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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Jun 2006 : 23:33:57
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The AU Summit: A Perfect platform to expose bad Governance:
By Demba Baldeh, Seattle, WA
Contrary to many peoples’ believes that the Jammeh government has everything to gain during the looming AU summit, the Gambian people have the perfect opportunity to expose the regime for its bad governance and human right abuses.
The presents of several African heads of states, The UN secretary general Kofi Anan, and over one hundred and fifty media personnel from Africa and other parts of the world means that Gambia will continuously be featured on Television and the print media around the world. While all the luxurious hotel suits, Presidential motorcades, flashy power lights around the Senegambia area all appears to be positive for the President, there are more damaging things that could be revealed about the true economic conditions and human rights abuses imposed on the Gambian people by our government.
The visiting press; international human rights organizations, the international Red Cross, Committee to Protect Journalist (CJP), the Gambia Press Union, , trade unions, the US Embassy and other groups should do everything possible to highlight as many injustices committed by the government as possible and force Jammeh and his government to address some of the issues publicly. The opposition parties, trade unions, religious leaders, and other interest groups should also make as much appearance as possible in the international and local print media to expose the regime and its extravagance.
The Gambian people, if not for their god given receptive nature, could come out in thousands and peacefully demonstrate to express their dissatisfaction against the regime. However, knowing the Gambian people this option is highly unlikely because of the peaceful and respectable nature of the people. Given the fact that several heads of states around Africa will also be present on the ground, the burden has shifted to the entire citizens of Africa with heavy presents in the Gambia. Citizens from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea Conakry and Bissau, Mauritania, and Ivory Cost among others should join Gambians to express their dissatisfaction with growing poverty and instability across the African continent.
It is only through a united voice and continuous pressure that we can hold our individual African leaders to account. The last AU summit in Togo was a failure largely due to citizen intervention and demonstrations to demand accountability for these failed leaders. Africa as a whole is in a sad and sorry economic and political dilemma no matter how we look at it. Instead of celebrating the AU summit in Jubilation, the leaders should be paying respect to the war crime victims in Sudan, Ivory coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and to millions other African women and children dying everyday of hunger, starvation, Malaria, Aids and HIV. The leaders should be mourning the hundreds of Journalists and innocent citizens tortured and many killed by their own governments. Collectively, the entire African political leadership has been a failure since we gained our independence from the colonial powers. Regardless of what country you look at, the African people are more economically and politically vulnerable today than ever.
African leaders like Abdoulie Wadd of Senegal, Nigeria’s Obersanjo, South Africa’s Tabo Mbeki and a handful of other respected leaders should face all the heads of states and demand immediate policy changes to bring about democracy, political and economic decency to our people. Freedom of the press, respect for the rule of law, and human rights must be in the forefront of the AU summit agenda. The eradication of hunger, poverty, and diseases also must be address with utmost urgency. Treaty documents should be drawn and be unconditionally signed by all heads of states. Failure to sign or institute the necessary changes by any state should be met with serious consequences including removal from power of any government that failed to protect the pillars of democracy.
It is significant that these leaders be pressured to look themselves in the mirror and see that Africa has failed its citizens because of their naďve economic and political priorities. The underlying theme at the summit should be “Leadership failure in Africa”. Any other theme chosen will be far from the reality of our situation. In fact, the opening chapters of this summit should be a Documentary VIDEO of conditions of people across the continent and what they have to go through every single day. The documentary should feature war zones, our young children dying of starvation, diseases and neglect by their own governments. This should be followed by another video clip showing the lavish life styles of our leaders as compared to the rest of our people. It should end with a frank discussion of what the leaders think about what they just saw in the Video.
Now one may ask; how do we expect these same failed leaders to put themselves on the spot light by playing such degrading videos? Well, the answer is simple. The UN secretary general’s office with strong endorsement from The American and British embassies, Presidents Mbeki, Wadd, Obersanjo, Johnson, and a few others should push this agenda as a positive step to highlighting African’s state of affairs. This is a practical approach to remind all leaders of the state of condition of their people. It is time for African leaders to take practical solutions to bring an end to the bloodshed and poverty eroding our continent. Leaders must take personal responsibility of all problems in Africa and take proactive measures to address the situation. It is degrading that Africa is heading for the worst while the rest of the world is striving ahead to bring economic and political progress to their people. The responsibility squarely lies on the entire African leadership.
To all our leaders, I ask you these questions; do you hear our children crying blood and dying for hunger and diseases? Do you hear them mourning endlessly for the lost of their parents, brothers, and sisters due to curable diseases, senseless wars, lack of access to food and water? Do you hear a little voice in your mansions, an innocent Child, an orphan calling for mom, dad, grandpa or grandma who are no where to be seen or heard to curdle and warm them up?
Furthermore African leaders, do you hear our young women being raped in broad day light? Did you look in their eyes, see and feel the pain and helplessness in them for simply wanting basic necessities of survival for them and their children? Do you notice the agony, fear, and depression in our mothers and fathers for lack of security for the future of their children? Is it worth being called a leader when the very people you lead have no hope whatsoever? How can you or dear you go to bed and sleep at night knowing thousands don’t have a place to sleep, clothes to wear, and food to eat? African leaders, our people need you; they want you, adore you, and most importantly rely on you to rescue and protect them and their children. Restore their hopes, dignity, respect and pride. You have the responsibility to do so and they will never ever forgive you for failing them.
To our people, I conclude in silence and prayers and mourn with you for the lost and sufferings. The world hears you, feels you and ought to be with you both in your fears and agony. The world has a moral responsibility not to abandon you and your children. One day, someone, somewhere will wipe your tears, restore your hopes, embrace your children and place you in equal footing with the rest of humanity.
Peace and equality Africa
“Truth crushed to earth shall rise again” Dr. King
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Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jun 2006 : 00:22:43
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| Thanks Beldeh. A wonderful master piece. Like my garrny would say, you did not spend your shool pocket money on ATTAYA. |
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