This in fact reminds us about the importance of strong democratic pillars in any development endeavour.
One would really conclude that strong democratic principles support the need for a vibrant and free press.
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) on Wednesday 2 November 2022 joined the rest of the globe to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes committed against Journalists.
In commemorating the day, Muhammed S. Bah, President of the Gambia Press Union, highlighted that in the Gambia and around the globe, journalists continue to be harassed, attacked both physically and verbally, beaten, arrested, detained, threatened and even killed for going about their job.
It is sad to recall that journalists in the Jammeh era suffered a great deal by working under one of the most brutal regimes in human history. This led to enforced disappearances, exile and even death of some veteran journalists.
These comrades sacrificed to shoulder this unbearable working condition just to serve as voice for the voiceless. Without these daring and smart journalists, some of whom paid the price, some of the killings under Jammeh would not have been brought to the fore.
Yet these victims are yet to see justice.
GPU President Bah added that promises of greater freedoms, the protection of journalists and media law reforms have yet to be fulfilled, six years after the dictatorship.
We therefore wish to renew calls for authorities to repeal the draconian media laws in our constitution to make the work of journalists favourable.
Government should make great commitment to press freedom and freedom of expression and ensure that journalists enjoy a safer environment to do their job without intimidation and attacks
However, people should also understand that journalists are not their enemies. Instead, they are doing their work to ensure a just society. Without investigative journalists, sometimes it would be difficult, albeit impossible to point out some of the ills in society, especially when it has to do with corruption, brutality and other forms of injustice.
We believe that in order to ensure journalists work without fear or intimidation, there must be justice, and this can’t be achieved if perpetrators face no consequences for their actions.
Authorities should understand that a democratic society is meaningless if it fails to first address impunity for crimes against journalists. Our cries for peace without justice is meaningless.