Mr. Darboe made these remarks in an exclusive interview with this paper. Quizzed as to his reaction to the latest coup d’etat in neighbouring Mauritania, he stated that the action is uncalled-for and unwarranted. “We in the UDP have and will always condemn coups whether in the Gambia or anywhere. We always condemn unwarranted actions and always believe that no government should be removed by means of coup,” he said.

The UDP leader called on the international community to do its best to make sure that the coup perpetrators restore democratic rule without any delay.

The latest coup in Mauritania, which brings to 10 the total number of coups since independence, the highest in Africa, has been roundly denounced by the UN, AU and EU, all describing it as unacceptable.

Presidential elections held in 2007 ended a two-year period of military rule, the product of a military coup in 2005. The elections, which were deemed as free and fair, appeared to have heralded a new era of democracy in Mauritania.

Turning his attention to realities back home, Darboe said: “That is why we have recently condemned what they called the so-called celebration of July 22nd military take over in the Gambia. It is illegal and we at the UDP will never recognise such acts.”

In the UDP leader’s view, coups d’etat always negate the will of the voters and, therefore, should not be accepted anywhere in the world. “This is most unfortunate because democracy was taking roots in Mauritania following the holding of free and fair elections,” he bemoaned.

Mauritania has been beset with a long succession of coups, with the military involved in nearly every government since the country’s independence from France.

The country, according to reports, has been gripped by political crisis for a fortnight, after a vote of no confidence in the cabinet.

IMr. Ousainou Darboe, leader of the main opposition party, United Democratic Party (UDP), has maintained that his reputation as a leading opposition politician is not driven by any lust for power but that he is motivated by the patriotic desire to put right the wrongs of the government on certain fundamental things concerning the way and manner the affairs of the nation are being conducted.  “If the government is handling things in the proper manner, I will not be opposing them. So this is why I am in the opposing then,” he maintained.

Mr. Darboe made these remarks recently in an exclusive interview with this paper.

Reflecting on the much-vaunted achievements of the Jammeh administration over the past 14 years, Mr. Darboe acknowledged that no matter how “incompetent a government might be, it will not be in charge of the affairs of a state for 14 years and not achieve anything.”

He however noted that a more conscious approach would be to assess the degree and proportion of the achievement in relation to a specific time span- which in the case of the APRC is 14 years now- rather than a naïve and credulous acceptance of supposed achievements and accomplishments. “That would be utterly wrong and anyone in my view who says that the government has not achieved anything in the past 14 years would really be doing some moment of disservice to himself and probably disservice to the regime, but then it is the degree of the achievement that one should talk about,” he said.

The UDP leader used the occasion to call on the government to improve on the relation between the opposition and government, reiterating that it would be in order for government to be consulting the opposition on some major national issues. “What I know of relations between the opposition and government is, a responsible government would always consult the opposition, not on all issues, but on some major issues.

“I think it is important that government consults the opposition and listens to their views, whether they accept it or not. But then they would have had the opportunity of listening to views that may be different from theirs,” he said.

Further asked whether he would consider working with the government if invited to do so, Mr. Darboe replied in the affirmative, but was quick to add that it will have to be based on certain terms and conditions.

As UDP, NRP Case is Deferred

The Supreme Court five-member panel of judges on Monday struck out the criminal appeal case filed by Omar Jallow against the state.

The appellant counsel, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, told the court that he had filed a notice of withdrawal and they therefore wished to discontinue the appeal.

The state respondent led by the Attorney General and Secretary of State for Justice, Marie Saine-Fridaus, told the court that the respondent had no objection to the withdrawal of the appeal. The five-member panel of Judges thus struck out the appeal case.

It could be recalled that the Omar Jallow appeal case was in respect of the arrest of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) members by the state security in 2006, who were subsequently charged and arraigned before a court of law.

The authorities, following the mediation by the then African Union Chairman and former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, later dropped the case against them.

The appellant filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal but was objected by the state and the state’s objection was upheld by the Court of Appeal. The appellant then brought the appeal at the Supreme Court from where it was just struck out following a withdrawal notice filed by the appellant.

In a related development the criminal appeal case filed by Abdoulie Conteh was deferred until Monday, 30th June 2008 as the court was not properly constituted to hear the case according to the Chief Justice. He explained that they were expecting Justice Janneh in the country soon.

Meanwhile the civil suit filed by United Democratic Party (UDP), National Reconciliation Party (NRP) and Momodou K. Sanneh as plaintiffs against the Attorney-General and Independent Electoral Commission as defendants was deferred until the next session of the Supreme Court, as the court was not properly constituted to hear the case.

The plaintiffs are contesting the local Government Amendment Act of 2007 passed by the National Assembly, which gives the President of the Republic the power to remove elected councillors and the non election of local authority Chairmen through universal adult suffrage.

Lamin R. Darboe, a former UDP candidate in Kombo East constituency, is now a free man following the striking out of his case by the Brikama Magistrates’ Court for want of prosecution.

Mr. Darboe was charged alongside Buba Darboe and Jerreh Fatty for their alleged involvement in an assault that occasioned actual bodily.

The trio was on Tuesday acquitted and discharged of the charges for, according to magistrate John Njie, there wasn’t substantial evidence before the court to rely on in convicting the men.

Magistrate Njie explained that since the case was mentioned nearly two years ago, the prosecution had only called in two witnesses to prove the ingredients of the matter beyond reasonable doubt. He however added that none of the prosecution witnesses’ testimony was sufficient enough to prove the prosecution’s case.

He consequently acquitted and discharged the men of the charges.

It would be recalled that the three men were rounded up by security agents shortly after the results of the 2006 Kombo East by-elections were made public. They were subsequently charged with assault before being arraigned.

Pursuant to rule 4(1) of Supreme Court of The Gambia Rules, the Supreme Court is expected to commence its session on Monday, 23rd June 2008. Among the cases awaiting hearing during the session are the criminal appeal case filed by Mr Omar A. Jallow, alias OJ, against the state; the criminal appeal case filed by Abdoulie Conteh against the state, and the civil suit filed by UDP, NRP and Momodou K. Sanneh, the plaintiffs, against the Attorney General and Independent Electoral Commission as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.

Omar Jallow’s appeal case is in connection with the arrest of the NADD members by the authorities, the subsequent charges brought against them and their appearance before a court of law. It is noteworthy that the matter in question was later dropped by the authorities before Omar Jallow later filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal for the case to continue. The state objected to the appeal and the objection was upheld by the Court of Appeal. Undaunted however, Mr Jollow, again filed the matter at the Supreme Court.

The Abdoulie Conteh appeal is in respect of his acquittal by the High Court, a decision the state contested in an appeal to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal upheld the state’s appeal and ordered it to continue with the case if they so wished. The appellant, Abdoulie Conteh, thereupon filed the matter at the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal’s decision.

Also the civil suit brought by UDP, NRP and Momodou K. Sanneh against the Attorney General and IEC was in respect of the amendment of the Local Government Act 1997 by the National Assembly, which gives the President the power to remove elected councillors and also the non election of Area Council chairmen through Universal Adult Suffrage. The plaintiffs are contesting the said amendment act. The matter was first heard by the Chief Justice, Abdou Kareem Savage, sitting as a single Judge who later dismissed the matter. The plaintiffs again took the matter to a five-member panel of Judges who also dismissed it on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction. The plaintiffs later decided to take the matter before a seven-member panel of Judges at the Supreme Court.

The opposition UDP chairman in Lower Fulladu, Central River Region (CRR), has announced his defection to the ruling APRC party. 

Mr Abdou Willan declared a shift of allegiance at a mass political rally at Sinchu Bamba Village on April 27, which was attended by more than a thousand supporters, including the NAM for the constituency and the governor of the region.

Mr Willan told the rally that his defection was inspired by President Jammeh’s leadership and his good intentions for Gambians. He further paid tribute to the Gambian leader, describing him as the only leader in the country’s political circle who could deal with the needs of the citizenry.

The former UDP Fulladu chairman then pledged to close ranks with members of the ruling party for the development of the country.

In his address to the jubilant supporters, the governor for CRR, Alhaji Ganyie Touray, welcomed Abdou Willan to the APRC party and commended him for his patriotism. 

Governor Touray told the rally that the president was determined to tackle the needs of the people and urged the people of CRR to dispose their support and join the president in his development efforts.

Sainey Mbye, the APRC desk officer for CRR and NAM for Upper Saloum, elaborated on the numerous achievements registered under Jammeh’s administration, noting that the region had in particular, befitted immensely. He called on his people to unite behind President Jammeh for more development.

Other speakers at the rally included the NAM for Lower Fulladu, Yorro MC Mballow, Seedy Njie, a nominated member of the National Assembly, Aja Ndey Jatta and Chief Momodou L Baldeh. The rally was chaired by the deputy governor of CRR, Lamin Darboe.

Mr. Bojang, who was picked up by the state security agents few weeks to the 2007 legislative polls was, on March, 18thacquitted and discharged for want of prosecution.

It will be recalled that Bojang was charged with two counts of conspiracy and being found in possession of falsified Gambian banknotes. But since the formal mention of his case almost a year ago, the prosecution could not produce any witness to prove the ingredients of the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Meanwhile, on the resumption of the case on March 18th, prosecutor Inspector Saine sought to apply for yet another adjournment. But Magistrate Edrisa Mbai, presiding, struck the case out on premise that the prosecution had failed to bring in witnesses even after been given several opportunities to do so.