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Momodou
Denmark
11713 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Mar 2006 : 12:38:43
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RADIO GAMBIA BEGINS TO IMPLEMENT THE MOU OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES
Radio Gambia has given the nation a surprise when Malick Jones started to interview members of the opposition and ruling party on contemporary issues in his Saturday programme. This is in line with the spirit of the MOU signed by political parties.
Political leaders should be called upon to explain their positions on issues pertaining to them. A broad base inclusive approach should be taken to ensure that people can compare divergent views. This is the way to promote freedom of debate and democracy.
The leader of the United Democratic Party and the flag bearer of NADD and minority leader of the National Assembly have already been interviewed. Next week is the turn of the APRC. Its majority leader in the National Assembly will present his views. If this continues the public media will begin to adhere to section 207 which states categorically that “The freedom and independence of the press and other information media are hereby guaranteed.”
According to section 208, “all state owned newspapers, journals, radio and television shall afford fair opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions.”
The MOU signed by the political parties also indicates that political parties “will:
I. respect the right of all other parties to campaign freely and to disseminate their political ideas and principles without fear;
II. respect freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly and of peaceful demonstration; pursuant to a permit being obtained;
III. refrain from disrupting or frustrating the legitimate activities of other political parties, including the holding of Political rallies, meeting...”
The private media like the Daily Observer should also emulate Malick Jones and allow people with divergent views to state their opinions without censor. The caption “NADD In Disarray” in the Daily Observer to present the report on the press conference of the flag bearer did not only go against the context of the article but has also violated the spirit of fair reporting of divergent views. All information media houses need to come up with their own codes of conduct to ensure that the views of different political parties are covered. If Foroyaa can report on meetings of UDP/NRP, APRC and others the Daily Observer, the first daily in the country, should not be transformed into the old party journals of one party states where people are bombarded daily with praises of the “great leader”. That era has passed and we hope that as the members of the public media try to put it behind them the public media has no excuse to falter.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 17/2005, 6-8 March, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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