Banjul
– December 16, 2019: Today marks 15 years since a founding member and former
president of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Mr
Deyda Hydara was a prominent Gambian journalist and press freedom advocate. He
was killed on the night of December 16, 2004, while driving home with two of
his staff: Ida Jagne, a typist, and Niansarang Jobe, a layout editor. The
incident coincided with the 13th anniversary of The Point, a leading national
newspaper he co-established and edited.
The
Government of The Gambia, under then president Yahya Jammeh, had denied any
involvement in the killing of Deyda. It nonetheless stood in the way of any
proper investigation into the killing of the journalist.
This
year’s anniversary comes on the heels of voluntary public confessions made by
some of his killers. One of them, Malick Jatta, a member of the hit-squad, had
told the on-going Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that
ex-president Jammeh ordered the assassination of Deyda. The code name of the
operation was ‘the Magic Pen’.
Since
his forced exit in 2017 after he refused to step down following elections,
Yahya Jammeh has been living in exile in Equatorial Guinea. Some of the people
that took part in the operation are also in exile while others have been
released after their testimony was heard by the TRRC.
On
the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of the killing of Deyda, the GPU, The
Point Newspaper, Hydara family and Victims Centre, wish to call on the
government to pursue justice for Deyda and bring to book perpetrators,
including the exiled ex-president.
The
GPU President, Mr Sheriff Bojang Jr. said: “This year’s commemoration coincides
with planned mass protests as a result of which we called off our events,
including a photo exhibition and of course the annual Deyda Hydara memorial
lectures series.
“The
safety of journalists is of paramount concern to us and we wish to remind the
government of its duty to protect journalists during these times of political
uncertainty.
“Deyda
stood and died for press freedom and for the liberty of every citizen. As we as
a nation reflect on his legacy, we should renew our commitment to consolidate
the democratic gains.”