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A Sad Moment For Gambians-A Falling Dictator On Rampage!
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A Sad Moment For Gambians-A Falling Dictator On Rampage!
A Sad Moment For Gambians-A Falling Dictator On Rampage!
Freedom Newspaper Detainees Should Be Release in the spirit of Peace And National Unity
EDITORIAL
Recently, we ran a lead story in which the Justice Minister Sheikh
Tijan Hydara was quoted as saying that there was no law to prosecute
the Freedom Newspaper so called informants. The Minister was right when
he alluded to this undisputable fact. After all, what crime did the
detainees committed? The state has the moral obligation to respect the
rule of law. The continued detention of these so called informants is
not only illegal and but unconstitutional. The Gambian authorities
should bear in mind that the liberties and freedoms of the detainees
are being infringe daily by failing to accord them the right to decent
food, shelter, their lawyers and families. It is also wrong for the NIA
to torture people for merely being suspected of having ties with the
Freedom Newspaper. The Freedom Newspaper is a legitimate media outlet
and therefore we don't see the rationale behind the government's
attempt to intimidate or antagonize people who subscribed to the ideals
of this leading paper. By merely subscribing to the Freedom Newspaper
don't qualify you to be a reporter, informant or whatever they call it.
Jammeh should come to his senses and release these people in the spirit
of observing the rule of law and democratic credentials. The regime is
causing a great disservice to the people of this country by acting too
low and in such a childish manner. A responsible government would have
used the criticism and suggestion made by the Freedom Newspaper to
revamp our dented image and not to resort such politics of
intimidation.
Editor M'Bai wants Freedom Subscribers
Release
We at the Freedom Newspaper sympathized with the
detainees and their families. We condemn the state's total disrespect
for the rule of law and good governance. By this editorial, we call on
leading democracies such as the US and the United Kingdom to join us in
demanding the release of these innocent detainees who are being
persecuted by trigger happy NIAS. The government of the Gambia and its
agents would be held responsible for the demise or any harm inflicted
on the detainees. The regime should desist from using the Freedom
Newspaper's name to vilify these peace loving Gambians. Sadly, the
detainees are being treated as common criminals. This is an affront to
the very constitution Jammeh had sworn to defend and uphold. It is
imperative to note that all accused persons are presumed innocent until
proven guilty by a competent court of law. In today's Gambia, accused
persons are pronounced guilty well before their cases kicks-off the
ground.
If Jammeh's intention was to undermine the Freedom
Newspaper then he is making the greatest mistake. This paper has
reached a level where it is locally and internationally respected. The
Freedom Newspaper is being accessed by thousands of people around the
globe on a daily basis. Despite his recent attemp to block us in the
Gambia our hits are getting higher and higher. One thing Jammeh fails
to realize is that Freedom loving people like our work. They admire
and cherish what we do here at Freedom. For Jammeh to be taken
seriously by the civilized world, he must play by the democratic game.
He needs to allow the forth estate, the media to do their work without
any hindrance. He should be bold enough to allow the private to dig
into his private and public life. In a true democracy, the media is
expected to hold our governments accountable to its people and not to
engage in the type of irresponsible junk journalism practiced by the
Daily Observer. Our job is more than praise singing. We owe a big
responsibility to our country and its people by ensuring that we report
the news fairly, accurately and objectively without malice or ill
will. A vibrant media can help a great deal in promoting the democratic
goals. The media should not be submissive to the government of the day
but to its readers. We should ensure that whatever we report is the
truth and nothing but the truth.
Little did President Jammeh
know that by censoring the private press he is creating more rumours
and confusion in the country. Development hardly takes place in an
environment of uncertainty. At the end of the day, the country stands
to loose. Serious investors will give their back to the country. The
government should be in the position to guarantee the rights and
freedoms of its people. Forced rule never work. Other despots who tried
it paid for the price in the end. Jammeh should open his eyes and know
that he is ruling human beings and not animals. Our people don't
deserve such a terror. The rule of law should be observed in the
interest of good governance. Mr. Jammeh should release the Freedom
Newspaper so called informants in the spirit of peace an unity. These
people are not threats as bandit by your followers. The real threats
are right before your eyes. We once again urge the Jammeh leadership to
release these people without delay. Their loved ones want to see them.
We hope they are safe and okay. We rest our case.
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Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 (Archive on Monday, October 30, 2006)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI
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