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Momodou
Denmark
11723 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 23:03:15
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Editorial
Ten Thousand Man (Woman) March
AN APRC RALLY OR A MARCH AGAINST COUP AND FOR DEMOCRACY?
 The ten thousand man (woman) march scheduled for 15th April, 2006 is now history. The National mobilizer of the APRC indicated that they distributed 10,000 T-shirts. Our findings confirm that public corporations, departments, banks, hotels, private enterprises, NGOs, youth and women organizations, student groups, educational Institutions, journalists, and other civil organisations were requested to mobilize those under them to participate in the event. The impression was given that the fundamental objective of the march was to say no to coup and yes to democracy. This is a captivating slogan for democrats. Many people took the courage to attend because of the slogan. Radio and TV programmes were launched to sensitize the population against coups. It was declared that a revolution was in the making to put an end to coup d'etat in the Gambia. This is why in the crowd one found sympathizers of the opposition.
However, when the President started to speak he read a slogan which indicated "No to Coup and yes to democracy" and then indicated that if he is asked his opinion as to whether there should be a coup d'etat or not some will be shocked by his reply. People were indeed shocked when he stated that a coup d'etat to overthrow a government that has betrayed a country and her people was justifiable. The president even went as far as to call for a coup if he betrays the country but added that there will never be a cause to overthrow him because he will never betray the people. While the organizers preached the doctrine to put an end to the culture of coup in the Gambia, once and for all, the President preached that coups to salvage a Country from a leadership that has betrayed it is justifiable. The President and the organizers did not speak the same language.
To confirm that the occasion was a rally instead of a state affair the President went to declare that those who want to replace him should be as patient as vultures; that he will have to use the oil money to create prosperity and attain what is stipulated in Vision 2020 before handing over. He said that even though an opposition is good he described the type of opposition in the country as one that is either tribalist, power hungry and greedy and another which claims to be knowledgeable but lacks intelligence. He swore that such people cannot become headmen of villages not to talk about being President. He also expressed his readiness to combat all foreign threats.
Foroyaa is still questioning what the organizers of the march wished to achieve? They claimed that they wanted to put a definite end to the culture of coups but the president said that some coups are justified in contravention to all the established principles. Secondly, the President calls for National Unity but instead attacked the opposition using derogatory remarks to show his hostility.
Lastly, instead of promoting democracy, that is the empowerment of the people to determine their manner of government he was preaching why he should rule indefinitely.
We now wonder which opposition leader would attend such activities given the unpredictability of what could be said and done to undermine the very principle and purpose of holding them. It should now be clear to the Gambian people that all that glitters is not gold. The wise therefore must have foresight not to follow bandwagons only to find oneself in the wrong company.
Coup can occur only in places where the people are not empowered to take charge of their destiny. The aftermath of coups is to establish transitional administrations that do not derive their authority from the will of the people. Coups are never justifiable under constitutions and regional conventions. An administration that is genuinely committed to democracy will never see coups as an option to charge. Instead it will preach for people to remove them from office if they are dissatisfied with its manner of government. We can safely say that the people left the ten thousand man/woman march more confused than they were when they came. People should therefore depend on their own powers to determine what happens in the Country rather than depend in the pronouncement of leaders. Once they are conscious of their own powers they will not be confused by leader.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 29/2006, 17-19 April, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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