By Ebrima Manneh
Coalitions have proven to be instrumental in ousting dictators. Opposition parties through a clear understanding that dictatorship is a shared obstacle to their coexistence, willingly unite under a common goal and design the best way forward. Significant lessons learned from previous experiences taught us that when opposition parties come together under a common goal with the backing of determined citizens, defeating dictatorship becomes achievable. Political and economic repression, and denial of rights was seen as shared experience despite the divergent views and party affiliation. This served as a motivation for them to put their differences aside and come together to overcome dictatorship and replace it with a democractic government that will ensure a level playing field. If coalition and the utilization of nonviolence means worked for others, we should be optimistic that it can work for us and should be put to test.
Lessons from OTPOR and other civil rights groups:
Otpor is a student movement in Serbia that was instrumental in organizing and mobilizing citizens to come together and agree on a common goal to topple the repressive regime of Slobodan Milosevic. The Civil Rights and the Apartheid Movements set the stage for nonviolence and civil demonstrations, the techniques and strategies adopted by OTPOR were quite effective and as a result, were adopted my many organizations in the fight against dictatorship. Tina Rosenberg’s article; How to Topple a Dictator (Peacefully), outlined how OTPOR were able to discredit the myths and mystification of dictators through direct and persistent engagements with citizens. This served as an important step in overcoming fear and instilling confidence in the people. Despite the repressive and brutal treatments, people poured into the streets in Montgomery, Alabama, Belgrade, South Africa and many other places to show their outrage against injustice, and in some cases, demand an end to regimes that failed to meet their needs. It is quite clear that we bear a lot of similarities with these societies for the fact that we have all experienced repression and violations of rights. Our difference is, they were able to agree on a common goal while we still struggle to see and embrace what unites us.
Goals and objectives of a coalition:
Members of Otpor realized they were diverse with different belief systems, but were willing to unite under a common goal and defeat a common enemy. Even though they envisioned a democratic country under the rule of law where divergent views will be tolerated, their main and immediate goal was to change the regime first and then reform the system of government. Members of OTPOR realized that regime change could not be done forcefully against a dictator who has more force and will not hesitate to use it. OTPOR used an effective alternative of uniting the opposition parties under a single candidate, and used nonviolence means as their most reliable weapon. Realizing that a coalition against a dictatorship will be meaningless without a strong backing, they worked on mobilizing supporters to defend a coalition victory through peaceful demonstrations knowing that dictators are notorious for rigging elections. The nonviolence approach was also an effective weapon used during the civil rights movement to create “confrontation to cause media attention and hopefully prick the conscience of the nation.” We must learn from and adopt these strategies of confronting injustice through peaceful protests to prick the conscience of the international community such as the UN, and local governing bodies such as the AU and ECOWAS to intervene and take precise actions against human rights violations in the Gambia. We must make direct appeals for the international community to see the immorality of allowing sovereignty to supersede human rights. We must remind them that failure to make timely interventions in the past has resulted in massive loss of lives that could have been prevented.
Roles And responsibilities:
An important lesson learned from OTPOR during the struggle to topple Milosevic is the general realization that the nation was in peril and saving it required the participation of all citizens. Even though leadership is essential in providing a movement or organization a vision and sense of direction, the embrace of roles and responsibilities by all citizens is key to a successful movement. The idea of not relying solely on a definitive leader as a savior enables an organization to be transitional and resilient to pressure. The acceptance of responsibilities instills a sense of collective responsibility to fight for freedom for all. An important lesson learned from OTPOR and other civil rights groups is their resilience and optimism during adversary, and the ability to convince the people that victory is possible. This helped overcome the reluctant to take part in the struggle due to past failures. Associating the local problems such as economic failures, lack of basic commodities, lack of access to good healthcare, and denial of civil liberties to poor governance and making people connect to it, was a strategy that OTPOR employed to win public support. When the attainment of the public good becomes a shared endeavor then no one group is blamed for the failures.
The civic environment:
Creating a civic environment in which citizens take active roles in ensuring regime change could be challenging against dictatorial regimes that do not only use intimidating and repressive techniques, but also tarnish the reputation of the opponents and even label them as threat to national security. What is impressive about OTPOR is not only the resilience and determination of the core members, but their ability to prepare the activists and citizens on what to expect if they were arrested. This was a great defense mechanism against aggression and most importantly, help defeat the fear factor.
OTPOR embarked on nonviolence as a long term strategy by executing well coordinated demonstrations, and ensured there was visibility by notifying media outlets and NGOs in case of illegal arrests or other unjust acts. The media outlets outside the Gambia and those on ground should be credited for sharing this strategy of exposing unjust treatment of citizens to the international community and human rights organizations. OTPOR did not only use public gatherings to demand their rights or pursue their objectives, they used the gatherings to resist arrests and demand the release of people that were unlawfully detained by sitting in front of police stations until their demands were met. This was a necessary agitation that got the attention of the state and the international community. The Gambians should utilize this strategy as a deterrent against transgression. Failure to mobilize and form a united front for resistance leads to the continued unlawful arrests of innocent citizens in the Gambia. OTPOR communicated and convinced the people that they were the key to regime change and developing a continued resistance is what it will take.
Collaboration of stakeholders, home and abroad.
When we realize that we all have a stake in ending tyranny and instituting a sustainable democracy, there will be be equal interest vested in achieving the desired outcome. One of the successes of OTPOR was their ability to communicate and convince the people that they were key to regime change, and success would require the active participation and collaboration of all citizens to include the security forces. Lessons learned from OTPOR was their effective propaganda of convincing the security forces to realize that dictatorship was the enemy, and to see the immorality of being used as terror machines against their own people.
The Gambian diaspora deserves commendation for their love and caring attitude in providing remittance to family members back home when the economy cannot sustain daily survival due to poor governance. They must use this as an enabling function for regime change by communicating to family members to end the naivety and blind loyalty to dictatorship. Communicating and enlightening family members to use their votes wisely for enduring projects than depend on short term handouts to meet is unwise. There is a need to communicate with our respective parties and convince them to accept coalition as a quick solution to an urgent problem, and then return to a multi-party democracy after defeating dictatorship. The opposition party leaders should be reminded that going to elections with a dictator without electoral reforms and monitors seems like a wild-goose chase.
The Diaspora is influencing efforts for regime change in various ways. The fund raising efforts can be enhanced by reaching out to international and local donor agencies to generate adequate funds for the election process. Operating at the grass root level and assuring citizens that they are in charge, is an important empowering strategy. The citizens need to be aware that knowing and exercising their rights is the most important weapon against dictatorship. Providing citizens with all these important tools enable them to embarce a shared sacrifice.
Acting on the truth will get us back on track:
If sound reasoning guides us in differentiating between right and wrong, we will not rationalize the maltreatment of innocent citizens to satisfy or be obedient to power. Lack of knowledge or deliberately ignoring the truth leads to justification of the violations of rights. If the truth is equally known to all, the inalienable human rights to “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness,” will be valued and given a high priority. If setting unrealistic goals and unachievable promises make citizens justify killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances, protection of life and ensuring happiness has irrationally been given a low priority. We must realize that we are accountable to God, and this will compel us to protect and serve our neighbors and fellow citizens. A government that does not value human existence will not put systems in place for the pursuit of happiness. Such a government must be replaced by the will of the people. The people of the Gambia have what it takes to topple dictatorship. A strong faith and an unwavering commitment to a nonviolence resistance could be the answer.