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Momodou
Denmark
11645 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 16:17:01
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FOCUS ON POLITICS
1981 POLITICAL CRISIS
OPPOSITION LEADER EMBROILED WITH COUNTLESS CHARGES WHILST RULING PARTY BRACED FOR CAMPAIGN
With Suwaibou Touray
We are utilizing this column to focus on politics. We have started with the politics of the pre-colonial period to the post independence era. We have successfully covered the 60s and 70s. we are now dealing with the aftermath of the 1981 political crisis.
In the last issue, we have started to discuss the challenges and constraints faced by the country and the Government of Sir Dawda. We have analyzed the Emergency Powers Act and questioned whether the opposition could say or do anything under such draconian regulations and still win an election. Let us continue from where we have stopped.
Continued from: http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3789
COULD THE OPPOSITION WIN AN ELECTION UNDER EMERGENCY REGULATIONS ACT (1981)?
The opposition was in total disarray for two reasons; (1) because of not only the arrest of their leaders but also because the Emergency Regulations act was in place. The PPP militants were always seen with the Senegalese soldiers enforcing this law. Gambian security agents including the police who were struggling to convince the authorities that they were loyal, had to do everything to turn all stones left unturned not only to be seen to be loyal but to also be recognised so as to be safe.
According to Sam Jones, if electioneering means opposing parties to canvass, make speeches and criticize each other and present different ideas and polices for National development purposes; if all the candidates contesting the elections do not have equal opportunities of embarking upon effective electioneering, then their candidature and participation would surely be insignificant, futile and meaningless.
The picture at the time indicates that there were no opposition candidates because no one was holding rallies or open meetings. The euphoria that had always characterize elections in The Gambia was no more visible.
People made several suggestions to the authorities to ensure free and fair elections but government did not listen. For example, it was suggested to the president to either defer the election, work together with the people until the nations state of affairs returns to normalcy, then revoke the state of Emergency and call for fresh elections, or simply repeal regulations (12) and (19) of the emergency powers regulation of 1981; but all these was not adhered to.
When the Government refused either of these suggestions, many began to lose interest in the 1982 general elections. Many became naturally frightened and saw the whole exercise as not only a forgone conclusion but futile. People became skeptical that unless that was done there was no way that there would be free, fair and democratic elections.
The ruling party, however, went ahead to organize themselves for the elections. They held their National Congress at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul on the 29 March 1982, whilst the leader of the opposition, Honourable S. M. Dibba and his Deputy Gibou Jagne, Pap Cheyasin Secka, the NLP leader, and people like one Momodou Ceesay, Hally Jammeh, Lamin Danso and Tumani Minteh were brought to court and charged with sedition plus 20 other offences which are considered grave. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were represented by Lawyer Ousainou Darboe and Mr. Berthan Macauley, a foreign counsel.
CORRUPTION, TRIBALISM AND SECTARIANISM AS ROOT CAUSES OF THE CRISIS;
At the congress, the president in his address said, among other things, that this congress was unlike their last congress which he said was held in serene circumstances, politically, socially and economically. He acknowledged that this pre-election congress was taking place at a time when the dust of battle had barely settled and emotions were still high following the tragic event of July 30th.
The president emphasized that, as election approaches, it was of course essential that they win the election (every single seat if possible) and renew their mandate to govern. He however asserted that they must be on their guard and learn their lessons from July 30th. He cited what he called days of subversion and international terrorism; that it was not enough to pride themselves in a democratic constitution and a parliamentary democracy; that it was not even enough to proclaim their adherence to Human and Peoples Rights and the rule of law in the abstract.
Sir Dawda opined that the, first and foremost, lesson they had to learn from July 30th was that the party must hence forth reorganize and rejuvenate itself if it were to lead this country and defend it effectively.
The president warned that, in as much as they must achieve victory in the forth coming election, the party must not deteriorate into an election winning machinery every five years; that they must advance from permanent campaigns for election victory to permanent political education and dialogue with the people.
The president expressed concern about what he described as megalomaniacs, tribalists, demagogues, subversives, opportunists and "wolves in sheep clothing". He said, although many of them rallied behind the party in their hour of need on July 30th, they knew that some among them disowned the party and acted dishonorably. He also said they knew that some took refuge in cowardly silence rather than stand up and be counted. He then warned "Beware of the enemy within". "Beware of the enemy at the gate." He asserted that they know that not all the rebels had been rounded up at the time, because some of them were protecting them through their silence either because they were neighbours or relatives.
"Mr. Chairman, I am saying this because unless party cadres are prepared to defend the government when the government is in danger, you will lose (we will all lose) the very liberties that we now enjoy" the president asserted.
The president could not hide his frustration with the press. He said a lot of lies and propaganda had also been appearing in certain newspapers and magazines which had deteriorated from quality to what he called "gutter press journalism".
He also said corruption, tribalism and sectarianism contributed to the events of July 30th and they must talk about it. He opined that by far the worst evil in their body politic was tribalism and the exploitation of tribalism not by the ordinary people of this country but by the so-called "Big men" and people who should know better.
Sir Dawda revealed to the congress that Government was considering an Assets Evaluation Exercise that they hoped would substantially slow down what he described as the "Rat race" and the mad rush for the acquisition of more material goods at the expense of the duty to the state and to society. He however emphasized that the worst evil and the greatest corruption in their body politic was tribalism, and infact potentially the most destabilizing factor that could be exploited to divide and destroy the society and undermine the foundations of Government. He said those among them who were educated should seek self advancement purely on the basis of their merits, irrespective of tribe, caste, or religion and not exploit tribal sentiments for their own selfish, personal advancement.
After the congress, the PPP had over 150 aspiring candidates vying for only 35 seats in parliament whilst the opposition had not a single candidate to nominate for the elections at that time.
See next issue as we advance into the 1982 general elections.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 66/2007, 8 - 10 June 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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