''I didn't hear anyone else protesting.'' -suntou Me too, Suntou. Regards Daffeh On 5 August 2010 17:57, suntou touray <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > "When Foroyaa gave an estimate of the number of people who attended the > first UDP rally in Serrekunda some UDP supporters also protested." Foroyaa > It was me who protested, right here in Gambia L.I didn't hear anyone else > protesting. Just to set the records straight. > Suntou > > On Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 9:03 AM, Modou Nyang <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > >> PDOIS SUPPORTERS PROTEST ON MEETING FIGURES AND FOROYAA RESPONDS >> >> Some PDOIS supporters disputed Foroyaa figures regarding the number of >> people who were present during the launching of Agenda 2011 by PDOIS. >> Foroyaa stated that the number of people was above six hundred. They said >> that they concurred with the figure given by the Daily News, which gave an >> estimate of over a thousand spectators. >> >> First and foremost, Foroyaa did mention that aside from the seats and the >> immediate surrounding of the venue there were other spectators who the Daily >> News may have included in their count. As far as Foroyaa is concerned the >> figures alone are not significant. It is the interpretation that is given to >> the figures that is important as well as the lessons learnt. >> >> When Foroyaa gave an estimate of the number of people who attended the >> first UDP rally in Serrekunda some UDP supporters also protested. Foroyaa >> would like the members of the opposition to take note of the fact that the >> paper is an objective source of information. Even though the editorial is >> the opinion of the paper it has to rely on some facts on which the opinion >> expressed is based. Figures on crowds are given by relying on the random >> questioning of some of those who witnessed an occasion from the beginning to >> the end. >> >> In Foroyaa’s view rallies are not necessarily indications of the degree of >> support of a political party but they do indicate the level of political >> participation or apathy of a citizenry. If people could be moved to attend >> political rallies in large numbers they would also be motivated to go and >> cast their votes for the party of their choice. Not every body who attends a >> political rally is a supporter of the political party which organises the >> meeting. However, each political party should be able to attract the >> interest of diverse constituencies in order to have the potential for >> growth. Hence the recording of the number of people who attend rallies help >> political parties to be able to know whether voter apathy is increasing or >> reducing. >> >> It is very clear to Foroyaa that political apathy is the major enemy of >> the electoral process in the Gambia . It is not uncommon for the President >> to complain of poor turn out of certain groups during his tour. Hence >> instead of complaining about the reports political parties should go back to >> the drawing board and come up with realistic options on how to enlist >> greater participation in their activities. >> >> The incumbent does not hesitate to engage the participation of school >> children, wives of soldiers and other service men, Chiefs, members of the >> Islamic Council and Green youths or party activists to travel the length and >> breath of the country so that large crowds would always appear on TV. Vulgar >> and raw Politics is about impressions and numbers. We gathered that many >> people wanted to go to the PDOIS rally if they had transport. What is wrong >> with providing means of transport to enable poor people who want to attend a >> meeting to do so if this enhances popular participation? PDOIS should >> rethink its stance on this. The fact that young people could not attend the >> Jamil Jackson show because of poverty confirms the need to use new >> initiatives for mass mobilization. Now opposition parties should do whatever >> it takes to succeed in elections. >> >> It is true that opposition parties do not have the resources of the >> incumbent. The Municipal and Area councils are there to patronise >> anniversaries and festivals organised by the incumbent. Opposition parties >> must become more creative and go to the grass roots to campaign and not >> depend on expensive rallies just to draw crowds of people who may already be >> in support of their cause. When PDOIS holds its next rally Foroyaa should be >> able to gauge whether its lessons have been learnt or not. >> >> Finally, Foroyaa wishes its readers to understand that the paper has a >> mind of its own and its staff are not necessarily political activists of a >> given political party. The paper attracts all those with social conscience >> who would want to give expression to alternative voices that do not find >> expression in the Government media. >> >> >> >> >> ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ 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]¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ >> > > > > -- > Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22 > "And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the > difference of your languages and colours. Verily, in that are indeed signs > for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran > > www.suntoumana.blogspot.com > ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ 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]¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ > ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ 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] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤