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Momodou
Denmark
11743 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Mar 2010 : 15:51:07
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Dailynews Editorial: The 2011 General Election Is Around the Corner, Are We Ready?
Gambians are supposed to go to the polls come 2011. The political parties are not in any way close to any form of readiness. Most if not all the opposition political parties are very dormant. It is only the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (A PRC) party that is visible so far. What is happening to the other political parties? are they dead as one of them said, or are they fake opposition parties as the APRC mobilizer said? Or is it because they are being denied their rights as a weapon?
In the run up to the 1996, 2001, and the 2006 presidential and parliamentary elections, at least for those of us who are still around can attest to the fact that those elections were keenly contested. Those elections were contested in very tense situations. It has cost some opposition parties very dearly, but it was contested no matter what. Those elections were contested right from the beginning to the end. One year to the elections were occasions no body needed to be told. The actions in those days spoke for themselves all the time.
Now we have barely one year to the elections, and yet it looks like there are no elections to come. The whole situation is dull, no political rallies by opposition parties. What is responsible? Why are no election messages in the air waves as before? No billboards with any form of messages.
In the recent past the Commissioner of Western Region was on a campaign calling for no elections. Does the situation on the ground give credence to this assertion?
However the United Democratic Party militants responded in newspaper interviews that the call is a political blunder and suicidal in any democratic nation as it is unconstitutional. The militants said The Gambia is a multiparty democracy so such a campaign is uncalled for.
The NADD presidential flag bearer in his response to the APRC Mobilizer challenged the APRC party from the President to the rank and file to a public debate. His remarks came after the APRC Mobilizer referred to the opposition as fake. The NADD flag bearer accused the mobilizer of sinking into politics of insults and character assassination, arguing that the 2011 election requires a mature debate on issues affecting the lives of the people.
In another interview on this paper sometime ago, the leader of the opposition UDP disagreed with others that the opposition is dead in the country. He argued that there are sitting opposition members of parliament at the National Assembly, with others serving at the ECOWAS and AU parliaments.
However what is certain now is that while the ruling APRC is doing their politics with no difficulties, some of the opposition political parties cannot function as required. One of them is facing a legal tussle over a permit issue.
The question therefore is, if we are to go the polls in 2011, under circumstances where some players are denied permits by the police to hold political rallies, how then are these political parties going to sell their party programmes? How ready are we as a nation to face the electorate if the politicians cannot hold political rallies? What is the function of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)?
One of the beauties of the second republic was the creation of the IEC? Some will say no, the ICE is not the issuing authority of permits out side the election periods. But should that be the case? The police are not and should not be the authority to issue permits to political parties. Here again some will attach the issue of permits to the use of the Public Address System (PAS). How could any serious political party hold a rally without the use of a PAS?
If the 2011 elections are to be taken seriously by the citizenry and the international community, the political parties should be allowed to hold rallies without any hindrances. Free and fair election is not only confined to Election Day. Free and fair election should be a comprehensive process.
Government therefore should create that enabling environment for free and fair elections. The frustration of opposition parties over the issuance of permits must be addressed. If the ruling party feels that it has delivered enough projects over the past 15 years, why can’t they use their powers within the laws of the land and allow free interaction among opposition parties and the electorate? The challenge is in the court of government to see to it that different political set ups freely dialogue with the people without hindrance.
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2010 : 23:37:53
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Again Gambia will enter another cycle of elections in the period 2011-2013 starting with the Presidential elections in September 2011, National Assembly elections in January 2012 culminating in Local Government elections in January 2013.The previous elections were funded,monitored and verified by various donor and international organizations including the UNDP as many would argue it was unfair but the evidence proves otherwise since the elections were supported by EC and UNDP under a Joint Donor Basket Funding mechanism. It's nonsense to say none the least that the Advisory services and operational support were not effectively provided to the Independent Electoral Commission on a timely manner for the (IEC) to conduct the elections. The fact of the matter is prior to the elections Public outreach programmes and voter education programmes were also implemented and the capacity of electoral observers and the media was also enhanced.
Various organizations including the Coalition on elections and the commonwealth declared the elections as being technically free and fair despite popular outcry of foul play from various opposition members. It's funny that a party leader can call a president and congratulate them yet claim behind closed doors that it was unfair,that is and was utter nonsense. I would assume the goal forthwith should be to strengthen the (IEC) and electoral process in the Gambia and as adviced be mandated to issue out permits relating to the election process. I personally feel that some of the state laws seems to contradict the democratization process and the issuance of permits for political ralllies should be governed by the IEC. I think it would be brilliant for Donors to still monitor the election process to eliminate instances of unfair practices . The police should still be able to charge abusers of the PA systems if they violate anylaws at any given time.
Personally I feel several factors lead to the denial or issuance of permits to certain parties and this is due to the clandestine nature of calling for reprisal and violent methods used which in any democratic dispensation is undemocratic, unethical, unacceptable and uncalled for. Inciting domestic upheavel in my opinion is the order of the day ,but I would say the security of any nation is more important than cry babies crying for a chance to exercise their freedoms yet when denied ,have the audicity to call it a violation of their "Freedom of speech " or right to Assembly etc.
I have a clearly understanding as to whats wrong truely speaking , the IEC needs to be empowered and authorized to regulate parties meanwhile the police needs to ensure that the laws are not broken especially at campaigns etc . The fact is the Law is there to be enforced and politics season obliges no one to violate the individual rights of anyone at any given time ,but my fears have always proven me right ,it's actually the ammo for all.........................................................Peace
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I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
Edited by - Moe on 25 Apr 2010 23:54:37 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 21:54:01
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Foroyaa online newspaper National News : PDOIS HOLDS CONGRESS AT THE ATLANTIC HOTEL under http://www.foroyaa.gm/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4746
JAMFA MANYI
"The Congress focused on two issues – the relation between PDOIS and NADD and Agenda 2011. After a long and lively debate in which almost all the delegates expressed their views, the Congress reached a consensus that PDOIS may be accused of betrayal if it abandons NADD, while Sidia Jatta is still a NADD National Assembly member. The Congress decided for PDOIS not to rupture the Alliance which led to the establishment of NADD and adopted Agenda 2011 as the way forward. The Congress called on all PDOIS members to adopt agenda 2011.
The Congress passed seven resolutions. The first resolution addresses the relation between PDOIS and NADD. It resolves that PDOIS should continue to be a unifying factor and should be the last party to abandon NADD to prove to the Gambian people that it is true to what it has signed to the end.
Secondly, the Congress acknowledged that PDOIS is a party of its own. It took cognisance of the fact that a unity that is more elaborate and extensive than NADD is needed to effect change in 2011. The Congress resolves that Agenda 2011 is the strategy and tactic that can lead to change in the Gambia. PDOIS as a party therefore resolves that all members of PDOIS should support Agenda 2011 and work on the ground to facilitate its realisation. It calls on all political parties to hold congresses and endorse agenda 2011."
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Edited by - kobo on 26 Apr 2010 21:57:00 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2010 : 10:50:09
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Related Bantaba Gambian politics topic Halifa Sallah on GRTS International under http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9054
ITS RECOMMENDED TO LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOUT RULING REGIME, STATE OF OPPOSITION PARTIES, AGENDA 2011 & WAY FORWARD |
Edited by - kobo on 30 Apr 2010 10:54:34 |
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