> Readers here is what I said abut concerns been raised about politics in Foni > > 'THE FONI/KANILAI PROBLEM: For me this is perceived and not a real one. However unless properly address we could all get dirty in it. Well before the Sibanor and Kanilai incidents I suggested in one of my postings how the new government should educate Gambians and particularly Foni about political dispensation in a democracy and rule of law. I suggested Barrow asked the Governor at Brikama under which Foni falls to summon all the chiefs, Alikalis and some prominent people of the area to his office. To avoid stigmatization other areas can do it too. To explain the concepts of Independence, Republic, Democratic dispensation, Freedom of Expression and Association and Rule of Law. That the old order of unlawfully targeting/favoring members of one political group over others was wrong, unlawful and the new government will treat everyone equally under our laws. Period! Mai Fatty’s summons at Sibanor covered some of the above but it also vied into party politics. That were inappropriate when he's on (public) our times and costs. Mai Fatty was I Sibanor as Minister of Interior and Chief Law Enforcement Officer and not a politician canvassing votes for one group or another. As a general matter we have to learn to separate public from party/private, etc. interests.” > > I don’t know if this or something else prompted your advise on Foni. Yes or know I don’t think my views on treating all Gambians equally regardless of their politics and/or tribe/ethnicity is any different from the points of your message. Let me know if/where different. > > However tribe/ethnicity/race are real to mankind and particularly in The Gambia. That’s not to say 1 tribe/race/ethnic group is better and/or deserving than the others. We’re defined in many ways by our race/tribe/ethnic upbringing that even affect our public service - sometimes good and/or bad. I also know ethnicity is not defined by last name or residency or language. Probably they are components of the definition and/or influence. > > Herein I paste 1 lexicon definition: “the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.” > > ONENESS OF GAMBIA: This should be the less worrying problem of any government of Gambia. There is no Gambian territory in indispose and there are no Gambian group(s) targeted/favored for any reason. If there are any problem - it will only be a politically fabricated problem. Yahya created one. He used Foni against his opposition. Yet, I didn’t advise revenge and/or hostility. I only suggested a proactive stand to call Gambians at Governors Office to explain what is a nation and how democracy works and that each one is free to express and associate. I did that not knowing there will be a political brawl in Sibanor and/or firefighting in Kanilai. But I know what happened the past 22 years. > > In short politicians/governments are sources of our problems. They create manufactured problems to advantage their political causes. I hope Barrow’s One Nation One People remain just a slogan. We’re already 1 nation and 1 people - I hope we keep it that way. It doesn’t mean we are not in tribes/races//ethnicities. Races/tribes/ethnicities are only frowned when it comes to government jobs and resources allocation. Anywhere outside is only traditional. I am Mandinka and was married to Jola. Ethnicity is/was never a topic in my household. As a rough guess probably 85% our households are mixed tribes/ethnicities. > > Thz > Burama > On Apr 30, 2017, at 7:22 AM, Muhammed Drammeh <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > The Fonikas are dignified people who should be treated with honour and dignity. Their liberty must be guaranteed and they should be allowed to prosper like the rest of the citizenry. > > Yahya Jammeh is different from Shyngle Nyassi despite both being from the same ethno-linguistic group. > H E Barrow promised us that he is not out for revenge and that if any justice that is sought, a truth and reconciliation model will be his approach. > The Fonis are still as poor as the colonial period. Yahya Jammeh coming from Foni does not mean anything. > We promised a one Gambia, one nation, one people. Let us make sure that the people of Foni believe us all. In the UK, minorities are protected from discrimination backed by the Equalities Act. > > The most Honourable Halifa Sallah called Yahya Jammeh a rebel and yet he did not loose the respect of the Fonis. This is because even if they do not like what he said, they do not assume hatred of their people. Yahya has been oppressing them and even classified some as witches and wizards but why do they still revered him? This is because they do not believe, there is no agenda of a witch hunt against them. > > The selective transfers of certain people from the Fonis especially the Prison Officer from Kanilai is unnecessary and uncalled for. Some like myself will intepret it like a calculated attempt machinated by hate with much desired vindictiveness. I hope people like me are wrong. > > The Gambia is one and we are all related. The ethnic group we belong to is not by blood but by settlement. Let me give you an example, The Darboes of Diabugu and the Darboes of Dobo Kunda are of the same family. Today the Darboes of Dobo Kunda speak Mandinka while the Darboes of Diabugu speak Sarahule. Now which ethnic group do they belong to? The Ceesay Kunda of Diabugu and the Ceesay Kunda of Pakau are the same family. The ceesay Kunda of Diabugu speak Sarahule and the Ceesay Kunda of Pakau speak Mandinka. Where is ethnicity? The Drammeh of Jarra and the Drammeh Kunda of Diabugu are related but in Diabugu they speak Sarahule and in Jarra, they speak Mandinka. So where is ethnicity? > Our geographical locations is the reason why we speak differently but we are all one. > > The Fonis are part of us and we are part of them. We are all the same in brotherhood and sisterhood. Our diversity is not a threat, it is our greatest opportunity. > > Together, we will move Gambia forward. > > > Muhammad Bai Drammeh > ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html <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 <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] <mailto:[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] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤