Following its meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly last week, the Executive of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), has issued a press release calling on the government of The Gambia to honour the decision of the ECOWAS court following a year-long trial in which the Media Foundation for West Africa brought a case against the Gambia government. The ECOWAS court's decision, according to the release, followed the failure of the Gambia government to honour the notices from the court and the non-appearance of five security officials after being subpoenaed. A full unedited text of the release is reproduced as follows:
Today, June 7th, 2008 marks two years since the "disappearance" of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a journalist at the Daily Observer Newspaper. Despite several efforts by the Gambia Press Union, the media establishments and family members to trace his whereabouts the end of his disappearance is still not in sight. The Media Foundation for West Africa eventually took up the matter for his release before the ECOWAS Court.
Following a year long protracted court case in which the Government of The Gambia was served many notices and five security officials subpoenaed to appear before the courts, Chief Manneh continued to languish in detention without any attempt by the state to conduct any investigation or appear before the ECOWAS Court to clear any doubts.Relying on uncontroverted testimonies given by witnesses, the ECOWAS Courtmaintains that in July 2006, Chief Ebrima Manneh was picked up by plain clothes security officials at his place of work, at Daily Observer.
ECOWAS Court maintains that in July 2006, Chief Ebrima Manneh was picked up by plain clothes security officials at his place of work, at Daily Observer.The ECOWAS Courthas ordered for his immediate release and has awarded him compensation amounting to US$100,000
ECOWAS Court has ordered for his immediate release and has awarded him compensation amounting to US$100,000Today, as everyday, the Gambia Press Union wishes to call the attention of the government in particular and the public at large, to the decisions of the court. We take this opportunity to call on the State to heed to the order of the ECOWAS Courtfor the immediate release of Chief Ebrima Manneh and to further compensate him with US$100,000. Such actions will pave the way for an end to impunity and the restoration of public confidenc especially of the private media.
ECOWAS Courtfor the immediate release of Chief Ebrima Manneh and to further compensate him with US$100,000. Such actions will pave the way for an end to impunity and the restoration of public confidenc especially of the private media. ECOWAS Court for the immediate release of Chief Ebrima Manneh and to further compensate him with US$100,000. Such actions will pave the way for an end to impunity and the restoration of public confidenc especially of the private media.We wish to point out that democracy cannot prevail and development remains unattainable without the participation of an independent, free and pluralistic press. The media has a crucial role to play in the good governance of democratic societies, by ensuring transparency and accountability, promoting participation and the rule of law, and contributing to the fight against poverty.
The media, as a partner in development can bring about behaviour change and social mobilisation for effective and sustainable development through the dissemination of infom1ation that is crucial for the life and development of communities.
It could be recalled that Chief Ebrima Manneh until, the time of his "disappearance," was a senior reporter at the Daily Observer Newspaper. In July 2007 the Media Foundation for West Africa sought legal redress through the ECOWAS court and on 5 June 2008 the Court ordered for his immediate release and his compensation with a sum of 100,000 dollars.
