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BambaLaye
USA
100 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 17:25:42
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Exposing Jammeh’s Fraud – What Needs to Be Done (II)
Intimidation, Manipulation and Misuse of State Resources
There is abundance of proof Jammeh has jumped on every opportunity to skew the electoral competition to his advantage through crude and sometimes illegal methods. He has not hesitated to use his toadies and thugs to obstruct the opposition and its supporters. He took every opportunity to coerce, frighten and pressure ordinary citizens into believing he is the best thing since Kanilai.
He has stacked the IEC with his closet stalwarts and in effect blatantly jeopardized the independence of the IEC. He has succeeded in controlling the state media to use it at his discretion. The IEC has served Jammeh’s purpose by failing to enforce electoral laws against the A(F)PRC.
The decision by the IEC to set the presidential election date to September 22 was not by accident. The IEC decision was intentionally contradictory to the electoral laws in that it contravened the requirement within the constitution that all stakeholders be consulted to set the election date. A much more devastating effect of this decision is that in case of defeat, Jammeh will have to stay in power beyond the constitutionally mandated sixty days since his current five year tenure is to officially end at year end. In its bid to satisfy Jammeh’s whims, the IEC has single handedly committed the biggest constitutional blunder in the history of elections in The Gambia. It is obvious the IEC will continue to serve Jammeh’s purpose. The opposition should not expect the IEC to take any of their complaints about A(F)PRC violations seriously; they tend to dismiss these on the basis of some absurd technicalities.
UDP/NRP has just reported their campaign team was recently waylaid by Jammeh’s thugs in the Brikamaba area. There cannot be a more brazen example of what Jammeh is ready to do. He will do anything to increase the pressure on opposition activists by denying them of services and benefits they are legally entitled to, such as state security and the right to hold rallies. Instead, they could be arrested and jailed, beaten up or even murdered. These cowardly acts could send a chilling message effectively creating a climate of fear.
Jammeh has also applied more subtle pressures like threatening to sack those civil servants suspected of being opposition supporters reducing their families and dependents to derelicts overnight. Jammeh may even go to the extent of trying to keep opposition candidates off the ballot by levying unfounded accusations of treason; by attempting to murder them; or by declaring them ineligible according to his dictates. They have already started talking about Henry Gomez’s (GDP) legibility to contest elections. These are some of the blunt ways Jammeh will attempt to rid himself of any threat to his throne.
In addition to threats and thuggish ways applied by local organizers and A(F)PRC campaigners; they have reportedly used gifts and effectively bought votes from opposition supporters in the past.
By coercing government officials and cabinet members to do his biding for him, Jammeh is involved in the most blatant, most assiduous misuse of state resources not withstanding the fact that he behaves as if he owns the state. He has mobilized state employees to campaign for him at government offices; they have used government vehicles and state owned fuel to travel to rallies; paid allowances to those officials on his campaign trail; the list goes on.
Jammeh has never faltered his use of the control he has over the state media. He has repeatedly used the avenue to trance on the opposition at his discretion. He has ensured that independent media is dead by all means. He has proven many times he will not hesitate to detain, threaten or physically attacked and murder any journalist that is sympathetic to the opposition view. He has succeeded in doctoring laws that protect his behind on the pretext of anti-defamation. He has succeeded in restricting free speech by all means.
Moreover, while GRTS and the Daily Observer are ensuring coverage emphasis on issues and problems amongst the opposition, other privately owned media are understandably economical in their coverage of the gigantic strides made by the opposition. Fair play does not exist in the media coverage despite cosmetic attempts like the recent one hour program by Malick Jones where he invited the opposition leaders. That was a commendable feat by GRTS but is a pee-wee effort compared to the constant coverage of Jammeh’s theatrics.
It is unfortunate the opposition can do virtually nothing to avert some of the blatant misuse of state resources and obvious biases manifested by the IEC. One thing they can certainly do is to apprise themselves of these violations, monitor and document all violations and more importantly come up with countermeasures to alleviate the effects on their voter empathy.
They can endeavor to strengthen their strategies in those areas where the violations have the greatest impact. They should always find indigenous ways and means to counteract the violations and accrue more support while on the campaign trail. Standing up to the thugs will have to be the game plan and ensuring any attempt to instill fear and intimidation tactics on the opposition activist is equally reciprocated, albeit in self defense.
The opposition must be particularly mindful of last minute changes to the election process by the IEC. Such changes are intended to undermine fair play and confuse the electorate in favor of the A(F)PRC. The IEC could possibly close off critical parts of the process against scrutiny by the opposition and the public or other independent monitors.
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 17:53:01
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quote:
Originally posted by BambaLaye
Exposing Jammeh?s Fraud ? What Needs to Be Done (II)
Intimidation, Manipulation and Misuse of State Resources
He has stacked the IEC with his closet stalwarts and in effect blatantly jeopardized the independence of the IEC. He has succeeded in controlling the state media to use it at his discretion. The IEC has served Jammeh?s purpose by failing to enforce electoral laws against the A(F)PRC.
The decision by the IEC to set the presidential election date to September 22 was not by accident. The IEC decision was intentionally contradictory to the electoral laws in that it contravened the requirement within the constitution that all stakeholders be consulted to set the election date. A much more devastating effect of this decision is that in case of defeat, Jammeh will have to stay in power beyond the constitutionally mandated sixty days since his current five year tenure is to officially end at year end. In its bid to satisfy Jammeh?s whims, the IEC has single handedly committed the biggest constitutional blunder in the history of elections in The Gambia. It is obvious the IEC will continue to serve Jammeh?s purpose. The opposition should not expect the IEC to take any of their complaints about A(F)PRC violations seriously; they tend to dismiss these on the basis of some absurd technicalities.
Mawdo Jallow,
What a master piece bro. Keep it up ! Forward it as usual to other forums too.
SIH JOMIRADOH JABBIH, WEHTAI.
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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BambaLaye
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 18:31:05
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Some of these issues are quite obvious, but it helps to remind the opposition not to take them for granted. Please share your perspective with us as to how these frauds can be averted.
Thanks, |
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Edited by - BambaLaye on 16 Aug 2006 18:32:37 |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 07:49:08
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quote:
Originally posted by BambaLaye
Some of these issues are quite obvious, but it helps to remind the opposition not to take them for granted. Please share your perspective with us as to how these frauds can be averted.
Thanks,
Bamba-Abdoulie,
mine was a poem in another direction. The "blunder" you mentioned emphasized for your score.
If you missed the thread, here is link.
http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1442
let me know what you think as time permits you. |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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