Solidarity
Statement From 16 to 18 March 2017
Introduction
We
bring you heartfelt congratulations and solidarity greetings from the West
African Journalists Association (WAJA) and the Federation of African
Journalists (FAJ) as you rejoice over your release from virtual captivity under
the regime of President Yahya Jammeh.
Over
the last 22 years, the Gambian people witnessed massive human rights violation,
including press freedom and the repression of journalists. Media houses were
attacked, journalists arrested, jailed, tortured, kidnaped, killed, or forced
into exile. About 100 Gambian journalists fled the country for their lives.
Tribute to our colleagues who perished in the course of the tyranny, and to the
courage of those who remain fearless to the very end. The people of the Gambia
are indebted to you for telling their stories, howbeit to the peril of your
lives.
May
we all observe a moment of silence to the sainted memories of those tortured to
death…. Amen!
The
Litany of attacks of the media
The
repression of Gambian journalists is well documented. Even as the process
leading to the historic 1st December 2016 votes unfolded, journalists remained
the subject of attack.
On
Thursday, 10 November, freelance journalist and documentary producer, Alhagie
Manka and journalist Yunus Salieu of the Daily Observer, were both arrested and
detained overnight at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) headquarters in
Banjul.
Yunus
and Manka were arrested by soldiers for merely photographing sympathizers of
the ruling APRC Party who were celebrating at President Jammeh’s nomination.
They were released at separate intervals without charge.
The
Director General of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), Mr.
Momodou Sabally was relieved of his duties on 8 November and detained at the
NIA. While journalist Bakary Fatty of the same state-owned GRTS, was also
picked up and detained by the NIA. No reason was given or provided for their
arrest and detention.
The
freelance journalist and cameraman Ebou Waggeh, working for Reuters, was
arrested on Thursday, 19 January 2017 and detained at the Kairaba Police
Station.
These
arbitrary detentions were commonplace during the regime of President Jammeh,
but we named these few to draw the attention of the new government to the ugly
tactics of its predecessor in the harassment of the media and journalists.
Journalism is simply not a crime. As we
celebrate this newfound democracy, we hope the media will truly be allowed to
do their jobs freely.
Amidst
the euphoria of a new beginning, we were particularly stunned by a recent
development in which, journalist Kebba Jafang of the FOROYAA Newspaper was
reportedly assaulted by members of the victorious coalition that defeated the
dictator. That this happened at all during good times, underlines why
journalists should always be watchful even in familiar terrains. We are told
the Minister of Interior apologized, which is good, but what is needed now is
action to end impunity for crimes against journalists – not apology.
A
Promise of Renewal
There is certainly an air of renewal sweeping
across The Gambia. WAJA and FAJ are particularly delighted, by the promise of
the new administration to respect and promote press freedom and freedom of
expression. This will undoubtedly impact positively on our members and the
practice of journalism in The Gambia.
The
Government of President Adama Barrow ordered on Monday 23 January 2017, the
release of all political prisoners, including journalists.
The
new Justice Minister, Mr. Abubacarr Tambadou on 7 February 2017 said that The
Gambia’s press is set to win unprecedented freedom when the new government
overhauls the constitution and laws of the Gambia under former leader Yahya
Jammeh.
While
being sworn in, Mr Tambadou, a former UN Assistant Prosecutor, said that he
hopes to remove restrictive laws on the media. “We will be starting a
constitutional review process with a view to ensuring that our constitution is
relevant and serves the purpose for which Gambians adopted it.”
This
is welcoming because under the leadership of President Jammeh, journalists were
slapped regularly with crimes including: sedition, criminal defamation and
publication of false news, offences described as “catch-all” by Amnesty
International, for which many served jail terms.
Strengthening
the Media Space
This
Solidarity Mission to The Gambia is our way of backing our affiliate, The
Gambia Press Union (GPU). With this mission, we declare our unqualified
commitment in working with the GPU get fully engaged with the reforms to be undertaken
by the new government especially in the media sector. This is why we feel even
more excited and honoured for the opportunity to have met with relevant
officials of the Gambian Government including the Minister of Information and
the Director General of the Gambian Radio and Television Services (GRTS) to
discuss some of the issues facing the media and journalists in the country as
listed below:
1-
Media Law reforms
We
acknowledge the initial pronouncement of the new government to embark upon an
in-depth legal reform including Media Law. Such media reforms should encompass
among others:
Decriminalisation
of libel;
Access
to information;
Inclusive
Public Service Broadcasting;
Democratic
Media regulation;
Upholding
Press Freedom and the Safety of Journalists in the new constitution;
Media
training, Etc...
2-
Implementing Court Decisions
In
the true nature of the former government of Mr. Jammeh, many decisions by
National and the ECOWAS Courts on violations of press freedom in the Gambia,
were ignored and disrespected by the administration. We call on the present
Government to revisit those court rulings for the sake of justice and the rule
of law.
3-
Investigating the Past
The
investigations on journalists killed and those who disappeared are still pending,
especially the cases of Deyda Hydara and Chief Manneh. It is easy to say let’s
leave the past in the name of reconciliation, but reconciliation begins at
least with establishing the facts. So we urged the Government of President
Adama Barrow to help us identify the perpetrators of those crimes against our
colleagues.
Finally,
our two organizations [FAJ and WAJA] are prepared and ready to work with our
colleagues in the GPU to reinforce their standing in order to play their role
more effectively in strengthening the emerging democracy in the country. We
pledged both technical and moral support going forward.
Thank
God for ECOWAS, thank God for the Gambia and the new President and God Bless
the GPU.
Signed: The
West African Journalists Association and The Federation of African Journalists
