Blunt analysis Karamba. But let's see how the Jammeh govt reacts to the proposals being put fwd. Some of us still believe in miracles. Saul. >From: [log in to unmask] >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: nyc: The profligate president that should be removed >Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 02:28:14 EST > >I must confess when some great list members proposed we make a collective >effort to engage the government of Yayah Jammeh, I felt a sudden shudder in >my spine. Sure their intentions are most laudable in that they want us all >to >try to work at resolving the numerous problems we face as a people. They >set >out parameters that could conceivably serve as a framework for the dialogue >even though this government by dint of it's nature would find those basic >conditions anathema. If a government has to be goaded into treating it's >people lawfully , it is my contention that attempting to constructively >engage that government would not only be inconsistent, it would also >inadvertently rationalise all the wrongs that have come to symbolise this >regime. Why, list members , do you think it would be worthwhile to engage a >government whose leadership constantly run roughshod of the laws and >constitution of the nation? They have honed criminal behavior to a fine art >by murdering and torturing their opponents with impunity. While they were >quick to throw people out of their homes and confiscate their property, >they >have failed to properly adjudicate these so called cases of ill-gotten >wealth >in a court of law. Their intention was not primarily geared towards >recovering public funds , something I support whole heartedly, rather they >embarked on their brand of justice which was essentially premised on >vindictiveness. >If for some reason some list members want to hold their noses and agree to >engage the president by proxy through his aids in a bid to bring change, I >can say with reasonable certainty it too would be an exercise in futility. >Do >we seriously that Dr Sedat Jobe or Tombong Saidy or anyone close to Yahya >would somehow turn to men of virtue ? They know this President is a >criminal >and ought to be removed from office but being in the positions they are has >gotten the better of them. They will tag along for as long as the shipwreck >avoid making them casualities. For the men around the President, no price >is >too high for them. The people of the country can die of treatable >illnesses, >schools can fail and the people can wallow in extreme hardship, these >folks >would take no responsibility. They and the man they serve are content with >running a rudderless government that is unraveling to the core. They have >all >become experts at shirking responsibility and blaming someone else for >institutional failure. How for example can the president possibly do >anything >about corruption when he is it's very embodiment. Sure he would loudly and >personally dismiss a few government employees as a way to posture for the >public and to some extent the international community most of whose leaders >would not touch him with a ten foot pole because of his questionable >legitimacy. It would however be seen for what it is, a hollow and >meaningless >harangue that does not address the rot the he personifies. > >I think a better Gambia lies squarely in the hands her children. We must >always be thankful if the thoughtful among us urge us to coalesce and do >good. Since we are all stakeholders in the affairs of our country , our >efforts would hence be primarily self-serving in that the very things we >endeavor would benefit us too. By the same token , I believe we have a >similar responsibility to reject off hand a tyrant who by all indications >has >ruined the country in a cruel and cynical drive to enrich himself and >oppress >an already beleaguered people. What i would urge list members is to do all >they can to remove Yahya Jammeh and all that he represents and help build >the >institutional framwork that can enable us all to do right by our nation and >people > >Karamba > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------