The Ballot Box Or The Bullet?

bullet ballot-box

 

 

 

 

Kairo Radio anchor has revived the controversial debate about whether Gambians can rely on the ballot box or the bullet to bring back democracy, the rule of law and human rights. African civil rights activists have been trapped in this persistent dilemma, which makes the issue worth discussing.

Mohammed Lamin Sillah (Former Head of Amnesty International Gambia)
Sillah is a former head of Amnesty International Gambia

Mohammed Lamin Sillah, who does not shy away from raising contentious issues, is at it again on Kairo Radio, a medium that prides itself for establishing a culture anchored on discipline, decency, respect and fair approach to anything Gambian.

The Host of Wednesday radio show ‘The Talking Point and Letters from the Gambia’ revisited Gambia Journal files in his today program.  He took his listeners into a thinking spree of whether the Gambia needs “the ballot or the bullet.”

Mr. Sillah dilated on what choices Gambians have in dislodging the Gambia’s entrenched dictatorship. In the process, he gave a history of the early days of the Gambian junta’s power grabbing and their plot to introduce a one party state, mimicking the Libyan revolution of the late Col. Gaddafi. After that plan had failed, Jammeh then went ahead to entrench himself by controlling power from every quarter of Gambian political landscape.

As young Gambian activists based in the Diaspora who have been personal, verbally attacking and hauling abuses at opposition leaders on the ground, what real choices do Gambians have? Should the young energetic activist contemplate on going to the Gambia and use force to change the government? Or should they merely be hauling abuses and criticism from 6,000 miles away?

Don’t miss this very important and thought provoking dialogue.

Mr. Sillah, a founding member of the Amnesty International Gambia, was instrumental in rescuing the Gambia from the wrath of the military junta in 1994. He teamed up with his colleagues to create widespread awareness, advocacy and lobbying for international attention on the early crimes of the Yahya Jammeh military government.

The high spirits of Mr. Sillah and his activist colleagues have placed them in danger.  His voice on Kairo Radio every Wednesday is a staple delicacy for those yearning for the truth, respect and democratic credentials based on fair play and respect for all. Online radio personalities tend to pander to unrestricted utterance on air, but with ML SIllah, you have a sober voice.

Those who have been paying keen interest in the Gambian struggle will recall the first human rights group that brought together Gambians from different works of life when the then military junta ban active opposition. The Coalition of human Rights Defenders had Mr Mohammed Lamin Sillah as its Coordinator with eminent members like the late Satang Jobarteh, Lawyer Emanuel Joof, Dr Isatou Touray, Lawyer Ba Tandebedou, Adele Sosseh, Lawyer Bory Touray, Journalist DA Jawo, Fatou Jagne currently of article 19. The pedegree of Gambians who opposed oppression and continued to speak against it is noteworthy. 

The Ballot or the Bullet is a case study of the Gambian struggle.

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10 Comments

  1. Dida Halake

    Mr. Sillah,

    You may remember March 2006 and the Ndure Cham Coup Attempt? Fatou Jahumpa-Ceesay (FJC) stated that there is “no room for coups in today’s Africa”. President Jammeh contradicted her in a very calculated way saying: “We risk our lives to rescue this country. Let those who think they can challenge us come and we will teach them a lesson”. President Jammeh was saying that there was always room for a coup – if you are taking up arms to “rescue” your country. Of course, America’s Founding Fathers stated as much.

    Whereas Jammeh has always been willing to take the “Ballot” route, and has done so “effectively” since 1996, I can guarantee you that he has always prepared himself for the “Bullet” route too.

    Finally Mr. Sillah, you ask: “Gambian activists based in the Diaspora … contemplate on going to the Gambia and use force to change the government? Or should they merely be hauling abuses and criticism from 6,000 miles away?”

    Halake asks: Do they have an option, Mr. Sillah?

    Thanks for the thought provocation! I always enjoy it when something provokes me to respond! Back to my chess game – a hopeless battle against a computer programme I have named “Putin”.

  2. Haha Dida, you seem to understand President Jammeh a lot. I am thinking, President Jammeh made that utterance to deter would be coup plotters, a counter-punch to say the least. A chess player like you will uncover the plots within plots. Act brave and you will scare those unprepared, our military motto. thank you Mr Sillah.

  3. Dida Halake

    HaHa Faal, not much of a “chess player”! I have just lost to “Putin” the computer the 3rd game in a row!

  4. Malang Njie

    Gambians are still on a soul searching mission on what to do with one mortal being. Oh Allah take care of the Kanilai monster for us.

  5. Alimatou Sarr

    Na Jammeh dem. Su demut nanyie fetal ko.

  6. Janjanbureh

    Bullet is the only way out to remove Jammeh. There is no prayer, charity or elections to take Jammeh out. The way he came in is the only way to take him out. The time is up for Yaya Jammeh.

  7. lamin Kommah

    “The Coalition of human Rights Defenders had Mr Mohammed Lamin Sillah as its Coordinator with eminent members like the late Satang Jobarteh, Lawyer Emanuel Joof, Dr Isatou Touray, Lawyer Ba Tandebedou, Adele Sosseh, Lawyer Bory Touray, Journalist DA Jawo, Fatou Jagne currently of article 19. The pedigree of Gambians who opposed oppression and continued to speak against it is noteworthy.”
    Where are these people mentioned by kairo news? I don’t know much about Coalition of human right defenders or it members. Can someone write a bit about them.

    Ends

  8. Dida, this Gambia affair, I bet is not a comedy show platform.Watch your food-loyal-mouth because that’s what you are writing with.You see, we have the same problem way back home; we have these bag of rice, cooking oil, and bag of sugar-loyal soldiers who don’t understand the meaning of the word ‘sovereign’.You see Dida when you say ‘hahaha’ and say ‘Faal’ just demonstrate how much nincompoop are. Be aware! Men of Action are many and at large in the diaspora.Let wives of the fallen be strong and let them stand firm including their beloved children and parents for it is plain to see that they sacrificed their lives for the Gambia in an inevitable call of duty.

  9. Luntango Suun Gann Gi

    @Ggapm Agapm:

    1. “Not a comedy?”
    Bro, I only go “ha,ha,ha” to prevent myself from crying because of the foolishness!

    2. “Food-loyal”?
    As a famous General once said, “An army marches on its stomach”. If Jammeh is feeding his soldiers well to keep them loyal, that is smart. As the On-Line media never tire of repeating, Jammeh and Co. STARVED in the barracks in 1994. You got to feed your soldiers Bro – or, as Jawara found out, the soldiers will feed on you (just watch Ukraine today).

    3. “Be aware! Men of Action are many”.
    Really, Bro? How many “Men of Action” stood with the ones who were killed on 30th December?? It seems the only action they took is to head for the border as fast as they could! Talk is cheap Bro. As Chongan has observed in his book, Jammeh and Edward led the assault on Denton Bridge and State House in 1994. If the other Jawara soldiers had not deserted Chongan, Jammeh & Edward might have been buried in 1994.

    I will repeat what I have said before Ggapm Agapm so that you “Action Men” may have tangible evidence for shooting me on sight when you take power:-

    1. A coup will not be a solution to Gambia’s current political problem – a coup will lead to Civil War and bloodshed, as would have happened if the 30th December fiasco had succeeded;

    2. All the political and military issues can only be solved with the leadership of the actors at home on the ground: parachuting in an ex-US Soldier as Chief-of-Staff and a Texan Financier as President would be a recipe for disaster.

    3. If the Opposition want to un-seat Jammeh all they need to do is UNITE as a SINGLE OPPOSITION – with a SINGLE Presidential candidate who all the Opposition (and the Diaspora) will support. It REALLY REALLY is as simple as that – no need to bring containers of deadly weapons from the USA to make this possible (I know you Americans like that containers-of-weapons-solution because you are trying to send some to Ukraine too – which would be a disaster for Ukraine).

    Need I say anymore Ggapm Agapm?

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