|
Momodou
Denmark
11733 Posts |
 Posted - 12 May 2010 : 18:00:22
|
African Commission Urged To Put Pressure on Gambia Government
By Saikou Ceesay & Madi Njie
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has been urged to put pressure on The Gambia government to produce journalist Ebrima Chief Manneh and to investigate the killing of a veteran journalist Deyda Hydara.
This call was made on Monday, 10 May 2010 by members of the special interest groups dealing with freedom of expression at the Forum on the participation of NGOs for the 47th Ordinary Session of the Commission due to take place from 12 to 26 May.
The group also demand member states to abolish all draconian laws that curtailed the right to freedom of expression and enact laws that allow freedom of information.
Mr. Manneh was picked up from his office since 6 July 2006 while at work and has since then went missing. The Accra based Media Foundation for West Africa sued Gambia government to the sub-regional ECOWAS Court of Justice, which held that the journalist be produced and compensated US$100, 000, but to no avail.
The late Mr Hydara, co-publisher and managing editor of the Point newspaper was shot to dead by unidentified assailant at the Sankung Sillah Junction along the Banjul highway on 16 December 2004 while driving his staff home. Repeated calls for the perpetrators of this act to be brought to book are yet to yield results.
The special interest group expressed deep concern about the state of freedom of expression and freedom of information which is considerably deteriorating in .
The group pointed out that Somalia is the most dangerous place in Africa today for journalists and other media workers, noting that since January 2009 ten journalists have been killed in targeted attacks.
Uganda too, the government authorities have continued to violate the rights of journalists and the media in the past two years, the group says.
The group which comprised journalists across Africa is deeply disheartened and disturbed by the freedom of expression and the journalists rights in Eritreasthat take the pride in jailing and detaining journalists incommunicado since 2001.
It expressed outrage at repressive situation of journalists in Cameroon Zimbabwe that threatens enjoyment of fundamental human right of freedom of expression.
In also, the group observed that despite the elaborate legislative and institutional architecture, there is alarming suppression of freedom of expression and press freedom Tunisia
Further deeply concern about repression of the freedom to express, choose, impart and share on religious believes, the freedom of expression group urged the Commission to: show solidarity with the helpless Somali journalists and to condemn in no on certain terms, the continued and perilous violence against journalists and other media workers in Somalia.
They urged the Commission to call upon the government of to demonstrate its stated commitment to freedom of expression, democracy and to immediate end attacks on the right to freedom of expression and of the press including the ban on media houses and life radio debate programmes.
The Commission is urged to play the leader’s role by taking appropriate actions that would lead to the unconditional and immediate release of journalists from prisons in Eritrea .
They called on the Commission to demand Cameroonian authorities to immediately end attacks on the media and provide and independent and reliable report on the death of Bibi Ngota who died in a pre-trial detention.
The right advocates also reminded the Commission to implement the recommendations on Zimbabwe adapted by the Commission during the 46th Ordinary Session Banjul . They asked the Special Rappoutuer on freedom of expression to conduct a fact finding an investigative mission to Zimbabwe and to repeal article 79 and 80 of access to information and protection of privacy act (AIPPA).
Convening a high level panel on protection of journalists in Africa the 48th Session ACHPR has also been called for.
Conducting a fact finding mission to Tunisia for an objective and documented assessment of the situation of pluralistic an independent media, freedom of association, the independence of the judiciary and the detention of prisoners of opinion is also solicited.
Putting pressure on governments and arms groups to adhere and respect their international obligations, to bring to an end the culture of impunity, to foster lasting peace and the rule of law and to bring to an end the fear journalists to be killed, torture, injured, kipnapp and being held hostage in conflict areas has also been called for.
This resolution is apart of resolutions and other declarations by the NGOs forum to be submitted for adoption by the ACHPR`s 47th Ordinary Session for follow up actions
Source: Dailynews
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
Topic Locked
