Sections
DONATE
SUPPORT WWW.JOLLOFNEWS.COM
Account Login
Gambian Journalists are no threat to peace
Sunday, 03 April 2011 14:54
By Alieu Badara CeesayFreedom of expression is fundamental human rights for every person on this planet. It’s a right for all, not just for a select few. President Yahya Jammeh’s threats to the media and by extension the entire country diminishes free speech and open debate as manifested since 1994.
Recently, the Gambian president met with the private press, a meeting which was characterized by accusation from the President and his Cabinet that the media poses a threat to the peace and stability of The Gambia.
Interestingly enough, among all the speakers at the meeting who all spoke about the need for responsibility on the part of the media to ensure the peace and stability of the country non put forward any case of journalists threatening the peace and stability of the Gambia. The constant echoing by Jammeh and his government that journalists pose a threat to peace and security is an attempt to divert attentions from other issues in the country and this must be exposed. Gambian journalists have no history of threatening peace and security in The Gambia. In fact, they are the ones on the receiving end of government’s repressive and draconian laws characterised by arrests, detentions, killing and enforced disappearances.
To accuse them of endangering the peace of the country is appalling.
On the killing of Deyda Hyadara and by his own admission that Chief Ebrima Manneh is dead, despite the fact that his Justice ministers have all insisted that Manneh is not in government custody, these cases can not go away as long as serious investigations have not been conducted on them.
The Gambia campaign in UK has been reliably informed that the European Union has suggested to the Gambian government to open an independent investigation into these killings and enforced disappearance but that this has been met with refusal.
Mr President, freedom of expression is not a western value its a universal humanitarian value that is the right of all people. Be reminded again that these are God giving rights and must not be bargained for with any government.
By demanding the right to free speech Gambian journalists are not seeking to impose western values on the Gambian people and cultures. They are saying that everyone everywhere has a right to freedom of expression.
Since 1994, Gambia journalists have been besieged by the draconian media laws, killings, torture, enforced disappearances, harassments and vale threats, all of which have resulted to self censorship in the media for fears of reprisal. And despite all these, you continue to see the media as a threat to Gambia’s security.
The attacks on freedom of expression such as the blanket ban on the opposition parties to use the public media, banning Teranga FM from reviewing newspapers in local languages, the closure of Independent and Citizen newspapers, all echoed the way the Kremlin use to restrict the rights to free speech in old bad days of the Soviet Union.
The Campaign for Human Rights in The Gambia UK is committed to universal human rights and social justice and recognised that not everyone will agree with our views nor will we agree with their views – that’s what freedom of speech is all about; the right of people to express their opinions even if you don’t like them.
However, since 1994, anyone who has had a different view from yours is considered an enemy and should be killed, jailed, tortured, harassed or sent to jail.
The Independent media has upheld their responsibility to hold your government accountable and in doing this they have been portrayed as enemies of the state, agents of western government or opposition mouth pieces, despite the fact that newspapers are on daily basis filled with press releases from your government.
The war on the private press is due to the fact that since 1994 they have condemned the wave of terror that have swept that country such as detentions without trial, enforced disappearance, torture and extra-judicial executions.
They rejected the assault on civil liberties and individual freedom, including the persecution of innocent Gambians through your mercenary judges from Nigeria who have sacrificed their professional integrity for your Dollars.
Free speech is the right to urge the Gambian security services to disobey illegal and unjust orders to kill, torture or detain Gambians in defiance of the international law. Free speech is the right to condemn the blatant abuse of human rights in The Gambia. Free speech is the right to whistle blow on corruption in your government.
Free speech is the right to call for the reestablishment of the National Intelligence Agency. Free speech is the right to criticise the president and his ministers for their actions.
The author is an exiled Gambian journalist and member of the UK National Union of Journalists. He is also Campaign Officer for Campaign for Human Rights in The Gambia (CHRG-UK). www.gambiacampaign.org
Jollofnews Poll
Who do you think should be the next President of The Gambia?
Follow us on Twitter
-
Doctor Who star runs with torchDoctor Who star Matt Smith, former Wales rugby captain Matthew Rees and world hurdles champion...
-
Lesotho holds tense electionMASERU (Reuters) - Voters in the highland African kingdom of Lesotho went to the polls...
-
Bristol Rovers Speed Merchant Could Be Racing To Posh(GamSports) – Peterborough United are thought to be one of a number of Championship sides...
Comments
This change will take a much slower pace in sub Saharan Africa. But that "change" is inevitable.
Even if reform to a more democratically acountable style of open government, came tomorrow.
I doubt those who have held on to power for so long will survive.
For there mode of opperation is not conducive to the freedoms that they have been solely responsible for denying to the people.
With modern thinking and accountable government...would come the inevitable cleansing exercise and reprisal against those who hid behind Impunity.
Therefore, the peoples new mandate, should be underpinned by those whose foundation is based on Law.
RSS feed for comments to this post.