GPU-USA

April 08, 2006

H.E, Mr. Patrick Mazimhaka.

Vice Chairman

It is in pursuance to the mission of the African Union of a free press and respect for due process that we the members of the Gambia Press Union United States branch, expressed our grave concern at the continued illegal detention incommunicado of our colleagues, Mr. Madi Ceesay, President, Gambia Press Union who is also the General Manager of the Independent Newspaper and his Editor in Chief Mr. Musa Saidykhan, as well as the unlawful sealing off of the offices of the Independent by men of the Police Intervention Unit on March 28Th. This came in the backdrop of yet another purported "coup plot" that led to the massive arrest of civilians and military officers.

FROM ALL CORNERS!!!

Your Excellency, as we commend you on the progress and selfless work you have put in the success of the much dreamed African Union thus far, we are perplexed at the apparent non committal of president Jammeh to the principles of democracy as clearly stipulated in mission of the African Union. We common Africans believe no meaningful union can be delivered under the intransigent atmosphere of impunity and repression of our freedom of _expression by our own leaders.

Your Excellency since coming to power in 1994, the government of President Jammeh has engaged in a vicious and unprecedented aggression on the independent media. The offices of the Independent Newspaper were burnt three times by suspected state agents; Radio 1 FM suffered the same fate in hands of the same arsonists. Sud FM Banjul and Citizen FM were closed down by the government of President Jammeh. In April 10, 2000, Omar Barrow, a journalist and Red Cross Volunteer was shot and killed at point blank by the Police Intervention Unit, In December 16, 2004, veteran journalist, Deyda Hydara, Editor of The Point newspaper and correspondent for Reporters without Borders in Banjul was shot to death by suspected government agents as he drove home from work. Your Excellency, no body was arrested or punished for all these atrocities committed on law abiding journalists. To make the situation worse, President Jammeh personally spearheaded the introduction of obnoxious anti media laws in an attempt to stifle freedom in our country.

Your Excellency, we deem it appropriate that you take exception to the rampant human right violations perpetrated by the regime of president Jammeh on innocent Gambians. it is in adherence to the spirit of our African Union, that we ask you high office to intercede on this situation by facilitating the unconditional and immediate release of Messrs Saidykhan, Ceesay and all prisoners of conscience in the Gambia hence the government of president Jammeh failed to charge them or bring them before a court of law in 72 hours of their detention as demanded by our constitution; the opening of the offices of the Independent newspaper as well as all the independent media houses illegally shut down by the government. It is stipulated in our constitution that no private property should be locked without the provision of a court order.

The GPU-USA add our voice to the popular call for the postponement of the AU Banjul Summit in July, until at such time when the Jammeh government guarantees unfettered respect for fundamental human rights. We find the government's use of an "attempted coup" as cover to jail opponents and journalist as tyrannical and unacceptable. The African Union must therefore, choose between taking a stand for Democracy and be respected by the international community or condone dictatorship and be seen as nothing more than a "Dictator's Club”.

Signed:

Pasamba S Jow

Secretary General GPU-USA,

Cc. Member Nations head of states

Media

USA Department of State

UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs