Obama Administration Describes The Jailing Of Six Gambian Journalists As “ Outrageous, and Travesty Of Justice.”

…As State Department Spokesman Crowley Demands For The Release Of The Jailed Journalists

"In this day and age, any government that is afraid of ideas and tries to suppress the truth will isolate itself and fall further behind responsible countries that embrace universal principles," he observes.

The Obama administration has condemned the jailing of six Gambian journalists by the High Court in Banjul. State Department spokesman P.J Crowley was quoted by the Reuters News Agency as saying that the conviction of the six journalists was  “ outrageous, and  amounts to a travesty” of justice. "It violates not only accepted international norms, but the imperatives of governance of the 21st century. This action is a travesty, given Gambia's current leadership of the African Union's Human Rights Commission," said State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley.

Spokesman Crowley,  who was part of Secretary of State Clinton’s delegation,  was speaking on Friday in South Africa.  The US envoy vehemently condemns the actions of The Gambian Government. He says the US would continue to demand for the release of  the jailed journalists.

The United States, along with other responsible countries, have and will continue to protest this action until the journalists are released," the US Diplomat vowed.

Mr. Crowley also lamented about the lack of political dissent in The Gambia. He calls on the authorities to end the culture of impunity, and political repression.

"In this day and age, any government that is afraid of ideas and tries to suppress the truth will isolate itself and fall further behind responsible countries that embrace universal principles," he observes.

Indeed, the Jammeh Government is increasingly isolated by the International Community, thanks to its appalling rights record. Amnesty International, the US State Department, and other rights groups had in the past documented serious human rights violations in The Gambia, under Jammeh’s rule.

The US intervention followed a statement issued by the Reuters News Agency “expressing concern for the health of Saine, who needs medical attention for a heart condition and collapsed in court at one stage during the trial.”

Pap Saine is  the Dean of Reuters Correspondent in Africa. His ailing health,  is of great concern to  Reuters, his family, and  The Gambian media.

Spokesman Crowely’s statement,  has been hailed by The Gambian community, most importantly political opponents, and members of the private media, who are at the mercy of dictator Jammeh. They expressed optimism that this kind of intervention might compelled the dictatorship to conform to democratic tenets, and principles.

Jammeh came to power through a coup. Since the advent of his administration, hundreds of Gambians have died in his hands, others forcefully exiled, while a good number of civilians have been reported missing.