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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Nov 2011 : 13:49:16
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PRESS STATEMENT BY THE UDP/GMC UNITED ALLIANCE IN REGARD TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2011
"This Statement is a sequel to the Preliminary Statement issued by the UDP/GMC United Alliance in which we categorically rejected the results of the just concluded Presidential Elections as announced by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission. We strongly reiterate our stand that the results of the said elections were bogus and fraudulent, and constitute a naked theft of the will of the people through the back door. It shall not stand!!
The UDP/GMC United Alliance insists that the electoral and electioneering processes, including the campaigning dynamics have been intentionally skewed in favour of the APRC to the gross disadvantage of the Alliance. These include the ten day campaign limitation period imposed by the IEC without any basis in law or in fact. The Elections Act makes no provision for limiting a campaign period to ten days. In previous presidential elections, although limited, the campaign period was way more than was permitted this time. Any sincere election Commission committed to the holding of a free and fair election would rather expand the campaign period than reduce it.
This unjustifiably crippling limitation was resisted by the Alliance at the material time before the conduct of the elections, but our concerns were rejected by the IEC without any justifications. Having been denied access to state media such as radio and television for the past five years, and having regard to the oppressive conditions under which the private media had to endure, the opposition was hardly heard during the pre-election period. In effect our stand is that the processes leading towards the elections were not free and fair. Therefore the results of such a fundamentally flawed process cannot receive our endorsement.
The ubiquitous presence of armed security, senior local government officials such as regional governors, district chiefs and Alkalolu and remorseless use of state resources cast enormous doubt and imposed a pernicious influence on the election. Threats were made, and intimidating messages were spread which had the pervasive effect of frightening voters. This was preceded by threats made by APRC Campaign Manager and Minister responsible for National Assembly Affairs that the ballot boxes and the biometric voter registration system were fitted with means of identifying those who voted against the APRC. Voters were warned during the campaign of consequences of voting against the APRC.
The election itself on poling day was severely marred by fundamental irregularities. In many polling stations, our polling agents were refused by IEC and security officials from accompanying the ballot boxes from the polling stations to the various counting centers. In the entire Upper River Region constituting seven constituencies, this denial was applied in all counting centers at the Region. The act of denying our agents to accompany ballot boxes was intended to commit foul play by tampering with the boxes in transit in favour of the APRC, without the possibility of detection. For instance in Jedda Two and Marakisa in the Kombo Central Constituency, voting cards were actually found in supposedly ballot boxes, which indicate how insecure they were. To insert a voter’s card in a ballot box, one would have to remove the box top itself, because the card could fit through the marble hole provided. This is positive proof that it was very easy to lift
open the ballot boxes without tampering with the seals provided.
Extra voting marbles were found strewn all over some counting centers and we are in possession of some of those marbles picked up randomly by third parties two days after elections. Voting marbles were all supposed to be collected, placed back into ballot boxes and secured. This was not the case at many counting centers.
Our agents reported a pattern of simultaneous multiple token counting conducted at many counting centers across the country. In those instances, our agents were outnumbered and could not participate in most of the counting taking place. This made it possible for election officials in collusion with the APRC to compromise the integrity of the counting and collation processes. Tokens were removed from boxes in many of those centers, counted without the opportunity of verification accorded to our agents and certified by joint IEC/APRC counters.
In many of the counting centers, there were no proper lighting provided. In the case of St. Peter’s school, at Lamin, ballot boxes were indiscriminately scattered about in the court yard without adequate security, while the place itself was massively littered with APRC supporters and militants, and persons donned in security uniforms.
There has been widespread voting nationwide by uniformed persons, at polling stations where they were not registered or stationed. In Bakau Constituency, army officers led non uniformed recruits who were not on any elections assignments to vote at polling centers across that constituency, even though they were not registered as voters in that particular constituency. The UDP led Alliance Candidate himself intervened and reported the matter to the Returning Officer for Kanifing Municipality who dismissively asserted that he was under instructions to allow them to vote. The Chairman of the IEC was personally informed but before the situation could be arrested, most of these personnel were already permitted by to vote, although they had not right to vote at those polling centers. This pattern was seriously repeated nation-wide.
We are informed that police and military uniforms were indiscriminately provided to persons who were not serving members of any security establishment and these persons participated in securing and conveying ballot boxes of ballot boxes, and were active at polling and counting centers nationwide.
There has been a mass influx of non Gambian voters from outside The Gambia who were camped by the APRC at various sites such as the old Medical & Health Department in Banjul, Garba Jahumpa Upper Basic School in Banjul, Wander Beach Hotel, the Brikama Community Center, the NYSS premises in Bakau, and other places within West Coast Region and Kanifing Municipality. Gambian citizens would not normally be camped in such places, isolated from the rest of the public because every true Gambian citizen would vote and return to their family homes. Some of these places were disclosed to international observers, who went and verified for themselves.
The irregularities are fundamental and numerous. We are still in the process of evaluating more of such information and evidence from across the country.
Units of law enforcement personnel publicly displayed preference and bias for the ruling party during the campaigns. Credible information reaching us today lends veracity to this. Soldiers based at Lamin Koto conducted a so-called election victory celebration at Jerome Koto, while contingents of the Police Intervention Unit went on a victory celebrations at Kerr Ousman Boye, threatening local residents for supporting the UDP led Alliance.
Traditionally, election security and crowd control have been conducted by the Police Force in this country. But this time around, Gambians have been severely intimidated by the inexplicably heavy presence of the heavily armed soldiers in our streets, particularly in the capital city of Banjul, as if The Gambia was in a state of war. This had the intended effect of spreading and consolidating fear among the population to the benefit of the incumbent against the Alliance. The flagrant violation of the principle of neutrality by the security forces is additional affirmation of the lack of a level playing field and a fundamentally flawed electoral process. In this regard, the Independent Electoral Commission Chairman was seen on television welcoming the incumbent and leading him to vote.
The radio and television coverage provided by GRTS to the UDP/GMC Alliance was heavily censored, edited, watered down to produce the lowest possible effect, while half of our campaign rallies across the country were not even featured or broadcasted. Commentaries on GRTS were largely derogatory of our progress, while the APRC was accorded in extremely favourable light. The return of the incumbent was aired two days running each lasting over four hours. The UDP/GMC Alliance candidate was give only thirty minutes. Even then it was reportage from the GRTS correspondent with no pictures shown.
The UDP/GMC United Alliance is proud of the patriotism demonstrated by Gambians across the country. The Alliance is very appreciative of the legendary hospitality accorded to it by Gambians along the campaign trail and the tumultuous welcome received. To all those who hosted the Campaign, shared their resources with us, and gave us the best accommodation they could provide we say thank you.
To Gambian voters, we thank you for voting in your strong numbers for the UDP/GMC United Alliance. We assure you that your votes shall not go in vain. Together we shall vigorously defend the will of the people. Together we shall not relent in this effort.
The UDP/GMC United Alliance is equally appreciative of the tremendous contributions of Gambians in Diaspora, particularly those who have materially contributed towards the efforts in the campaigns. For the indomitable online Gambian press such as Maafanta.com, Freedom Newspaper, Senegambia News, The Gambia Echo, Gainako Online Newspaper, Hello Gambia, Jollof News and others, the list is unending. We are proud of you and your Nation is proud of you. Thank you for providing a veritable medium of expression for Gambians in such a manner denied to them in their own country. We assure you that we shall never give up on you, and we are confident that you shall not give up on us. Together, let us consolidate the partnership in the effort to enthrone genuine democratic plurality in our country, expand the democratic space, build a culture of tolerance and defeat those forces of oppression. Let us together continue to work harder to liberate our country. The struggle has just begun, and we must use every successive stage as a new beginning in the overall struggle for comprehensive political change in our national governance infrastructure. Another Gambia is possible. And together we shall build it.
Long Live the Republic of The Gambia!!
Long Live the UDP/GMC United Alliance!
UDP Secretariat
Banjul, The Gambia
Dated at Banjul, this 28th day of November 2011."MAAFANTA ON-LINE NEWS
RELATED JOLLOF ON-LINE NEWS;
THE POINT NEWS;
SENEGAMBIA ON-LINE NEWS;
<!Truncated by Admin >
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Edited by - kobo on 29 Nov 2011 18:10:48 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2011 : 22:40:29
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SOME INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS FORWARDED ON THE COMMINIQUE;
"Good that the UDP/GMC Alliance has put its concerns and reasons for rejecting the results in the public domain.
Every Gambian and interested persons can then decide whether they (UDP/GMC) are right to reject the results or not?
The first thing noticed is the non-mentioning of the PPP in the United Alliance communique (for UDP/GMC)? If the PPP was part of this poster alliance for elections, then we need to know why their name is missing, omitted and not listed on it? Did they accept the results or is it deliberate omission and/or for whatever reasons were PPP de-listed? Furthermore why PPP and NCP leaders; especially Omar J.Jallow or Landing Jallow Sonko (for PPP) and Gibou Jagne (for NCP) were not seen active at nominations and campaign period? Even Gibou Jagne (NCP) who was second in command after late party leader Sheriff Mustapha Dibba and now the authoritative leader of NCP, appear on GRTS to renounce and repudiate the claims that NCP are part of the poster alliance? We will follow any developments between them; in subsequent political activities and release of other press statements; notwithstanding that they (PPP & NCP) are dormant registered political parties 
The last category of reasons (i.e. "(1) refusal of opposition polling agents to accompany ballot boxes from polling stations to counting centres...distribution of uniforms to non members of security forces allowing them to escort ballot boxes and be present at counting centres"); does cast doubt on the credibility of the election and if proven, provide justifiable grounds to reject the results as fraudulent and rigged?
The second set of reasons for rejections are also not justified because;
(1) the opposition knew about their registration (in the case of those camped at various places).
(2) soldiers voting at stations in constituencies where they are not registered or posted;
(a) does not matter as this is the presidential, not Assembly elections.
(b) would not have any significant bearing on the results as they don't number in the thousands?
Discovery of a voter's card in a ballot box, suggesting that the lids could be opened without breaking the security seal? May be unprotected ballot boxes,left lying about in poorly lit counting centres, with many APRC or any party militants is about( multiple ) counting of votes making it impossible for opposition polling agents to witness the counting in order to verify the results? In my view, these are grounds (if proven) for the opposition to reject the results?
It appears the last category on communique does present problems of credibility and genuine reasons to reject the results, if they can be proven? I hope those who were present have thought about taking photos and verifiable strong evidences to back up the allegations? However at this point ,they are just allegations and the opposition united alliance need concrete proof to back up these allegations.
Some of the reasons,although true,are no justification to reject the results,because they have been known to the UDP/GMC well in advance; specifically "unfair system and bias electoral.processes"; "biased media coverage"; "10/11 day campaign period"; "Threatening communities with 'No Development ' or 'hidden" cameras'; "soldiers,civil servants & local government officials siding with the ruling party"; "use of state / parastatal resources to support ruling party"; WERE ALL KNOWN TO EVERYONE?
Finally as reported by Preliminary Statement of United Front, they (United Front) were unable to field agents in many of the polls? So if United Alliance suffer same fate and constrained by time,they were never in a position to verify all the results fully and satisfactorily?
RELATED BANTABA GAMBIAN POLITICS TOPIC;
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Edited by - kobo on 01 Dec 2011 03:28:22 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2011 : 19:55:43
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THE DAILY NEWS;
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 08 Dec 2011 : 15:36:51
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GAINAKO ON-LINE NEWS;
MAAFATA.COM WITH;
RELATED BNTABA GAMBIAN POLITICS TOPIC;
P.S: "NOW (POST ELECTION) APPARENTLY IT IS VERY CLEAR WITHOUT ANY DOUBT THAT PPP WAS NOT IN ANY POSTER ALLIANCE AND APPEASEMENT OF UDP AT THE EXPENSE OF THE BIGGER PICTURE, JUSTICE AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES; AS O.J. SETS RECORDS STRAIGHT AND RECENT COMMUNIQUES" |
Edited by - kobo on 08 Dec 2011 16:17:09 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 12 Dec 2011 : 18:20:22
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THE STANDARD NEWS;
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2012 : 03:47:51
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THE DAILY NEWS;
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Edited by - kobo on 14 Jan 2012 04:25:54 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2012 : 13:19:46
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THE DAILY NEWS;
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