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Momodou
Denmark
11723 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 23:17:21
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HALIFA ON THE 10 THOUSAND MAN (WOMAN) MARCH
Foroyaa: SOS Yankuba Touray indicated that you should be asked by journalists why NADD did not attend the Ten thousand man (woman) March? Can you give an explanation?
Halifa: I will not blame SOS Touray but hopefully he will be guided by our opinion if they are indeed committed to the letter and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the different Political Parties. First and foremost, the concept of unity in diversity should be based on the principle of partnership without nullifying differences in core principles or policies.
For example, I have criticized the Parliamentary Majority for tabling a motion to condemn the coup which they drafted without consultation with the Parliamentary Minority and going on to defend the motion by praising their executive and showing why it should remain in power. Obviously the objective of the parliamentary opposition is to oppose unconstitutional means of charging a government without effacing the grounds why the government should be removed constitutionally.
Hence if the parliamentary majority wanted unity in diversity without introducing any controversy they would have consulted with the parliamentary minority at the drafting stage. In this way, the motion would be couched in a language that could be supported and defended by both sides of parliament. Needless to say, in the defence of the motion no side will involved in promoting partisan interest. In the same vein, a proposal for a nation wide manifestation to oppose coups in general and support democracy could have been discussed at the interparty committee talks for a joint approach to the activity. In this regard, a program would have been organized where all leaders will have equal time to address the Nation on the issue. This is how to promote unity in diversity.
Foroyaa: Is that why NADD did not attend?
Halifa: You know Malick Jones did ask me in an interview whether I was going to attend I indicated that I was still studying the nature of the event. I did precisely that, I followed their television and radio broadcast. It was as clear as noon day that the objective of the programme was to rally people behind their own political agenda instead of a national agenda. This became abundantly clear when the President claimed that coups should not be criticized in general, that coups are justifiable when they are designed to save a Country from National catastrophe.
The situation got worse when he criticized one section of the opposition of being tribalists, power hungry and greedy and the other in pretending to be knowledgeable but not intelligent. The Chief justice, Ambassadors, Imams and many dignitaries were there to listen to this. Who would argue that we should have been present? He even went as far as to say that he will be in office until he implements vision 2020 as if he is the one who decides who is to stay in power. Is this respect for democracy?
Foroyaa: Are you angered by the President's remarks?
Halifa: We have the Memorandum of Understanding and the interparty talks. As leaders any group that has grievances should convey it to the moral guarantor of the memorandum.
We do not have axe to grind with the President. We have a country to develop and a people to inspire. We will not be found wanting in words of wisdom to inspire our people to be among the most enlightened people on the continent. We will not exchange derogatory remark with him. We are going to show that as an alternative government we can show tolerance and battle politics of insult with politics of enlightenment.
I, as flag bearer of NADD, will be issuing a statement on the event as agreed by the Executive Committee which shall be circulated worldwide. This is how matters stand with us. Whatever he says he will justify before the moral guarantor.
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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