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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Jan 2008 : 20:25:10
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As LG Elections Approach
IEC Legal Counsel Addresses Journalists, Political Parties and Security Agents
By Amie Sanneh
As the Local Government Elections approach, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has held a day’s workshop for political parties, security agents and the media.
The program was held on Wednesday 16 January at the Palm Groove Hotel in Banjul.
Addressing participants, a legal practitioner and IEC legal counsel, Amie Joof Conteh, said the paramount law that governs elections besides the 1997 constitution is the 1996 Elections Decree Number 78. She added that the Election Decree, in effect, is the Bible for the body constitutionally responsible for elections and that is the Independent Electoral Commission. Commenting on the Media and Election, Lawyer Joof-Conteh said election reporting, like any other reporting, requires responsible journalism.
She stressed the need for journalists to be independent, ensure fair play, exhibit decency and provide accurate reporting. These, she noted, are some of the requisite journalistic ethics that journalists must possess and demonstrate in reporting especially election reporting.
Impartiality, she added, must lie in the hearts of all types of reporting. “Impartiality requires media practitioners to be fair and open- minded when examining the evidence and weighing all the material facts, as well as being objective and even- handed in their approach to a subject,” she said. Lawyer Joof-Conteh explained that in The Gambia, as in other countries, controversial subjects such as elections or highly contentious new legislations are issues of significance for the whole country.
The IEC legal counsel added that responsibilities that are imposed on media practitioners come with legal implications on reporting, contrary to the given set of duties and responsibilities.
On the security agents, Lawyer Joof-Conteh said they do not have a specific role during elections. “They have the fundamental duty to enforce law and order and to protect people and their property during elections; security agents are not to intimidate voters, they are not to influence voters and they are not to interfere with voters,” she noted. Lawyer Joof-Conteh finally called on the media practitioners, political parties and the security agents to support IEC in order to conduct a peaceful, free, fair and impartial election.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 009/2008, 21 – 22 January 2008
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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