X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 13:45:11 -0500 From: Abdoulaye Saine <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: [log in to unmask] Organization: Miami University X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; U) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Responses to "It is Time to Heal"/ Possible Strategies Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit G-L Community: The response to an earlier posting "it is Time to Heal" was positive. Many felt that the time had come to go beyond personal attacks on the L and debate the issues. Others who remarked on the posting also saw the need to engage the current APRC Government, its leadership and other groups and parties in Gambia, in order to effect the meaningful change we all desire in Gambia. Amidst this agreement, however, were those who while agreeing with these goals, felt that the current regime may not be open to such a dialogue. Accordingly, what seemed to be agreed by all was the need for "peace, tranquility and reconciliation" and that we should try, regardless. Several suggestions emerged from the discussion regarding what we want to see implemented in Gambia. These include: * Unbanning all political parties and politicians in preparation for the presidential elections in 2001; * The Holding of free and fair elections, a pre-condition of which would be the resignation of the current Government or the appointment of a transitional national Government; * Newly Elected Government must investigate all allegations of corruption and embezzlement and punish those guilty of such crimes against the People; * Investigate and prosecute instances of human rights violations, including but not limited to the deaths of Ousman "Korro" Ceesay and Sadibu Hydra and release all political prisoners. It was proposed that: * We need to assure the current APRC Government of our goals and intentions and our desire to work with them to effect these reforms; * Galvanize as broad a spectrum as possible, here and in Gambia, in order to get the critical mass to see these reforms through; * Set up a coordinating committee representing the diverse views on the L and in Gambia. Where do we go from here and what do we do: It was propose that we write to President Jammeh and other opposition political parties informing them of our goals and our collective desire to work with them to bring an end to Gambia's political and economic crises; Follow this up with a delegation to meet and discuss these issues with the above parties; Begin to raise the funds for travel and ultimately financially support Jammeh and/or any political party that best represents our views. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Thank You Abdoulaye Saine Several suggestion