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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 14 Sep 2022 : 16:39:33
GRTS to cease covering organisers of industrial actions
The Standard. September 14, 2022
https://standard.gm/grts-to-cease-covering-organisers-of-industrial-actions/
National broadcaster GRTS will henceforth cease providing platform to organisers of industrial actions.
According to a memo signed by Director General, Malick Jeng, addressed to the deputy director general and directors of news and current Affairs, TV and radio programmes, all staff of the news and current affairs department are to cease providing platforms for all organisers of industrial actions (strikes) in all sectors. ”It is not our calling as national broadcaster to promote any action that can destabilise the nation or put our people in difficult circumstances. On the contrary, we should feature the official reaction of government agencies and law enforcement authorities. Trade unionists should engage the relevant Government institutions such as Department of Labour to resolve the issues,” the memo, seen by The Standard, concluded.
Related Topics: https://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18395 |
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 19 Sep 2022 : 15:45:06
SNIPPET FROM THE ARTICLE BELOW:
"Based on the above provision of the Constitution, the action of GRTS Director General Malick Jeng is unethical and grossly irresponsible of a State Broadcaster. We condemn this action in the strongest possible terms, and therefore call upon him to withdraw the memo. We are against any action that would violate the Human Rights of citizens in The Gambia and this statement clearly did that.”
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https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/headlines/victims-centre-condemns-grts-memo-as-threat-to-human-rights
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Victims’ Centre condemns GRTS memo as threat to human rights
Sep 19, 2022, 10:41 AM
The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations has condemned the memo issued by the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) as a threat to human rights.
The memo, signed by the director general of GRTS, Malick Jeng, and dated 12 September, 2022, urged all staff of the News and Current Affairs Department to stop covering all organisers of industrial action in all sectors.
The Victims’ Centre press release reads below:
“The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations has learnt with utter disappointment on the memo issued by the state broadcaster GRTS’ Director on the12th of September, 2022 on instruction to stop coverage of industrial actions of organisations thereby suppressing their legitimate grievances.
GRTS’ memo is a threat to human rights, democracy and good governance. GRTS is a public institution that is obliged to amplify the voices of all Gambians and every citizen is entitled to be heard. Industrial action is lawful, and a democratic right guaranteed by the Constitution, the Labor Act, International Labor Organisations, Conventions and other International instruments that The Gambia has ratified. Refusal for the public or certain categories of the public from the use of state resources because of their different viewpoints is a violation of the citizen’s constitutional right and thereby, gives way to authoritarian rule and undermining democracy and freedom of expression.
The Director General’s memo is an affront to stifle dissent and divergent opinion, and therefore, violates section 208 of the 1997 Constitution which states “All state owned newspapers, journals, radio and television shall afford fair opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinion.”
Based on the above provision of the Constitution, the action of GRTS Director General Malick Jeng is unethical and grossly irresponsible of a State Broadcaster. We condemn this action in the strongest possible terms, and therefore call upon him to withdraw the memo. We are against any action that would violate the Human Rights of citizens in The Gambia and this statement clearly did that.”
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| Momodou |
Posted - 17 Sep 2022 : 07:55:12
PRESS STATEMENT: GPU Urges GRTS to Rescind Directive Censoring Coverage of Industrial Action
Fajara, September 16, 2022: The Gambia Press Union is concerned by the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS)’s act of censorship in an editorial policy update which seeks to ignore voices of people and organisations calling for better working conditions.
“The GPU found this directive to be illegal as it is inconsistent with the provisions of the 1997 Constitution,” GPU President, Muhammed S. Bah, said. “We are therefore calling on the Director General of GRTS to rescind this directive with immediate effect and create space for divergent views in programmes of both the state radio and television.”
...we are also urging the Minister of Information, Lamin Queen Jammeh, to initiate and work closely with relevant stakeholders to implement recommendations by the Truth Commission to transform GRTS into an editorially-independent public service broadcaster.
“The government must keep its promise to task the Ministry of Information to work with GRTS [and relevant stakeholders] to fulfill the broadcaster’s constitutional mandate by providing divergent views on national issues, including workers’ strikes,” GPU Secretary General, Modou S. Joof, said.
“The reform of GRTS is necessary, and should be treated as a top priority, to break from an unacceptable past of censoring critical voices on national issues, including those of striking workers and the opposition. This is necessary to ensure government accountability and to create the democratic space needed for freedom of expression to thrive.”
FULL STATEMENT HERE: http://gpu.gm/News/Details/104 |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 14 Sep 2022 : 18:33:43
Whilst the posting from Madi Jobarteh above is accurate,it is also true that the Director General of GRTS Malick Jeng is violating the Constitution of the Gambia and should consider what course of action should be taken now in regards to the memo issued ,meanwhile The Gambian population, traders ,companies and workers will suffer due to the current reluctance of the Striking transport union to engage in talks with the government to solve their greviences,I have not seen any published information concerning either party willing to engage in talks.
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| Momodou |
Posted - 14 Sep 2022 : 16:44:19
GRTS ‘Memo’ is a Violation of the Constitution
By Madi Jobarteh
Section 208 of the Constitution has categorically stated that, “All state owned newspapers, journals, radio and television shall afford fair opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinion.”
Therefore, if it is indeed true that the head of GRTS has issued a memo to stop the national broadcaster from covering protests, strikes, sit-ins and similar demonstrations of grievances by citizens of this country, then the DG Malick Jeng is violating the Constitution.
GRTS is a public property that should amplify the voices of all Gambians, whether such voices support or oppose the Government. Thus by this memo, it means GRTS is shutting down the voice of citizens which they should have amplified.
Even more seriously, by refusing to give coverage to certain citizen actions such as an industrial action, it means GRTS is undermining transparency and accountability of the Government.
Industrial action is a lawful, peaceful and democratic right and action that is guaranteed by the Constitution and the Labour Act and ILO Conventions and other international laws that The Gambia has ratified.
Industrial action is a tool that citizens such as trade unions and workers have to defend their rights and welfare and demand better working conditions and salary. Industrial action is therefore an accountability tool as well as a peace building mechanism as it provides an option for one not to use violence or pick up arms to fight for your right!
Hence GRTS should not have any issue with an industrial action or a protest. The only role GRTS should play is to provide news coverage and create platforms for discussion or analysis of these events.
GRTS must be told that it is not the defender of the Government nor is GRTS the authority to determine what actions should citizens take or not.
If this memo is true, then GRTS is overstepping it’s bounds and must be told to withdraw it! This memo is a threat to human rights, democracy and good governance and must be condemned.
I hereby call on the Director General of GRTS to confirm or refute the existence of this memo. If it exists, he must withdraw it and express commitment to upholding the constitutional duty given to GRTS in the Constitution.
For The Gambia Our Homeland |
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