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From Wandifa, Barister Mai Fatty, and GMC, this is an incredible reaction considering the simplicity of the querries at issue.
For now, I have no intention of broadening the contours of a very specific conversation triggered by material placed in the public space by the GMC. At the pace this GMC propensity to mislead is progressing, that opportunity is bound to arise in the not-too-distant future.
Addressing only the issue of defections from one party to the other, it is incontestable that whereas reported APRC defections to the UDP came from sources extraneous to the Party, the GMC claims emanated from the higher-echelon leadership of the Party, and as such, identical credibility cannot be realistically attached to the claims.
LJDarbo
From: Wandifa Sanneh <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: RE: [>-<] Your moral support for this regime???
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, 10 March, 2011, 12:02
LJ; The Press release was signed by me and am in a better position to respond to the issues you had raised, and addressed to Demba. 1. It is obvious that you had seen and read the Release much earlier or else you would not have referred to it in the piece below. It is very curious that you failed to condemn it then, and the after-thought condemnation is questionable. Speaking for myself, you can shelve your insincere condemnation. 2. I had placed the telephone number of Basse Police publicly on the Forum and people like Abdoukarin Sanneh had called and spoke to Basse Police. They would have provided conflicting information if our own version was not accurate, but you did not bother to verify on your own. You can still go ahead and speak to Basse Police to contradict us, instead of vilifying Demba and the online press. Accordig Ebrima Cham, Police Commissioner quoted by Gambian Press, the reasons for the arrests were
politically motivated. How can you now contract the authorities themselves with maligmant innuendo against the Fatty Family and GMC, to suit your own invented distorted version and subtle misrepresentation? 2. The Police showed up after the Town Hall meeting was concluded three days earlier, and since the meeting took place outside the Family compound where the GMC Flag was erected and hoisted, the Family Parents were those confronted. A Town Hall Meeting is a euphemism for community meeting conducted in the style of a conventional "Town Hall" meeting. As a Lawyer who makes a living out of the use of words, you would appreciate the context in which it is used, and that explains why there are different canons of interpretation. Wors are useless if not interpreted in context, not always literally, and you this better than me. 3. Political Parties had recently repoted the wholesale defection of APRC stalwarts (upto over eight hundred at one
instance), and I read that too here on the Post. Why did you not demand the names of the eight hundred defectors. APRC had also reported the defection of a hundred UDP militants, did you require them to "name" or disclose those defectors. Fangkung placed the info on Mighty Post. 4. There were independent press investigations conducted into the veracity of our story by both Foroyaa and The Point who sent Reporters to Basse and both reported the accuracy of the true reasons in complete conformity with our Press Release. This are not online press, but paper press published inside The Gambia. Daily News did as well, and all of hese cannot be denied by any honest person. 5. Your insinuation that Mai Fatty愀 parents may have been arrested for other reasons bordering on violation of the law is offensive, dishonest and unacceptable. 6. GMC and Wandifa Sanneh support Fangkung愀 rights to air his views and will defend and protect that
inalienable right of his, even if we disagree with those views. This applies to you Lamin Darboe. Wandifa Sanneh
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:00:27 +0000 From: [log in to unmask]Subject: Re: [>-<] Your moral support for this regime??? To: [log in to unmask]CC: [log in to unmask]
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Demba
I salute your unwavering commitment to the struggle for a Gambia anchored in democratic institutionalism under the rule of law, a Gambia where conscience and choice are the supreme arbiters of the direction of political affiliation.
In that Gambia, citizens of the Fankung inclination must exist for a fuller society.
On the extant issue of the GMC Leader's family, there appears to be no question that an arrest(s) occurred. If that arrest is rooted in political affiliation, it is, on its face, condemnable, and I condemn it.
However, it is disappointing that the Diaspora-based on-line media relied exclusively on the GMC's Wandifa for information it then treated as verified, without any apparent independent digging on a story that is of clear public significance. This devalues the currency of credible and legitimate opposition to a clearly odious and detested political system.
What, you may retort, was there to investigate about 'undisputed' lawlessness by Basse police in arresting "member(s)" of Barrister Mai Fatty's family on account of political affiliation, a protected right under the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia!
For starters, the GMC Press Release mentioned a "Town Hall meeting" in "Wulli West". As understood by you, what is a "Town Hall" in the context of that part of rural Gambia? .As "Wulli West" is not a village/town, where exactly in "Wulli West" did this "Town Hall meeting" occurred?
Who were the "APRC (ruling Party) big wigs" who "attended", this meeting and "declared their allegiance to GMC"? Considering this appears to be part of the driving motivation for the arrest of the GMC Leader's family, this particular aspect of the matter is by no means trivial.
And why only the GMC Leader's family? Why not the GMC officials who were part of this "symbolic representation of the take over of the Region by GMC"? Were all five members of the GMC Leader's family actually arrested, and what was meant by the phrase "the GMC Leader's father"?. In what context was the word "father" used?
I am sure you can appreciate we are not dealing with a private issue, and since the GMC placed the matter in the public domain, there is no question it is a legitimate transaction for proper ventilation, and especially in light of your story that "no conditions" were attached to the release of the GMC Leader's family .
LJDarbo
From: Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [>-<] Your moral support for this regime???
To: "Gambia Post3" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, 10 March, 2011, 0:08
Now Fankung has gone hiding again after Mai Fatty's parents were arrested. Anytime this regime act shamefully these supporters run into hiding in disbelief. Do you ever question your moral support for a regime willing to detain innocent parents exercising their god given rights... How much did they gain arresting these people? Negative publicity??? Didn't you know being arrested and detain is now a pride in the Gambia for only those who don't do anything wrong gets arrested and detained. Those who openly commit heinous crimes are loitering the streets of Banjul. Read more for your dose of reality... http://www.gainako.com/news/news/2011/03/09/detained-gmc-leaders-parents-release-without-conditions.html. Demba
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