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Biraago
Gambia
173 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Apr 2006 : 05:53:32
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Culled from Xibaar Info
SELF-EXPOSURE of Gambian Politicians
By Xibaar collective 5 april 2006
These last three years are the most revealing for the Gambian, voters offering an indept understanding of their political leaders. Opionion builders are enjoying the general self-exposure some of our leaders without the tidious efforts of research and investigative scrutiny.
Jammeh
Through its investigations of blood monies in Arica, the United Nations revealed to he whole world the president and together with APRC majority leader in the National Assembly Baba Jobe and some clients of their’s are some of the worst criminals the planet has seen in it’s history. Jammeh’s millenium Airline which Jobe was the managing director was at the center of the brutal dismemberment, murder and other crimes commited against the people of Sierra Leaone and Liberia in the past decade.
The PDOIS also exposed the lack of state auditing since 1992 and the missing funds at the Central bank among other institutions. Jammeh kowing that, he could be arrested and taken to the world court for crimes against humanity, he send a stooge in the name of Lamin sedat Jobe to refute all claims against Baba Jobe but when the UN became insistent, he had to sacrifies Baba and sent him to jail for 9 years. He sent Lang Conteh of the Central Bank to jail for a period of 8 month for stilling over 250 million Dalasis (a record) after a deal so as to keep the public quiet. Some officials at the Central Bank and other institutions were also dismissed from their jobs, investigated by a special commission, found guilty and asked to refund the state but without the enforcement of the libels aginst them because the last decision lies in Jammeh’s hands as the supreme judge.
However, he turned his disgrace against the opporsition whose ranks are ever swelling and whose formidable alliance for the common goal (due to Jammeh’s abrogation of the second round of voting in the presidential elections by amending the constitution) is evidently accepted as spelling the end of the civilian coated military regime, by all Gambians including the APRC members. There is no provision for the alliance of parties to fill in candidates for elections resulting in the creation of a political party bearing the same name, the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD). Consequently, the opposition parties that had seats in theNational assembly lost their seats and a by-election took place seeing them under the same umbrella. Despite inducement, harassment, intimidation and the sacking of village heads and state officials suspected to be sympathetic to the opposition, NADD manage to return three of its candidates to the National Assembly with a greater majority.
Jammeh’s political and military insecurity after provoking neighbouring Senegal through a by-pass of common agreements and the exorbitant increment of ferry tariffs followed by border closure by the Senegalese government subsequent to a Senegalese transport workers strike punctured the pretentious (political, economic, military) shield that was boasted about for a decade. Jammeh exposed his vulnerability when he, with the help of Nigeria’s president Olusegun Obasanjo bowed shamelessly to al Senegalese demands and offered even more. He publicly accepted the blame, for the unfortunate, pre-meditated and unfortunate conflict with the people who are not only our international souvereign neighbours but also our kith and kin.
As a smoke screen to cover his disgrace we witnessed the arrest and detention of some leaders of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (opporsition Coalition), namely Halifa Sallah from the Peoples Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), Omar Amadou Jallow allias O J of the former ruling people’s progressive party (PPP), charged with sedition and hamat Bah od the national Reconciliation Party (NRP), charged with the illegal posession of official document (we were first told that, they were investigations of subversive activities and threats to national security). Jammeh publicly promissed that, some members of the opposition would not live to witness the forth coming elections and that he could kill 20,000 Gambians and go to bed to so-called safe the country.
The AFRC’s reluctant signing of the Inter-party Memorandum of understanding after Jammeh’s resistance for months is one of the most significant signs of weakness from the side of the dictator. It was used as a pretext to proclaim a so-called reconciliation with the opporsition parties who gave him 5 working days to appologize or face a process of impeachment. He made a plea with Olusegun Obasanjo again to rescue him from the internal threat to his crumbling empire.
After labelling the PPP government leaders he deposed as traitors to the Gambian national development, corrupt, incompetent, nepotic among other charges to justify his criminal, callous and cowardly act of Coup D’etat, he then turned to Sir Dawda Jawara and other members of the old regime and some in the opporsition for a political rescue by using corruption (giving back seized properties), nepotism (offering state jobs), political leadership in the APRC among oher things.
What we are witnessing now is the aftermath of a so-called foiled Coup attempt against his regime in which military personel and civilians are arrested in the dozens, arraigned over the TV, pre-empting justice and the process of the laws and the constitution of the nation that he vowed to protect as a president.
This event is one of the greatest exposures of Jammeh’s ineptitude and incompetence as a manager of a mouse cage much more being a president of a country. While thanking some officers: “for standing against these cowardly plotters and foiled their treacherous act” claimimg: “I will set an example that would put a definitive end to these ruthless, callous and shameless acts of treachery and sabotage”. Jammeh had forgotten that He is the Secretary of satae for defense and the commander in chief of the armed forces. He also forgot the fact that, He came to power through the same means. So in actual fact, insulting himself. After days of un-lawful detention, people are intimidated discharged without any possibility of compensation. Instead of fighting for their constitutional rights, people are expected to beg the president for mercy and thank and glorify/extol him when released from illegal detention. Every now and again, militants in the diaspora call upon the opposition to lead the people in public demonstrations but the only problem is that, when these people come on holidays, they are as private as a gravestone. No public activity from them.
He is now engaged in an exercise of self-glorification and heroism by working along some busy streets of the main cities cheered by children, mobilised paty militants and stray dogs, to show to the world that he and the country is in perfect security, in anticipation of the next political tool, the AU summit in june-july.
Again ignoring the fact that, he is the secretary of state responcible for energy and was temporarily the secretary of state for communication, Jammeh has turned against the these department officials and call them incompetent and even saboteurs threatening to dismiss some of them soon, after claiming that he has fired untill there is nothing to fire. Why not the chief?
The man is now using the so-called foiled coup plott and the forthcoming African Union summit as rallying cards and to divert attention from his possible ejection by the people come october 2006 presidential elections.
The so-called coup plott is also used a ameans to instill fear in the people and the opposition during this crucial period of campaigning. As a result, some people are getting discouraged by a would be missed chance of peaceful and democratic change and some opportunists are seeing it as best chance to join Jammeh in order to take their share of the booty.
After arson attack and consistent intimidation, the pro-democracy Independent newspaper is again victim to jammeh’s misrule with its editor-in-chief Musa Saidykhan and General Manager Mr Madi Ceesay (president of the Gambia Press Union) arrested and detained.
http://xibaar.bravehost.com
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2006 : 09:03:24
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| Thanks for keeping us well inform on this masterpiece. My comments will follow later as am running late for business. |
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dembis
Sweden
71 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2006 : 11:40:00
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| Is gambians inside gambia smart like the ones living in the diaspora? My god i never knew we are smart and i hope we put this into practice.talk is cheap brothers lets prepare for action.peace |
dembis |
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2006 : 13:36:44
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| Thanks Demba. |
Edited by salimina |
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2006 : 13:56:52
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Demba, in answer to your question, i think smartness is a rearity in the Gambia. Those on the ground are failures and those preparing to go home has only one concept to `party`.A country in which over 69% of the population are below poverty line i think if other( countries) are running we should fly.But the attitudes of the average gambian is questionable.The way we managed individual projects should be a precedent for public service workers. But who cares?
The oxymoron of the day is NADD would do wonders if elected but i think the term limit is too small to set a real platform for development.They need to revisit that policy.Our institutions are at quare one.Five years is not the answer.
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Edited by salimina |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2006 : 18:16:09
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Biraago
Thanks for letting us read this piece. It is wonderful and well written. I am lost for words but will come back to the piece again. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2006 : 01:35:26
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| Bantaba is very resourceful of current political events of our dear motherland. The topics are excellent and came in different forms but the substance are all similar and we tend to re-cycle them over and over again. We need to target reaching the masses or grassroots at home to make this forum more meaningful and effective. Can we assign the Admministrators to compile some our discussions and release it for circulation in our local newspapers and make commentaries in the radios and even our national television to promote democracy and freedom of expressions. Bantaba should be advertised in our local papers and allow them free access and downloads to publish political materials as they deemed necessary to promote democracy. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2006 : 01:41:37
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that is a good idea but it cost money to publish the pieces in the gambian newspapers. It is a good idea and may be we will have some suggestions or the papaers can cull it directly as private opinions in which case it will not attract fees. Currently the bantaba is not charging any fees for annoucements or commercial and therefor has no finanacial base to pay for pub;ication in the papers. The lastime i checked about 5 years ago, a full page advertisement was D1500.00
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“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2006 : 02:07:00
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| As far as I see it, this Xbaar info sums up "Self-exposure of the true colours of Jammeh's rule; Master of the art of manipulation of Gambian system, ignorance, weaknesses and the pathetic situation, short-sightedness and how dis-orientated the Gambian society is, etc." In this sense as we are on a vicious cycle we should unite to put the pieces together and uplift ourselves in this menace in a more organise and structured manner. There are lots of good ideals posted in this forum but are not gathered, documented and structured in the best useful format and resolutions to address the political issues that we are confronted with or come up with proper defined goals, objectives and stratefies. Any comments are highly welcome inorder to achieve an ultimate aim or in particular democratisationn of Gambia. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2006 : 02:18:45
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| Kondorong we are not doing marketing adverstisement. I would proposed that they should be made aware of this forum as a source of useful political information concerning Gambians subscribed by both Gambians living local and abroad. Let them be aware of the existence of the forum to affilliate or asscociate with them in the transmission of sound and/or critical opinions by Gambians sharing their ideas through the net for the development of the nation. We are learning a lot through Bantaba's hot topics and should share the knowledge with those at home and in other parts of the world. |
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admin
130 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2006 : 16:29:09
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quote:
Originally posted by kobo
Can we assign the Admministrators to compile some our discussions and release it for circulation in our local newspapers and make commentaries in the radios and even our national television to promote democracy and freedom of expressions. Bantaba should be advertised in our local papers and allow them free access and downloads to publish political materials as they deemed necessary to promote democracy.
Kobo, thanks for the suggestion but you don't need the administrator to do that because there is a function which any member can use to send topics with. You can use the link  "Send Topic to a Friend" to any of the local papers or to anyone with an e-mail address. You should be able to see this extra function when you are logged in. Another link at the top of this page is called "Invite a friend" that you can also use. Thanks! |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2006 : 01:57:27
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| Thanks for the prompt reaction. That's useful to us and I promise to use the facility to dessiminate our lively civic discussions and sound opinions as political educational materials for wide circulation and information to them inorder to rally the masses towards a common goal in the democratization process. |
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taalibeh
Gambia
336 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2006 : 12:51:32
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It is only under democratic climate that free flow of imformation is allowed. This is NOT the case at present in the Gambia. It is no secret that most of the material circulating within forums like this one will not be tolerated in the Gambia. Even the legitimate news papers within the country are not allowed to appear within government offices.
you access certain websites like this forum and you are not only dismissed but crushed to death. You read the Observer and see my point. Only prais singing is permitted.
Recommendation of the forum to various friends and comrades back home could facilitate the dissimenation of the diverse ideas and opinions expressed herein. Trying to compile the material for subsequent publication back home will not only waste resources but could contribute to some lost of lives. WHERE IS DEDAY, WHAT HAS BEFELL THE INDEPENDENT NEWS PAPER just to mention a few example.
We are faced with a monsterous situation and we will only triumph through strategy and intelligence. A creation of this forum is one of those intelligent ways of conquering this monster.
THANK YOU MODERATOR ONCE AGAIN. |
Taalibeh |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2006 : 18:28:41
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I think some people in the Gambia already know about the site. Dont be suprised. Even the Green Boys are using it and will not be suprised that they must be fuming every day wishing that we were in the Gambia.the problem is that of access to computers and it is quite expensive to log online. I still beleiev there can be a way.
Taalibeh is right. papers like independent are not subscribed to in public offices including parastatals. The observer seems to be the darling of the government and you all know why. Officially, i am not sure if there is a written directive for that but it seems to be an unwritten rule that no one has questioned yet. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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