As The Five Year Anniversary Of Deyda Hydara Gets Nearer, Gambians Accused .jpg)
Government Of Aiding Killers
Five Years, No Justice For Deyda’s Killers!!!!
By Staff Reporter James Jammeh, Banjul
As the five year anniversary of the slain Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara gets nearer, Gambians from all walks of life are expressing outrage over the Government’s failure to arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the former Point’s boss murder. Mr. Hydara, the former AFP Banjul correspondent and Point Newspaper co proprietor was gunned down on December 16th 2004 by agents of The Gambian Government. His five years anniversary is slated this Wednesday. Gambians across the political spectrum are unhappy with the Government’s handling of the case. They accused the regime of shirking its responsibilities by failing to bring to book the killers of Hydara.
Some concerned citizens who spoke to the Freedom Newspaper said if the Government is truly associated with peace, tolerance, humanity, the rule of law and the promotion of human rights in the country, as it claimed things would have been different in the murder of Hydara. They said the Gambia under Yahya Jammeh is a total disgrace and failure because if the security can suspect people of planning to overthrow the Government, then why can’t they expose the killers who are still roaming in the streets of Banjul without being brought to book for a period of five years now.
"The Hydara family as well as the GPU and other concerned bodies are still living with the pain and mourning their departed colleague, who has contributed immensely for the development of his motherland,” said a top civil servant who wished not to be named for fear of state reprisals".
A Grade 11 student at Muslim Senior Secondary School indicated that he could not still believe that such a crime could happen in The Gambia and no suspect is yet to be identified saying that no one is safe in this country. The student said he does not get it as the President and his family are given heavy security when the average Gambian is struggling for personal safety.
The Muslim High School student noted that the murderers should know that Deyda is gone, but he will always be remembered, because he has done a lot for this country but those killers are still not comfortable as they have nothing in this world and the hear after. But for Deyda, he has left a big legacy as he has created an opportunity and paved a way for many young promising Journalists in The Gambia, who are today regarded as the best in the sub-region and the world at large citing examples of the Deyda products as Ebrima Sawaneh, Justice Darboe to just name a few.
A retired Police Officer also echoed similar sentiments calling on The Government to do all possible means and bring the perpetrators to book, in order to heel the pains of the Hydara family, GPU, CPJ, WAJA and other bodies associated to press freedom because Deyda is a veteran journalist and a champion in the world.
A young Politician who shares his thoughts with this paper also branded the Jammeh administration as not only a total failure, but disgraceful. The trust and confidence is no more there and people would never forget this until those behind this heinous crime are punished, he said. He further extended his prayers to the deceased and the other souls as well as the entire Hydara families saying that God the almighty will soon expose the killers.
Meanwhile, the Hydara Family will on Wednesday December 16th 2009, hold a recitation of the Holy Quran at the Family Compound in Bakau Karchically to mark the five year anniversary of the late Deyda Hydara. The GPU together with its partners will also commemorate the anniversary in a grand style at the Tango Resource Center in Kanifing and Madi M.K. Ceesay the former GPU President who also doubles as the Editor and Publisher of The Daily News Paper will be the Guest Speaker at the occasion, where many dignitaries are expected to attend.
It would be recalled that the late Deyda Hydara was gunned down on the 16th of December 2004, hours after the celebration of the 13th year anniversary of his paper. Freedom News Paper also salutes the family and the GPU with their partners.
