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Momodou
Denmark
11805 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Jan 2006 : 01:26:25
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The following interview with Halifa Sallah is culled from last three issues (3 - 18 January 2006) of Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue.
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INTERVIEW WITH HALIFA SALLAH ON THE INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT, NADD AND LESSONS FROM THE ARREST
FOROYAA: Can you comment on the interview by the president on New Year's Eve?
Halifa: There is nothing new. NADD must take the higher ground since the Gambian people have high expectations of what an alternative government would bring.
FOROYAA: The president referred to NADD members as clowns. He accused supporters of the opposition of threatening to demonstrate when the members of the opposition were arrested and threatened that he would be willing to kill 20, 000 people to save 1.4 million. Is the opposition secure with all these statements?
Halifa: Psychological warfare is a part of confrontational politics. NADD does not intend to lead 20,000 people to their death but to lead them to the defeat of Yaya Jammeh at the polls. The statement of the president will intimidate a person who is not genuinely interested in working for the liberation of the Gambian people in particular and humanity at large. To be among the political figures that the 21st century needs one must combine the virtues of Malcom X, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. One must not harbour any fear, hate or spirit of revenge. To feel insecure because of the statements of a president is either a sign of cowardice or guilt. Those who wish to serve as alternative governments can never harbour cowardice or guilt.
FOROYAA: What is your reaction to the allegation that the grass root members of NADD wanted to demonstrate?
Halifa: Demonstration can be a means of expressing grievances to a government or a means to destabilize a government. Under a genuine democratic society civil society may organise peaceful demonstrations to enable leaders to know the grievances they are supposed to address. This is why section 25 subsection (1) paragraph (d) of the constitution states:"Every person shall have the right to freedom to assemble and demonstrate peacefully and without arms"
The issue therefore is not rejecting all types of demonstrations. What a genuinely democratic state would kick against is violent demonstrations to destabilize government when one can genuinely go the ballot box to change the government. During our arrest the NADD leadership never doubted their willingness to go before the courts to defend their innocence for any charge of subversion. In order not to confuse the population regarding the reason for their arrest the NADD supporters were inspired not to engage in any form of violent protest. It is therefore ridiculous for anyone to claim that NADD has any objective to transform the young people whose survival and development we are to protect into human shields. In fact, the maturity displayed by he NADD leadership has confirmed that NADD is a unique agent of peace on the African continent. Once we are elected to lead the country, Gambia will be an example in the protection of human rights especially the rights of the child.
FOROYAA: The opposition is still being accused of giving information to Senegal to destabilize The Gambia.
Halifa: Let the government produce the facts. There are 7 registered political parties. Other than APRC and NCP, only 1 is not linked to NADD, that is, GPDP. Which party could serve as an informer? NADD is equally interested in receiving any information to confirm the allegations. We have questioned all our members and no one has acknowledged giving any information to Senegal. Gambians should disregard any allegations against the opposition until they are substantiated by evidence.
FOROYAA: What about the claim that the Senegalese regime has been informed that the Gambian contingent to Darfur comprises Cassamance rebels?
Halifa: I am the Rapporteur for the Pan African Parliamentary Mission to Darfur. I was in Darfur before the first Gambian contingent. The first contingent was very lucky to meet me before they were deployed in the six sectors in Darfur. I had visited all the three states of Darfur and all the sectors for the officers. I gave them a briefing of the situation. In fact, I had never told any one that the members of The Gambian contingent took the opportunity to give me money to bring to their families to the tune of 20, 000 dollars, if my memory serves me right. It would be disingenuous for me as coordinator to be associated with any member of NADD who would give such information about the Gambian Contingent in Darfur. I met the members of the first contingent in Darfur. I met members of their families in the Gambia. I am the spokesperson of NADD. I am responsible for official correspondence. With the knowledge I have of the Gambian Contingent how could any allegation be made against the Gambian Contingent that they are Cassamance rebels? The president needs to stop beating about the bush and tell Gambians concretely who the culprits are if they are not a figment of his imagination.
Foroyaa: The president has also alleged that the opposition was behind the student demonstration of April 10 and 11?
Halifa: It is clear to the then Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the Commander of the Gambia National Army that some current members of the Executive of NADD were very active in making attempts to prevent and manage the crisis of April 10 and 11. The same thing goes with the crisis between Gambia and Senegal following the football match between the teams of the two countries. The commission of enquiry on the issue has not revealed any conspiracy by any member of the NADD Executive. The president should acknowledge the inability of his government in handling the problem until it grew into a crisis. No government, which aims to co-exist in partnership with the associations or union of students, could have presided over a country, which witnessed such an unprecedented massacre of students. It is infact very inappropriate for the president to be making such remarks when some are still suffering because of the incident. NADD cannot be given the image of a subversive organisation. Gambians know that NADD is organising itself to take leadership in 2006 to preserve the lives of all Gambians. The President can go on threatening to kill 20,000 Gambians to save 1.4 million inhabitants. On the other hand NADD will continue to promise not to allow a single Gambian to lose his or her life in the exercise of his or her rights.
Foroyaa: When the president was questioned on the results of the by-elections he did claim that it was not a 3 to 1 defeat for the APRC. What are your comments?
Halifa: The president is entitled to his opinion. If I were him, I would be terribly worried about the future of the APRC. The APRC did not only lose to NADD. It lost votes compared to the 2002 National Assembly Elections. Take the results of the elections in 2002. In Serrekunda Central APRC had 5000+ votes. In 2005 APRC votes were reduced to 3000+ votes despite the fact that they campaigned in the Presiden's name. The four by-elections confirm that the support of the APRC is waning and that NADD has the potential to take over the country in the 2006 president elections.
Foroyaa: The president said that he will not campaign in 2006. He even called some of you clowns.
Halifa: He did not only call us clowns but referred to some of his fellow heads of state as clowns. We could have been angry if his remarks could cost us in votes and support. He called us donkeys and the people punished the APRC in the by elections. Since he is calling us clowns more members of the APRC will desert knowing that the party they support has lost all sense of political decency. President Jammeh does not know that what earned him the sympathy of some poor people were the messages he used to give to identify with them. I remember sitting with a viewer listening to one of his interviews where he mentioned the difficulty he had in being enrolled in Gambia High School because of his background. The person expressed sympathy and felt deeply touched. Now that he sees Gambians as clowns I can assure you that he is offending the sensibilities of all Gambians who cherish respect and decency in anything we do. He has lost more support by virtue of the threats and insults on the opposition than one could have ever imagined. He has forgotten his humble origin and is looking down on the homeless and poor who gave him support.
Foroyaa: The president said that three opposition national assembly members cannot have any impact. He said that you are just wasting taxpayers' money.
Halifa: The fact that he is conscious of our political appraisal of the policies of his government confirms that we have impact. The president said that we cannot block any thing he wants to do in the house. He fails to realise that he is indirectly saying that the APRC members of the National Assembly would do whatever he wants. This is not what the national assembly is about. The National Assembly should indicate what is in the interest of the people. Even the APRC National Assembly Members have come to realise the importance of being critical in their interventions at the National Assembly. I can remember the Media Commission Bill and other amendments to the Criminal Code. We criticized the provisions. Eventually, the government had to come back for amendments of the provisions we criticized as opposition members. On the issue of wasting taxpayers' money I must say that the cost of living has become so high that a National Assembly Member who buys D200 worth of petrol a day would spend D6000 monthly. This is why many APRC MPs find it difficult to establish social clinics in their constituencies to serve their electorate. President Jammeh should visit the People's Centre to see the amount of services we are rendering to the citizenry irrespective of party affiliation. If one gauges the performance of the opposition members of the National Assembly it becomes clear that bills, international agreements, and policies are subjected to critical review. On the other hand, some APRC members find it difficult to comment because of their party affiliation. In fact, some bills had to be returned to the assembly after being passed despite objection from the opposition. This has led to the embarrassment of the APRC members. Our contributions are recognized by other APRC National Assembly members.
Foroyaa: Now, let us proceed to NADD and your arrest?
Halifa: In our view the President's remarks that we cannot prevent him from doing what he wants by our criticism is an indictment of the APRC members. He is simply telling the Nation that he has control over the rest of the members of the National Assembly. This remarks will help NADD candidates in subsequent National Assembly elections. People want critical National Assembly members not subservient ones. All NADD supporters should not be offended by the President's remarks. They should utilize them to educate the people and win more support for NADD.
Foroyaa: Let us turn to NADD, you kept on mentioning NADD's prospects to lead the country in 2006. On the other hand, people have been asking whether you will succeed in appointing a flag bearer.
Halifa: The mechanism for selecting a flag bearer is in place. It can be done by the executive committee on the basis of the principle of unanimity or through voting by the leaders of the grass roots committees of the respective political parties. The executive committee has it in its agenda to select a presidential candidate and a Deputy. Once the selection is done or otherwise, we will give a report to the public. There is no cause for alarm on this score.
Foroyaa: The fact that there has been a rumour that the UDP is going to withdraw from the alliance creates a cause for alarm for many NADD supporters and well wishers. Have you noticed this as coordinator?
Halifa: People have indeed called from every part of the country and even aboard to make enquiries. As coordinator, I have developed the principle of reporting on the final outcome of the deliberations of the Executive Committee. As a matter of practice, every contradiction in NADD is followed by consultation and dialogue. Based on experience, I am yet to witness a contradiction that the Executive Committee has not been able to solve. This is why there is no cause for alarm. People should always be concerned, but not alarmed. NADD is a by product of necessity and not that of mere convenience.
Foroyaa: What do you mean?
Halifa: When all parties in the Gambia including the NCP and APRC were invited to attend a conference organised by ACERA in Atlanta, Georgia USA in July 2003 I represented PDOIS. Before the talk of an alliance my mandate was to raise the profile of the party in the diaspora so as to draw more Gambians from the APRC and from other opposition political parties. I was expected to deliver a moving speech and then hold meetings in all parts of the US to mobilize more supporters for PDOIS and raise more funds to build up our grass roots organizations. It was our view that since we had two seats, our progress depended on the type of candidates we put in elections and our organizational capacity. It was therefore not our intention to join an alliance when we went to Atlanta. Necessity started to impose itself against our intentions when a group of Gambians in the diaspora convened a meeting of the representatives of the opposition political parties at Morehouse College to discuss about unity. Five parties were represented, that is, NDAM, NRP, PDIOS, PPP and UDP in alphabetical order. The Gambians who latter consolidated their pressure group to become Save The Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP) questioned whether any party can remove the Jammeh administration if we continued as opposition parties to compete with each other for membership to our individual parties. The answer was obvious. None of us could do so at the time. The rationale for an Alliance was accepted. The question became one of nature and form of the Alliance. After a long debate, it became clear that the basis of the alliance must go beyond regime change to embrace the reconstitution of principles, institutions and practices of governance in the country. I was made coordinator to facilitate the process of dialogue to see whether an Alliance could be formed. I must admit that at that moment I felt that I was given a near impossible task. I felt trapped. I could not continue my mission of promoting PDOIS to facilitate its expansion in the US. If I continued the promotion of PDOIS I would have been accused of opportunism after accepting to be a coordinator to forge an alliance. In the same vein; I could have been accused of undermining the efforts to bring about change if I refused to accept the role of a coordinator, which was accorded to me unanimously. The only option for me was to work with sincerity to ensure that if failure comes, it would not be due to my lack of initiative and commitment to the principles and vision invented at Morehouse College. This is why I have said that the Alliance was a by product of necessity instead of convenience.
Foroyaa: You indicated that all opposition parties could not argue against an Alliance because of the realization by each that they could not bring about change of government on the basis of their individual strengths. Can you explain this point to give more clarity on the issue?
Halifa: In a multi party system, an opposition party builds itself by taking membership from the ruling party in particular and from other opposition parties in general. An opposition divided into various camps may give advantage to a party in control of the executive.
At the time of our meeting at Morehouse College the circumstances did not favour any given opposition party to go it alone. PDOIS for example had two seats in the National assembly. It had the plan to capitalize on this parliamentary gain to expand its branches throughout the country by absorbing members from the other opposition parties. There is no doubt that such initiative would have been counteracted by the other opposition parties who would have struggled to retain their membership. The NRP's seats had reduced from two in the 1997-2002 Assembly to one in the 2002-2005 Assembly. It also had to make a determined effort to win support form the other opposition parties to have the potential to remove Jammeh. The NDAM had just emerged after a split within the UDP. It could only grow by absorbing the supporters of other parties in order to take on Jammeh. The PPP had also to contest for supporters from the other opposition parties to be able to take on Jammeh. The boycott of the parliamentary elections by the UDP led Coalition which was followed by a split in the Coalition also faced the UDP with challenges of how to prevent other opposition parties from winning the allegiance of its supporters. Hence the state of the opposition in the Gambia necessitated some form of Alliance to prevent confrontation among the opposition parties. This was the first rationale for contemplating the formation of an alliance after opposition party representatives were confronted by Gambians at Morehouse College. However the recognition of the need for an alliance was not enough to give birth to NADD.
Foroyaa: What do you mean?
Halifa: At the time of our return from the US, the Gambian electoral system still left room for the opposition parties to test their individual strength through the first round of voting and then form an alliance in the second round if no candidate had more than 50% of the votes cast. If this system remained, it may have been very difficult to form an alliance prior to the first round of voting. Opposition parties may have decided to carry on their competition to win supporters from each other until the first round of voting. Hence the most significant development, which hastened the establishment of an alliance prior to an election year, is the constitutional amendment, which eliminated the second round of voting. It became apparent that a divided opposition will take votes from each other and leave Jammeh to win without necessarily having the support of more than 50% of Gambian voters. The example was the National Assembly election in Serrekunda East in 1997. PDOIS candidate had 8,529, the UDP candidate had 8,067, while the APRC candidate had 9,575. If one combines the PDOIS and UDP votes they will add up to 16,596. The opposition had more votes than the APRC, but because of their division, the APRC candidate won the seat. I am convinced that more seriousness was attached to the demands to establish an alliance with immediacy after the second round of voting was eliminated.
Foroyaa: Why NADD?
Halifa: The establishment of a party led alliance before an election year necessarily leads to the marginalization of the other opposition parties. No single opposition party had even contemplated being marginalized. The debate regarding a workable arrangement gave birth to the idea of a united front to bring about change and then run a transitional government after which a level ground would be created for a multi party contest. That united front is the National Alliance for Democracy and Development.
Foroyaa: Is this not a disadvantage to parties with greater number of supporters?
Halifa: During the coup period, a transitional phase of two years was introduced before the restoration of democratic constitutional rule. Two years of suspension of democratic constitutional rule!! NADD on the other hand is contemplating a transition of five years under a genuinely democratic and constitutional order which will culminate with a level ground for free and fair elections based on a multi party electoral contest. NADD is just a transitional instrument. It is owned by all the parties. None is disadvantaged. Infact it seems to eliminate all the obstacles created by the regime which subjects all opposition parties irrespective of size to a disadvantage that bar each from occupying the place of executive leadership. NADD therefore requires the suspension of individual and party aspirations to the Presidency in favour of collective leadership for a period of five years after which anyone who is not selected to be a standard bearer can actually seek the mandate of the people under a party ticket.
Foroyaa: Has this been accepted by all the political parties?
Halifa: Of course! This is why each party signed the Memorandum of Understanding on 17th January 2005.
Foroyaa: Why the rumour that there are threats by some to leave NADD Executive?
Halifa: You would recall that after the registration of NADD by the IEC the seats of four national assembly members were declared vacant. The matter went to court. The court ruled that all the National Assembly members were members of NADD. We had to take contingency measures in light of the ruling of the court. We either had to scrap NADD and consider a party led alliance or maintain NADD on the basis of a common understanding of its transitional nature and its effectiveness in cementing a united front against the Jammeh regime. I am convinced that whenever differences surface all of us do come to accept that five years under a NADD government offers better opportunity for individuals and parties to take over leadership after NADD than five more years of APRC leadership. This is why NADD cannot crumble.
Foroyaa: Why the registration of NADD with all the troubles?
Halifa: Without registration, NADD would not be able to put up candidates in its name. This is Gambian law. This was the dilemma. What we now have to do is to determine whether the objectives are worth the sacrifices being made that you referred to as troubles.
Foroyaa: Are you saying that no mistakes were made?
Halifa: We had the objective of creating a united front that will enable us to put up candidates in its name in order to run a transitional government of five years based on collective leadership and collective scrutiny. We do not have it exactly as we wished, but we have NADD as dictated by times and circumstances. In my view, polities is not chemistry where the mixture of given quantities and properties of substances would give rise to exact quantities and properties of substances. Politics requires ability to adapt to ever changing circumstances to achieve desired results. We are not infallible. I am sure many things could have been done better, but we may have to settle for the little good we have done and strive for the greater good.
Foroyaa: How soon do we expect a flag bearer to be selected?
Halifa: Sooner than many people think. The agenda is in the pipeline.
Foroyaa: What about the rumour that once the flag bearer is named he will either find himself/herself in prison or six feet deep in the grave?
Halifa: Only those who do not cherish the values of freedom and justice can be conquered by fear. I have always emphasised that only unjust leaders rule by intimidation. The citizens of a sovereign republic will be treated like slaves if they accept to be frightened by threats. In my view, the imprisonment or killing of the ambassador of truth cannot destroy the truth. This is precisely why struggles continue with greater intensity under a new leadership after the leadership before it is imprisoned or killed. NADD supporters and sympathisers should ignore such rumours and move with renewed confidence and determination to bring about change in 2006.
Foroyaa: Let us move to your arrest. What is responsible for it?
Halifa: Before addressing the question, I would like the first focus on an urgent problem I discovered at Mile Two Prisons, the Secretary of State needs to do an inventory of all prisoners. There are many cases of people who are detained without being charged, those charged without going to court and those going to court for years without any settlement. There are others who would qualify for pardon under all criminal justice systems. There is indeed need for prison reform. Speedy justice is required.
Gambia needs a small prison population with adequate correctional facilities and well trained and well catered for staff to prepare inmates for productive and contributive community life after imprisonment.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 1, 2 & 3/2006, 3 - 18 January, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2006 : 02:10:40
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Well written.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Halifa, an intelligent man, and a man of true conscience.
Musa's flu is extended to many here.
Regards,
Dalton |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Momodou
Denmark
11805 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2006 : 02:17:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Dalton1
Well written.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Halifa, an intelligent man, and a man of true conscience.
Musa's flu is extended to many here.
Regards,
Dalton
Get well soon Dalton. I wish you a speedy recovery |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2006 : 03:33:11
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Thanks Momodou, and thank you for your warm heart, and brotherly countless love.
Who won't be sick with the nadd process being delayed, but progressing well ? They are being engaged fully by genuine Gambians, and no escape or excuse for any of them. It's all for God good.
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2006 : 03:35:25
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| Excuse my error, "it's all for good." |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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admin
130 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2006 : 16:07:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Dalton1
Excuse my error, "it's all for good."
Hi dalton, remember you can edit all your postings if you want to correct an error or want to add something. See this topic http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39 |
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