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Momodou
Denmark
11804 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Oct 2007 : 22:24:04
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Foroyaa Editorial
Rulers and Leaders
The Sovereignty of the People in Question
Sovereignty of the people simply means that authority to govern is derived from the political will of the people and exercised to promote their liberty and prosperity. Where the sovereignty of the people is absent representatives are transformed into rulers who expect the led to behave like subjects and regard all exposure of wrong doings as subversion of authority. Such rulers react to any expression of dissent by enlarging the jackboot of oppression and stand on the neck of the led until they yield to total submission to their rule. In this way they spread the yoke of tyranny and alienate themselves from all those who love freedom and justice or are yearning for the protection of a free and just society. Ultimately such rulers deprive themselves of popular will and are discarded into the dustbin of history.
On the other hand, where the Sovereignty of the people reign supreme representatives become leaders who react to all exposures of wrong doings by engaging in self reflection and contemplation to provide redress to grievances. In this way they nurture popular expression of grievances and enlarge freedom and democracy. Such leaders become the humble servants of the people and because of such service are seen as guides in the struggle of the people to carve a destiny of liberty and prosperity. They therefore enjoy love of most and respect from even those who are opposed to them.
The Gambia needs leaders and not rulers after 37 years of Republican existence. All those who love truth and justice especially those among the elders who will visit the president on the day of the coming feast in the Gambia should ask him to release all prisoners of Conscience who are simply detained without charge and trial before an independent and impartial tribunal. They should ask him to set up a complaints unit at the Attorney General’s Chambers to receive all grievances regarding human rights violation and injustice for investigation and redress. The recommendations of such a department should be honoured without any regard to political expediency.
In our view the case dealing with the Amnesty Internatioanal staff, chief Manneh and other Journalists, who are the victims of delayed justice like Fatou Jaw Manneh should be swiftly handled in a judicious manner and concluded: Only a weak and immoral government will defy just criticisms and recommendations just to give the impression that it is not bowing to pressure. A government of the people takes pride in bowing down to enlightened public opinion, be it national or international.
The Gambia has existed as a Sovereign Republic for 37 years. Foroyaa has existed as a Newspaper with the primary motive of defending the sovereignty of the people for 20 years. As we give solidarity to victims of injustice we must equally call on all Gambians to make 2008 the year of consolidation of the Sovereignty of the people.
Foroyaa is older than the APRC administration. We survived the first Republic, the coup and the Second Republic. We have exposed all the inadequacies of the First and Second Republics and are convinced that they can never be addressed until we redouble our efforts to raise the awareness of the people and consolidate the democratic culture of the sovereignty of the people. Foroyaa in collaboration with the People’s Centre for Social Science Research, Civic Awareness and Community Initiative shall intensify this civic education in the coming year. We are not interested in amassing wealth from the paper. We will, plough back every butut we earn from the paper to enlighten the Gambian people. We will help consolidate the culture of the sovereignty of the people through songs, drama, poetry, arts and literature. The People’s Centre will establish a Pan African Library and a high grade research centre to produce learning materials for those literate in the official language, the local languages and those of the African Union.
To make the Gambian people to be among the most enlightened people on earth has been Foroyaa’s strategic objective. We therefore call on the Gambian people in particular, at home and abroad, and just humanity at large, especially the youth who have more to gain and more to lose, to join us in this urgent indispensable and noble task of human civilization; the task of enlightening the people so that Sovereignty or power would truly reside in them and thus create an impregnable fortress for democracy, liberty, dignity and prosperity on our soil. The future is bright for those who are ready to shape it by having a vision and mission to facilitate and consolidate the sovereignty of the people as the cornerstone of an open, free and democratic society.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 120/2007, 12 - 14 October, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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