 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11733 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Feb 2006 : 18:00:54
|
STGDP PRESS RELAESE
Fellow Gambians, Friends, Sisters and Brothers
Save The Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP), like all Gambians and friends of The Gambia is disappointed, frustrated, and hardened by the current situation in which the NADD Coalition finds itself. Hopes are dashed, minds are shattered and confusion abound but we are nonetheless, well poised to continue focusing on and pursuing the astute hopes and aspirations that every Gambian would like to see happen; the opportunities to bring about the much needed changes in Gambia’s political landscape come October 2006.
In retrospect, when we engaged the coalition partners almost three years ago, STGDP recognized and expected the difficulty ahead. We did not have any illusion that this march to freedom and dignity for all will come without the kind of turbulence we are currently witnessing, but also understood that this was a ride worth taking if we are to achieve our noble goals within the twenty-first century.
Undoubtedly, STGDP and the coalition partners have taken this journey, accepting the difficulty ahead but willing to take the risk to build hope in the lives of all Gambians and beyond. The coalition partners have had their differences, both personal and sometimes ideological; differences in approach, but the commonality among all of them was the naked truth that this may be the only realistic option to bring about peaceful and effective change in the country’s political, social and economic landscape.
It is without a doubt that all the parties involved, over the years, have worked hard, invested their time, energy, and resources for the sake of their belief in a democratic Gambia. STGDP has gotten to know each and everyone of these leaders, and they are all honorable ladies and gentlemen who have demonstrated a commitment to bring about a peaceful and democratic change in our mother land.
STGDP endorses the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD), will continue to support NADD, the NADD Memorandum of Understanding and the spirit of the NADD MOU.
Although, it is with deep regrets that Mr. Ousainou Darboe had to make the difficult decision of resigning from NADD, his decision was not finalized without great effort from many fronts to thwart it. In the last days before he made the pronouncements, STGDP faxed him a letter and followed up with a conference call that lasted over an hour. We unreservedly pleaded with Mr. Darboe to re-consider his position and give the people of Gambia the opportunity to work through the difficulties at hand. We however accept, with a bruised heart, the reality of Mr. Darboe’s resignation from NADD have since resolved to respect his decision.
Meanwhile, STGDP will continue to pursue all creative and realistic options that will give us the opportunity to crush the tyranny and bring about the democracy, respect for the dignity and human rights of every Gambian. STGDP is committed and will continue to pursue every opportunity to make the 2006 Presidential elections a two-way race between NADD and the A(F)PRC. We will only accept a fractured coalition to face the A(F)PRC come October 2006 after exhausting all possible avenues to squash the possibility of a fractured opposition, and are thus appealing to all Gambians to join our effort in making a united opposition a reality.
STGDP is still hoping that this document - the NADD MOU will become the thesis of a new Gambian constitution come October 2006. A document that will bring about: term limits, building of the institutions of democracy, an end to self perpetuating presidency, and an independent judiciary that will guarantee freedom and liberty for all Gambians.
Finally, we would like to thank all of you, Gambians and friend of the Gambia living in the Diaspora for your continuous support. In the coming months, we will come to you for your financial and moral support to fulfill our aims and objectives re-iterated here. We want to assure everyone that hope is not all lost, and we will continue to fight to make a meaningful contribution to bring about the new Gambia.
Together, we will succeed.
Save The Gambia Democracy Project
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2006 : 23:11:30
|
Now wait a minute , I don't really get this !
Did Hamat Bah just said that there will still be one opposition candidate to challenge Jammeh in October , 2006 ?
Does he mean Darboe who resigned from NADD is not running for the presidency under UDP ? Does he mean that UDP as a party is remaining in the NADD alliance despite Darboe 's departure ?
Also , I 'm interested in this paragraph from the STGDP press release below :
"STGDP is still hoping that this document - the NADD MOU will become the thesis of a new Gambian constitution come October 2006. A document that will bring about: term limits, building of the institutions of democracy, an end to self perpetuating presidency, and an independent judiciary that will guarantee freedom and liberty for all Gambians".
I 'm worried that the MOU is a defective document , considering the recent supreme court decision that altered a material fact in that document after its attestation by the parties .This could make it voidable , and any NADD flagbearer who succeed Jammeh could set it aside easily just like Darboe did .So if this position is the case the MOU may fail to "become the thesis of a new Gambian constitution , ..." as stated in the STGDP press release .
The MOU needs to be looked at again to make sure it is a legally enforceable document ( if it was intended to be one in the first place ).I would really like to know .
Thanks.
|
 |
|
|
BambaLaye
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2006 : 23:39:13
|
"Kayjatta"
I will not even attempt to fill the void on Hamat's statement but here's what I can tell you about STGDP's reference to the NADD MOU:
STGDP is not insinuating the legality of the MOU or otherwise by referring to it as "the THESIS of a new Gambian constitution" (my emphasis). What STGDP is hoping is that the MOU will become the foundation from which a more cohesive democratic constitution can be built. A constitution that entails the bsic principles pf Term Limits for the presidency, etc. etc.
I hope this fills the void for you. |
|
|
|
|
kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2006 : 00:19:24
|
| Bambalaye , thanks for your clarification . However , my point is that since the supreme court ruling that forced the NAMs in NADD to vacate their seats in the National Assembly , NADD has technically come to be referred to as both an alliance and a party. An alliance by the MOU and a Party by the Supreme court .Where does this leave the MOU as a binding document ? Is there not a loophole here , and if so , is there not a need to address it now and then ? You see , in my view Darboe has relied heavily on this technical point to his advantage recently , and believe there will be further complications in future , don't you think ? |
|
|
|
BambaLaye
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2006 : 01:43:22
|
KB:
The MOU is just that; a memo of understanding between ladies and gentlemen of the five parties that came together under NADD. I don't think they intended for it to be a legal/constitutional document. Hence the title memo. If that basic fact is established in our minds then the rest of your argument shall be moot. My intention was to clarify the context in which the MOU was referred to in the Release. |
|
|
|
|
Biraago
Gambia
173 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2006 : 05:40:55
|
Darboe / Bah reluctant members of NADD
Both of these party leaders were reluctant to join the Alliance from the onset. They were virtually draged into it by their respective executives and since they are the leaders of their parties, they had to foolow the wishes of the majority in their executive committees.
NADD's strategy was too produce the relevant documents binding them, take them to the masses for approval and then give the masses the opportunity to influence the selection of the future leadership that would carry through the final ejection of the Jammeh/APRC regime.
Because of the fact that NADD's work amongst the masses was delayed for too long, when the time came to move forward, the question of a standard bearer became paramount so many and the NADD leadership was forced to handle it urgently in order to continue with the basic programme with the people.
Realising that they may not fit the criterias that are to be set for the leader of such an Alliance, the only thing left for Darboe and Bah was to find descrepances that could be found either based on the technicalities governing the Alliance and or the the well know bad personal chemistry among the members of the leadership.
Waa Juwara became one of the scapegoats and the other is the fact that NADD was registered as a party and not an alliance. We all know that, this blunder could be attributed to those who were responsible for the registration for their naïvity but also the weakness in our national counstitution that does not have a provision for the registradition of an alliance of different parties that could fill present candidates for election.
Knowing fully well that most of the Gambians were yearning for change and NADD has become the beacon of hope because they see the unified stance from the side of the opposition, Darboe and Bah had no way out but to use these wel known technicalities and personal grievances to withdraw their respective parties from NADD.
They also understand from the other executive members of UDP and NRP that the best thing for the Gambia is NADD as an alternative to Jammeh and the APRC and this could also mean that anyone of the five party leaders could be the flagbearer for the well stipulated transition period.
Now the new strategy is to create confision, accuse the rest of the NADD leader in a baseless way and seek public approval to form a new alliance of their their two parties with the two of them being the guarrantors of success and in this way they can realise their leadership ambitions.
The Darboe resignation from NADD is to create freedom of manouvre and the Brikama meeting was the testing ground to see if the strategy is viable. This is why they have to maintain their membership in the UDP and NRP respectively as personal guarranttees should incase their go it alone attempt fail then they can always reconcile with the rest of the group. That's why Darboe is saying that, he is dtill a member of the NADD Alliance but not the NADD party. I assure you that, if they find that they could muster enough support as individuals among the populace then they just call it a day with NADD and go it alone as planned.
Now, it is left to NADD with the support of the representatives of the UDP and the NRP to be steadfast and move ahead with their programme and the grassroots members of the UDP and the NRP should also give full support to NADD knowing that it is our only chane to dislodge the present regime in the coming elections and to create a new political culture in cour beloved country.
The progessive Gambians should just ignore Darboe and Bah while exposing their evry attempt to decieve the people and lead them to dis-unity and creating and advantageous position for the Jammeh / APRC regime.
Everyone of us must become a mobiliser and support the endeavours of the NADD leadship. Afterall this, is a transitional phase to usher in democratic pluralism and just governance in the Gambia. It is not the final action for the democratic movement.
|
|
|
|
kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2006 : 18:31:56
|
| Thanks for setting that straight , Bambalaye .Point well taken. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
