|
Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Apr 2010 : 18:11:07
|
Dailynews Editorial: The Political Impasse Persists
The forthcoming 2011 presidential and national assembly elections are fast approaching and the fact remains that an enabling stage is yet to be set for its smooth conduct.
To conduct free and fair elections is by and large the mandate of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Since our electoral body is expected to carry out general registration of voters come January 2011, the political environment needs to be sanitized soonest, lest we are caught unawares.
The recent political developments in the country are no good signs as the countdown to the forthcoming general elections is already showing signs of friction.
The conviction of the UDP campaign manager, Femi Peters, is a matter of great concern. Femi and his party were denied permit by the office of the Inspector General of Police, then occupied by Essa Badjie. The party however went ahead and staged one. Could we pause here and ask: What are the criteria to secure a permit to hold rallies? Why does one need a permit in the first place
This issue came up at the just ended session of the national assembly when the minority leader of the UDP put the question to the minister of the interior.
The minority leader noted that they have been denied permits to hold rallies for well over a year on no just grounds while the ruling APRC party conducts meetings across the country without permits. APRC has been of course challenged on several occasions to prove that they have been issued with permits to hold such meetings.
According to the minority leader, in addition to the rejection of the permit for which the campaign manager was sent to jail they also had their permit applications dated 24th February 2009, 28th April 2009, 5th May and 21st May 2009, also rejected without explanation. The minister in response told the Assembly that because of the police engagement in other duties of threat to national security, they couldn’t provide sufficient personnel on the ground to ensure peaceful conduct of the meetings. As such the office of the IGP deemed it fit and proper not to approve the applications in the public interest.
But what a mythical statement from the minister for we know opposition parties, UDP amongst them have been holding rallies without police coverage. Hon. Sanneh was right when he retort that UDP meetings were never covered by the police.
The exchanges at the national assembly clearly show that there is no end in sight to this political impasse.
The question of permits is only evolving around the UDP as if other opposition parties are not applying.
We have been carrying editorials, stories and opinions about the dormancy of opposition parties.
Of course there have been reactions from opposition parities but the question of denial of permits it seems is unique to the UDP.
The race is already on as the ruling party has been holding meetings across the country. Glaring instances are the tour of the western region by governor Lamin Sanneh championing the no election campaign; the country wide tour of the newly appointed APRC national mobilizer, the adoption of a father in Kololi, Serrekunda West and as recently as Saturday April 17th 2010 the adoption of one Modou Dahaba presided over by none other than the Attorney General and minister of Justice at Kunkujang Keitay, Kombo North.
In the light of the above, we recommend that the inter-party committee in which all political parties are represented ought to meet to address this question of permits and other issues pertaining to elections before it is too late.
Do we need another Abdou Salami Abubacarr to intervene before sanity prevails?
This matter should be a concern to the government too, as it is to the opposition. It is in the interest of the smooth running of the forthcoming elections; the inalienable right to assembly and the need for the opposition to talk to their loyalist and present their programmes to the electorate.
While the opposition must respect the legality of the government of the day, the former should also be seen as a government in waiting. This way, our elections could be considered free and fair.
The onus, most importantly, is on us as Gambians to take our destiny in our own hands in the spirit of national dialogue.
Source: Dailynews
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
Topic Locked
