Gambia UPDATE: NIA abuses rights of four journalists accused of defaming President Jammeh
Four members of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) standing trial for allegedly defaming President Yahya Jammeh on July 29, 2009 told the Banjul High court trying them that the notorious National Intelligence (NIA) violated their fundamental human rights.
Testifying before Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle, the four accused persons told the court that they were held incommunicado at the NIA custody being were hurriedly arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrate court.
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that the journalists reminded the court that during their detention, they were not told of their crime neither were they given access to legal representation. The sources said the journalist also denied writing the statement that President Jammeh was responsible for Deyda Hydara as the prosecution was suggesting.

Two newspaper journalists of The Point newspaper Pape Saine and Ebrima Sawaneh, and GPU executives Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, Pa Modou Faal and Emil Touray were represented by Lamin Camara. Saine could not testify because of ill-health. He is expected to do so on July 30.

Sam Sarr, managing editor of Foroyaa newspaper is representing himself. The seventh journalist was acquitted and discharged on July 28 in what the court described as no case against him.

Meanwhile the case of publishing false news against Pap Saine has been dropped.
Prof. Kwame Karikari
 Executive Director
 MFWA                       
Accra, Ghana
Tel 233-21 242470
Fax 233 -21 221084
Email:  <mailto:mfwa@africaonline.com.gh> mfwa@africaonline.com.gh

Website:  <http://www.mediafound.org> www.mediafound.org