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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Nov 2009 : 15:07:56
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Daily News Editorial
Free and Fair Election: A Pre-requisite for Democracy.
Elections are one way of measuring the democratic status of a country, organizations or social groupings of people. However only holding of elections is not enough to determine how democratic a country is. The democratic status of a country is far more than only holding regular elections, and elections by themselves are not only casting of ones ballot token, it is a process.
Years before the dates of the elections, political parties and their members must be allowed to hold their campaigns in a free and fair manner, if that opportunity is not given, the end result of any elections will be considered not free and fair. It is the sole responsibility of governments to ensure that a free and fair election is held.
In a country where the opposition parties are restricted to hold political party rallies, by any means will undermine a free and fair election. There should be no restrictions of political parties holding rallies in a non-state of emergency, either by government or its agents, like the police.
What governments all over the world should note, particularly countries in the third world that have no presidential term limits and the only hope for people who look for change of governments lie in free and fair elections, is that they should allow their opponents to freely gather and talk to their supporters. If any government cannot guarantee this, then that government cannot claim to have held a free and fair election.
It is very disappointing, and disgusting that innocent supporters of opposition parties are killed on our continent every other day in the name of security. We wonder whose security it is. It was only a few weeks ago that a hundred and fifty (150) innocent civilians were killed in Guinea Conakry, for no other crime but one of their constitutional rights of peaceful gathering. It has happened in other countries on our continent and it will continue to happen if governments are not respecting the laws of their own countries, and the human rights of the people they govern.
The government of the Gambia should not allow itself to fall victim of such an unlawful act. The act of restricting certain opposition parties from holding their constitutional rights of meetings tantamount to under mining a free and fair poll in the 2011 general elections. Since the constitution of the Gambia allows and guarantees the right to assembly, it will make no sense for any body for that matter to want to disperse such gatherings.
The Inter-party committee should not allow such attempts by anybody to disrupt lawful gatherings by convening a meeting now so as to address it once and for all. The same committee should communicate to the police who are the agents used in the forceful means of dispersing such meetings. We would like to join the Foroyaa editorial of last week in their call for the issue of refusals of permits to be brought to the attention of the Inter-party committee.
Even though the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has little mandate out side of election campaign periods in the issuance of permits for political parties to hold public rallies, it is not out of place for them to see what could be done about political parties being denied permits to hold meetings.
A free and fair election as indicated in the opening paragraphs of this editorial is not only about casting ballot tokens at elections. A free and fair election is a whole process. It ranges from registration of eligible voters, to campaigns, and counting of votes, these are all interrelated.
To conclude the police, should note that it is a constitutional right of people to freely assemble, and to join any political, religious and what ever grouping of their choice. Any attempt to disrupt such gatherings tantamount to violating the citizens’ rights. In fact in doing so peoples lives can be at danger, a possibility of lives being lost cannot be ruled out. Every thing should be done to avoid a situation where the kinds of things that happened in Guinea some few weeks ago happen here. When the law enforcement agencies are dealing with a crowd much care should be taken.
Source: The Daily News
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2009 : 22:56:59
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Thank you Momodou,
Your input in perspective is both relevant and timely. Quite frankly, it is time Gambians realise that they have no such rights to exercise by Yaya Jammeh standards. Gambians have no rights on that small piece of land we all call home.
The coup in 1994 was done with the sole purpose of taking polical power and civil rights controlled by force of arms. Let Gambians stop making fools of themselves.
Should anyone take it that Yaya Jammeh will live by principles of civil rights, that is one great folly. The man knows only force and will only respect force.
Wait a minute. yes, force, but not force of gun power. Citizens have a right to challenge any ugly nature of bad governance as now prevails. The whole population of Gambia need refusing the bad laws and press for good laws. That means total defiance of the criminal military scheme of Yaya Jammeh.
Until he is dispensed off, Yaya is not prepared to reason. This is now going over the mark and Gambians have to stand for the truth.
Enough of military manipulation. |
Karamba |
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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2009 : 08:29:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Karamba
Thank you Momodou,
Your input in perspective is both relevant and timely....
Karamba, thanks but the honour should go to Madi Ceesay and co. at the Daily News. It's their Editorial I forwarded above. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2009 : 20:01:41
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Still to thank you Momodou,
More thanks to Madi and company in sharing their observations. |
Karamba |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2009 : 15:57:54
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Civic education, editorials from online papers and political debates does not have any effect for radical changes to Gambia government towards good governance! Since Jammeh taste power the political climate has always been characterised by authoritarian rule, state anarchy, opportunism, victimisation and biased against the opposition
Forooya newspaper, Gambia Journal and lots of online papers have done a lot for consciouness of Gambians over the years and every time elections are coming without any effect to this regime! During 2006 elections when it became evident that opposition coalition is created and might be a good challenge, President Jammeh decided to change tactics to demolise them. He hired and fired officials of I.E.C and dictate its operations and programs clandestinely (for e.g. Ndondi Njie became a victim). There is no soveriegnty, hounour and service to the nation? What you see in public service is to subdue, opportunism and pledging allegiance to your employer in the name of The Head Of State and The President Of The Republic Of The Gambia
There is on record a foul-mouth speech of The President with threats and vulgar language to the nation for 2006 speech. Reminding you that he does not care about civilty! He threatens any challenger to his authority to be life President of The Gambia!
Daily news would soon be seen as propaganda media for opposition and enemy to The President; whether fair and balance and in national interests |
Edited by - kobo on 05 Nov 2009 16:31:34 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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