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OB1
84 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Apr 2006 : 21:35:37
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People, this is SERIOUS...Jammeh needs to go fast! Every day he is showing that the raw power grab will go on unabated! Read on:
Jammeh Empowered to Dissolve National Assembly at Will
Monday 24th April 2006
By Abba A S Gibba
A president in The Gambia can now dissolve the National Assembly “anytime he or she deems it necessary”.
This was made possible after members of the National Assembly approved on Thursday the proposed amendment to section 96 of the Constitution of The Gambia.
“The amendment to section 96 of the constitution is that notwithstanding the provision of subsection (1), the President may, in the public interest, declare that a general election of all members of the National Assembly shall be held on such date as he or she shall determine,” the Secretary of State for Justice, Sheikh Tijan Hydara, said at the National Assembly.
The proposed amendment to Section 96 of the Constitution states: “Notwithstanding the provision of Subsection (1), the President may, in the public interest, declare by order published in the Gazette, that a general election of all members of the National Assembly shall be held on such date as he or she shall determine.
Secy Hydara said there is however a clause in the proposed amendment that states that “the President shall not exercise his or her power under this subsection if the time for a general election of all the members of the National Assembly under subsection (1) is less than eighteen months.”
In moving the motion, Hon. Hydara said the amendment is in the public interest of the nation.
“It is only in the public interest of The Gambia that established institutions of government should be overhauled to give it a new momentum, a new sense of direction, a new lease of life, or to re-position it to meet other greater challenges, he added.
However, when the motion was moved for the approval of the amendment, it provoked a bitter argument between the political divide in the National Assembly.
It was nonetheless put to a vote and the results were as follows: the yes vote was 29, the no vote was 3, the absentees were 17, and 1 person abstained.
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BN |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2006 : 18:47:09
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| wELCOME ONE PARTY STATE JUST LIKE IN LIBYA. THE APRC PARTY COLOR IS BASED ON THE GREEN BOOK BY BOY NARR. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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taalibeh
Gambia
336 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2006 : 23:24:45
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Obi
Are you or anyone else in a position to explain the implications of this bill. Koizemi of Japan have the same authority and exercised it recently if I am not mistakened.
The threat of this power is against the dull MPs who could loose their jobs under such a circumstant I believe. |
Taalibeh |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2006 : 23:41:08
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The implication is very simple. You need to focus on some aspects of the constitution which says that if you cease to be a memebr of a party that elected you to office there will be a bye-election. Jammeh introduced this piece to ensure that he has control on his APRC memebrs in parliament. If you vote against his proposals, you are fired from APRC as a party and then there will be by lelection.
We have seen this happen.This is why the legislature is quiet. I am totally against the rule because it means he can indirectly remove an MP through mere dismissing him/her from the APRC.
The follow up to that amendment is that this one will cover all the MPS. It affects the oppositions ability to conduct elections and raise money for campaigns. Too often elections casue money which the opostion doe not have. Eventually, he can use his state machinnery to push them out with money and when the dissoultion is over, he will win more seats in the assembly. Eventually, he will get all the seats. Calling for an early election means a lot of resources. Remeber he will choose the timing which is unfair and oes not give the opposition a levelled playing field. The only exception is that he cannot call early electons 18 months before a scheduled election.
Mind you the old rule has not been changed(bye-election). he will then begin to dismiss memebers from his party if they do not tow his line and go for bye-election. Gradually, there will not be a separation of powers as called for in the constitution. One party state then develops like in Libya. Eventuallly he will pass a law which the house will ratify that we will not need elections.
Remember, the judiciary only interpretes the law and does not legislate it. If a bad law comes up, there is nothing they can effectively do.
The other major issue is that in the constitution, if you are found guilty of a criminal offense, you cannot hold public office. This is why Darboe was charged with murder so that when he is found guilty, he cannot run for office. It was for the same reason that Halifa, OJ and Hamat were charged with treason. If he succeeded, they are all automatically disqualified under the constitutional arrangements. The opposition would therefore be thrown into chaos. The man is only stupid in so far as it concersn you and me not his position. he has always worked to sfaeguard it.
I hope this sheds some light. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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OB1
84 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 05:06:58
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taalibeh,
This is a power move, not to be exercised now because he cannot, (because of the 18 month restriction), but for after 2006.
I think that the sinister motive for Jammeh is to keep silent on the NA elections after he wins in 2006, thus shutting out the opposition COMPLETELY. Then simply have a state without a legislature for as long as possible (a year, maybe two) do what he likes with the state (sign deals with nations, business men, award contracts to himself and his pals etc...without public scrutiny and then when he feels like it, call for the NA elections, and ensure that he retains all the seats. This is my prediction.
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BN |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 11:09:33
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I have lost the plot, does this mean that yaya, is planning a future!?!?. The "coup" was part of a bigger picture. Is there no one in gambia that can legal challenge him.
What about expats/exile could they come back and help. Surely the "legal people/ bar association" will argue this case, or are they dumb and scared to make a stand.
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OB1
84 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 13:25:50
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jambo, there is no arguing the case. The Bar association has no legal leg to stand on in this. The only people empowered to stop this from going ahead were the NAMs themselves. If they refused it then it would NOT be law. That is their job to safe guard the constitution, and enforce the will of the people (constituients), not Jammeh's will on the people. But they have no integrity, and do not care about being judged by history. All the facts are pointing to Jammeh amassing EVERYTHING for himself and his pals. He has been doing that anyway, now he has moved two bills:
1. The ligitimization of corruption (whereby himself and ministers can engage in 'businesses'--therefore they would bid for their own tenders (governments) and win everytime).
2. Total control of the NA.
I am predicting a third move: Jammeh will also bring a Bill to be tabled by the SOS for local gov and lands allowing him to dissolve ALL councils in the country and giving him the power to determine when local government elections can be held. That would seal it. Absoulte power....absolutely! And total corruption and a defacto monarchy. We will get there....sadly. Just watch 2007 will be the year Jammeh legalizes his siezure of The Gambia and make it his little kingdom.
peace. |
BN |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 13:31:00
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sadly i agree, by getting rid of key people, NIA etc, he now has a clear field. I believe they would have stood in his way and refused to do some the things he had planned. One of the rumours I heard was the E Sanghatey one, that he has left gambia because he was against something the president wanted to have done, and that the NIA would not arrest him. What price loyalty.
Also the GAmbia tv station seems quiet!?!
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Galo Sowe
Sweden
116 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 13:55:06
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quote:
Originally posted by jambo
Also the Gambia tv station seems quiet!?!
What TV station are you talking about Jambo? Don't you know that GRTS is Jammeh's radio and TV? |
"Soldiers are experts at camouflage but that is on the battle field not the political one, were transparency is the watch word" Kaaniba |
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OB1
84 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 13:56:38
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Can you elaborate on the Singhateh 1 leaving the country? Is it true? And GRTS...what is the problem there?
peace |
BN |
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taalibeh
Gambia
336 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 14:01:39
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Ob1 what you have just said means jammeh having total control of the nation and its affairs. This is the case at the moment anyway. He has silenced the everyone and has the power to sign contracts with any nation he deems fit without anyone whacking a finger.
He does whatever he likes. Other than the opposition ie Halifa, Sedia kemeseng no member of parliament scrutinizes jammeh's actions. He does not need to change anymore laws because he does not play by the law.
One thing is for sure, the justice minister must get ready to answer for his share of the bloody rotten governance. He is the one who is identifying all these loopeholes for jammeh to exploit at our expense. It is gambians who are feeding jammeh with this poison. Tijan Hydra will not escape as jammeh will never. He better get his hands dirtier.
The country is absolutely lawless as at now. He kills, detains, sacks, tortures and what ever evil you think off. He might burn all copies of the constitution and declare Gambia as lawless. That is the virtual situation anyway. |
Taalibeh |
Edited by - taalibeh on 26 Apr 2006 15:36:27 |
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taalibeh
Gambia
336 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 14:15:32
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kondorong
That was explicit, thanks. Again you can see that jammeh needs the help of constitutional professionals to help him identify ways and means of going round the situation for his benefits. As long as you have people who are ready to execute these dirty tricks, the man will continue to play with the body of our laws. Simple.
Secondly our NAMS are half educated who do not even understand the constitution more over they know they cannot pick jobs out side parliament that will pay near what they earn now so will therefore try to protect their revenue stream regardless.
I think the situation is more grieve than we thought. |
Taalibeh |
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Galo Sowe
Sweden
116 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 14:33:27
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The recent impeachment treat by PDOIS might have prompted Yaya to propose this bill. Now that the bill is passed, he can easily desolve the National Assembly in the event that members are on the lenghty process of impeaching him.
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"Soldiers are experts at camouflage but that is on the battle field not the political one, were transparency is the watch word" Kaaniba |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 14:45:56
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Think of this scenario, Yay announces that NA to be dissolved 1st may, 2006 what happens then!!??
Could it be that quick
I asked about grts because nobody has mentioned anything that is appearing on the news. I know it is yaya's baby , so is the newspaper but that has been printed. |
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OB1
84 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 15:16:23
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| No, Jammeh cannot do the May 1st thing. It clearly states that he can only do that if an NA election is further than 18 months away. So, I think that after 2006 election (October the NA is dissolved). now Jammeh can just stay silent forever really...there will be no NA in 2007. |
BN |
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pipeline
East Timor
9 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 15:19:59
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| the lame duck NAMS are being dragged by jammeh into his crocodile infested waters, there is no way to escape. one party rule is inevitable as it is been handed to jammeh on a silver plate. hey listen! there is no blaming jammeh here. he knows nothing about the law for it is too complicate for a wrestler to understand. it is the so called interlects guiding him to this route that are to be blamed for this myopic tendency. oh gambia! we have a serious problem. |
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