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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Oct 2006 : 00:38:32
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Press Release
.........................................................................By STGDP ..................Posted October 11th, 2006
The General elections of 2006 is now history, and STGDP join the entire Gambian community to echo our disappointment and hearth ache with the results of the presidential elections. As an organization, our mission is to see the adoption of an election process whereby there is a reasonable level playing field, the building blocs of democracy, and ultimately the Gambian people having the final say in the outcome of all elections. Presidential elections 2006 were far from that. Theregistration process – an important component to a free and fair election was the first sign of weakness in the process, and the beginning of the fraud. Secondly, for the third time the removal of Chairman of the IEC with the total disregard to theConstitution of the Gambia reinforced a fraud in the making. Finally, the abuse of the office of the Executive, over utilization of his incumbency status with intimidation and scare tactics was the final nail in the coffin for his reelection. President Jammeh might have been reelected for the next five years, with a supposedly clear mandate, but the reality is that Gambia is still confronted with the absence of democracy, rule of law and the Gambian people are yet to be given a fair say to the direction of their country.
After the 2001 General elections, with a similar feeling that we are yet again confronted with, we hunkered down and decided to come up with a battle plan. The plan was very simple, to remove tyranny under Jammeh, replace it with a system that would bring about a level playing field for all political parties, and build the institutions of democracy that would give all Gambians the opportunity to have a say in the direction of our country. The plan was to facilitate a coalition of opposition parties, raise the necessary funds, provide them with the ability to communicate to the Gambian people, and to fight tooth and nail to prevent stealing of the election... STGDP believed that this was a viable plan and the best strategy to effectively contest the 2006 presidential election. The coalition of opposition parties was created, funds were been raised with the help of local chapters in the entire USA and a Radio station was installed directly beamed to the Gambia. In the early part of the coalition, funds were raised, interviews were conducted with the leaders of the coalition over the Radio and there was excitement and expectation among all Gambians. Our successes in the by- elections were clear indications that the plan has legs and ultimately can prevail.
The NADD coalition was seen by many Gambians both in Diaspora and home as a good shot at bringing an end to tyranny.
The NADD coalition disintegrated, and the hopes of most Gambians spiral to hopelessness, and resulted to emotional warfare among the factions of the breakup coalition. STGDP, an organization tied like an umbilical cord to the NADD coalition, also experienced fracture within its ranks which led to the beginning of our impotency and ineffectiveness. The reality was that the opposition was relying on the single durable support from the voices of the Diaspora; unfortunately, that voice was nowhere to be found and the cyber warriors high jacked the plan. STGDP became impotent, and fairly or unfairly was seen as a partisan and was never able to put things back together... In the absence of a single voice of the Diaspora, the cyber warriors redirected their efforts to fight the survival of their parties’ agendas. That was the beginning of the end for a serious challenge to the Jammeh tyranny. Just like the enthusiasm in the Diaspora, our cousins back home saw the disintegration of the coalition as the last hope, and begin to entertain the idea of another five year term under tyranny. As President Jammeh fought for his re-election, he even fast forwarded the election calendar to prevent us from any chance of putting it back together. Now the rest is history. President Jammeh and his supporters are busy celebrating their landslide victory. Just like us in the Diaspora, the voters back home saw the disintegration as the beginning of the end for our chance of putting out our best and effective armor to fight an effective battle to uproot an entrenched tyrant. We failed to put our best plan to counter a formidable foe, and unfortunately we lost.
Finally, STGDP would like to thank all Gambians living in the Diaspora. As a people we refused to give up on our country.
Even though, we are living better across the board: better access to clean drinking water, better access to healthcare, better access to shelter, better access to quality education, better access to liberty, freedom and basic rights as human beings.
These are the very things we are fighting for, and would like to see that one day Gambians in the entire country will have access to these rights. Abject and extreme poverty is indeed a violation of human rights, and we will continue to fight to bring an end to all forms of violation of human rights in the Gambia. For us living in the Diaspora, we will continue to disagree, fight sometimes ferociously, but in the final analysis it is worth it because the survival of our self is at stake. For STGDP, we are indeed disappointed but not down for good, we will regroup and will continue to find ways to make a difference in our quest to find peace and prosperity in the Gambia. The next game plan has just begun.
Thanks
STGDP
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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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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2006 : 00:52:45
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Opinion.
Honestly speaking, i expected more from STGDP, though i appreciate their honesty and efforts.
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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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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2006 : 01:27:18
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Dalton1,
I belief in democracy and the truth is as we accepted the IEC to over see the elections,I respect their decission and I expect all true democrats to accept the verdict of the IEC.
Bro Dalton1,
The real truth is,Gambians don't trust a divided opposition that is in paralysis.Let us not be sanctimonious here.Gambians are not pilistinist as some people think they are.Look we had independance in 1965,about 40 years ago.So people are no fools anymore.Some have been in politic b4 some of us were born.So they know who is who.How can one entrust an entire nation to people who are themselves in shambles and would say one thing today and do another tomorrow?Come-on my brother!
Peole have entrusted the running of their affairs to Dr. Jammeh and who ever goes against that, goes against the wishes of the Gambian people.Let the truth judge us all.
If Jammeh does to the expectation of the people,that is what they expected of him.If on the other hand he fails them,well he is under oath to serve them and that will be against him here and after him.
peace
Janyanfara |
Edited by - Janyanfara on 12 Oct 2006 01:34:47 |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2006 : 02:01:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Janyanfara
The real truth is,Gambians don't trust a divided opposition that is in paralysis.Let us not be sanctimonious here.Gambians are not pilistinist as some people think they are.Look we had independance in 1965,about 40 years ago.So people are no fools anymore.Some have been in politic b4 some of us were born.So they know who is who.How can one entrust an entire nation to people who are themselves in shambles and would say one thing today and do another tomorrow?Come-on my brother!
Janyanfara
Bro. Jany.,
I share your sentiments. Gambians don't.
We hope a strong,unified and committed people will see the light soon. |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2006 : 14:53:46
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Thanks bro Dalton1,
This is the plain truth and can't be disputed |
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2006 : 17:58:56
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I concur with brother Janyanfara. You really have to look at all the pros and cons of abandoning the status quo to join an opposition group that was evidently heading for disaster. Many people under estimated the threat of an incumbent and how much voting against them will impact a people and or their region.
Gambians are very conscious of the threat and intimidation they have been living with under this regime during the last decade. They would rather not go through that again by trying to align themselves with the government. There is no one who can protect them from the tugs that are willing to do anything to keep Jammeh in power.
It cannot be worst for Gambians. They have seen their sons, daughters and other love ones disappear in broad day light and nothing came out of it. Who would want to stand up against such threats especially with the preconceive notion that African politicians historically don't seems to make any difference anyway.
Gambians voted on their fear of being victimized in both the political and economic front. Even the Badibunkas who have been in the opposition camp forever decided they want a piece of the pie that Yahya Jammeh apparently owns and is distributing base on his support. The situation really made sense for our much beaten people to subdue and save what is left in their security.
The real threat and the people who are suppose to take the heat are the opposition and their so called intellectual supporters expecially in the Diaspora. The people who were making all kind of noise about the opposition split but did not have a clue what the situation was should be called to attention. We should revitalize the debate and dig out the likes of Mathew Jallow, Daffeh and many others from both camps to revisit our contributions. Those who we suspected will raise their voices only to retreat to a save harbor after the elections, should be flushed out and held partly responsible for what lead to this mess.
As for STGDP, they should be given the credit they deserve for initiating the brilliant idea of formulating a plan to dislodge Jammeh. The idea was one of the best opportunities we have had for a long time to change our regime. The fact that these people whoever they are will sacrifice their times and dedicated that for a good course in Gambia is commendable. At the same time, they can come up with the idea of a coalition but they do not have control over other parties. Hate them or love them, they are true patriots who went above and beyond partisan interest to bring the opposition together. If all Gambians had formed similar groups, we would have achieved our goal of changing the regime. |
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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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2006 : 23:50:30
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Baldeh, the type of unity you are crying for will never happen.UDP has a hard earned right of leadership in Gambian opposition politics and nobody is going to force them to surrender that other the people who gave it to them. This is the fact that I have always recognise and that is why I respect them. Those who don't like it and go to hell. It was the people who decided UDP's faith and I respect that decision. Ok
See you during Parliamentary election campaign time.
Bye |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 00:40:04
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Baldeh,
a short & beautiful piece. I spoke with Mathew about 2 weeks ago, and he said he is not coming online till dec.
And i fully concur too. With parliamentary elections at the corner, lets see if they will all push in for unity.
Thanks. |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 23:29:11
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Thanks guys for the contribution. Nyarikangbanna, am not calling for any miraculous unity other than the fact that we have collective interest in bringing change for the better. After all the interest of the people should be first rather than any individual group of people regardless of who they are. Sometimes if you want it all you end up losing it all.
This is exactly what happened. No one camp were willing to sacrifice their end for a collective results. It was the Gambian people who gave the UDP the support they enjoyed and it was the same people who were calling for a unity. It was the voice of the people who brought them together in the first place.
The hopes and aspirations of the people were shattered by the break up and the damage unfortunately cannot be undone. It is meaningless what happens during the up coming parliamentary elections. It is obvious everyone wants to be with the winning camp and that is the APRC.
Our self destructive opposition leaders should just park their bags and head for the unknown world. They have done an incredible job of washing away the little trust and confidence the people had in them. No matter their political and social history, we have dead political leaders struggling for their last breath.
I hope we all learn from this bitter lesson, revisit our conscience, rediscover our strength and accept our weaknesses for a better future. Our strength lies in our collective ability to reason and act in a manner consistent with our values, norms and reality. Gambia deserves nothing less than the highest standard of leadership, economic prosperity, and equal treatment for all. There is no more room for political deception and insincerity. I call on each and everyone of us to self critique and come out with fresh ideas for the future. Gambia needs us today more than ever. History will hold us accountable for failing to do everything possible to protect the future of our country. It is time to go back to work fellows... |
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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