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Commonwealth Must Advocate Rights Or Face Irrelevance
Thursday, 27 October 2011 17:03
Human rights and dismantling of laws that curtail press freedoms will dominate the Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meeting. Such efforts are urgently needed in countries like Gambia, where journalists are under threat.The 10 Eminent Persons Group (EPG) has told Commonwealth leaders that if the organization is to have relevance in the 21st century, it must rediscover its role in promoting the rule of law and democratic values.
The Commonwealth should focus fresh attention "on violations of human, political and civil rights if the association is to continue to command attention on behalf of its member states and if it is to retain the respect of its own people," an EPG report said.
Continuing persecution of journalists in Zambia highlights the urgency of reforms needed to ensure a free and independent press.
Draconian press laws
Among the measures suggested to restore the credibility of the Commonwealth - which is headed by Queen Elizabeth II - is the repeal of all laws curtailing
freedom of the press, and a demand to immediately dismantle all homophobic laws. Both of these measures are controversial, especially in Africa.Heads of government meeting in 2009 formed the EPG to advise leaders on reforms for a stronger, more relevant Commonwealth.
The group's main recommendation at the Perth meeting is the appointment of a special commissioner for the rule of law, democracy and human rights, and mandating the organization's secretary general in London to draw attention to serious and persistent violations of human rights.
Known as Commonwealth of Nations, countries in the organization - with the exception of Rwanda and Mozambique - once belonged to the British Empire. Members of the intergovernmental organization act on common values, including the promotion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Gambia is one of the countries in the Commonwealth's spotlight this year (meetings are held every two years in different parts of the world). Africa's smallest country, Gambia is an intriguing microcosm of all the hopes and problems that affect its larger neighbors.
Gambia's 1.8 million people joined the Commonwealth after the country's independence from Britain in 1966. An army coup in 1994 installed President Yahya Jammeh, who has introduced draconian press laws that make it hard - if not impossible - for journalists there to work independently.
Fighting for press freedoms
Five years ago, Jammeh critic Ebrima Manneh was whisked away from his office at the Daily Observer newspaper, never to be seen again. Since then, journalists in Gambia and in other parts of the world have mounted campaigns to trace the whereabouts of Manneh.
Seven years ago, Deyda Hydara, editor of the publication The Point - and one of Gambia's best known journalists - was killed in a drive-by shooting. Most journalists and diplomats believe this was an assassination ordered by the country's security police.
Two of Gambia's best known writers, Aloa Ahmed Alota and Demba Ali Jawo, wrote in the preface to their book "A Living Mirror - The Life of Deyda Hydara," that journalists must have the courage to dig deep and find out what happened to such intrepid reporters.
"For all those who feared that anyone linked with this book might be gunned down after its publication ... we would have them know that somehow, somewhere, someday, we shall all die – nobody lives forever, not even assassins and their bloody paymasters," the pair wrote in their book.
Free speech font-liners
Men like Alota and Jawo are on the front line in a verbal war against dictatorship. They continue to stick to their guns by talking to visiting journalists abut what needs to be done to remove laws that hamper free expression.
To date, Jammeh has paid scant attention to foreign critics.
Presidential elections will be held in Gambia on November 24, and the head of state told followers in July that he would remain in power.
"Elections will not make me lose power, nor will military coups," Jammeh said. "Anybody who thinks that the opposition is going to win the forthcoming elections is daydreaming."
As Alota and Jawo continue their dream of making press freedoms in Gambia viable, the Commonwealth could play a role.
Author: Trevor Grundy / ss
Editor: Sonya Angelica Diehn
Source: www.dw-world.de
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Comments
He is obviously a great fan of Tom Hanks...
The movies The Devinci Code and Angels and Demons...starring Hanks...
were a spin on fiction laced with none fiction.
Cum Now Gambian ice....time you slowly thawed out and entered the 21st century my dear.
He will no doubt recount..
"The Last King of Scotland"
as historical fact..shortly.
You can fool some of us some of the time....but...?
Some of us...will not be patronised by myths half truths or romanticiscm.
He is obviously a great fan of Tom Hanks...
The movies The Devinci Code and Angels and Demons...starring Hanks...
were a spin on fiction laced with none fiction.
Cum Now Gambian ice....time you slowly thawed out and entered the 21st century my dear.
1. I am a Gambian, Muslim and Strong supporter of President Jammeh and the APRC Party
2. I am a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs and my contributions have been no more than academic advice in my areas of competence. RIIA's activity is already in the open so the assertion that it is a secret illuminati organisation...I dont know where you getting that from...and if it is I am NOT privy to any!
I just feel that you simply have an ulterior motive to paint a wrong image of me simply because of my political support to APRC and Jammeh government.
Your vendetta has to stop!
Quote:
Did you that the Royal Institute of International Affairswas created in 1919 by the Illuminati. http://www.whale.to/b/riia_q.html. So are you a member of the Illuminati? TELL US THE TRUTH GAMBIANICE.
Given the fact that this biscuit throwing is a harzard to both motorists and pedistrians,not withstanding the indignity of picking food from the street,don't you think there are better and respectable ways of showing appreciation.
Some people in the convoy can be tasked with distributing the biscuits without putting anyone in danger. If lives and limbs are going to be lost, then surely the gesture of showing appreciation is not worth it. That's my opinion .
gambianice,I'm not a supporter of Rightwing politics and their publications and I've got no time for them. As for the Commonwealth,it 's time that they adapt to meet the challenges they face today in other for the organisation to be relevant.
Mr.Bax,I will disagree with you about the motive behind those biscuits or whatever is thrown at those people. The throwing of biscuits to your love ones cannot be in million ways translated into insults. It is just an acknowledgement and appreciation of their presence in the streets. You personally know that those biscuits cannot feed anyone. The president cannot personally shake everyone's hand and say,THANK YOU! What he throws at people doesn't really matter. What matters,is how,when and where those biscuits are thrown at.For example,if the biscuits constantly continue to hit the Fulas in their eyes...lol,or repeatedly thrown at the Baddibunka's ,then there should be a course for concern. These people see those biscuits as an acknowledgement from their great leader. This is just my personal opinions and observation!
Please never ever compare me to that MUSA please please in the name of Allah.
I simply debate on reality and share my limited knowledge with other participants. I therefore call on decent contributors Bax, Mike Scales and others to please disassociate themselves from your this insulting and uncalled comparison.
With a heavy heart...I rest my case
Here is an organisation (DW Press) that has NEVER even being granted a press pass at any of the events on our shared heritage (commonwealth nations event) is now so desperate to gain the decent club of nations?
I only hope Britain, Commonwealth and all Her Nations continues to isolate DW Press especially on their refusal to apologies their past support to both Nazis, Apatheid and this day support to KKK and Far Right Political parties in Germany
They will not be allowed in our decent Club of the enviable Commonwealth of Nations.
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