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Momodou
Denmark
11832 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Jul 2007 : 20:05:27
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JOURNALISTS AND CIVIL SOCIETY REPS CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF CHIEF MANNEH
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
Journalists, representatives of civil society organisations and members of the family of the missing Daily Observer reporter, Chief Ebrima Manneh, have called for the immediate release of the detainee who has been missing since July 7, 2006.
This call was made at a symposium on Tuesday July 17, organised by the Network of Human Rights Journalists (NHRJ). The symposium was held at the Alliance Franco-Gambienne along Kairaba Avenue. The theme was: “Guarantee to the freedom of the press in the Gambian.”
Madi S. Njie, Chairperson of NHRJ called on the Gambia government to critically look into the situation and act in the case of Chief Ebrima B. Manneh as required by the constitution of the Gambia, and ensure that justice prevails.
“Mr. Manneh has been missing within our own society and up to date, we cannot know his whereabouts,” Mr. Njie said.
Sarjo Manneh, the father of the missing journalist, told the gathering that he nearly got mad following the disappearance of his son, without an explanation from his employer, the Daily Observer.
“I sleep for only one hour in the night. Whenever my mind goes back to him, my heart breaks.”
The old man also said he had approached the managing director of the Daily Observer, Dr. Saja Taal who gave him “unnecessary’ excuses.
The missing reporter’s father said he has also visited the then Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Harry Sambou and the then Inspector General of Police, Ousman Sonko (now Secretary of State for the Interior) who were all “unwelcoming.”
He added that he had been to several police stations but could not see any sign of his son.
The mother, Sula Ceesay, said she has been living a difficult life for the past one year.
“I eat a quarter of what I used to eat before. I often cry when eating, because I do not know if my son is alive or dead, Mrs. Ceesay decried.
Madi Ceesay, President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) said the country is declared internationally as a “no press free country” by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Freedom House.
Mr. Ceesay also said the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontier (Reporters Without Borders) has also declared the Gambian press is being subjected to difficult conditions to operate in.
Mr. Ceesay said the arson attack on the Independent Newspaper, Radio One, the house of Ebrima Sillah of the BBC coupled with the killing of Deyda Hydara, the detentions and harassment of journalists are clear indications that the Gambia lacks respect for the press.
The GPU president said the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2004 and the Newspaper (Amendment) Act 2004 are severely restricting freedom of expression and posing danger to the practice of journalism in the Gambia.
Cherno Jallow, a veteran journalist said the constitution guarantees the rights of journalists as watchdogs of society.
Mr. Jallow said the press which is the fourth estate has the role to look into the activities of the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, and therefore has the constitutional right to inform the tax payers on the activities of the government.
Amie Sillah, a newspaper columnist and gender activist, said the government needs to immediately release the reporter or follow the due process of the law.
Demba Jawo, an editor with Agence Press Africaine in Dakar in a paper read on his behalf, urged media practitioners and workers in the country to rally behind the GPU in order to give it more power to defend the rights of journalists.
“This is also a wake up call for us (journalists) as it has been clearly shown that none of us is secure, no matter which media house we work for. Unfortunately however, some of our colleagues had this false sense of security just because they were working for certain media houses that have been favoured by the regime,” said Mr. Jawo.
Sam Sarr, Editor of Foroyaa Newspaper said the detention of Mr. Manneh is an attack on the freedom of expression and the personal liberty of the reporter which has violated the constitution and other international laws which the government had sworn to defend, protect and preserve. He continued that the issue does not only concern journalists but all citizens in The Gambia.
Ousman Yarbo, Director of the Association of the Non-Governmental Organisations said civil society, the media and the private sector need to call for a national conference to look into these issues that affect the dissemination of information.
Sheikh Lewis, Amnesty International said such an ordeal should not happen to Mr. Manneh, adding that people need to stop digging holes for one another.
He called on media practitioners to build “greater solidarity,” stating that most of the “big men” in the Gambian media have failed to attend one of the most “crucial issues” which they can be victims of “tomorrow.”
Nicolas Nzaki of the African Women in the Diaspora, (AWODO) said the recommendation of the gathering needs to be forwarded to the authorities for urgent action.
Swaebou Conateh, publisher and editor of the weekly News and Report Magazine, said press freedom is an important point in the Gambian constitution, and everybody is guaranteed security and liberty by the Gambian constitution.
Mr. Conateh said no government or authority has the right to interfere with the basic rights of people and in the absence of these rights, nobody is a full citizen.
“We should not allow ourselves to be enslaved by our leaders who we put into office. They should be our servants and we have to help them do what we want. Let us not allow them to control us to the extent that we become cowards,” Mr. Conateh expressed.
Omar Jallow (alias OJ), a politician called on the government to respect the freedom of the press and peoples’ fundamental human rights.
Mr. Jallow said the Gambian people need to do away with the culture of one-selfness, adding that one’s problem need to be another’s problem rather than saying, “it is not my problem or concern.”
He called on the people to give solidarity to one another and stand against injustice, which he opined will only ruin the society.
A committee was selected at the end of the symposium to pursue the release of Chief Manneh and look into issues affecting dissemination of information.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.84/2007, 20-22 July, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2007 : 20:30:30
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This is very sad. Who the hell do these criminals think they are? Its high time Jammeh and his gov't realise enough is enough. If a people are pushed against the wall , the undesired will happen. Remember Suharto and the Indonesians.
Saja Taal should be able to give tangible explanation abt the missing Journalist who was under his employ until the time he went missing.
They should be ashamed of themselves for holding a defenceless person in their custody. To those serving security officers involve in these brutality, REMEMBER ONEDAY IT WILL BE THE PEOPLE'S TURN. You will all rot in Prison. This is wat happens wen you enlist ignoramuses in the security forces. These zombies can't even think for themselves. Since chief's brother was a soldier released recently(4or 3yrs) am not ruling out foul play by an overzealous soldier in turning over chief.
I hope and pray that the boy is alive. |
madiss |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2007 : 18:40:47
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| "When I despair, I remember that throughout history, the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers; and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall....." Ghandi |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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