Once again the Concerned Gambians wish to extend sincere greetings to all Gambians and friends of Gambia who commit themselves to the struggle for the restoration of democracy, freedom, social justice and the rule of law in the Gambia. It is no secret that the situation in the Gambia under the misrule of the APRC is steadily getting worst. As a people we are held at ransom by an armed bunch of thugs who use terror, gangsterism and wide-spread misuse of the state apparatus for the purpose of subjecting us to the undignified mode of co-existence. It will be suicidal as a nation if WE continue to remain partially aloof, inconsistent, indecisive and uncoordinated in our collective actions for the rearrangement and the reconstruction of the motherland. We are morally obliged to safeguard the dignified and glorified legacy inherited from our ancestors.
The cry for change and the level of readiness among Gambians to do something about the appaling nature of things in the country have never been so pronounce. The current wave of events is a vivid testimony to that. Gambians around the globe are mobilizing each other in different ways and means to get organise and take up the fight against Jammeh´s regime. This trend is more palpable among Gambians in the diaspora.
What´s missing in this scheme is the initiative to coordinate and bring all the forces together under one umbrella organisation or movement to lead this noble course to fruition. ”The whole is always greater than the sum total”. The necessity to have a formidable base in the Gambia itself cannot be overemphasized.
Jammeh has always tried to play the tribal card to confuse and divide Gambians but he never really suceeded in achieving that. He continues trying his way in that endeavour but Gambians have always demonstrated their tolerance and respect for diversity and love for each other. What the lunatic failed to appreciate is that an ethnically homogeneous Gambian could hardly be found if there is any.
Our people have been integrating in all socio-cultural and demographic dimensions long before the pan-european demarcation of Africa. Fanning tribal sentiments is sheer manifestation of ignorance and madness. It is not the way forward, and fortunately enough Gambians have steadfastly demonstrated to Jammeh that they have a higher moral than being narrow minded people and that the love that bined them together cannot be unbined so cheaply. That level of maturity is what all
Gambians should continue to manifest in all spheres of live. The religious card is another method Jammeh is using to confuse and stifle any independent initiative of Gambians. The Quran in his right hand and the idol in his left hand. What a mockery! The escalation of Jammeh´s deceptive behaviour, aggression and brutality, the unlawful arrests, detention and dissappearances of Gambians can no longer be disguised and should not be tolerated.
How long should we allow these things to go on and on? We have reached a point of explosion against Jammeh´s regime and their´s no turning back. To maintain the momentum, a strong and well-disciplined and focused movement can be a logical and inevitable answer to the political, economic and social situations in the Gambia today. In other words, the point of explosion against Jammeh can be meaningful only if a massive and organised will to fight the regime is in place. We must act now because time is running out. We cannot afford to remain fragmented with small groupings all over the place as it is today. If we are to struggle and win this fight, we must by all means consolidate our forces. We must coordinate strategies, tactics and combine experiences to decisively and progressively take the lead. Without organizational strength we are weak, unity is the dynamic force behind any great venture.
Against all odds, Gambia will be liberated from the oppression of Jammeh sooner or later. Preferably sooner! If it´s to be sooner, by an accelerated struggle of the people, then we must establish a unified national high command here and now, to plan and to initiate action.
ONE GAMBIA, ONE PEOPLE AND ONE STRUGGLE
We must coordinate, come together, consolidate our forces and carry this struggle forward to completion. If we fail to do this sooner, we are likely to be swept away one by one by the repressive and brutal Jammeh regime. In unison, we´re strong and can bring sanity, freedom, democracy and the rule of law in the Gambia. One Gambia, one people and one struggle! If we are to end centuries of oppression by internal and external forces permanently and restore justice and the rule of law, the Concerned Gambians consider the following preconditions crucial:
1. To make a self-critical evaluation of our past strategies and tactics of resistance
2. To make a scientific analysis of the ideological, political, economic, cultural, military and international environment
3. To seriously understand the history of our people, country, the internal and the external enemies
4. To make a serious analysis of our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
5. To cast away all illusions of quick and peaceful victory under the present circumstances
6. To understand that without a people´s democratic dialogue there will be no meaningful unity around a minimum aim
7. To understand that without unity based on principles there will be no efficient and effective national democratic united front and the risk for betrayal is greater
8. To understand that without a national democratic front, qualitative and maximum mobilization of our human and material resources will be impossible
9. To understand that without maximum mobilization under a democratic united front with clearcut aims and objectives, structures and delivery oriented programs VICTORY will remain a receding dream.
It is the right and obligation of every Gambian, without any permission from anybody to reach out to fellow citizens and urgently explore all the possibilities of democratic cooperation to build the NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC UNITED FRONT. In that regard, it´s important that we do not remain fragmented as the present situation and initiatives seem to suggest. One Gambia, One people and One struggle!
Reminder: ABOUT THE CONCERNED GAMBIANS We are a group consisting of well-disciplined and focused Gambians who are willing to link and network with other Gambians in the diaspora and in the Gambia with a common aim to end the decadent regime of Yahya Jammeh by all means necessary. To give support to the efforts already initiated at home and abroad. We are convinced of the fact that without a serious and coordinated initiative, regime change in the Gambia will take far too long time to take place.
Regime change is a priority.
Long live the Gambia! Power to the people! Regime change now!
THE CONCERNED GAMBIANS
e-mail: [email protected]