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ECOWAS Avoids Gambia Vote, Says It May Not Be Free
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 13:38
(Reuters) - West African regional group ECOWAS accused Gambia's government of intimidating opposition groups
and warned the run-up to Thursday's election was not conducive to a free and fair vote.ECOWAS will not send an election observer mission to the country, the group said in a statement that is a rare expression of pre-election criticism of a member state.
President Yahya Jammeh is widely expected to secure another term at the helm of country he has run since a 1994 coup. Gambia is popular with tourists for its tropical beaches but is regularly criticised for its rights record and press muzzling.
The ECOWAS statement said a fact-finding mission had found "intimidation, an unacceptable level of control of the electronic media by the party in power ... and an opposition and electorate cowed by repression and intimidation".
The commission said it had informed Jammeh that it would not send an observer mission "because the preparations and political environment ... are adjudged by the Commission not to be conducive for the conduct of free, fair and transparent polls".
The statement said that ECOWAS remained ready to work with Gambia to "create a level playing field for future elections".
After years of criticism for being a toothless body, ECOWAS has in recent years taken a stronger stance against coups and flawed elections, especially in Niger, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
Jammeh is due to face two challengers in the vote but there has been little sign of opposition campaigning in the run-up to the vote and analysts say few voters have faith in the process.
(Writing by David Lewis; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
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Comments
It serves no one and has little influence.
However..it is slightly better than the African Union.
and no need to guess....
all swept by Jammeh... aganyeta ... weeew
i just hope some people dont collapse of heart failure tonight
Thanks for your compliments and continuous maturity you showing in this forum. The mistake I did was engaging one who since he started debating in this forum is all about confronting and using abusive language with others joining who share the same view with him. You are a regular visitor to this site and have been reading my comments and engaging me if you find it necessary. What I always say is I comment on things I know, disagree or want to find out. I have even decided that I don’t comment on some issues that I found to be affecting immediate families. There is no way you can force me to say what you want me to say. Saying abusive language only comes from people who are intolerant of views or inadequate of knowledge. There is no stain on me because of the abusive language and what matters is what annoys the one to the level of using the abusive language. Since he/she fails to solve that problem the abusive language is just a welcome for more.
I don’t even see these people as relevant but just a bunch of ignorance and wannabes and scavengers and hopeless people. You got cash the barada is always hot. . I get disgusted with them since it about human lives. No regards for decency when cash is flash on their face. A civilise and a democratic Gambia will make their lives far better than being a scavenger after browsing. A senior educated person in Gov will never come to a site and talk such crap since they know Jammeh. So my stance is ...A kid sneezing cocaine and me getting disgusted with that kid does not mean you will kill dat kid..The buffoon culprit and criminal is yahya jammeh calling Gambians mad if they denounce him Friday on bbc. But why will one listen or respect such nonsense of that kid as "political of views" of "niceness of cocaine or the dealer" when you know what cocaine does to people and country? They are worthless and have sense of social responsibility. Jammeh day coming!!
Yahya Jammeh is pure mad evil and condoning him is no political view. See what these people are condoning. It is even more destructive and fatal to them. You see their stance as a political view, i.e fine but don’t assume people who dislike and disgusted to their guts with such global known barbaric and ungodly rule in Gambians…will do the same if they are in power and thinks is very scary thoughts simply because they show their at most disgust is very naïve of you. That is unfair of you. Where on this civilise world will such condone of a mentally imbalance murderous despot and his brutal preying on society be term as political view? You are a gentleman but please don’t patronise such people.
Hi Bax, with your respect you need to by now understand that Gambia is not about political views. Where is condoning a blatant murderer, oppression, human abduction, dictatorship and Chrystal clear theft of a nation resources term as a political view.. Do you call condoning colonialism, KKK, Nazi, and apartheid a political view?? Gambia including this paper is derailed from all that is humane and civilise with murders, unlawful jailings, a nation held in incommunicado and annexes of all its resources by an illiterate despot are not a political view? Stop coaxing with such low lives with no human compassion.
Gambians, Ecowas, Africa, world knows who is retarded and a maniac in African leadership. His excellency and APRC? You sound like fool when those who created APRC are murdered or in bondage in the streets and in Mile 2....What unforgotten lessons is there to teach Gambians except that savage has made another election coup te dat as armed one was in 1994 to prey on Gambians and their coffer to sell drugs and arms in the sub region. Another five years of Gambia isolation and dictatorship is your rejoice?? Like I said your granddad prayers is with Gambia and unforgettable lessons comes post friday N24,2011 will befall him in your eyes. Let him take elections and stock in his fat and stinky sweaty body.
I know ML is getting a lot of stick today...I have encountered him many times before and can only describe him as a gentleman who has certain political view point which he is not afraid to express and defend....I don't think anybody should be insulted for their political views....if I can insult someone for political views when I'm not in power,can you imagine what I will do to them if I am in power ? Very scary thoughts...,
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