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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 16:36:42
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This brialliant computation and sober analysis by Mathew Jallow on recent Gambian election results is good reading for a clear BIG PICTURE.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200702051596.html
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Karamba |
Edited by - Karamba on 06 Feb 2007 16:37:51 |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 18:05:33
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The silent majority was there and chose not to vote for the opposition because they didn't represent their interests otherwise if they did Jammeh would not still be there. So by choosing not to vote they let him stay in power. Yes Karamba it is a sober analysis of the bigger picture. Clearly shows voter apathy because voters don't trust the opposition and therefore by default decided to be lead by Jammeh by not using their vote to vote out the APRC. So they must be getting something right.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 06 Feb 2007 18:07:00 |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 18:05:33
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The silent majority was there and chose not to vote for the opposition because they didn't represent their interests otherwise if they did Jammeh would not still be there. So by choosing not to vote they let him stay in power. Yes Karamba it is a sober analysis of the bigger picture. Clearly shows voter apathy because voters don't trust the opposition and therefore by default decided to be lead by Jammeh by not using their vote to vote out the APRC. So they must be getting something right.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 06 Feb 2007 18:07:00 |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 18:30:48
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You are right sister, I still have trouble with the legitimacy of the polls considering the atmosphere presently preveiling in the Gambia's political enviroment. However, if the people have taken their stands, not in a violent way but just to come out and vote against Jammeh especially given the fact that all the other opponents are better recommendations than the president, we would not have being in this situation. I do not accept the suggestion that Disunity in the opposition is a factor because that has always existed since 1996.
This is the bed we made for ourselves. We must now sleep on it. The people will always get a government they deserve.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 18:30:48
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You are right sister, I still have trouble with the legitimacy of the polls considering the atmosphere presently preveiling in the Gambia's political enviroment. However, if the people have taken their stands, not in a violent way but just to come out and vote against Jammeh especially given the fact that all the other opponents are better recommendations than the president, we would not have being in this situation. I do not accept the suggestion that Disunity in the opposition is a factor because that has always existed since 1996.
This is the bed we made for ourselves. We must now sleep on it. The people will always get a government they deserve.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 18:35:14
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I think there are several reasons why people don't vote - apathy (as Sister Omega rightly says); fear of voting against the all seeing/all knowing power (Better to stay silent than to be targeted for your opposition...) and lack of information/understanding of what is (may be) actually going on around you. (What you don't know about - you don't care about: this is the biggest reason why my sudents don't vote in elections!)
If I were Jammeh though, I'd be worried about such a large majority who did not vote for me - silence does speak quite loudly at times.... |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 18:35:14
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I think there are several reasons why people don't vote - apathy (as Sister Omega rightly says); fear of voting against the all seeing/all knowing power (Better to stay silent than to be targeted for your opposition...) and lack of information/understanding of what is (may be) actually going on around you. (What you don't know about - you don't care about: this is the biggest reason why my sudents don't vote in elections!)
If I were Jammeh though, I'd be worried about such a large majority who did not vote for me - silence does speak quite loudly at times.... |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 19:11:15
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Every coin has two sides. The picture that suits the viewer is the one more frequently viewed. If I have to buy one idea, it has to be what Lily raised on why Jammeh must be worried for not sweeping the votes. By the manner Jammeh conducts, it appears that he is worried and that produces lot of chemical reactions in his dealing with the situation. He blames even his own shadow for not shading dark enough to cover the good image of his opponents. Until an opinion polls is carried to know why the compact bulk of voters stayed at home, it is all subject to debate. It is certain that Jammeh could not beat his chest for sweeping the polls. Gambian voters have refused to vote. That is an issue to cause worry for any populist politician. When people cannot be organised, they are free to get disorganised. Sister Omega, if the bulk of abstained voters were for Mr Jammeh, they would have voted for him to increase the number we all know Jammeh boasts about. Government provided registered voters free transport to distant locations. This was ignored and they never voted. I will still commend Mathew Jallow for bringing up the issue in the way he did. |
Karamba |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 19:11:15
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Every coin has two sides. The picture that suits the viewer is the one more frequently viewed. If I have to buy one idea, it has to be what Lily raised on why Jammeh must be worried for not sweeping the votes. By the manner Jammeh conducts, it appears that he is worried and that produces lot of chemical reactions in his dealing with the situation. He blames even his own shadow for not shading dark enough to cover the good image of his opponents. Until an opinion polls is carried to know why the compact bulk of voters stayed at home, it is all subject to debate. It is certain that Jammeh could not beat his chest for sweeping the polls. Gambian voters have refused to vote. That is an issue to cause worry for any populist politician. When people cannot be organised, they are free to get disorganised. Sister Omega, if the bulk of abstained voters were for Mr Jammeh, they would have voted for him to increase the number we all know Jammeh boasts about. Government provided registered voters free transport to distant locations. This was ignored and they never voted. I will still commend Mathew Jallow for bringing up the issue in the way he did. |
Karamba |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 20:25:48
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I think Gambia has a ingrained culture of silence within society. The media bill has inhibited freedom of expression divergent views. GRTS needs to be more imaginative and use its media for the actual development of all the country, and not just to curry favour with the President by showing unedited tapes all day about the President's every move. This is not progressive media use for the ordinary citizen or does it utilise the power of delivering public education and entertainment.
Nyarikangbanna, I agree with you "The people will always get a government they deserve." Yes and as the polls indicated they sure have. Another is the lack of interest Gambian men themselves take in politics. For example how many of the men on the bantabaa decided to vote between the 18-30 when they were in Gambia.
Lily said "If I were Jammeh though, I'd be worried about such a large majority who did not vote for me - silence does speak quite loudly at times...."
Yes, it sure can but it may just be a complete disinterest in and mistrust of politicians. Voting apathy afterall is a worldwide symptom of the democratic process especially when there is little proportional representation.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 06 Feb 2007 20:27:53 |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 20:25:48
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I think Gambia has a ingrained culture of silence within society. The media bill has inhibited freedom of expression divergent views. GRTS needs to be more imaginative and use its media for the actual development of all the country, and not just to curry favour with the President by showing unedited tapes all day about the President's every move. This is not progressive media use for the ordinary citizen or does it utilise the power of delivering public education and entertainment.
Nyarikangbanna, I agree with you "The people will always get a government they deserve." Yes and as the polls indicated they sure have. Another is the lack of interest Gambian men themselves take in politics. For example how many of the men on the bantabaa decided to vote between the 18-30 when they were in Gambia.
Lily said "If I were Jammeh though, I'd be worried about such a large majority who did not vote for me - silence does speak quite loudly at times...."
Yes, it sure can but it may just be a complete disinterest in and mistrust of politicians. Voting apathy afterall is a worldwide symptom of the democratic process especially when there is little proportional representation.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 06 Feb 2007 20:27:53 |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 23:21:44
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Yes, sister, I agree with you about apathy and disinterest.
I also agree about GRTS - certainly not progressive media - but if your main sources of funding are governmental - what choice do you have? |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 23:21:44
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Yes, sister, I agree with you about apathy and disinterest.
I also agree about GRTS - certainly not progressive media - but if your main sources of funding are governmental - what choice do you have? |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 23:31:16
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Looking at different countries to see how they developed there media after all most countries started off with one station ran and sponsored by the government. But where the government had a media strategy to perserve their culture and utilised it for the benefit of development their media industry has thrived i.e India. The station could also attract business investors into the sector. It just calls for greater imagination to develop the industry.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 23:31:16
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Looking at different countries to see how they developed there media after all most countries started off with one station ran and sponsored by the government. But where the government had a media strategy to perserve their culture and utilised it for the benefit of development their media industry has thrived i.e India. The station could also attract business investors into the sector. It just calls for greater imagination to develop the industry.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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