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Media Foundation for West Africa - Gambia – 2009
Friday, 30 July 2010 23:25
DocumentGeneral Overview
The year 2009 was perhaps the worst and most trying times for journalists and other media workers in The Gambia. It registered the highest number of arrests and imprisonment of journalists in the tiny West African country's history. There was hardly any improvement on the country's worsening rights violations and impunity records. As usual, there were arbitrary arrests and in some cases, long detentions without trial largely by the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The period under review was thus characterised by one form of rights violation or the other.
Gambia's Political Situation and its impact on the Media:
Gambia's political landscape drastically changed in 1994 with a bloodless coup that toppled the first republic led by Dawda Jawara and the People's Progressive Party (PPP). There was a two-year transitional government led by the then military leader, Yahya Jammeh, and the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC). In 1996 Presidential election was held and Jammeh contested and controversially won under the banner of his Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC). Opposition parties including the United Democratic Party (UDP), People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), National Reconciliation Party (NRP) took part. The opposition claimed that a lot of foul play went on during and after the polls. Several elections, both parliamentary and presidential, have since been held in the Gambia and President Jammeh and his party continually claimed victories in all these elections.
Yahya Jammeh has constantly used the presidential incumbency factor, state resources which he personalised over time and all possible means to perpetuate his regime in the Gambia.
The 1997 Second Republican Constitution spelt out a "multi-party-democracy" system for the Gambia, but that holds only in theory. In practice, however, in today's Gambia, everything revolves around one person, President Jammeh. The ruling party, government institutions and all the fundamentals of the state revolve around him alone with hardly any distinction between them. Jammeh systemically neutralised the powers of the judiciary and parliament thereby rendering them ineffective. He frequently sacked judges, other judicial workers and at times even parliamentarians within his ruling APRC. Opposition parties made several futile attempts towards forming a common front against Jammeh and his regime.
During the 2006 presidential elections a coalition of opposition parties, the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) was formed. But leadership dispute coupled with a hostile political environment broke the coalition. Again, there is an on-going dialogue over the possibility of bringing all the opposition parties under one umbrella ahead of the 2011 presidential polls. A new political party, Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) was registered in 2009. Generally, the opposition remained, fragmented, weak and demoralised. Some party leaders admitted that Gambia's opposition parties were in a state of "coma" if not "dead."
It is against this political background that the Gambian media have continued to survive over the years. The media is one of the sectors badly hit by Jammeh's repression and intolerance. Despite the problems, media workers tried to carry out their role in the society. The media continued to provide their traditional role of disseminating information, creating dialogue between the government/people, as well as people-to people.
Over the years, journalists under the umbrella of Gambia Press Union (GPU) have challenged repressive laws and pieces of legislations made by the regime. In recent times, media workers are said to be the leading organised group of people that openly challenged President Jammeh's excesses in the Gambia. Journalists and media personnel are at the forefront of trying to demystify President Jammeh and his style of leadership.
The repression in The Gambia has, however, given birth to a mushrooming of online radios and newspapers created and run by Gambians living outside the country. Many of such media outlets have tried to give alternative news, views and information on daily happenings in the Gambia against the propaganda provided by the state-controlled media.
Media Landscape
With regards to Gambia's media landscape, there was not much significant change in terms of numbers in the print media, except that, two newspapers, The Voice and Daily News got registered and started publication during the year along with six other newspapers which were regular on the country's newsstands. Daily Observer, a pro-government paper and The Point were the only dailies in the country. Daily Observer is believed to be still leading in terms of sales and circulation, closely followed by The Point. Foroyaa, a pro-opposition media outlet, is now seen as the only critical newspaper in the country, as the rest practise one form of censorship or the other. Meanwhile, the state-owned/run newspaper: Gambia Daily disappeared from the newsstands.
In the Gambia, radio and television services still are very popular and most effective in reaching out to the masses. This is due to the fact that about 68 percent of Gambian society hardly reads newspapers and so rely heavily on the electronic media particularly, the state radio, Radio Gambia which has nation-wide coverage, for information. The only television station in the country is the Gambia Television Services (GTS). It is established, run and firmly controlled by the ruling government. Just like the GTS, Radio Gambia is run and controlled by the government. The two stations broadcast in English and major local languages. Aside these, there is a cluster of commercial and community radio stations broadcasting mainly on FM bands. But these radio stations avoid political broadcast and only limit their programmes to sports, music and commercials.
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Comments
How can outsiders see the facts whilst some few so-called ‘patriotic’ worshippers & yaya himself pull blinds eyes at expenses of masses? Hence some people with travial motives/agenda can jump in debates for yaya’s so-called developments but aren’t bothered with real issues which will eventually affect ALL including the so-called infrastructures & human capacities ‘built & developed’ if not checked. Great minds see the greater community NOT selves & individuals.
The 1997 Second Republican Constitution spelt out a "multi-party-democracy" system for the Gambia, but that holds only in theory. In practice...in today's Gambia, everything revolves around one person, President Jammeh...ruling party, government institutions...all the fundamentals of the state revolve around him alone with hardly any distinction between them. Jammeh systemically neutralised the powers of the judiciary and parliament...rendering them ineffective...frequently sacked judges, other judicial workers and at times even parliamentarian s within his ruling APRC...”
...cont...
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