(JollofNews) – The systematic and organised attack against the APRC risk the reemergence of political terrorism in the Gambia. According to J. Cook political terrorism is the use of indiscriminate violence for political end. Political violence tend to involve against civilian population, non-combatant and major victims are political parties, institutions and players.
However, the systematic attacks against the former ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) in both Mankamang Kunda and Busumbala perpetrated by politically misguided Gambians not only demonstrate the weakness of our state intelligence and security institutions to quickly response or deter public violence, but the parochial and unhealthy political culture of an average Gambian.
This culture has killed and buried us as a nation in a grave of underdevelopment and poverty. Until we have a leadership that is committed to transforming the culture to development and social cohesion as a sovereign people in a sovereign republic, we will be rotting in this grave of underdevelopment.
It is sad that since independence, we have struggled to live and respect the principles of a true democratic atmosphere. The agitation for APRC to be ban and use of violence to intimidate the party’s supporters questions the civilisation, intelligence, and maturity of the agitators .
As one the greatest feminist of all times, Madam Eleanor Smeal asserts in her famous address in 1997 ” violence and terrorism is not an acceptable political strategy in a civilised society.” Sorrow shakes my heart when headlines of the 10th January 2018 in our papers read “NCCE (National Council for Civic Education) constrained ahead of council election.”
My heart was torn apart when I read the content of the report only to find out that NCCE are extremely underfunded, lacks a permanent office and struggles with mobility. This unfortunate realities encountered by the council immensely manifest the lack of interest by our state managers to support institutions that is mandated to enlighten the public on their civil , democratic and constitution rights. NCCE becomes redundant and fails to projects its activities throughout the communities .
This is a major cause of political ignorance and misrepresentation in the Gambia thereby causing political indiscipline and misrepresentation of politics and democracy as the population lack enough political orientation. The state never have interest to build the sovereign people in a sovereign republic since independent.
The reason for this as one of my colleagues told me, is that when the NCCE work effectively in conjunction with other civic society, the political cultures of many Gambians will be transformed which will be beneficial to the state, but not to some leaders because citizen will choose their representative through ideological master plans and not chose by tribe or even party. When this happen many party will fall as they lack what it takes to serve as an alternative government forming party.
Another disaster caused by our state managers is the indiscriminate award of scholarship in the university of the Gambia. Political science students are least or never consider in the annual award of scholarship by the Government through the Ministry of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (MOHRST). Officers of the ministry will plainly tell the public that government priority is the science causing large number of financially constrained politically science to indefinitely differ the semester or divert to other fields and disheartening increase the political science stigma in the Gambia.
This move by our governments is so senseless and reflected in both our civil and diplomatic services. President Barrow flawed exclusive interview with CGTN speaks volumes of our diplomats in both the office of the president and the Ministry of Foreign affairs. For example, did they advice President Barrow on the history of the Gambia diplomatic relations before he face the media?
In essence, the government need to empower the social sciences students at the University of the Gambia equally as the natural sciences to have a very balance society.
Finally, form a peaceful and progressive society that is free from political and related violence. Police should not only give permit for political and it related gatherings, but provide intelligence officer as well to assess and report any threat of violence for action before is too late as it happen to the APRC party. The security sector and others state institutions should also be made to understand that they have no wider political role.
The civic societies the NCCE, and social sciences in the university should also be empowered to effectively engage in civic education in effort to the transformation of our very parochial political culture as a state for development and national unity.
By Sanna Badjie
The author is a political science student at the University of the Gambia.
This article by all manifestations is very pedestrian and seem to sanctify the record of APRC as innocent victims of political vendetta. Far from the truth. APRC has not yet come to terms with the defeat of Yaya Jammeh. Its unrepentant leadership still justify the diabolical and horrible rule of a vile dictator.
I have worked with Yaya administration at the treasury and I know at first hand the pilferage that started even at the embryonic stage of APRC so i dont need lecture from anyone.
Secondly the Jola minority, my uncles need to come arround to reality that changes is a human inevitability and one man prule germinate regressive dictatorial tendencies as exemplified in the persona of jammeh. The most sad episode is the collusion of socalled technocrats and professionals. Go to the court of any dictator, you will find a bunch supercilous and docile technocrats who are just donkeys with a load of books as the quran put it.
The jolas are the only tribe who vote on tribal lines. It is only in jola dominated constituencies which does not tolerate opppsition and consequently their MPS during Yaya era go unoppose. In the last election 99% of jolas voted for Yaya and his APRC while yaya scored high vote in many part of the country where other tribes are majority but not the other way arround.
How can APRC be innocent while by nature, they are a violent party for the past 22 years with backing of the security forces. They are taking a ride in our new democracy and playing victimhood and minority sympathy.
Fortunately, two wrongs don’t make a right. Like I have said on many occasions, one cannot change a Vulture into an Eagle. There have various levels of Political Violence in the Gambia before, during and after Independence. One thing that can be said of the past political Violence is that, the Violence was not Tribal. It was mostly one of Party Politics and Regionalism. Party Politics of PPP that may have been Predominantly Rural Mandinka and Jola Ethnic Groups Supported VS. U.P. which was Predominantly Urban Aku and Wolof Ethnic Group Alliance with the Support of some Rural Fanafanas, Serereh and Serahule Ethnic Group Support. Due to the majority of the Gambian Population being Mandinka who were Predominantly Rural farmers, the Violence was more Regional in Character. Due to the “Bennachin” dish nature of the Political Parties then, the violence was not one that was directed at one ethnic group or tribe. Bennachin is preparing by eventually mixing all the ingredients of the recipe into one cooking pot and simmer it until deemed ready. Hope the current political climate in the Gambia can be made into a Bennachin dish and Simmered down to a more platable and sustainable State. Peace and Tranquility to All.
Lamin Darboe,
You are deliberately distorting political realities or just telling lies about facts you already know. When did the Foni Jolas oppose Jawara in 30+years of the PPP regime? They were the most honest and loyal followers of the PPP who Jawara used to refer to as an “area for no need to campaign”.
What I am missing in this discourse, is the apportion of blame that must be laid at Jammeh footsteps. Mr. Badgie, if all the lofty ideals and ambitions you enjoined us to do and aspire for, were the cornerstone of Jammeh’s 22 years rule, I would imagine that the country wouldn’t experience skirmishes that took place in Busumbala.
And for Babu to always compare Jammeh’s intolerance and divisive policies as reminiscent of the Jawara years, is very troubling and a testimony that part of our elites with jammeh mindset, haven’t learn anything and remain unapologetic about Jammeh’s atrocities.
Well then it beggars the question whether we must expect from people, like the residents of Busumbala, who were at the receiving end of Jammeh impunity, to be farsighted and humble enough to forgive provocations by holdouts of Jammeh sympathisers?
That is a hard bargain and I doubt anyone can fulfill that in the long term. Aprc is a party and they have the right to their views. So do the others. HENCE, either they acknowledge jammeh’s terror regime and take necessary consequences and then be considered a responsible party OR they continue to defend jammeh’s terror records and be considered an irresponsible fringe movement. Those are the choices. And I hope also that the intelligentsia behind jammeh finally comes to terms with the lost opportunity that was jammeh. Many elites that shared jammeh’s hatred towards particular groups in the country, unfortunately do not see the missed opportunities availed to jammeh to deepen the bonds between us all. He squandered the goodwill from all corners of the country across cross section of ethnic belongings. But he squandered the goodwill. And now these intelligentsia around him at the time, want the people to let aprc to continue with their defending of the indefensible.
Apportioning blame on UDP is an old tactic of Jammeh and sympathisers. Of course, we expect and even demand that UDP play by the rules of democratic dispensation. The hard political truth is that aprc and jammeh have alienated a significant part of the Gambian populace and that will remain so for the foreseeable future. Consequently, it is perfectly to be expected that people, even without political party affiliations, will steadfastly confront aprc provocations on their own accord. UDP leadership cannot be held responsible for every reactions by citizens to aprc celebration of Jammeh brutality.
Babu
Let me tell you one thing, i don’t lie. I over 50 and have seen Jawara era politics, Jammeh era monolithic power centralisation or shall I say usurpation. I was at the quardrangle ojln the morning of jammeh coup and in the evening while listening to the radio, i heard voice of Captain Sonko who explained what happened and the ration d’tre of the takeover.
Those peiple wjo did the ground work and enthroned pricipally mandinkas and fana fanas were either kilped or banished by yaya. Even Mr sonko who i chanced in London fleet street.
We were all welcoming but little did we realise the rape of country is dawning under our own eyes. What happened after 22 years Jaeh.misrule, represent a darkest stain on our country’s history. Murder, rape, banishment and ethnic malevolence especially toward mandinka tribe evince a new consciousness among that ethnic group. Mark that. No ethnic group was targeted by Jawara regime nor did we witness any political violence leading to lose of life but the very last diabolical event that shall be last line on yaya’s epitaph was killing innocent demostrators at Westfield junction notably Solo sandeng. Solo’s ghost will haunt yaya for the rest of his life and when he die, he shall stand before his maker to answer for the unprecedented art of political treachery and unwanton murder of defenceless people.
Anyone who defend Yaya era malicious act pf terror must be a shameless sycophant. And anyone who vopare jawara eta politics to Yaya era politics is unjust to history.
Ask those whose love ones have disappeared without trace, they will tell you sorrow and depression they went through but knew Allah does not aid evil doers. Jasaja jammeh and massy jammeh families, close relatives of the vile dictator.
YOUR insinuations in your article lack merit and does not hold water and will crack under scrutiny. I didnt have time to read line by lines but it has a penchance for distortion and devoid of level handedness or perspicacity. APRC has no moral standing and shall ever be associated with political teror, human right abuse, muder, banishment, torture, rape of detainees at NIA, economic crime and above all sowing the seed of ethnic disharmony. Anyone who defend that must have his consciences and moral substance examined.
This article by all manifestations is very pedestrian and seem to sanctify the record of APRC as innocent victims of political vendetta. Far from the truth. APRC has not yet come to terms with the defeat of Yaya Jammeh. Its unrepentant leadership still justify the diabolical and horrible rule of a vile dictator.
I have worked with Yaya administration at the treasury and I know at first hand the pilferage that started even at the embryonic stage of APRC so i dont need lecture from anyone.
Secondly the Jola minority, my uncles need to come arround to reality that changes is a human inevitability and one man prule germinate regressive dictatorial tendencies as exemplified in the persona of jammeh. The most sad episode is the collusion of socalled technocrats and professionals. Go to the court of any dictator, you will find a bunch supercilous and docile technocrats who are just donkeys with a load of books as the quran put it.
The jolas are the only tribe who vote on tribal lines. It is only in jola dominated constituencies which does not tolerate opppsition and consequently their MPS during Yaya era go unoppose. In the last election 99% of jolas voted for Yaya and his APRC while yaya scored high vote in many part of the country where other tribes are majority but not the other way arround.
How can APRC be innocent while by nature, they are a violent party for the past 22 years with backing of the security forces. They are taking a ride in our new democracy and playing victimhood and minority sympathy.
Fortunately, two wrongs don’t make a right. Like I have said on many occasions, one cannot change a Vulture into an Eagle. There have various levels of Political Violence in the Gambia before, during and after Independence. One thing that can be said of the past political Violence is that, the Violence was not Tribal. It was mostly one of Party Politics and Regionalism. Party Politics of PPP that may have been Predominantly Rural Mandinka and Jola Ethnic Groups Supported VS. U.P. which was Predominantly Urban Aku and Wolof Ethnic Group Alliance with the Support of some Rural Fanafanas, Serereh and Serahule Ethnic Group Support. Due to the majority of the Gambian Population being Mandinka who were Predominantly Rural farmers, the Violence was more Regional in Character. Due to the “Bennachin” dish nature of the Political Parties then, the violence was not one that was directed at one ethnic group or tribe. Bennachin is preparing by eventually mixing all the ingredients of the recipe into one cooking pot and simmer it until deemed ready. Hope the current political climate in the Gambia can be made into a Bennachin dish and Simmered down to a more platable and sustainable State. Peace and Tranquility to All.
Lamin Darboe,
You are deliberately distorting political realities or just telling lies about facts you already know. When did the Foni Jolas oppose Jawara in 30+years of the PPP regime? They were the most honest and loyal followers of the PPP who Jawara used to refer to as an “area for no need to campaign”.
What I am missing in this discourse, is the apportion of blame that must be laid at Jammeh footsteps. Mr. Badgie, if all the lofty ideals and ambitions you enjoined us to do and aspire for, were the cornerstone of Jammeh’s 22 years rule, I would imagine that the country wouldn’t experience skirmishes that took place in Busumbala.
And for Babu to always compare Jammeh’s intolerance and divisive policies as reminiscent of the Jawara years, is very troubling and a testimony that part of our elites with jammeh mindset, haven’t learn anything and remain unapologetic about Jammeh’s atrocities.
Well then it beggars the question whether we must expect from people, like the residents of Busumbala, who were at the receiving end of Jammeh impunity, to be farsighted and humble enough to forgive provocations by holdouts of Jammeh sympathisers?
That is a hard bargain and I doubt anyone can fulfill that in the long term. Aprc is a party and they have the right to their views. So do the others. HENCE, either they acknowledge jammeh’s terror regime and take necessary consequences and then be considered a responsible party OR they continue to defend jammeh’s terror records and be considered an irresponsible fringe movement. Those are the choices. And I hope also that the intelligentsia behind jammeh finally comes to terms with the lost opportunity that was jammeh. Many elites that shared jammeh’s hatred towards particular groups in the country, unfortunately do not see the missed opportunities availed to jammeh to deepen the bonds between us all. He squandered the goodwill from all corners of the country across cross section of ethnic belongings. But he squandered the goodwill. And now these intelligentsia around him at the time, want the people to let aprc to continue with their defending of the indefensible.
Apportioning blame on UDP is an old tactic of Jammeh and sympathisers. Of course, we expect and even demand that UDP play by the rules of democratic dispensation. The hard political truth is that aprc and jammeh have alienated a significant part of the Gambian populace and that will remain so for the foreseeable future. Consequently, it is perfectly to be expected that people, even without political party affiliations, will steadfastly confront aprc provocations on their own accord. UDP leadership cannot be held responsible for every reactions by citizens to aprc celebration of Jammeh brutality.
Babu
Let me tell you one thing, i don’t lie. I over 50 and have seen Jawara era politics, Jammeh era monolithic power centralisation or shall I say usurpation. I was at the quardrangle ojln the morning of jammeh coup and in the evening while listening to the radio, i heard voice of Captain Sonko who explained what happened and the ration d’tre of the takeover.
Those peiple wjo did the ground work and enthroned pricipally mandinkas and fana fanas were either kilped or banished by yaya. Even Mr sonko who i chanced in London fleet street.
We were all welcoming but little did we realise the rape of country is dawning under our own eyes. What happened after 22 years Jaeh.misrule, represent a darkest stain on our country’s history. Murder, rape, banishment and ethnic malevolence especially toward mandinka tribe evince a new consciousness among that ethnic group. Mark that. No ethnic group was targeted by Jawara regime nor did we witness any political violence leading to lose of life but the very last diabolical event that shall be last line on yaya’s epitaph was killing innocent demostrators at Westfield junction notably Solo sandeng. Solo’s ghost will haunt yaya for the rest of his life and when he die, he shall stand before his maker to answer for the unprecedented art of political treachery and unwanton murder of defenceless people.
Anyone who defend Yaya era malicious act pf terror must be a shameless sycophant. And anyone who vopare jawara eta politics to Yaya era politics is unjust to history.
Ask those whose love ones have disappeared without trace, they will tell you sorrow and depression they went through but knew Allah does not aid evil doers. Jasaja jammeh and massy jammeh families, close relatives of the vile dictator.
YOUR insinuations in your article lack merit and does not hold water and will crack under scrutiny. I didnt have time to read line by lines but it has a penchance for distortion and devoid of level handedness or perspicacity. APRC has no moral standing and shall ever be associated with political teror, human right abuse, muder, banishment, torture, rape of detainees at NIA, economic crime and above all sowing the seed of ethnic disharmony. Anyone who defend that must have his consciences and moral substance examined.