Editorial: We Want Justice For Deyda Hydara

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Editorial: We Want Justice For Deyda Hydara

Friday, 16 December 2011 01:09

(JollofNews) - Today, exactly seven years ago, our colleague and mentor, Deyda Hydara, was shot dead by unknown assailants on his way from work.

Mr Hydara, 58, was managing editor of The Point newspaper and Gambia correspondence for Reporters Without Borders and the French news agency,AFP.

Deyda was a perfect gentleman of the first order; forthright, honest and dependable. He was a professional journalist, an uncompromising champion of press Editorial_Logo

freedom and respect for human rights.

Deyda died doing the job he loved; giving a voice to the voiceless in Gambia and our hearts continue to bleed and our eyes continue to shed tears anytime we think of the manner in which he was brutally taken away from us and his family.

Who killed Deyda Hydara? And who gave that person the order to pull the trigger on our mentor, a man who has always tempered his opinions with a degree of restrain and respect for whoever was the object of his critiques.

As we mourn Deyda, we still cannot believe that seven years now after his killing, and after investigation by the Gambian police, no one has been arrested or charged in connection with his murder.

We don’t want to start pointing the blame finger at anyone or institution but the Gambia Government should do everything heavenly possible to bring Deyda’s killers to book. Seven years is not seven days and Deyda’s family needs closure.

We agree that Deyda is not more important than other Gambians who die everyday in the Gambia. However, we are appalled by the way he was killed and the government’s lack of seriousness in finding his killers.

Deyda did not die in a car accident, but was murdered by a gang of trigger happy gunmen. Murder is not only repugnant in the eyes of all faiths, but laws in all civilised jurisdiction prescribed stringent punitive measures against it.

Similarly, all our national cultures denounce it in the strongest possible term and as a result, the Gambia Government should easily understand why we want justice for Deyda.

We shall never be tired and will continue to raise questions on who killed Deyda Hydara until his murderers pay for their crimes.

Our land has been defiled with the blood of a loving father, brother, uncle, colleague and mentor and it is our responsibility as the eyes and ears of the Gambian people to ensure that Deyda’s family get the justice they deserve.
Once again, we say rest in peace Deyda Hydara.

Comments

+3 #1 2011-12-16 16:21

He was killed by Yahya Jammeh's government period..let them have the audacity to stand before the Justice and see if they will not be guilty.
No doubt this is why they are never serious investigating this murder case ..may Deyda's soul and all those gone before him rest in eternal peace and my condolence to the family and I hope they find justice for the death of their relative. Gambia is a very bad country for Journalists and oppositions..I see this country clouded with fear, impunity, intimidation, murder and political instability. I hope Jammeh is brought to Justice.

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