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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Apr 2006 : 13:52:31
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The Independent Won’t Budge
“No amount of arrest and detention would make The Independent yield to pressure to change their editorial policy”. This was the message of the General Manager and Editor-in Chief.
After serving nearly a month under detention, the Managing Director of The Independent Newspaper, Mr. Madi Ceesay and the Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Musa Saidykhan, were finally released on the 20th day of May, 2006 Foroyaa had an interview with the two journalists regarding the reason for and conditions of their detention. According to Mr. Madi Ceesay, when he was arrested, he was first taken to Banjul Police Station, where he was put in a cell for three days. He said that after he was called by one ASP Sanyang who was assisted by other officers and was told that this arrest was in connection to a story published in the Independent Newspaper, concerning the alledged arrest of the Former Secretary of State for The Interior, Mr. Samba Bah. Mr. Ceesay said that he was told that the Caption of the story was: “23 Coup Plotters Arrested,” which also included Mr. Bah’s picture, at a time when he, Mr. Samba Bah, indicated that he was not arrested. He stated that according to these officers, they at The Independent were writing false stories. When asked whether he was tortured while under detention, he replied in the negative but further indicated that his freedom of movement was seriously violated, by being restricted and that even his family members were traumatized became of the fact that in the first week of their arrest and detention they had no access to him. He said it was not until the second week when they started having him. He said they remained in that condition until on Thursdays, 20th of April, 2006 between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm when they were taken to a panel of security officers among who were the Chief of Defence Staff, Lang Tombong Tamba, IGP Sonko and Harry Sambou, the NIA Director. He said that that these people told them that the media and the Government were partners in Development; but that despite this, they will not compromise the security of the State. He said they further told them that they will be released on bail and will be able to go home and continue doing their job; that after granting them bail, they were told to report on Friday, 21st April 2006; that when they reported on the 21st, they were told that their bail was extended to Monday, 24th April 2006. However, Mr. Ceesay strongly defended his position as a journalist that no amount of arrest and detention can stop him from doing his job objectively and that he will continue to manage the affairs of The Independent Newspaper without fear or favour. He pointed out that the paper will surely hit the market these days. According to the Editor-in-Chief, of the paper, when he was arrested, he was not told anything until the 31st of March 2006, when he was called for briefing, by the security officers on the situation of the country. He stated that he was told that the media and the Government should work together; that they have no bad feelings against the media. He said he was later released on bail but that no charges were brought against him or Mr. Madi Ceesay. He said while he was under detention, his freedom of movement was seriously restricted, which was a violation of his fundamental human rights. He therefore said that freedom is important for a human being and that no amount of wealth can buy it. He therefore emphasised that arrests and detentions are part of journalism, and further indicated that nothing can change or deviate their attention from the ethics of journalism. He said that they will continue to render their small service to the Nation without fear or favour, affection or ill will, by the Grace of the Almighty.
Meanwhile, Mr. Juldeh Sowe a staff of The Independent was arrested when he reported for work on Tuesday morning. Reports have it that he was questioned why he reported for work. He was released on bail on the same day.
source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.32/2006, 27-30 April, 2005
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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