Thanx Laye for sharing Demba's soliloquy. I will share my opinions here:

It is appropriate to make some discernments from jump.

There are generally two types of citizen movements or revolutions;

1. Proxy Revolution.
This type of citizen revolt is organized and managed, albeit more secretively at first, by a disaffected group/militia/special interest. The demands of this type of revolt are better defined but because they are initiated by a subset of the citizenry, its success is dependent on its morphology. In other words the organizing group must necessarily morph to include other subsets of the citizenry. The demands, though well defined, must have the capacity to coopt some state apparatuses and other interest groups in order to maintain its capacity to overwhelm state machinations at all times. It is not significant that the organizing group that shores up the revolt becomes apparent right away, but it will not succeed if its demands remain limited. Proxy revolts cannot by nature be successful in all societies.

2. Spontaneous Revolt.
spontaneous does not describe the pace of this revolt as much as it describes the motive of the revolt. This generally begins with a seemingly innocuous event, perhaps an individual citizen or a natural disaster marked by spectacular incompetence of the state in ameliorating citizen suffering. The sucess of this type of citizen revolt is dependent on a pattern of egregious conduct by the state or authorities and prior suffering and manifest incompetence of the state. That is how individual protest morphs into popular citizen revolts. The saving grace of such revolts is their intractability and because they are generally conscientious revolts unmanaged by a particular interest group. They have a higher, albeit slower, rate of success.

Either of these types of revolutions can succeed in Gambia and very easily. The reason is that in Gambia there is a confluence of blatant, rampant, and diffuse criminality by Yahya who has usurped the otherwise distinct personality of the state.

In Misera, Yemen, and Algeria, we have a Proxy Revolution. In Tunis, we had a Spontaneous Revolution.

Now I will share my opinions in your rhetorical questions below:

[-----Original Message-----  From: A Jallow <[log in to unmask]>  To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Fri, Feb 4, 2011 7:23 pm  Subject: Fwd: Need for a Strong, Able and Ready Opposition to Lead the People!!!!

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> 

Date: Sat, Feb 5, 2011 at 2:32 AM  Subject: Need for a Strong, Able and Ready Opposition to Lead the People!!!!
To: gambia-l-request <[log in to unmask]>

Events unfolding in Egypt has underscored the need for a strong, able and willing opposition to stand with the people when citizens stand to take over their country.] Demba B.

In all citizen movements, not only the one in Misera, an able and willing opposition, professional and civic organisations, and militias if any, are crucial to the rate of success and the ultimate success of the movement. It is also significant to have common demands and to communicate those demands from the beginning of the protest. It is also important that the protest be peaceful and limited in transit.

[For almost 10 days now citizens of Egypt has brought the government to a halt and yet there is no emerging leaders in the opposition to lead the people.] Demba B.

In Misera, there were opposition leaders from the beginning. They have some fore-planning time and considerations, unlike the Jasmine Revolt. It is not valuable for the Proxy leadership to surface ahead of the good morphology that I am pleased is now taking place. As long as a movement is limited to a particular interest group, the proxy leaders taking the lead will be counter-productive because the movement did not yet have the gravitas to overwhelm state apparatuses. So in Misera, there have always been leaders. The leaders who are emerging now will help to bring structure and focus to the movement and the requisite gravitas for ultimate success.

[The opposition in Egypt has been rendered so harmless that they don't appear to have the backbone to join the people.] Demba B.

I'm afraid you're mistaken Demba. A harmful opposition is counterproductive in mass revolts. Whether Proxy or Spontaneous. The opposition needs only enough backbone to match or overwhelm state apparatuses but not backbone to be destructive.

[This is why it is all the more crucial to have an opposition, able and ready to lead!!!] Demba B.

It is crucial in all citizen movements, to have an opposition, be that opposition political parties, militias, civic and professional organizations, which is willing and able to supplement ordinary citizen movements.

 

[Now the million dollar question??????If this were to happen in Gambia today, would our opposition parties be willing to risk what ordinary citizens are risking to lead them and put pressure on the government to leave?] Demba B.

YES. Remember sacrifice is only valuable when it is for commoner relief. If you sacrifice to yiled yourself and family only relief, you may have to sacrifice alone. And in all nations and communities, sacrifice becomes worthwhile only in company. Company itself generates its own momentum in to accrue the requisite will and ability for sacrifice. That is the origin for the proverb: "Together we stand" and "We either row together, or we sink together".

[Are they organize and ready to take over power if the government were to go down today?] Demba B.

The Gambia's opposition parties are as organized as they need to be to replace Yahya Jammeh and the APRC government. This question is insignificant in a Gambia with a Yahya Jammeh as president. This constant doubting of the resolve of your fellow citizen only helps to sap your own enthusiasm, will, and ability to protest gore.

[Do they have the structures and the confidence of the people to lead them in times of crisis?] Demba B.

The question ought to be, "will I have the support and confidence of my fellow citizens so they can join me in times of national crisis?" This will invariably depend on what you will be sacrificing for, what your demands would be, and your prior integrities in fighting for what you believe in and if that is for commoner relief. It doesn't really matter if you have an opposition party, a civic, or a professional organization to look to for support and company. Your fellow citizens are more than enough if you're trained on sobriety. 

[Does this validate critics points that the Gambian opposition is dead or at least near death???] Demba B.

Those critics are cowards looking to hide behind the questionnable resolve of their fellow citizens and more than likely, they have more limited motives for their "sacrifices". Don't listen to them. Their fears are warranted by their own designs.

[What say you????] Demba B.

That's what Haruna says. What about what Demba says???????????????????????? Not the "critics". But what does Demba B. say?????????????????/ That is the $64,000.00 question at this time.

I look forward to your opinions Demba B.

Thank you. Haruna.

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