| Author |
 Topic  |
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
 Posted - 11 May 2006 : 00:01:49
|
I will not challlenge the allegations of mass increase in numbers of "strangers" in Brika especially at the college who all seem to have cards. This process allows them to sneak in.
Secondly, once a voters card has been issued, the last serial number should be made known to all parties so that additional cards are not issue. Well, then again they can duplicate the numbers and since the sytem is manual, you cannot detect this fraud. Elections are won and lost through registration of voters and nothing else. The voting process or the campaign have nothing to do with winning or loosing |
“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.” |
 |
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 10:00:45
|
| On voting system of the Gambia, we have Indepedent Electoral Council. Is it properly constituted and given the "Independence" in compliance with the Constitution? Why does the President have total control to manipulate in terms of hire or fire its Chairman and members, likewise Alkalos, Chiefs, key players and other authoritative political figures administering the voting systems? Any clarifications and opinions are welcome? |
Edited by - kobo on 11 May 2006 10:02:19 |
|
|
|
kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 10:47:05
|
| I am not sure that one postee got it right that our Gambian women are not allowed to own land, it is not in sharia law nor is it disallowed in customary law. where he got that notion from beats me perhaps he could elucidate more on that matter. I know for a fact that in many households women have power of control some have been chosen as alkalo in jeswhang for instance . check around bruvs and sisters a lot of women have land and in the provinces women folk do own farm land evn in the Kombos they own their rice fields some of which they have now sold to make life better for their kids one way or the other. |
|
|
|
kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 11:00:26
|
hiya
i want to explore another angle if may, You know Gambia like many other african countries have s record of beliefs including magic and use of spiritual means to gain whatever one desires etc. well just imagine hearing the imcumbent president telling a political rally that he will win the next elections come what may as the djinns/ spirits; so to speak would vote for him. With my angle of discussion in mind and knowing the mind set of some of our people I believe to some extent this could be used by some unscruppulous official to tamper with the tokens and then leave the rest for some of our people to surmise that it was the work of the djinns or devils. I have heard of people falling for money doublers and such like charlatans losing loads of money. This is just a thought and am buvvered so could we discuss this and may be get it across that if one votes and it was not tampered with by another HUMAN being we can surely get our candidate win an election and not the djinns yeah |
|
|
|
njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 11:36:54
|
kaaniba
you right but i know women are 'allocated' nakos for vegatables and grow rice in the faros etc.but this was passed on mother to daughter and was communal. i dont think one woman could just sell it.
but i was trying to say that there wasnt equity in transfer of land ownership for example through marriage. but you're right changes are happening and women are coming forward. nowadays land is no longer communal for both men and women. you have a point. |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 16:43:50
|
quote:
Originally posted by kaanibaa
hiya
i want to explore another angle if may, You know Gambia like many other african countries have s record of beliefs including magic and use of spiritual means to gain whatever one desires etc. well just imagine hearing the imcumbent president telling a political rally that he will win the next elections come what may as the djinns/ spirits; so to speak would vote for him. With my angle of discussion in mind and knowing the mind set of some of our people I believe to some extent this could be used by some unscruppulous official to tamper with the tokens and then leave the rest for some of our people to surmise that it was the work of the djinns or devils. I have heard of people falling for money doublers and such like charlatans losing loads of money. This is just a thought and am buvvered so could we discuss this and may be get it across that if one votes and it was not tampered with by another HUMAN being we can surely get our candidate win an election and not the djinns yeah
Why don't we thoroughly scrutinise and review the modalities, systems,integrity, short-comings, Administration, Financing, Management of the voting system and practises; ruling out fantasies, phsychological and war of words as suggested. However phsychology and war of words are part of dirty or tricky politics. |
Edited by - kobo on 11 May 2006 17:20:40 |
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 18:33:04
|
aNOTHER CONCERN IS THE TRANSFER OF VOTERS CARDS. hAMAT bAHLOST THE elections beacuse of massive voter transfer to saloum to increase the APRC majority. Thes are people who are not resident in Upper saloum as required by the rules of the elections. It is cheating. Hamat could not transfer voters from his our supportes in other constituencies.
I bet the same trick has already happened in Kombo for this bye-election. IEC is not indepenedent. They are hired and fired by Junkung without having to consult any one. My suggestion is they should be appoint by a National Assembly resolution and can only be fired if they have abused office which must be established by an ivestigation of the Assembly comprising of all political parties. That way they can have the latitude to operate freely. Right now that is not possible. It only exists in name but not in practice. |
“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.” |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 23:24:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
aNOTHER CONCERN IS THE TRANSFER OF VOTERS CARDS. hAMAT bAHLOST THE elections beacuse of massive voter transfer to saloum to increase the APRC majority. Thes are people who are not resident in Upper saloum as required by the rules of the elections. It is cheating. Hamat could not transfer voters from his our supportes in other constituencies.
I bet the same trick has already happened in Kombo for this bye-election. IEC is not indepenedent. They are hired and fired by Junkung without having to consult any one. My suggestion is they should be appoint by a National Assembly resolution and can only be fired if they have abused office which must be established by an ivestigation of the Assembly comprising of all political parties. That way they can have the latitude to operate freely. Right now that is not possible. It only exists in name but not in practice.
I believe there are many flaws ranging from issuing ID cards, processing of birth certificates and other national documents, Voter registration as screening process is not properly conducted with manipulations by Alkalos,Chiefs and supporters in of APRC are recruited clandestinely to exercise total control in the process, Voter transfers reviewd to favour APRC, amendments and updates of the Voter register, Integrity and Independence of IEC, allocation of media time and tv programmes during campaigning and coverage of rallys, security and role of law enforcement agents biased and openly manifest their support to APRC, lack of proper protection of the opposition parties by inteference of Commissioner of Police banning most of their rallies as not approved, blackmail prone of the IEC members to secure their positions and assured more benefits inter alia. |
Edited by - kobo on 11 May 2006 23:25:18 |
|
|
|
kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 23:49:19
|
| The mandinka adage that mentioning fire does not necessarily result in being burnt in the mouth. I and you all know what is happening in Dear mother Gambia.We now brainstorm to get solutions, Fantasy and other scopes of thought will be exploited n unless these are countered we will still face them. The reality is that voters need to be educated about their constitutional rights and in that they way would be empowered . Knowleged is strenght and ignorance is one of / if not the biggest obstacle to our nation emancipation. i subscribe to the doctrine of fair play but is the playing field level ? I think not but play we must and any thing that would lie in our path to freedom from the tyrant of Bsnjul should be swiftly and permanently removed. This must include even fantasy as surmised in ur edition of my posting. Well bro its ok so at least that idea is floated by me and u noticed and i do hope will not discount that possibility. I rest my case |
|
|
|
jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2006 : 10:58:00
|
| kaanibaa, you mention that voters need to bed educated abuot their constitutional rights. how could this be done, is there a way to do this. Could not the local akollo, head teachers or some recognised community person do this. I agree that knowledge is strength, but how do you give them this strength. |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
|
|
Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2006 : 12:45:12
|
Greetings Everyone
Just curious Jede why are you so surprised that Gambia's are all over the world? With air travel it can't really be all that surprising can it apart from being in Alaska
Njucks to encourage more 18-19 year olds to vote then maybe the solution is to have polling stations set up in Secondary schools that way if school is closed then 18-19 will have the opportunity to go to the polling station.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 10 Jul 2006 12:46:39 |
|
|
|
dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2006 : 20:06:52
|
I cannot disagree more with the notion that "it is impossible to cheat elections in the Gambia" written by Njucks, or that elections are generally free and fair.
Historically, there has always been rampant electoral fraud in the Gambia. From voter registration, to the actual voting are all constituted with malpractice. Issuing identity cards to voters who are not legible to vote(citizenship) is consider fraud. Hundreds of such people are registered by village heads, chiefs, and registration officers representing the government. Many more legible voters are refuse voters cards because they are deem to be supporting the opposition.
Oh, how about all the voter seizure that goes on in the rural areas by influencial members of the community namely village heads? Sometimes as many as 500 voters cards are seized in a constituency to prevent them from voting. Is this a free and fair electoral process?
What about all the vote buying because people are so poor that they would rather sell their cards for fifty dalasis $.50C because they don't know the importance of voting?
How about multiple voters card acquisition in different constituencies in the Gambia? I can vote in Kombo East, Kombo North, and Bakau in the same day because there are no LEGIBLE home addresses to identify people.
Oh! how about not having an independent electoral commission? Who appoints the members of the commission and pays them? Government right? who will they be loyal to? what about the divisional commissioners, village heads, etc who appoints them? Government (Party in power) right?. The police intimidation at polling boths and lack of civic education of the masses is an absolute electoral fraud if I may say so.
Numerous times the opposition especially the PDOIS challenge voter registeration rosters because they are not aligned with actual voters cards. There cannot be a more fraud electoral system anywhere than the Gambia. This is what we call lack of level playing field.
Oh, I forgot to mention the control of state media and government machinery during electoral campaigns. With government having everything in its way including the national media (Radio) how is such an election consider free and fair? What is free and fair to you Mr/Mrs registration officers?
The Gambia's electoral system is an absolute fraud. Do not even attempt to make it look nice for those outsiders who don't know what goes on in our electoral system. Until people are free and know the reason for voting there cannot be a free and fair elections.
-We need an independent electoral system where its members are not appointed by the government.
-We need clear addresses to register voters that will minimize duplicate registration.
-We need an independent media for all contesting parties to have free access to sell their party platform.
-We need to elect our commissioners/governors, chiefs, village heads to represent the people and not only the government.
-we need a private sector where citizen voters are not intimidated because they can support the opposition or in fear of losing their jobs.
Finally we need a civic education where citizens know their right to vote and why they vote. Until these dreams are achieved there cannot be free are fair elections in the Gambia regardless of the spins on this forum.
Peace!!!
|
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
|
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2006 : 20:19:56
|
In the uk Tony Blair has introduced citizenship into the curriculum. People thought it was funny, but I think it is very serious. Pupils need educating about the importance of voting and democratic process.
If citizenship was in the curriculum in Gambia perhaps people would feel more empowered. Also perhaps they wouldnt sell their voting rights so cheaply. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
