not exist then. You may want to know for your political orientation that UDP came to being only fourteen days before the 1996 presidential elections. You may also want to know that despite PDOIS been uninterruptedly existing for fifteen years then, UDP pulled over a hundred and forty thousand votes, while PDOIS ended up with less than twenty thousand. By all indications, Mr.Touray, you don't get it just as Halifa always got it wrong. As I said in my last article, only Halifa failed to understand that Yaya Jammeh was determined to stay way beyond the Transition period. Not after on or about November 24Th 1994 when he announced the Junta's Four year transition programs at the Independence Stadium in Bakau. Only Halifa and his cohorts could not read Yaya Jammeh's lips. Besides, Muhammed, Yaya Jammeh and his gang of criminals have always said in no technical terms that they will never hand over power to no one before they completed their development programs. Every sensible Gambian knew that it was humanly impossible that the junta's programs could not have been implemented within two years. If Halifa could not read Yaya Jammeh's lips, who Else's can he read? You will also agree with me that by the time the Draft constitution was being put together Yaya was already condemning those who opposed the coup, emphasizing strongly that he had to put his life on the line to overthrow the PPP government, and therefore whoever wanted to rule The Gambia must also do the same. I don't know what better way or how many more times could Yaya have said these statements before Halifa could understand. Perhaps Halifa knew that all the existing parties and politicians were going to be baned, thus opening the doors of the State House wide open for a PDOIS leadership. I totally disagree with you on your assertion that the 1997 constitution is by far better than the 1970 Republican constitution because it has provisions for rule of law, freedom, accountability, etc, etc. Mr. Touray, the 1970 Republican Constitution also had provisions that guaranteed the rule of law, democracy, freedom of movement, freedom of speech, freedom of association,etc. You may want to know that it is one of those provisions that guaranteed PDOIS's coming to being as a political party. It is embarrassing to realize that you are not even aware that the two-five-year term limit for the office of the president was never in the 1997 constitution. It was the original draft constitution that was presented to Provisional Ruling Council by the National Consultative Committee(NCC) that had the two Five-Year- term limit, forty year age qualification, citizenship qualification, among other important clauses. In addition to the deliberate ommission of the two five year term limit for the presidency, the junta also omitted the forty year age limit to run for president and replaced it with a sixty five year age limit. I have no doubt that you also don't know that the junta has indemnified themselves in this 1997 constitution. Muhammed, the omission of the two five year term limit for the presidency alone was a genuine cause for every true and sane Gambian to reject the constitution in its totality. I hope you will agree with me that a term limit would have taken care of the troubles we are facing today, because would have long gone by now. This most important provision would have saved many lives, including those who were so mysteriously murdered recently for their alleged involvement in the alleged coup plot. We as Gambians would have had the opportunity to hold the junta accountable for their actions during the two year transition period. This would have been the first execution of the checks and balances that you ignorantly talked about in the 1997 constitution. Your argument, which is a direct quotation from Halifa that "he supported the constitution, but that it is the same constitution that Ousainou Darboe rely on to argue cases in court" is utter nonesense. This argument has certainly failed the test of common sense. As a Lawyer, it is not Ousainou's job to ammend the constitution. To the contrary, it is Halifa's job to introduce a bill on the floor of the House and seek an amendment of these abnoxious clauses that so badly affects our lives. Halifa is the one who has that privilege as a member of Parliament. That is what Halifa gets paid for by you and I. How can Ousainou alone effect an amendment to the constitution or protest by not going to court because there are clauses that are not acceptable to the people. It took a whole nation to ratify this bad constitution through the help of your flag bearer- Sallah's aggressive campaign across the country, along side with the July 22nd Movement, commissioners, Seyfolu, and Alkalolus. You and your colleagues in NEW PDOIS(NAAD) simlpy cannot distinguish truth from fictions. The MOU that you keep referring to is just a paper that was signed by the parties concerned. The most important thing about that paper is to follow and complete all the process that was clearly outlined in it, otherwise it cannot be regarded as legitimate. You just contradicted yourself by complaining that Yaya Jammeh constantly flouts the provisions of the very constitution that he tailor made. Won't you understand from now on that words on a piece of paper cannot mean anything until all the stipulations therein are followed sincerely to the latter without fear or favor. That is what lacked in the execution of the NAAD flag bearer selection process. The conspiracy back fired and the traitors shot themselves in the foot, which eventually lead them all to fall deep into the ditch. Halifa has been falsely crying wolf for the past twenty five years, and now he faces a real threat from a wolf, but there is no one to come to his aid. Leadership is about telling the truth even if it will cost you your life, job, friends or and sympathizers. Mr. Touray, your explanation about the registration of NAAD as an Alliance as instead of a political party was yet another indication of your lack of information, even though you claim to be current on the daily political issues in The Gambia. The then NAAD Executive was advised by Ousainou Darboe about the consequences of registering NAAD as a party. Your jack of all trade, Halifa and his cohorts, out of arrogance insisted against Ousainou's advise that they should not register NAAD because there was a potential danger. Lawyer Darboe further advised them not to have the serving Members of Parliament append their signatures on the MOU, but the !!!chief clerk, political scientist, and prominent Lawyer Sallah!!! defied Ousainou's caution. What did it cost us when the Clerk of the House declared their seats vacant while the delegation was in U.S? Were we not forced into a by-election which cost the opposition a hell lot of money. Did any of you NAAD drum beaters raise any questions? Did you find out who led us into that mess? In a Town Hall meeting in New York with the then NAAD delegation from The Gambia, I took up this matter with Halifa. I asked him how come they over sighted the clause in the constitution that effectively cost them their seats, considering the fact that they have amongst their midst a prominent Lawyer and formidable politician in the name of Ousainou Darboe, and also taking into account their individual experiences and knowledge about constitutional matters. This is what Halifa had to say "When we wanted to register NAAD we came to realize that there was loop hole about registering it as a political party, but as an experiment, we just took the chance hoping that the government does not notice it. In the process, he continued, the IEC registered it as a political party instead of an Alliance which in the government's interpretation meant that we have switched our allegiance from our original political parties". He went further to disclose that their Lawyer (Ousainou)argued in court that NAAD did not intend to register a party but instead an Alliance. But the presiding judge ruled in favor of the government". Now if I may ask you a question Muhammed, can you tell me what your conclusion is by Halifa's own explanation? Ousainou Darboe is one of the toppest Lawyers in The Gambia. Besides being the most popular and one of the only two credible and capable politicians in The Gambia, Ousainou is also one of the topest Lawyers who is very, very, very familiar with the Laws of The Gambia, especially those that govern the electoral system. Again if it were not Halifa's arrogant we would have avoided that by-election which ultimately cost Hamat Bah his Saloum Parliamentary seat. You will also recall that before the birth of NAAD, Hamat had been comfortably elected twice to the National Assembly, where he proved himself way beyond Halifa and Seedia. A word is enough. Go figure out who hate Halifa Mr. Touray. Not me. All that I say here and elsewhere are solid facts that are too hard for minds like yours to absorb. Let me now turn on to Pa. Morro Jallow, a Halifa attack dog who does not know which way the wind blows around him. You also demonstrated clearly your word deficiency for a healthy and objective debate. First and foremost, I thank you for not loving me. I am not a gay, and am not interested in joining your gay club. Thank you. Secondly, I would like to assure you and all the readers of this article that I will never reduce myself to your level by calling you names that are not appropriate in this forum. I know better than that, and I was not at all taken by surprise for the harsh words and nasty names you called me. I expected that, and I knew there were the Muhammed Tourays, Caw. Demba Baldehs, and of course the Pa. Morro Jallows out there willing to defend the indefensible Sallah. I will never get mad at you Pa. "Talibeh" for two good reasons: one, you are my "Machudo", and two, I know already know your level of maturity both politically and socially, which gave me a good guideline in dealing with an individual like you including a proper choice of language. Just like all the NEW PDOIS(NAAD) supporters, you have also surfaced in an ocean of ineptitude and deception which is the hall mark of being a NEW PDOIS(NAAD) fan. You claimed in your article that APRC trashed UDP/NRP Alliance in Kafuta in the last by-election. You should have done your home work properly Mr. Jallow. UDP/NRP had the largest votes casted in Kafuta than APRC and NEW PDOIS(NAAD)combined. You also alleged that I heard from other sources that Halifa Sallah campaigned single handed for the adoption of the Draft constitution. Pa. Morro, I did not hear this from anyone, I was in The Gambia when all these happened, and every informed Gambian can testify to that, even Halifa did not deny these facts. Sorry, I connot help you out of your word deficiency which truly defines the type of home boy you are. You also charged in desperation that we UDP are murderes, that we murdered one Alieu Njie of Basse(MHSRP), and that you had a word for Haruna Darboe. Well, Mr. Jallow, the courts in The Gambia never convicted anyone for the unfortunate death of Alieu. We in UDP/NRP love every Gambian regardless of their sex, tribe, religion, or political affiliation, but only those whose five common senses fit together well can understand that. We are not interested in befriending arrogant and selfish traitors. You described Hamat Bah as an old hotel bedroom Manager who suddenly became an MP. I can comfortably say that you have no respect for those hard working men and women in our Hotels who work out their swet to put food on the table, cloth and send their kids to school. Hotel job is as decent and skillful as any other job. Therefore, provoking Hamat with that kind of crap does not just make any sense at all. I wonder what your job is Morro. One thing abundantly clear though, is that Hamat Bah is a rising star in The Gambian political arena, and he has proven himself to be the most effective member of Parliament time and time again. Halifa, and Seedia are rarely heard of in the Parliament. As a matter of fact, your Halifa can only be remembered for his leadership ambition in the Parliament. A Minority Leader, an AU Parliamentarian, Head of the Au Parliamentary Committee responsible for the Dafur crises, and now a NEW PDOIS(NAAD) presidential candidate, so that he can go back to Southern Africa or elsewhere and invite the the Radio and Television search cameras once again. I cannot imagine how Halifa can be in charge of puting out the Dafur fire while ignoring the fire that he set off in his own country with his own hands. I wish I had enough time to orientate you better on political issues in The Gambia. Do not fool yourself by pretending that you know me. If you do, you would have known that I am not bringing up these facts just because I am a name caller or disrespect for Halifa. I was on the ground when all thses events took place, and for me there are no short cuts in telling the truth. I tell it exactly as it is, regardless of what anybody things about me. With regards to your comments about Haruna Darboe, "Fangna Morri", I can assure you that Haruna is not your match just as Ousainou Darboe and Hamat are not Halifa's match. Haruna's intelligence and decency are unquestionable. Certainly not by your narrow mind, and you better belief that. Haruna will never go down with you on this path.. Folks, may I ask your indugience to pull the plug on Demba Baldeh, another Halifa thin head attack dog. Demba, you described me as one of the ill informed and desperate Pseudo old hand UDP/NRP supporters who lacks information about the current political events in The Gambia. You seem to be close to Halifa and the events that surround him, more than anyone else. I can imagine why you almost had a heart attack when you read my article. Life would still go on had you fallen dead. You ignorantly muddied the waters as you desperately tried to defend the indefensible Sallah. Demba, if you are as informed as you claimed to be, and as newly educated a man who understands every English word that Halifa uttered, how come you did not know that Halifa and Seedia's arrests happened in only a couple of days after the July 22ND coup-DE-tat in 1994 and not in 1995 as you claimed. You also claimed that I am ill informed about the political events in the Gambia. Well, "Maudo Demba" you should have named me at least one or more events that are currently going on in The Gambia that you think I am not aware of. You clearly don't know why Yaya Jammeh sent Hamat, Oj, Halifa and Waa to jail. It was not at all about the open letter Halifa wrote on behalf of NAAD. It was an exercise of power that Yaya has always been proud of. Mr. Newly schooled, didn't Yaya promise on National TV that he WILL GIVE THE OPPOSITION A KORETEH "KORITEH GIFT"? Didn't he say that before their arrests? Did you not belief him? You must be out of your mind if you would not have believed in Yaya's craziness. Yaya was determined to send our brothers to jail anyway, regardless of how good or bad the evidence were. I wonder what new school you attended Demba? Meanwhile, you have made it abundantly clear that your only influence about Halifa is the GOOD ENGLISH that he speaks. No wonder why you just cannot connect the dots right. You don't measure one's seriousness by the good English he or she speaks, rather, the sense behind the good English. You must have been busy take note of every English word that Halifa uttered at the Seattle meeting. I can also imagine how you could be easily carried away by any GOOD ENGLISH speaker, if you should sit on a decision making table. Mr. new school, I am particularly disappointed that with all your faithfulness and ambition for Halifa presidency, you are not even aware that on the May 20, 2006 Halifa made a usual irresponsible press release regarding the Kombo East by-election in which he cowardly pointed an accusing finger at me for NEW PDOIS(NAAD)'s humiliating performance in that election. What kind of English graduate are you "Machudo Jola"?. Do you want to tell me that you can only understand Halifa's spoken English but cannot read his writings. You questioned if I cannot understand the English when I read Halifa's writings. It is evident to every one now that despite the fact that you are so close to Halifa, you still cannot read his writings.!!What a shame on you "Caw Demba". You alleged that "UDP has made blunders that will lead it to committing political suicide, and that we have been all over the map on the issue of unity, that first it was lack of trust, second a mistake was made by agreeing to be equal when we are not equal". Demba, if ever UDP and NRP leaders have made any good decisions, the withdrawing from NAAD was the best they could have ever made under the circumstance, and if that is what you consider to be a political suicide, then you dont know what politics is. NAAD was never meant for Ousainou and Hamat,and no matter who says what at what given time and place, Hamat and Ousainou have the same view regarding now NEW PDOIS(NAAD)Party. I know for fact that I personally can mentor you in politics for the rest of your life and you will not get to the tip of my finger. You should not worry about UDP/NRP committing political suicide. In fact, you should be happy about that because that will pave the way for your god-father to take the reigns of the country. Demba, you really sounded ridiculous when you crowned Halifa as the most principled and consistent politician The Gambia has ever witnessed. You can't be serious, and I hope you're not. Demba, it is about time you tell your arrogant and selfish Halifa in the face that now is the best time for him to do away with his ill conceived principles just for the sake of The Gambia, and until you NEW PDOIS(NAAD) can do that, you better sit down and short your lousy mouths. There you are not able to contain Halifa as he play himself into the hands of Yaya Jammeh. If Halifa's arrogance and selfishness is what you call principled and consistent, then you need to go back to school Mr. New School and have someone work hard on your mind, because you are far from being ready for a mature dialogue. When Halifa's selection was announced, you wrote an article on Gambia-L, titled "Halifa Sallah once in a life time opportunity" asking where can the African continent find some one like him. While you are entitle to your opinion, your perception about the NEW PDOIS(NAAD) popularity in The Gambia clearly defines your total ignorance about how are being fooled by your traitors on the ground, telling you pep talks. "Machudo", every political party, with the exemption of "NDAMBUSAN" has originated from a representative of all sectors of Gambian political spectrum. UDP is the best party emulate in that regard. When are you going to wake up from your drunkenness and see the truth for yourself?. If UDP/NRP Alliance is a camp of losers, what is NAAD then, "Macchudo" Demba? I want to make it clear to you that UDP/NRP Alliance is the the only credible and formidable opposition in The Gambia. You better know that from today. I don't care what you think about Ousainou and Hamat, but they are the only true sons of The Gambia who have earned the trust of the Gambian people based on their individual merits. These two brave sons of our dear mother land have been the only respectable politicians whose voices are clearly heard by the poor, and the defenseless. Your PDOIS candidate and co. did not know that they were playing with fire when they conspired against Ousainou and Hamat. I am not the spokesman for the NRP/UDP Alliance, but one thing I can assure your for now and the future is that, DON'T YOU EVER THINK THAT WE WILL BETRAY OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE PARTY MILITANS BY BATTERING THEM FOR ANY REASON. Ousainou and Hamat will never betray us and we have confidence in their their judgments, period. When did Halifa become Waa Juwara's friend? Waa had repeatedly been using UDP platform to attack Halifa and PDOIS when he was the Propagander Secretary. We had to summoned a Central Committee meeting where we categorically put it clearly to Waa that Halifa and PDOIS were never our problem as a party, instead, Yaya Jammeh's tyranny. That is why most of us who know Waa are not worried about whatever charges he makes against Ousainou or Hamat. It is just a matter of time. He picked up his anger with Ousainou when he lost his second position on the UDP platform in the last presidential election. The then propaganda Secretary used to come right before Ousainou Darboe. But with OJ coming in as the coordinator of the PPP and apparently the last speaker before Ousainou, Waa felt he was pushed a step back, making his personal political ambitions for UDP leadership very slim. On the other hand, I almost feel like going into hiding when Halifa says he believes in equality and empowering the people to decide their own destiny. What Halifa failed to understand is that his concept of equality does not fit in modern politics. You cannot set you eyes on the votes of the major parties with a view to use their platforms and electoral strength to advance your leadership ambition. Empowering the people, cannot just be a lip service. Power belongs to the people. It is irrevolvable. If Halifa believes in empowering the people to decide their own destination, why would'nt he respect the people's desire for change. Has POWER been given a new definition to suit Halifa's thirst for "BURR"?. Power simply means the people(majority), and has always belong to the people(majority). Leaders come and go, but the people are always there. No short cuts. In all honesty, Halifa's calling for a term limit and a debate on any future constitution twelve unfortunate years down the road is certainly an appropriate thought raised at a wrong time years after he spear headed the adoption of the 1997 constitution which was never debated on. Ousainou Darboe knows very Well that any amendment to an entrenched clause must be brought to the people for ratification. Ousainou has a better leason to teach any politician about empowering the people to decide their own destiny. It is fundamental democratic principles that the people of UDP and NRP demanded their parties and party Leaders back for a better an comprehensive Alliance based on trust and genuine commitment for a change. I was one of those Gambians who constantly demanded from the AFPRC to allow the constituents to have an honest and complete review of the diluted draft constitution through debate before it was adopted, but unfortunately, Halifa stood in our way in defense of the draft that gave Yaya a clear signal that should he decide to run for president, victory was guaranteed considering the overwhelming endorsement of that obnoxious draft. Thanks to Halifa Sallah, the now presidential contender to remove Yaya twelve years later. In this crucial moment of our political history, only someone with clean hands can do the job and that is no other person than Lawyer. Ousainou. NUmukunda. Darboe. May I also make it abundantly clear to all and sundry that I am not a tribalist and I have never been considered one in my entire life. I understand that those who call me a tribalist do so out of total frustration and anger. I am not related to neither Osainou Darboe nor Yaya Jammeh. I am entitled to my conscience just like anyone else who contribute to the ongoing political debate in our country. I have been through a lot as an opposition under both PPP administration and in this present Jammeh administration. I am on record for the stance I took against the Jammeh tyranny. Will it be fair then to call those who are fullas like Demba Baldeh for being tribalism because of their allegiance to PDOIS(NAAD) if in fact Halifa considers himself a Fulla. So Demba, in summation, I urge you to look before you leap. I agree with you that NAAD is looking beyond the presidential elections. Well why not? That is exactly what PDOIS wants in order to survive. We in UDP and NRP are not interested in baby sitting Halifa, Waa or OJ. Equally, we are not interested in baby sitting Ousainou or Hamat either. But as far as Gambian politics is concerned, only Ousainou can do the job for now, and that why the people(majority) are rallying behind him. PEACE. Pa. Saikou Kujabi. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 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://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.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