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Momodou
Denmark
11727 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Aug 2011 : 14:50:40
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Halifa Sallah speaks on united front ahead of polls
By Baboucarr Senghore
Monday, August 29, 2011
 With barely three months to the presidential election, the question as to whether the country’s opposition camp will pose any credible threat to the ruling APRC continues to linger in the minds of many Gambians.
While analysts and most Gambians argue that, unless they come together, the opposition will not pose a threat to incumbent President Yahya Jammeh’s 17 years rule, others in the opposition also have the belief that this can be a reality.
In this interview with Halifa Sallah, Secretary General of the opposition Peoples Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), he argues that a month in politics could shape the whole destiny of a people if the right decisions and actions are taken.
According to Sallah, who contested for the presidency under the PDOIS ticket in the 2006 elections, the subject of establishing a united front is not a new idea.
Below we reproduce the full text of the interview we had with Halifa:
The Point: So much has been said and written about the possibilities of forming a united front by opposition parties in the country ahead of the scheduled presidential, parliamentary and local government polls. What is PDOIS’s position on this?
Halifa: PDOIS’ position is very clear. The current government has served for 17 years. In our view, that is enough for any single person to show what he or she could do for a country. It is clear that since 1965, only two persons have served as head of state. It is a popular view that a term limit should be introduced so that no person would occupy the seat of a President for more than two terms. This is the mood of the country since the time of the referendum.
It is the APRC that does not subscribe to a term limit. I have heard one a stalwart of theirs who claims to be a youth leader from West Coast Region saying that elections constitute a waste of resources. In short to him, to spend 100 million dalasis every five years in order to determine which Gambian is reliable enough to be entrusted with five billion dalasis annually to spend on our behalf for our development, is a waste of time. You would agree with me that anybody who thinks like this in the 21st Century should not be a citizen of a sovereign Republic. Apparently, parties that do not subscribe to the empowerment of the sovereign people to know their rights, thrive on the ignorance of their membership. This is why they clap and shake their heads in approval whenever some say that elections are a waste of resources. They would like Gambians to be subjects rather than sovereign owners of the motherland.
The reason why we subscribe to a United Front is because of our realisation that the results of the 2006 elections reveal that voter apathy has gripped the Gambian electorate. In short, over 270,000 people saw the APRC, UDP and NADD but did not vote at all. Hence those who did not vote at all are in the majority and could have made any one to be President of the Gambia. These people did not vote for the Major Ruling party or the Major or Minor opposition parties. This is why we said that we should put the parties and personalities aside and proceed to mobilise those people so that they would move away from their political apathy and take interest in voting. I am glad that you have acknowledged that so much is being said and written about a United Front. In fact, it is the clarion call for all those who are tired of self-perpetuating rule.
Our initial position is that we should put our party manifestoes aside and adopt a transitional arrangement which would enable only one candidate to be elected through an Inter party primary to stand for the opposition against the incumbent. This person would help us to put an end to the tradition of holding political office for decades by accepting to be in office only for a period of 2 to 5 years so as to build the foundation for a genuine democratic society which would not exclude anyone on the basis of gender, ethnicity, or past political affiliations and then open both the public and private media to all the political and civic organisations in the country so that a genuine multi-party system could be put in place before the end of the transition. The transitional government would include in its agenda Constitutional reform. We include a two year transitional period so that APRC would not claim that what they did in two years could not be done by us within the same time frame. We are fully confident that any Presidential candidate for the opposition who would be willing to swear before the whole nation that he or she would hold office only for two years just to enable the country to ensure proper utilization of public resources and build a genuine multi-party system, would certainly deserve a place equal to Nelson Mandela in world history. I do not see how such a person could lose an election if he or she is genuine.
The Point: Is this something that can work out with just few months to the polls? If so how?
Halifa: I want to remind people that in 1996, parties finished registering in August, barely one month before the September Presidential Elections. A month in politics could shape the whole destiny of a people if the right decisions and actions are taken. The subject of establishing a united front is not a new idea. We started our campaign for a United Front three years ago. There is no doubt that many people support the holding of a cross-party primary which is the surest way of guaranteeing cross-party voting for a candidate. However to accommodate the views of others we are of the view that a nationwide primary could be replaced by a National Conference or Convention which would form the basis of a non partisan Selection Committee that would elect the Candidate.
The Point: How?
Halifa: That is simple. Participating parties could select equal delegates, male and female from the seven administrative areas and then agree to a list of participants who are non-partisan from all over the country and mandate them to elect a winnable candidate who could best facilitate a successful transition to a third Republic that would guarantee a genuine multi-party system and limited executive powers and tenure of office. Once the will is there, the way will not be difficult to find.
The Point: The PDOIS was recently holding rallies around the country. What were the messages that you were trying to put across to the public?
Halifa: We wanted to take exception to the messages emanating from the platforms of the APRC that the people would vote for progress by voting for the APRC and for retrogression by voting for the opposition. We showed what our policies would be if we were at the helm or if we are part of a genuine United Front.
The key points we drove home is that no one would be able to judge the APRC government’s record unless one knows how much money it has been given to as revenue for the past seventeen years, how much it received as loans and grants and how much it received as gifts and what had been done with the wealth for the past seventeen years. We explained that this year alone, the sum that is to be put in government coffers is over 4.5 billion or 4500 million dalasis.
We informed the people that the government goes on borrowing every year because of its deficits and now owes the local financial institutions over 9 billion or 9000 million dalasis.
We argued that since the Government cannot meet its own day to day financial needs, it has to take loans to build infrastructure which raised the indebtedness of the country to 22 billion dalasis thus compelling the government to seek debt relief and is now classified among the heavily Indebted Poor Countries of the world.
We gave examples that a large portion of the 9 billion from financial institutions should have been invested to build the productive base of the private sector to generate employment and government revenue. We emphasised that the private sector has nothing to fear from a PDOIS Government or any United Front it is a part of. We indicated that the Government is relying more and more on taxes than sovereign national wealth from royalties or shares from mining from Sanyang and other areas that should have been located by now.
We gave examples of how we could have managed public enterprises like GPTC which had 22 buses after the construction of the Kombo Coastal Road. We said in a year, they would have increased to 44 buses. The buses would have also provided seed money for the purchasing of ferries without taking any loan. The ferries and the buses would have led to the purchase of a vessel for river transport and all these investments would have led to the purchase of fishing trawlers. We gave many examples on how the productive base of the economy could have been developed by both the private, public, cooperative and informal sectors to provide employment to the young people.
We indicated very clearly that the over 185,000 children who are in our primary schools, the 67,000 children who are in our Upper Basic schools and the 27, 000 students who are in our high schools would all be out within a period of 12 years. We asked how the 300,000 children would find work without the development of the productive base of the economy. We informed people that pensioners and wage earners are living from hand to mouth and over 60 percent of the population is living in abject poverty. We explained how poverty leads to dependency and political patronage. We mentioned the steps we had taken to influence the settlement of the crises in the world. In short, we looked into many civil issues such as detention without trial and the respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, the witchcraft fiasco, political issues such as the cause of voter apathy, economic issues such as high cost of living and low earnings, social issues such as the inability of youths to find a family because of unemployment as well as cultural and ecological issues which affect our lives.
The Point: How do you see the reception of the people during these rallies?
Halifa: We called it public sensitisation campaigns. Those who attend always become more inspired. We often hold two to three spot meetings in an area. Few hundreds attend but if you multiply it with the number of meetings, thousands are sensitized. It is often more interactive than big rallies since people could ask questions. We used that in Serrekunda Central in 2002 and gave my opponent a big surprise. This time the APRC is not underestimating the powerful impact of sensitisation campaigns. This is why they are asking the people to go out and vote for them knowing fully well that even though President Jammeh won in 2006, those who did not vote could have removed him from office if they had voted. The party is rightly conscious of the fact that their victory was neither decisive nor respectable. Hence they are calling for a decisive and respectable victory. People are still talking about the sensitisation campaigns and are asking for more. However, time is not on our side. This is why we are planning to hold big rallies as a show of strength of the support base for a United Front beginning on 10 September opposite Serekunda School. The APRC appears to be too comfortable. We hope this will wake them up from their slumber. We will invite GRTS and all the other media houses to see whether they will give the same coverage as they are giving the APRC propaganda against the opposition.
The Point: What in your candid opinion do you think is the way forward for all opposition parties in the country?
Halifa: One does not need to be a Social scientist to note that the APRC has been deliberately trying to negate a viable multiparty system by displaying Zero tolerance for any attempt to broadcast the political views of the opposition in the National Media or Non-Government Radio Stations. It has tried to negate any separation between state and party thus transforming civil servants into mouth-pieces of the ruling party as could be clearly seen on TV in the case of GRTS workers serving as translators during rallies and repeating derogatory remarks against the opposition. The second round of voting is removed to make the opposition to lose by splitting the votes of those who want change, What we need is for each opposition party to formulate a proposal on how to establish a United Front. We could then call a joint rally in all the administrative areas in September to discuss the various proposals and tap the reaction of the public. This should be followed by a National Conference by the end of September to elect a Candidate through the means agreed upon. The whole month of October would be available to roam the whole country to introduce the Candidate and the conditions for electing him or her. This to me is a viable way forward. At least I can declare that both Sidia Jatta, my other colleagues and my very self could give support to a United Front without a precondition to be given the post of a Vice President or a Minister as long as an acceptable transitional arrangement is in place.
We are also willing to support a credible man or woman who may not even be a member of a political party. If all of us start form such a premise, we will undoubtedly establish a credible United Front which would either win an election or build an opposition force that the ruling party would have to respect and negotiate with to enlarge the democratic space in the country. What we will not be part of is a United Front that will fail to win and then emerge fragmented and weakened by self denial and blame game.
Source: The Point
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2011 : 16:18:45
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And another party, Good to see POIDS is doing some work on being effective, that's 2 now UDP and POIDS,will others try to become effective, before November,we will have to wait and see. 
KOBO, you note this involvement in being more effective  |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 29 Aug 2011 16:21:36 |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2011 : 12:45:10
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Hey toubab, good to know that udp is now in your good books
thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 30 Aug 2011 12:48:16 |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2011 : 12:55:23
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I observe only and just give my own opinion, UDP started working hard to achieve their goals and POIDS have thought that they should do the same,all of you must admit that in the past little effective communication with the electorate has been achieved.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2011 : 19:31:30
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''There is no doubt that many people support the holding of a cross-party primary which is the surest way of guaranteeing cross-party voting for a candidate. However to accommodate the views of others we are of the view that a nationwide primary could be replaced by a National Conference or Convention which would form the basis of a non partisan Selection Committee that would elect the Candidate.''- halifa
The above is an interesting change of position on the part of pdois or shall I call it flip flopping? The reality though is that both the primary and convention ideas are all subterfuges for Halifa's intransigence.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 30 Aug 2011 19:35:22 |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2011 : 21:21:14
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You may well think that I could not possibly comment
"flip flopping" is that the same as "wiggle room "?
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 30 Aug 2011 21:23:47 |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2011 : 23:51:58
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flip flopping means being of a walter mitty type character.
thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2011 : 01:33:15
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Both sets of words about the same then,both can mean to change your mind depending on the circumstances that you find yourself whilst engulfed in the fantasy world of politics.
Interesting,please carry on without me, I will try not to observe and comment again, sorry, your business,I will leave it to the politicos,only 2 of you at the moment, maybe the others are trying to think what to say.............enjoy  |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 31 Aug 2011 01:38:10 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2011 : 03:27:47
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WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THESE CALLOUS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS; BY FEW INDIVIDUALS WHO THINK THAT POWER BELONGS TO THEM; TO DISFRANCHISE, TO ALIENATE OTHER CITIZENS AND DECIDE THE VERDICT ON ISSUES (PARTICULARLY CHALLENGES OF JAMMEH/APRC RULE) THAT CONCERNS EVERY CITIZEN; DEBATING OUR POLITICAL SITUATION, TRYING TO WEIGH THE OPTIONS & STRATEGIES TOWARDS CHARTING A BETTER GAMBIA, DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATION AND DEMOCRACY; FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL
HOWEVER TAKE NOTE OF THESE BELOW;
1. THAT ALL OPPONENTS (of Jammeh/APRC) especially opposition parties share same predicaments but are caged and rounded in same bag
2. ALSO What is annoying is that; the opposition are now down to the final countdown for NOVEMBER 2011 but getting on like cats in a sack; since failure of NADD, LOST OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET RID OF JAMMEH/APRC and loosing the opportunity to be reckoned as a POWERFUL FORCE AND REPRESENTING VOICE OF THE MARGINALISED
3. DEMOCRACY IS AN OPEN PLATFORM FOR ALL TO EXERCISE FREEDOMS & LIBERTY BUT NOT "I AM RIGHT AND YOU ARE WRONG! END OF STORY"; AS BEING EXERCISED BY CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS
4. On Point 3. I would refer to few vocal individuals across Gambian on-line forums/media; namely S. Daffeh (Nyaringkangbanna), Suntu and Mathew K.Jallow posturing and OPINIONS sharply polarized OPPOSITION CAMP? Nyaringkangbanna and Suntu are UDP militants but THEY MUST ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE A LEADER OR CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS PRESSING ISSUES TO MOBILIZED AGAINST JAMMEH/APRC 2011; LIKE OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES
5. ON NOTE 4. I WOULD ADVISE READERS NOT TO BE DIS-ORIENTATED BUT REFER TO RELATED TOPICS UNDER Conflict of Strategy splits Gambia's Opposition TO RECAPITULATE POSTURE OF EACH OPPOSITION LEADER ON AN ALLIANCE OR UNITED FRONT BECAUSE THEY HAVE CLARIFIED POSITIONS OF EACH OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER AND PARTY RESPECTIVELY; IN OUR QUEST FOR SOLUTIONS ON HOW OPPONENTS CAN MOBILISED ON COMMON GROUND AND BEST STRATEGY FOR THE COMMON GOOD
6. FINALLY THE PERSONAL ATTACKS ARE NOTHING BUT TO DERAIL TOPIC ON CORE ISSUES, TACTICS AND STRATEGIES BECAUSE THIS PRESS RELEASE IS A CLEAR CLARIFICATION ON POSITION OF PDOIS ON THE UNITED FRONT AND NO DIFFERENT BUT EQUIVALENT WITH SAME POSTURE UNDER DARBOE HOPEFUL OPPOSITION ALLIANCE; AMONGST OTHER RELATED TOPICS TO BE SCRUTINIZED LATER AND FOR REFLECTIONS BY EVERY CITIZEN
7. WHO ARE YOU NYARINKANGBANNA, SUNTU, MATHEW K. JALLOW YOU ARE JUST LIKE ME AND OTHERS, AS A HUMBLE CITIZEN OF THE GAMBIA TO DECIDE MY OWN DESTINY; IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DRINK OUR BRAINS
8. WHAT IS UDP A POLITICAL PARTY LIKE APRC, PDOIS, GMC, NRP UNDER A MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM AND DEMOCRACY; IN SIMPLE TERMS
9. THEREFORE WE WON'T ALLOW ANY PARTY TO LEAP FROG DEMOCRACY, HOODWINK AND HELD OTHERS TO RANSOM
10. PDOIS HAS CHALLENGED OTHER OPPOSITION IF THEY HAVE A BETTER STRATEGY FOR ALLIANCE, COALITION OR UNITEDTO MOBILIZE THE MASS; LET THEM SHARE IT WITH THE PUBLIC AND OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES AND HOPE IS NOT LOST? FOR IT IS NOT TOO LATE OPINED BY HALIFA; "that a month in politics could shape the whole destiny of a people if the right decisions and actions are taken." |
Edited by - kobo on 31 Aug 2011 04:28:54 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2011 : 13:49:01
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FOROYAA National News : Interview With Halifa Sallah
"Foroyaa: We are bombarded by questions regarding what is happening at the talks by political parties. Could you enlighten the Nation on this issue?
Halifa: The talks are taking place in a climate of confidentiality. Positions are shifting as discussion unfolds. Hence a position that one may adopt today may shift tomorrow. The fact that after several weeks of talks no one has come to the press to explain that he or she has walked out confirms that we are engaged in a seriously meant discussion. The outcome would finally come in the form of a press Conference and Press Release.
Foroyaa: Do you have hope that the talks will succeed?
Halifa: I had an interview with The Point Newspaper before the talks started. We are of the view that a genuine multi party system does not exist in the Gambia. We have the ‘first past the post’ system of elections. There is no second round of voting. Hence if all opposition parties put up presidential candidates they would divide the votes of the opposition and make it easier for the incumbent to win. This is why we recommended for all presidential aspirants on the side of the opposition to submit themselves to cross-party primary to enable the opposition to put up only one candidate.
Now that some people feel that a primary is going to be expensive we have taken a fall back position as recommended by some Gambians to recommend the holding of a Convention to which all parties will send 10 delegates from each administrative area. A list of prominent personalities in the opposition could also be jointly prepared. These people will be mandated to select one candidate for the opposition and decide whether the person stands on a party ticket or as an Independent Candidate.
Foroyaa: Don’t you think time is against the opposition?
Halifa: This is why we in PDOIS are proposing a Convention which is a one day affair. In short, once a day for the Convention is mentioned the whole nation would be interested in knowing who the candidate of the opposition is going to be. If the international, regional and local media houses are involved and international, Regional and sub regional bodies are also invited to monitor the process there is no doubt that the candidate selected would have massive publicity and would stand a great chance of winning an election. The Convention would provide room for adequate campaign, nationally and internationally.
Foroyaa : Has this suggestion been accepted?
Halifa: Some parties have their individual positions while others have accepted other positions. A give and take process is taking place. Only they could speak for themselves. All I could say is that our suggestion is all inclusive. It could even accommodate the size of parties by including proportional representation.
Foroyaa: What advice do you wish to give to Gambians?
Halifa: In a democracy it is not good for a political leader to be too comfortable. One must feel the threat that one could lose power before one could serve the people better. We need a strong opposition force to win the election or serve as a strong force to contain the ruling party and prevent impunity. Only a strong United Front would serve that purpose. We should engage our political leaders and ask them to explain the option they have advanced during the talks and try to influence them to accommodate other options that are more inclusive if you have recommendations to give. If the will is there then there will be a way." |
Edited by - kobo on 19 Sep 2011 15:25:06 |
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