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Momodou
Denmark
11802 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 14:43:37
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PDOIS Embarks on a Nationwide Sensitisation tour
By Pateh Baldeh
on 07-02-11
Party Activists from the People’s Democratic Organization For Independent And Socialism (PDOIS) on Sunday 23rd January 2011 started a nationwide sensitisation campaign which lasted up to 5th February 2011.
The tour which took the activists to different parts of the North Bank of the country was well organized. The activists were given training on the messages to pass on to the people and the laws of the country touching on their work as educators, mobilisers and organisers of the people.
The tour started at Essau, Lower Niumi in North Bank Region and ended on Thursday 3rd February 2011 at Sutukundaing in Wuli West in the Upper River Region.
They explained the role of an opposition party as a government in waiting, the programmes of the party and the reason for proposing Agenda 2011 as a strategy for opposition unity in 2011. They also explained how Gambia moved from a monarchy under colonialism to a Republic and further enlightened the people why going back to a monarchy is political retrogression.
The tour took the party activists to 92 villages and towns in the North Bank of the country.
PDOIS activists spoke to the people with respect and were listened to with respect. It was only in Kunting that they were confronted and they explained very clearly that the local authorities need to be sensitised on their rights of the people so that they in turn can enlighten the people. They explained that party sensitisation campaign is a duty for the member of each party and does not require a permit unless one is to utilise an instrument for the amplification of sound to hold a public meeting known as a rally.
They explained to the people that freedom of expression, movement, association and assembly could only be restricted when a curfew or state of emergency is declared. They made it clear that they only talk to people who want to talk to them and do not antagonise anyone since each is a voter they should try to win over. When the team left Kunting the message must have gone to the police in the area who followed them to find out what they were doing. They left after the explanation was given.
The PDOIS militants who embarked on this sensitization campaign could learn a lot from the electorate. The central theme that Gambia belongs to all of us and that they the electorate should open their ears to hear from different parties is welcomed by almost all stakeholders irrespective of party affiliation.
The tour gave the electorate a unique experience of talking with informed activists who have the patience to listen to divergent views and initiate a healthy debate with those who disagreed with them without antagonizing anyone.
Source: Foroyaa
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