The
rediscovered unanimity of Journalists and governments representatives concerning
fundamental principles prompted UNESCO in association with major media
organizations to choose the 3rd of May, the anniversary of declaration of
Windhoek as international Press Freedom day.
In
commemoration of the declaration of Windhoek as international press Day, I wish
to take this opportunity to express our deepest sympathy to the bereave family
of the victims who in the exercise of their rights of expression and thought
lost their lives during the past 22 years of the most traumatic period, in the
history of The Gambia in particular the Gambia press (May their blessed souls
rest in perfect peace) Amen!
The declaration that a free pluralistic and
independent press is an essential component of any democratic society should be
viewed with the commitment to transform this theory into practice.
This
declaration is recognition that it is indeed an essential condition of
democracy for people to have access or be given information.
In
the pursuit of these ideals it is important to realize that those whose task it
is to provide that information face an important responsibility and should be
given every facility to enable them to assume their responsibilities. In fact
the best barometer to measure a society’s state of health and maturity is to
what extent the freedom of the press is guaranteed.
The
establishment, maintenance and fostering of an independent pluralistic and free
press is essential for the development and maintenance of democracy in a nation and for economic
development.
In
Africa today, however, much remains to be done to put freedom of the press into
practice in everyday life, which goes beyond the reaffirmation of principles.
The
situation of the Gambian Journalist during the past 22 years of Yahya Jammeh’s
reign of terror, typifies the emptiness of these reaffirmations creating the
hopeless predicament that the practitioners in the Fourth Estate had to suffer.
The
concern for the freedom of the press is a universal one. To this end, the
meetings that took place in Europe and conferences on security and cooperation
adopted a charter for a free press. Doubtless still the press remains the most
dreaded institution to autocratic ruler the world over. For this reason it is
often the first victim of their anger.
The
cases of arrest, detention, torture and brutal murder of Journalists throughout
reign of dictator Yahya Jammeh will remain in history as the worst example of
despotism that totally disallows the freedom of the press.
It
therefore goes without saying that the newly elected government of The Gambia will turn a new
page in the history of the Gambian Press allowing the free and unhindered
collection and dissemination of information in the noble pursuit to restore
democracy in The Gambia.
