In light of recent invitations of opposition party leaders by the police to answer questions regarding statements they have made, there is growing concern over allegations that the police are targeting opposition parties with a view to stifling dissenting opinions. This is tainting the image of your government.
Even though the police have come out to explain that they are not targeting the opposition party leaders, the rumours and allegations have persisted. This is because, as the saying goes, ‘actions speak louder than words’. It doesn’t matter how eloquently the Police PRO puts it, the fact remains that opposition party leaders were interrogated at the police headquarters.
It is clear that perception is important in politics and as such, it is essential that we endeavor to portray a good image of our government. This is if we truly want to nurture and protect our nascent democracy. This democracy, which came after expending a lot of sweat and blood, must be protected at all cost. We must never be complacent in this area.
Yet, it is understandable that people [politicians inclusive] cannot – should not – be allowed to say things which may cause loss of live. After all, whatever we do should be to protect, preserve and enhance the lives of our people. What then should be done in cases like this?
In my humble opinion, we already have a solution to this problem. We have the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) which conducts elections but can serve as an arbitrator in situations where politicians have disagreements amongst themselves; or, when politicians say or do something which is seen to be against the law or could potentially lead to violence or disturb the peace. arbitrators will invite these politicians and address the situation.
Besides, we have the Inter-party Committee which can do this job without anyone seeing it as biased or a witch hunt. Barring all these, we could set up an independent body to look into these types of problems and give them terms of reference on how to arbitrate. In this way, the police will not have to question any politician for political statements. This will safeguard our democracy while at the same time keeping an eye on the types of statements being made. If a politician says something and the arbitrating body finds it to have broken the law, they will forward it to the police for further investigation and prosecution where necessary.
Have a Good Day Mr President….
Tha Scribbler Bah
A Concerned Citizen
1 Comment
I could not stand the temptation not to respond to Ousainou Mbenga´s post on Freedomnewapaper media outlet dated 26 october 2017, Gambia: No Agenda Can Remain Hidden Forever. United Democratic Party Hegemony Declared!
I disagree fully with Ousainou Mbenga on his discription of Gambia`s UDP ( United Democratic Party) as Hegemony and with a hidden agenda. This to my view is an unfair discription and obvious effort on the side of Ousainou Mebenga to misled the Gambian population. U D P since it´s initial beginning has never and will never ever contemplate on a hidden agenda aginst the Gambian people and certainly the party is never a Hegemony in the context of Ousainou Mbenga. What Ousainou Mbenga failed to tell his readers and the Gambian people is that there is Hegemony per se and there is Kulturall Hegemony. The concept hegemony and specially culturall hegemony which to my view Ousainou Mbenga is confusingly pointing to, has been used by marxis Antomio Gramci as a theory on how the governing maintains its power on the oppressed. Fellow honest Gambians is this really happning in today´s Gambia? certainly not. I believe Ousainou Mbenga´s comments are very serious, disturbing and misleading. It is clear without a minimum of doubt that Osainou Mbenga perceives UDP´s position today in the Gambia as a political party oppressing the Gambian population. That is exactly what he meant by his quotation och labeling of UDP as Hegemony.
Yes, Ousainaou Mbenga has all rights to disagree or dislike the policies of the UDP, but to label the party as hegemony (culturall hegenomy) is very unfair and a calculated ploy to discredict the UDP as party. Someone saying or mentioning att a New York Town Hall meeting that “this is a UDP government “should not in any way to my view be taken litterally unless one heard it from H.E. president Adama Barrow och foreign minister Honorable Ousainou Darbo. To my knowlegde and to many honest Gambians neither president Adama Barrow no Honorable Ousainou Darbo has ever uttered a sentence where they mentioned UDP as the government of the new Gambia. It has alwasy been a caolition government from this two gentlemen when ever they talk about today`s government in new Gambian. A UDP government will surely come to be in the Ganbia in the nearest future but not yet, and there is no rush to that. Right now what is call for is nation building.
Finally, I want to put it to Ousainou Mbenga that what makes him a Gambian is his tribe. Whethere he acknowldge it or not he is born to a tribe and then a Gambian. This is what makes us all unique as Gambians. Our tribes are our identities and our indentities are our tribes.
In the Gambia tribe has never been our problems or our obstacles but those who can´t accept us or accept our tribes those people are our problems. This where Ousainou Mbenga fits. The new Gambia does not need genuine revolutionary transformation as Ousainou Mbenga lamented. The people know exactly what you mean by that Ousainou Mbenga, and for your information the Gambian people will not buy it. The Gambian people, and I mean the majority of the population are today enjoying the fruit of the change and transformation they hardly fought for. Period.
By Alhagi Touray
Stockholm Sweden