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The 1994 military take over and woes of the Gambian media
Saturday, 25 September 2010 20:57
A catalogue of cases of arrests and detentionsBy Yaya Dampha
Although the 1994 military coup was condemned by the international community and many Gambians, it was welcomed in some quarters with the hope that it might lead to an enhanced democracy and protect media growth especially the private media.
Few days into the coup saw good relations between the junta and the private media. The honeymoon, however, did not last long, for soon the AFPRC began arresting, deporting, and harassing, beating and intimidating journalists into silence. Journalists had now began to scrutinize the activities and statements of the junta.
President Yahya Jammeh began his anti-media tendencies by first deeming published articles as "inaccurate" "sensitive". He branded journalists as "illegitimate sons of Africa" and went further to call on the citizens not buy local newspapers, so that journalists might starve and get sent parking.
Despite the country’s return to civilian rule in September 1996, the harassment, intimidation and arrest of journalists continued unabated. Many foreign journalists were deported, some to war-torn countries.
The AFPRC now APRC used its numerical strength in the National Assembly to enact repressive laws. A wide range of legislative measures continued to stifle the independent media. These included newspaper Act or Decrees of 1996: decrees 70 and 71, which imposed criminal penalties on sections of the private media which failed to register annually. The media registration fees were increased 100 percent. State own medias were not included in this registration. So the clear intent of the Jammeh administration was to eliminate the private media.
Below is a catalog of arrests, tortures, deportation, harassment, intimidation, disappearances and killings of Gambian journalists by Chairman/President Yahya Jammeh since 1994 to date:
July 1994, Sidia Jatta and Halifa Sallah, editors of Foroyaa Newspaper, were arrested and prosecuted for allegedly violating military decree banning political activities. They were acquitted and discharged by magistrate Lamin Mboge.
October 21 1994, Kenneth Y Best, publisher and editor of the Daily Observer was detained for 36 hours following publication of some news stories on the junta.
November 30 1994, The military junta deported Kenneth Y Best to his native Liberia then in the middle of war.November 1994, Ebrima Sankareh, a journalist with The Point Newspaper, was arrested by the NIA and detained without charge.
December 1994, Aliue Sheriff, a Sierra Leonean journalist was arrested by the NIA.
March 1995, Deyda Hydara, editor and co-publisher of The Point Newspaper, was interrogated by the NIA.
March 31 1995, three Point newspaper journalists: Pap Sain, Aliue Badara Sowe and Ebrima Earnest were charged after running a report on the state of Mile 2 Prison. They were acquitted and discharged by Banjul Magistrates court on 27 September 1995.
April 3 1995, Jay Saidy, associate editor of The Point, was arrested by the NIA.
October 1995, Chemor Ouch Sesay, a Sierra Leonean with the Daily Observer, was arrested and deported by the junta.
October 1995, The Independent Newspaper, was banned from being printed by National Printing and Stationary Cooperation.
February 1996, Babucarr Sankanu, working for The Point, VOA, Radio Deutche Welle and the BBC, was detained incommunicado for a week.
March 30 1996, Nigerian journalist Chikeluba was arrested by the NIA and immigration officers. On April 16, he was driven in an NIA vehicle to Kaolack in Senegal and forcefully ordered out of Gambia.
May 6 1996, journalists Aliue Badara Sowe and Bruse Asemota were arrested.
June 2 1996, Aliue Badara Sowe fled the Gambia to Senegal.
June 18 1996, Ansumana Badjie was detained in Jarra Soma for alleged making negative coverage of Yahya Jammeh’s tour.
July 1997, Alagie Yerro Jallow was arrested and detained following reporting on the prison riot by inmates.
February 5 1998, Citizen FM Radio was closed by the state. On the same day 5 February New Citizen newspaper run by the proprietor of Citizen FM Radio, Babucarr Gaye, was closed.
April 26 1998, NIA and immigration officers began mounting search for ID cards at the Daily Observer.
June 9 Sule Musa, a Nigerian journalist, was deported by immigration officers.
August 30 1998, journalists Theophilus George, Baba Galleh Jallow and Demba Jawo were arrested after reporting a collapsed state house wall.
August 31 1998, Geran Sengore of Daily Observer was arrested by the NIA.
June 9 1999, Lamin NB Daffeh of The Independent newspaper was arrested and detained at Bundung Police Station.
July 23 1999, the government ordered The Independent newspaper to stop publication with immediate effect.
July 30 1999, the NIA raided The Independent newspaper offices.
On August 1 1999, Baba Galleh Jallow and Alagie Yerro Jallow were arrested and detained until the following day.
September 1999, Sheriff Bojang Snr was interrogated by the NIA and detained for few hours.
December 27 1999, The Independent’s Editor-in-chief Baba Galleh Jallow, Managing Editor Alagie Yerro Jallow and reporter Lamin NB Daffeh were charged for libel.
On April 10 2000, Omar Barrow, a journalist with Sud FM, was gunned down while on live coverage of students’ demonstration. Seventeen other students were reported killed on that occasion.
In May 2000, Muhammed Mboyo, a journalist, was arrested, tortured and deported to Liberia.
In 2000 Madi Ceesay was charged with murder of one Aliue Njie, an APRC supporter who died in a clash after they had laid ambush for opposition leader Lawyer Ousanou Darbo and his entourage during election campaign.
June 20 2000, Baba Galleh Jallow and Alagie Yerro Jallow of Independent newspaper were questioned on their nationality, which they proved to be Gambians.
July 25 2000, Baba Galleh Jallow and Alagie Mbye were arrested by plain cloths police.
January 2001, Peter Gomez of GRTS was dismissed for critical reportage.
February 28 2001, a freelance journalist was harassed, his room in Latri Kunda ransacked at 2am by police officers.
March 2001, the APRC youth wing attacked Sheik Alkinky Sanyang while covering a by-election in Kiang East District. On the same day Lamin Dibba was brutally attacked in Upper Badibu by police officers.
March 13 2001, Omar Bah and Lamarana Jallow of Independent newspaper, Aliue Badara Ceesay and Pa Modou Bojang of Daily Observer were attacked by police and their note books torn while covering drivers protest marches.
May 2001, Seedy Sisay of Radio 1 FM received death threats, sent to him by post.
June 16 2001, 12 journalists resigned from the Daily Observer at the time Bubacarr Baldeh was the Managing Director.
June 27 2001, Aliue Badara Mansaray was assaulted by three police officers.
July 12 2001, Omar Bah was brutally assaulted at Yundum Barracks while covering the treason trial of Lt. Landing Sanneh (Berrek).
July 18 2001, Alagie Mbye was arrested and questioned by the NIA.
August 10 2001, the Youth Wing of the APRC attempted to burn down Radio 1 FM. Proprietor George Cristepsen was injured in the problem.
August 10 2001, Alagie Mbye was arrested from his house in Bakoteh.
October 23 2001, George Christensen was arrested by the NIA.
November 21 2001 Alagie Mbye was arrested by NIA, detained and tortured.
March 18 2002, Demba Sambou of Daily Observer was arrested in Bansang.
July 3 2002, Ebrima Sillah of the BBC was arrested by the NIA.
August 3 2002, Pa Ousman Darboe, then with the Daily Observer, was arrested when he reported on the vice-president’s remarriage. He was detained for 4 days. Alagie Yerro Jallow was also invited to the NIA and questioned on the same article.
January 3 2003, Alagie Yerro Jallow and Abdoulie Sey recieved series of death threats.
March 2003, Pa Ndery Mbai was arrested by the police after he reported on Point newspaper that police were taking bribes.
June 13 2003, Alagie Yerro Jallow was arrested and questioned by the NIA.
June 23 2003, a dozen of soldiers visited The Independent offices at Kanifing after the paper reported the arrest of Lt. Yankuba Badjie; Alagie Yerro was taken to the NIA.
August 9 2003, Buya Jammeh was assaulted by NIA officers.
October 2 2003, Lamin Njie of The Independent was arrested by the Serious Crime Unit of the Gambian police.
October 18 2003, Arson attack was carried out on The Independent Newspaper.
January 2004, Alagie Yerro Jallow and Abdoulie Sey of The Independent newspaper were arrested; Yerro Jallow was arrested while on Tobaski fest in his native village of Sankuya.
February 25 2004, Aliue Dardoe of The Independent newspaper received death threats ordering him to stop writing on The Independent.
25 March 2004, private media were barred from attending legislative sessions of the National Assembly.
April 13 2004, State House soldiers led by Sanna Manjang and Sheriff Gissay burnt down the printing press of The Independent newspaper.
On the 20 May 2004, the Media Commission Bill was passed.
July 2 2004, Alagie Yerro Jallow, Abdoulie Sey and Deyda Hydara were invited to serious crime unit for questioning.
August 7 2004, Demda A Jawo received a letter from the Green Boys (a vigilante group under the ruling APRC party) threatening to kill him.
August 15 2004, the house of Ebrima Sillah, the BBC correspondent in Gambia, was burnt down in his village of Jambur.
On December 16 2004, Deyda Hydara was killed in a drive-by shooting; two female staffers of his paper were seriously wounded.
December 30 2004, Sam Obi was arrested and questioned by Serious Crime Unit of the police.
March 8 2005, Momodou Gassama of The Independent newspaper was assaulted by police officers while on investigation.
October 5 2005, Momodou Sanyang and Lamin Cham both of GRTS were dismissed.
October 6 2005, Pa Modou Secka of The Independent newspaper was harassed and detained at Soma Police Station.
October 22 2005, Sud Fm Radio was ordered closed by the authorities.
October 27, NIA officers arrested and questioned Musa Saidykhan, Editor-in chief of The Independent newspaper, after his return from an editors’ forum in South Africa.
December 16 2006, Ramatoulie Charreh was assaulted by police officers and her camera was seized.
March 28 2006, Musa Saidykhan, Madi Ceesay and Juldeh Baldeh were arrested by armed soldiers.
March 29, Ebou Waggeh was arrested and detained for one week without charge.
April 10 2006, Lamin Fatty of The Independent newspaper was arrested by armed soldiers and taken to NIA office.
May 23 2006, website of Freedom Newspaper was hacked.
May 26 2006, Malick Mboob was arrested and detained for many days at the NIA.
May 31 2006, Lamin Cham of the BBC was arrested and reportedly tortured at the NIA.
June 1 2006, Omar Bah was declared wanted by the state when he escaped arrest on the 29 May and fled the country.
June 6 2006, Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh was arrested by three plain cloths officers and still remains missing.
July 15 2006, Sulayman Makalo fled into exile after receiving information that police and NIA were looking for him.
7 July 2007, Momodou Lamin Jaiteh, a reporter for Panaf News Agency, received a threatening phone call from an NIA agent for allegedly given information to his media.
7 September 2006- Dodou Sanneh, The Gambia Radio and Television reporter, covering the political campaign of an opposition party, was arrested and detained up to 13 September.
28 March 2007, Fatou Jaw Manneh, a former reporter with Daily Observer, was arrested upon her arrival from U.S.A. She was detained for 6 days before being charged with four different charges of sedition. Her trial had been dragging from one court to another until on the 18 of August when she was convicted to a fine of D250,000 in default to serve four years imprisonment with hard labor. The fine was paid for by the Gambia Press Union and her family.
18 May 2007, Fabakary B. Ceesay, a Senior Reporter of Foroyaa Newspaper and the communication and public relations officer of the Network of Human Right Journalists, was arrested by riot police during a brawl involving the police and parting students. He was detained for two hours at Police Intervention Unit camp at Kanifing.
8 September 2007, Malick Jones, a news broadcaster and producer at The Gambia Radio and Television Services, and MAM SAIT CEESAY, a Press Officer at the State House, were arrested and later charged for allegedly given information to foreign journalists. They were later detained for almost two weeks before been released on bail. Mr. Jones was later interdicted at his work place while Mr Ceesay got fired. Ceesay was singly charged for false publication. The State later threatens Mr Jones and used him as a witness against Ceesay in court. He was later acquitted and discharge for wants of evidence against him.
6 October 2007, Yaya Dampha, a Senior Reporter of Foroyaa Newspaper, was arrested by police at Basse about 400 kilometers from the capital, Banjul. Dampha was arrested along side two Amnesty International personnel. They were brought to Banjul and released unconditionally on the 12 of October. DAMPHA was helping the Amnesty International officials in locating some of the state detainees in the country sides.
15 October 2007, Yaya Dampha fled Gambia to Senegal after receiving reports of government’s plans to re-arrest him.
4 April 2008, Malick Jones, the interdicted producer at The Gambia Radio and Television Services, was arrested by two plain clothe secret agents. He was released on Saturday 5 April, only to be re-arrested on Sunday the 6 and released on bail on the 7. He was later charged for common assault and breach of peace but never appeared in court on the charges.
12 March 2008, Ousman MM Jallow, a junior reporter with Foroyaa Newspaper, was arrested by the police at Kerewan in the Northern part of the country, about 50 kilometers from Banjul. He was detained for a day and half before been granted a police bail to the sum of D100,000 (hundred thousand Dalasis). His press materials were seized from him and he continued to report to police on weekly basis. He never appeared in court and the charges were later dropped.
27 April 2008, Saikou Ceesay, a reporter cum photographer of Foroyaa Newspaper, was arrested by the Municipal police when he took photos of a demolition exercise of market women's canteens. He was detained for one hour before been released. He was compelled to delete all the photos that he had taken.
12 June 2008, Mr. Dida Halake, the Managing Editor of the Daily Observer Newspaper, was arrested and detained for more than ten days. He was later charged with sedition but he was discharged after the case suffered many adjournments without proceedings.
14 June, Saikou Ceesay, a reporter with Foroyaa Newspaper, was arrested by personnel of the Kotu Police Station and was subsequently detained until the following day. He was initially granted bail in the sum of D25,000. He was never charged.
17 July 2008, Today Newspaper owner, Abdulhamid Adiamoh, was arrested and detained. He was charged on the 21 for publishing with seditious intentions. He was arraigned in court on the 28.
10 March 2008, Gambian secret agents attempted to kidnap Yaya Dampha, an exiled Foroyaa Newspaper Senior Reporter, in Senegal. Prior to his exile, Dampha was receiving frequent call threats from state secret agents who also made frequent unexpected visits to his home.
24 March 2008, Buya Jammeh, a reporter with the Daily Observer, received a threatening call from the management of the Observer company after when he was elected as a co-opted member of The Gambia Press Union. He was asked to quit the position or get sacked.
20-21 MAY 2008, Fabakary B. Ceesay, a senior reporter with Foroyaa Newspaper, received two threatening phone calls from unknown persons believed to be a state security agent. They used an unidentified number. Ceesay was warned to be aware of his writing or face the consequences. He was told that they were monitoring his movements.
8 September 2008, Fabakary Ceesay of the Foroyaa Newspaper was called by the Inspector of General Police, Essa Badjie, who asked him to either surrender himself to the police or face arrest and detention. The call was based on a story that he had authored concerning the continued detention of a suspect in police custody for over a month without charge or bail.
Monday 15th June 2009, Emil Touray, Secretary General of the Gambian Press Union (GPU); Sarata Jabbi Dibba, Vice President of the GPU, Pa Modou Faal, Treasurer of the GPU; Pap Saine and Ebrima Sawaneh, publisher and editor of Point newspaper respectively; and Sam Sarr, editor Foroyaa Newspaper, were arrested by the NIA.
On 18 June 2009, seven journalists were charged with sedition, one was released on bail and the others were held in Mile 2 Prison. On 22 June the remaining six were all released on bail.
The Six Gambian journalists, including three executive members of the Gambian Press Union were subsequently sentenced to a mandatory sentence of two years imprisonment and fined US$10,000 on two of the six counts.
August 2009, Kemo Cham, Editor-in-chief of Daily Observer, fled in to exile after being hunted by the NIA for one week.
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