FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Suwaibou Touray
6 November 2009
column
We have been focusing on politics in this column with the objective to document the contemporary history of the Gambia and to help our readers appraise themselves with the happenings of the past. We are now covering issues that culminated during the coup period of 1994. This we hope will go a long way in helping us have a better understanding of the evolution of politics in the Gambia as well as help forge a future genuine democratic dispensation for our homeland.
In the last edition, we brought you the report on the setting up of the commission of enquiry to probe the assets of the Ex-ministers under the former PPP government and the setting up of the National Consultative Committee.
In this edition we will focus on the consultations undertaken by the National Consultative Committee to return the country to democratic civilian rule.
Let us start from where we stopped.
NCC Starts Nation-Wide Consultations
In its effort to sound the opinion of as many people across the country, the NCC has now been divided into sub 7- committees, Group A for Western Division Group B for North Bank Division, Group C for Lower River division, Group D for McCarthy Island division, Group E for upper River Division, Group F for Greater Banjul Area and Group G for the Donor Community.
The Committee is to unveil to the people in simple language, the Priority Projects and Programme of Activities the AFPRC Government intends to put in place from 1994 to 1998; their economic, political and social implications and bearing in mind the present stance of the Donor Community and, the image of military governments in the International community.
On the other hand, the people must come to terms with the reasons/background for the military takeover in The Gambia, the mission of the AFPRC and the type of society they intend The Gambia to become. To this end, the Commission of Enquiry must be allowed to complete their work, corruption to be eradicated for the establishment of a higher moral and equitable society in The Gambia.
By the 11th of December 1994, the national Consultative committee was launched by the head of state and chairman of the Armed forces Provisional ruling Council.
The national consultative committee actually got off the ground after the 22 members first met the head of state at state house. The committee commenced its work in the provinces and was expected to report back to the AFPRC after 21 days of opinion seeking.
Dr. Peters and his team are expected to report on what the Gambian people and the international community thought of the AFPRC's 4-year programme and timetable for a return of the country to democratic, constitutional rule.
In his speech at the inaugural ceremony chairman Jammeh repeated his familiar point that the AFPRC is made up of soldiers with difference, saying that they recognised fully well that they are part of the people. He reminded the committee members that he had promised when launching the programme and timetable that it was subject to review and comments.
Jammeh indicated that the AFPRC did not intend to do anything behind the backs of the people, acknowledging that they had not been elected to govern. He told the committee (2 women and 20men) that they had been selected for their honesty and integrity and their mandate was to consult and sound opinion of the people on the timetable and the transition programme. He said: "this is an opportunity for the Gambian people to decide what they want, and whatever they decide, we will go by that."
In reply, Dr. Peters commended what he described as the chairman's courage "to take this noble initiative." He noted that "It requires more courage to be flexible than to engage in rigid doggedness. He recognized the sacrifice that the AFPRC members had made and affirmed his belief that their commitment would go down in the history of this country. He and his team were ready to help the AFPRC out of "These difficult times," he said.
Dr. Peters continued: "We will all work together so that normalcy, the peace and tranquility that we all are used to will fully return to the country."
Basse NCC Meeting Called Off Unceremoniously
According to the Point reporter who attended the first meeting of the Upper River sub- committee of the National Consultative Committee held at Basse, the meeting was unceremoniously stopped by the Commissioner of the Division CPt. Musa F.K Baldeh. According to the paper, Cpt. Baldeh abruptly entered the meeting place, went up to the high table and banged the table with his fist, shouting: "Everything must stop right away. We are not here for politics. This is a directive from the Council."
The paper said the meeting started minutes after 3p.m and was attended by thousands of people from Basse and surrounding villages. The committee started work first by enlightening the people on the economic importance of 4 years military rule. Pa Modou Faal a member of the committee also secretary general of the Gambia workers confederation spoke of dangers and threats, whilst Omar Jabang who also a member of the committee, spoke of the need to give the AFPRC chance to recover all stolen assets.
The report said the people were asked to come out freely but one at a time to express their views on the timetable. They were however warned not to make any political comments, and that all they are expected to do was to express their views as to whether the timetable was short or long, what they think and back their opinion by an explanation.
By 16.50, based on the records collected by the reporter, almost more than 36 people had already expressed their views and majority of these people preferred 1 and half years from 22nd July.
This was the time the paper said at about 16-52 when Cpt. Baldeh (commissioner) entered the meeting ground and informed that the AFPRC has ordered the meeting to stop and that the people were not gathered for propaganda purposes, pointing an accusing finger at Pa Modou Faal. All cassettes were seized by the security officers as ordered by the commissioners. Ten minutes after the commissioner's departure, whilst people have started dispersing, some of them said in their local languages "nying ne ye a tinna mang haayi Soldier mansa kunda la" (meaning in English: This is why we are afraid of military rule), he (commissioner) returned to where the meeting was being held and ordered all members of the committee to follow him to his office for a meeting. After more than 30 minutes in the commissioner's office, both parties came out and after some 10 minutes later, the commissioner came out and said that the final communiqué from the council was that, the meeting should start again the following day (Tuesday) and that all commissioners are to fully participate.
The Point reporter then spoke to Commissioner Cpt. Baldeh afterwards, who blamed Pa Modou Faal for causing the problem. He alleged that Pa Modou Faal had enlightened the people so that they can reject the timetable and that there were propaganda meetings of NCC. This, the commissioner concluded was the reason why the meeting was commandingly called off.
For his part, Pa Modou Faal said, he only abided by the set pattern agreed upon by the Committee following its appraisal of their terms of reference. The said pattern demands from committee members to unveil in simple plain language the pros and cons of the issue to the public and that was what he did, he said.
According to the reporter, as he departed Basse to meet the sub committee assigned to MID in Kuntaur, he met up with them as Sankulay Kunda and they informed him that they were asked to report back to Banjul immediately. The reason, they said, was unknown to them.
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