 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Gambian journalists detained for months
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Gambian journalists detained for months
Press Statement
Gambian journalists detained for months
Malick Mboob and Chief Ebrima B. Manneh, two journalists and former
staffs of the Daily Observer, pro-government daily newspapers have
been languishing in detention without charge at the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA) since May.
Both detainees have been held incommunicado since their arrest. Mboob
has been detained for seventy five (75) days; and Manneh is now more
than a month in detention.
Mboob was arrested on May 26, in the wake of a government clampdown on
journalists whose names were published in the Daily Observer for
allegedly supplying damaging information to a US-based online
publication, Freedom Newspaper. He has since been sacked from his job
as communications officer of the government's Royal Victoria Teaching
Hospital.
Manneh was arrested on July 11, a few days after the African Union
summit in the capital, Banjul. The reason for his arrest is not known.
Meanwhile, two other journalists have also gone missing since the
government adopted a repressive stance against the independent media.
Sulayman Makalo, assistant editor of the banned The Independent
newspaper went into hiding in July shortly after receiving information
that he was a target of arrest by the NIA.
Omar Bah, news editor of the Daily Observer, escaped into exile since
May, a few days before he was declared wanted by the Gambian police
for his alleged contribution to the Freedom Newspaper.
Since the swoop of arrests started in April-May, more than 60 people,
including army and security personnel, lawyers, the speaker of the
Gambia's parliament, and ordinary citizens, have been picked up and
detained arbitrarily.
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is concerned about these
arbitrary arrests and demands the immediate and unconditional release
of the two who have been detained without charge for periods far in
excess of the 72 hours stipulated in the Gambian constitution. MFWA is
aware that with elections due in September, President Yahya Jammeh is
going all out to hound journalists, thereby stifling free expression,
and also intimidating the opposition as a way of ensuring the
elections, go his way by foul means.
The MFWA is a regional independent, non-profit, non-governmental
organization based in Accra. It was founded in 1997 to defend and
promote the rights and freedom of the media and all forms of expression.
|
Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 (Archive on Tuesday, August 29, 2006)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI
| | Return |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|