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CPJ challenges Gambia, 9 other countries on murder of journalists
Thursday, 29 April 2010 18:29
As countries press freedom record slumpsBy Kemo Cham
The New York based Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) has challenged governments in ten countries, including Gambia, where the death of journalists remains unsolved. The organisation wants these countries to bring justice and reverse the culture of impunity.
‘‘In Sri Lanka, a prominent editor who has criticized authorities is so sure of retaliation that he predicts his own murder. In Pakistan, a reporter who embarrassed the government is abducted and slain... CPJ stated in a report issued Thursday, 29 April 2010, ahead of World Press Freedom Day commemoration.
These are all familiar statement as in the case of Gambia, where there is barely any independent media left, much to the delight of a government that clearly enjoys having the media focusing only on its good deeds.
As part of World Press Freedom Day commemoration, May 3, ‘‘CPJ is spotlighting 10 emblematic cases in which journalists have been killed with impunity,’’ the organization, which dedicates its effort to championing a free press around the world, said, and it added that it is ‘‘challenging authorities to solve these 10 crimes and send a message that they are committed to reversing the grave problem of impunity in journalist murders.’’
In all ten countries which also included Burkina Faso, for the murder of investigative journalist Norbert Zongo, in 1998, as well as Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Russia, and Iraq, there is a common trend that bind the situations: not a single conviction has been recorded. These countries also share a common orientation in that they have some of the world’s worst law enforcement records when it comes to deadly violence against the press.
According to CPJ, its research shows that every one of these 10 cases of murder can be solved. It said while in many of the cases specific suspects have been identified, in others evidence points clearly to potential culprits.
‘‘In these 10 cases, as in others that CPJ has documented over the past two decades, law enforcement officials have failed to follow leads, interview witnesses, collect sufficient evidence, or bring successful prosecutions,’’ the statement said.
CPJ’s report came just as another report by the Washington, D.C based Freedom House indicated a deteriorating press situation around the glob, with Africa featuring badly as usual.
Freedom Houses, an international non-governmental organization which conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights, publishes an annual report assessing the degree of perceived democratic freedoms in each country, which is used in political science research. In its latest report it also indicated a slump in free press in Gambia, among similarly notoriously intolerant countries.
Joel Simon, CPJ Executive Director, said what these countries lack is ‘‘political will.’’
‘‘Solving these cases would start to change the culture of impunity around the world, a condition that produces widespread self-censorship and stifles the global dialogue,” he stated.
CPJ calls on the authorities in these countries to signal an end to the era of impunity by bringing charges and winning convictions in these 10 cases.
“These journalists fought injustice while they lived,” said Simon. “We are left to continue their struggle now that they are gone.”
Deyda Hydara, founder of the Banjul based The Point Newspaper, was well-known for his uncompromising challenge of President Yahya Jammeh’s government, particularly over the its repulsive press policies. On the night of December 16, 2004, the journalist was driving home from his office when assailants in a taxi sprayed bullets into his vehicle, killing him and injuring two other occupants of his vehicle.
Yahya Jammeh’s government has remained largely intolerant to calls for justice for the murder of the journalist. The president’s remark, last June, effectively ridiculing the murdered journalist in a televised statement, sparked an equally uncompromising reaction from the Gambia Press Union, and the eventual arrest and jailing of six of the country’s journalists, amidst international condemnation.
Pressure from the international community forced Yahya Jammeh to give up and released the journalists.
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Comments
"...Pressure from the international community forced Yahya Jammeh to give up and released the journalists...“These journalists fought injustice while they lived,” said Simon. “We are left to continue their struggle now that they are gone.”
Comments
If there is anything left for Gambia's 'decency' we are not supposed to be in this 'despicable-Club' of murderers. However, justice for the murdered is assured here & in Hereafter; no matter how long it takes.
"...Deyda Hydara, founder of the Banjul based The Point Newspaper, was well-known for his uncompromising challenge of President Yahya Jammeh’s government, particularly over the its repulsive press policies...December 16, 2004, the journalist was driving home from his office when assailants in a taxi sprayed bullets into his vehicle, killing him and injuring two other occupants of his vehicle...Yahya Jammeh’s government has remained largely intolerant to calls for justice for the murder of the journalist...The president’s remark, last June, effectively ridiculing the murdered journalist in a televised statement, sparked an equally uncompromising reaction from the Gambia Press Union, and the eventual arrest and jailing of six of the country’s journalists, amidst international condemnation."
...contimnues above
"The New York based Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) has challenged governments in ten countries, including Gambia, where the death of journalists remains unsolved. The organisation wants these countries to bring justice and reverse the culture of impunity...‘‘In these 10 cases, as in others that CPJ has documented over the past two decades, law enforcement officials have failed to follow leads, interview witnesses, collect sufficient evidence, or bring successful prosecutions,’’ ...In its latest report it also indicated a slump in free press in Gambia, among similarly notoriously intolerant countries...Executive Director, said what these countries lack is ‘‘political will.’’
...continues above
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