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Regional media watchdog criticizes Gambia’s treatment of journalists
Thursday, 11 November 2010 21:48
APA - The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in a paper presented to the
ongoing session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in Banjul on Thursday indicated that the state of the media and free expression in The Gambia requires urgent attention as security officials continue to intimidate, harass and persecute media practitioners.According to the Accra-based media watchdog, on countless occasions, Gambian security officials have resorted to making criminal charges against journalists.
“They have also sought to use unlawful detentions to intimidate journalists contrary to section 19 (3) of the Gambian Constitution. Between 2009 and November 2010, a total of 20 journalists were arrested and detained, 14 of them were charged with either ‘publishing false news’ or ‘criminal defamation’ punishable on conviction by huge fines and terms of imprisonment”, the statement says.
“Of major concern also is the Gambian government’s refusal to comply with the recommendations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Resolution 134 made at its 44th Ordinary session in November 2008 on the Gambia which among other things urged the government to provide access to all prisoners and bring an immediate end to harassment and intimidation of independent media institutions and respect the rights of journalist and human rights defenders”, the statement added.
The statement went on to point out that the Gambian government has disregarded the ECOWAS Court decision of June 5th 2008, which declared illegal, the arrest and detention of Chief Ebrima Manneh who was arrested on July 11, 2006.
According to MFWA, the Court also awarded US$100,000 as damages for the violation of Mr. Manneh’s rights. “The arrest of Chief Manneh is a violation of Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights,” MFWA stressed.
The statement concluded by calling on the Commission to ensure that member states take all necessary steps to review their national laws and bring them in conformity with their obligations under the treaties.
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