Wednesday, October 05, 2011

The Gambia’s minister for Information and Communication Infrastructure on Monday warned against a polarised media industry, urging Gambian journalists to observe neutrality in party politics. “As media practitioners, you should guard your integrity, be sincere, truthful, and accurate, and be impartial because you have an obligation to provide a truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of daily events to the society,” said Minister Alagie Cham in a statement read on his behalf by information directress,  Aisha Davies during a week-long long training for twenty Gambian journalists on “International Standards for Freedom of Expression for Journalists at Gambia Press Union secretariat. Under the auspices of Gambia Press Union and Article 19, the programme is funded by the European Union (EU). “As journalists, you should be non-partisan. You should make sure that you weed out the sensation and focus on the matter,” he said. Minister Cham said, Gambia government attaches a lot of importance in the development of the media in Gambia. This, he added, is manifested by the proliferation of newspapers and radio stations in recent years.

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A group of 20 Gambian journalists are expected to begin a training on International Standard on Freedom of Expression, today, 3rd October, 2011, at the Gambia Press Union (GPU) Secretariat along Garba Jahumpa Road in Bakau.

The training, organised by Article 19 in partnership with the GPU and funded by the European Commission (EC), will last till the 7th October, 2011.

Topics that will be treated during the training include: Freedom of Expression under International Law; Freedom of Expression under African Regional Standards; GPU Self regulation; Protection of journalistic sources; Legal protection in cases of violence against journalists; Defamation and international standards of Freedom of Expression; Right to information under International Law and most importantly, Freedom of Expression and National Security, amongst others.

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WE’D FLOWN into Banjul, capital city of Africa’s smallest country The Gambia (which tourists annoyingly call The Zambia) at the end of July to conduct a week-long training seminar for young radio, TV and print journalists at the local university. The training workshop was organised by the Commonwealth Secertariat in London with members of the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) making up the team of trainers. It all went well and on the final day a crowd of us from UK, Uganda, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, India and Kenya celebrated at the five star Sheraton Hotel, fighting off the heat and humidity with endless bottles of  ice-cold JulBrew beer. It was the month of Ramadan so our beautifully turned out students – about 40 of them – had nothing to eat from 6 am until 8 pm – not even a glass of water in the fierce heat. I heard  no single word of complaint. When classes ended at the legal affairs department of the University of Gambia  at 5pm, students went outside, laid out their prayer mats and paid homage to Allah. Food seemed the last thing on their minds.by Trevor Grundy (CJA member)
About 90 percent of the Gambia’s 1.7 million people are Muslims and relations with the 8-9 percent Christian minority are good. I said to Amos Chanda, the personable Zambian journalist and media consultant from Lusaka: ”Things went well, Amos. I think they learned a great deal from us.” We mentioned the discipline of the Gambian students, their charm, alertness, their thirst for knowledge and hunger for  “foreign” contact and support at a time when the freedom of the press in their country (and in my own) is in danger.

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Commonwealth convenes landmark media forum in Gambian capital Banjul

The Gambia is open to debate on media reform, which it recognises as critical to economic and political development, Gambian ministers said on 1 August 2011.

Foreign Affairs Minister Momodou Tangara and Information and Communication Infrastructure Minister Alhagie Cham told local and international media, Gambian civil society, diplomats and communication scholars, that their government recognised media as important agents of development and were prepared to do their part in promoting that notion.

But the ministers also urged media to show greater responsibility, maturity, objectivity and professionalism, in order to be the genuine voice of the voiceless and a true guarantor of good governance.

The ministers spoke at the opening of the five-day Gambia Commonwealth Media Forum and workshop – hailed as the first opportunity for debate on media freedom and practice in the West African country, one of the 19 Commonwealth members from Africa. The Commonwealth Secretariat convened the event in collaboration with the Gambian Government and The Gambia’s Management Development Institute.

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The state has finally preferred charges of treason against Dr Amadou Scatred Janneh, former communications minister.

The state also now announced the same treason charge against Ms Ndey Tapha Sosseh, former president of the Gambia Press Union, Mathew K. Jallow, US-based Gambian, and one Famara Demba.

Dr. Janneh also faces a two-count charge of seditious acts alongside Michel C. Ucheh Thomas, Modou Keita and Ebrima Jallow, all of whom were previously arraigned at the high court in Banjul.

During their appearance at the Special Criminal Court yesterday, both Janneh, Thomas, Keita and Ebrima Jallow denied the charges preferred against them.

However, Ms Ndey Tapha Sosseh, Mathew K Jallow and Famara Demba are said to be out of the jurisdiction of the court.

State prosecutors accuse Dr. Janneh on count one of treason, stating that he conspired with Ndey Tapha Sosseh, Mathew K. Jallow, Famara Demba, and others at large on  26th May 2011 in diverse places in the Republic of The Gambia to overthrow the government of The Gambia.

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Dodou Sanneh, former reporter with the Gambia Radio and Television Services, who is being tried for allegedly giving false information, was yesterday told by the court that he has a case to answer.

This followed a ruling by Magistrate Manyima Bojang of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on a no-case submission made by his defence counsel, Borry Touray.

When the case was called, defence counsel Borry Touray told the court that the defence was applying to make a no-case submission on behalf of the accused person.

“I humbly submit that the prosecution has failed to make any prima-facie case against the accused person, and as such the court should dismiss the charge and discharge the accused person,” he said.

Counsel added that the offence before this court was, giving false information to a public servant, adding that if one of the ingredients failed then the prosecution has failed to make any prima facie case against the accused person.    

Counsel at length stated that since the Office of the President is not defined by the constitution as a public servant, then the prosecution had failed to proof a prima facie against the accused person.

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Exiled former president of The Gambia Press Union (GPU), who was voted out last weekend at the Union’s triennial congress, has passed on good wishes to her replacement, Mr Bai Emil Touray and team.
“I write to congratulate you on your election as president, executive members of the Gambia Press Union,” Ms Ndey Tapha Sosseh said.
The Gambian journalists’ umbrella body’s first women president was denied a second and final term of office after steering the affairs of the Union in the last three years.
She took over the leadership in 2008 from the publisher of The Daily News, Mr Madi Ceesay, who stepped down after the elapse of his three year tenure.
Despite many challenges, Ndey and team’s tenure have witnessed remarkable improvements in GPU, especially in terms of capacity building for journalists and enhancing the financial status of the Union.
She was nominated for the presidency in absentia, but lost to her secretary general, Bai Emil Touray, who has been in GPU executive for the past six years.

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A new nine member executive committee of Gambia Press Union (GPU) was yesterday elected into office.
The event marked the end to a three day triennial congress, which was marred by heated debates on issues affecting the country’s media landscape and welfare of journalists.
Among the three presidential contestant, Bai Emil Touray, editor of Foroyaa Newspaper emerged the winner.
The former GPU secretary general polled 36 votes compared to Famara Jawneh, deputy editor in chief of The Point and Ndey Tapha Sosseh, outgoing president who collected 19 and 14 votes respectively.  
“The election of the new executive is a victory for democracy,” Mr Touray told The Daily News.  “Union members had the liberty to exercise their rights to take part in the Congress.”
Mr Bai Emil Touray is an experienced Gambian journalist. He worked at Daily Observer and later resigned on professional grounds.
At the 2008 congress, he was elected as secretary general after serving a three year term as assistant secretary general.  
Aware of the hostile media environment amid harsh anti media laws, Mr Touray promises to continue engaging Gambian authorities with a view to creating a conducive media environment.
“This will be a difficult task, but I believe we can achieve it with patience and perseverance,” he admitted.  
Meanwhile, Mr Baboucarr Ceesay, an editor of The Daily News has been elected as first vice president.
Mr Ceesay, also an experienced journalist who worked at Foroyaa, The Voice and Today, polled 45 votes against Mr Hatab Fadera Daily Observer’s presidential affairs correspondent who polled 19 votes.
With 41 votes, Amie Sanneh-Bojang of Foroyaa newspaper also triumphed over Mr Sanna Camara of The Standard as second vice president.
The nominations of Mr Gibairu Janneh of Daily Observer, Mr Madi Njie, a freelance journalist and Lamin Njie, an editor and newsroom coordinator of The Daily News went unopposed as secretary general, first assistant secretary general and second assistant general respectively.
Same situation went for the treasurer, Ms Haddija Jawara of Market Place magazine.
While Abdoulie John of JollofNews and Yai Dibba of The Point lost to Saikou Ceesay of The Daily News and Sarjo Camara of Foroyaa newspaper respectively.

Author: Ebrima Bah

OUTGOING GPU PRESIDENT, NDEY TAPHA SOSSEH
ON THE OCCASION OF THE TRIENNIAL CONGRESS
OF THE GAMBIA PRESS UNION
GTMI HALL
SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2011

Members,
Colleagues,
Partners,
Friends of the Gambia Press Union,

Having addressed you at the opening ceremony, through Pa Momodu Faal, outgoing treasurer,
let me express my delight at being able to join you by skype link this morning to account for
activities/resources that this Union executive led by me since March 22, 2008, embarked on,
implemented and spent in your name and on your behalf.
Three days of talks and discussions on the way forward is no easy feat, as I do have a lot to say,
I’ll go directly into my report.
Our three years and three months of tenure have been very eventful, very visible, most times
under the microscopic view of State and other interested parties and as such had us on our toes,
at all times. This, tiring as it may be, must be a good thing as we always felt pushed to deliver
and to be upfront in our dealings with our membership, partners and the State.

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From the President

Ndey Tapha Sosseh

President

Gambian Press Union

24^th June 2011

Dear friends,

It gives me great pleasure to be able to congratulate you on your triennial congress today on behalf of the IFJ and its unions worldwide. This should be indeed a tremendous commemoration of journalism but also a wonderful tribute to what your union and its leadership have achieved.

The IFJ and its affiliates are indeed very proud of your resilience and determination to confront many of the tough challenges you have been facing in the last few years. You had to face up to colleagues being harassed, beaten up, kidnapped and imprisoned. At times you had to defend the very existence of your union. Most of the time, you had to learn to navigate through choppy political waters, lobby and stand up for the interest of your members. In the end, despite scary moments, you came out of it with flying colours. 

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WELCOME REMARKS BY GPU PRESIDENT, NDEY TAPHA SOSSEH

GTMI HALL, KANIFING

24-26 JUNE 2011

Colleagues and friends of the media, we are once again gathered here at the GTMI Hall to discuss and take stock and reflect on the activities, achievements, successes and failures of the Gambia Press Union, the current leadership.  The detailed agenda that had been circulated indicates to you all the seriousness of the deliberations and the need to add valuable input into the various texts proposed to strengthen the Union.

Before going further, I’d once again like to sincerely apologise that I am unable to be amongst you in person to partake in an event which I daresay is the most important, memorable and decisive event since my executive has taken over the mantle of leadership of the GPU.  Not only do I acutely feel my absence this weekend, but the fact that we cannot be together to take stock together, for the cause, the path, that we together set out on, three years ago on March 22, 2008

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By Mohamed Keita/CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator

Last week, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh participated in a rare meeting with select members of the West African nation's press corps. Jammeh spoke in favor of access to public information. He announced that he would allow The Standard newspaper to resume publication, five months after the National Intelligence Agency forced its editor, Sheriff Bojang, to halt production. But the president largely lashed out at the Gambian private press and critics of his repressive media policies in the meeting, a tense session that was broadcast on state television. Jammeh, a former army captain who seized power in a 1994 coup, spoke in a harsh and contemptuous tone as he addressed media owners invited to the State House in the capital, Banjul.

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The Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ), an international media advocacy group based in the US has called on The Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh to fully disclose his knowledge of the missing Gambian journalist’s fate.
Chief Ebrima Manneh, a senior reporter of pro-government Daily Observer newspaper disappeared since 2007 and his whereabouts remain unknown to his colleagues and family.
He was allegedly arrested by plain cloth national security agents in his office on July 7, 2007. However, The Gambia government had denied knowledge of Chief Manneh’s whereabouts.
But in a rare dialogue with The Gambian media chiefs recently, President Yahya Jammeh was quoted as saying that Chief Ebrima Manneh may have died.

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Kudos to Fatou Camara, the newly appointed Director of Press and Public Relations at State House for achieving within a week of her appointment what all those before her failed to achieve, which is to bring together President Jammeh and journalists of the private media under one roof to discuss pertinent issues.
While it may be too early in the day to guess whether the timing of the meeting was prompted by current events in North Africa or it was a genuine attempt on the part of the regime to dialogue with such an important segment of the society, but Fatou still deserves some commendation for no doubt being instrumental to bringing it about.

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The president of the Republic has made a heavy-worded statement making clear of his position that he will not under his watchful eyes sacrifice The Gambia’s peace, stability and security “at the alter of freedom of expression”.

His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was speaking Wednesday evening at State House in Banjul during a lengthy meeting he held with members of the fourth estate [the media]. The rare meeting that had in attendance cabinet ministers including the vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs, brought together media chiefs and senior journalists in the country; and was meant among other things to strengthen and improve on the existing relationship between the government and the media fraternity.
Described as a major boost in government-media relationship, the rare meeting at the presidency accorded President Jammeh and his government the opportunity to make their positions very clear with regards to the issue. It also provided the country’s media practitioners the opportunity to relay their concerns, recommendations, as well as the challenges confronting them.

The Gambian leader emphasised that he is here for the peace and stability of the country so that everyone would enjoy life; everyone would realise their dreams; everyone would have a chance to pray to the Almighty Allah; and to ensuring that those going to school can go to school in peace; those teaching can teach in peace and those writing can write in peace. However, he reminded the fourth estate that this can only happen in a conducive environment that can only be provided by absolute peace and stability, thus stressing that all of them are responsible for the peace and stability of this country. “Also remember that when you set a fire; all you know is to set the fire but where it is going to end you don’t know,” he stated.

To this end, the president pointed out that he had  sworn to uphold the constitution and the laws of The Gambia; to defend the interest of this country, something he stressed he is ready to pay any price for. While noting that his government’s role is to make this country better, the Gambian leader averred that he is not hostile to any one of the members of the media fraternity, and that he has no hatred for them. However, he maintained that he will not compromise national security, thus urging for responsibility. “Let me make one thing very clear – my heart is a very small heart; it does not have enough space to accommodate hatred. My heart is full with the love for humanity and the love for this country. I am a Muslim and I am not a pretending Muslim but a practising real Muslim. Any human being whatever your position is, if you think that you’re so high, that you can do anything to humanity, you are making a great mistake,” he stated. He added: “So what would I gain by harassing the press? I have always made it very clear from 1994 to date; that whatever I do, write it, but if you write what I didn’t do I will deal with you even if the sky is to explode. You will have to tell me where I did it, if not we will have to go to court. It is not because I am the president that I can trample on anybody’s right, no! but also because you are a journalist doesn’t also mean that you can write whatever you want to write knowing that it is not true.”

No law for public servants not to talk to the press
Dispelling the widely held belief that the public officials in his government are not supposed to talk to the press, the Gambian leader made it clear that his government has never put in any law preventing them [public officials] from talking to the press as portrayed. He recalled: “When we came from Mecca, I got that same comment that people are complaining that they are not enlightened; that they never have access to information -  public officials are tight-lipped, giving the impression there is a ban.”  He added: “My government has no law that public officials are not supposed to talk to the press. There is no law that prevents public officials from talking to the press. I want to be very very clear. “When you ask anybody [the public officials] and they tell you we are not supposed to talk, ask that person to put it into writing and sign it and ask the person who does not allow you to talk to the press.”
The Gambian leader made it clear that as president, he does not expect everyone to like him. “If I also expect all of you to like me, then I am making a great mistake. Any individual, even the dead body has enemies – some would say good things about it and others will say a bad thing about it. I know that there is nothing in this world that will prevent me from answering to the Almighty Allah and He will judge me for what I do. That is why I am very careful. The image given to The Gambia is that it is a dangerous country for journalists to live. Well, as far as I am concerned that will not give me grey hairs,” he stated. The president reminded the journalists that when his government came in, they used to have briefings with the press, but stressed that this was discontinued due to misrepresentation.  
 “ When we say this thing, instead of writing exactly what we said, you decided to say what I didn’t say as if you are Yahya Jammeh. You want to say Yahya Jammeh wanted to say this but he didn’t say it or Yahya Jammeh said this but this was exactly what he wanted to say. You say what is in my mind,” he stated. “So if you want information, and you talk to the person who you want information from; and the person say oh, we are not allowed to give information; ask the person who did not allow you to give information. But don’t go and generalise that Yahya Jammeh’s government does not even allow public officials to talk.” The Gambian leader stressed that he is “a dictator of development; a dictator of peace and stability; and a dictator of service to humanity and nothing else.” He stressed that he is not here to enrich himself but to make sure that Africans who he said are today synonymous with poverty and backwardness, would one day walk with their heads and shoulders high as they did before the coming of the white man.
“Interestingly, those people who are tutors of freedom of expression are the same people [in whose country] you can insult the Prophet (SAW) and get away with it because of freedom of expression and you go to jail for denying the holocaust. Something is wrong with us the Africans,” he lamented. President Jammeh also pointed out that the proliferation of media outlets both in print and electronic goes to vindicate his government in terms of press freedom, noting that this was not happening then. He then pointed out that if his government doesn’t want the press, it won’t have allowed operation of these outlets given the fact that it is the government that issued a licence and hence none of them could have operated without a licence.
Speaking earlier, the vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy harped on the positive developments that have taken place from 1994 to date in terms of good governance, democracy and human rights. She noted that democratic institutions have been put in place by the current government such as the National Council for Civic Education and the Independent Electoral Commission; institutions she added were not here before the advent of this government. She said: “Let all Gambians realise that we have nothing except the country and let us not take the peace and stability of the country for granted.” Dr Njie-Saidy urged the journalists to act responsibly and think through what they are reporting.
The secretary general and head of the Civil Service, Dr Njogu Bah told the media practitioners to ensure responsibility in the discharge of their duties; one that will be accompanied with ethics. SG Bah deplored the lack of responsibility in the media, underscoring that responsibility is important in whatever one does. “Nobody is saying don’t write anything negative about what government does, but constructive criticism is what we are asking for,” he stated, while stressing the need for genuine partnership between the government and the press.  The Civil Service boss concluded by urging journalists to make sure that they report accurately. The ministers of Information and Communication Infrastructure, Finance and Economic Affairs, and Health and Social Welfare, Alagie Cham, Mambury Njie and Fatim Badjie respectively, all took turns to express the need for responsible journalism, one that will not jeopardise the peace and stability of the country.

Media chiefs
The media chiefs who took turns to relay their concern spoke on a wide range of issues affecting the media, ranging from lack of information from public officials, to capacity building and the call made by them for repeal in the current media legislations. The media chiefs, while lauding the forum at the presidency, expressed hope for a new beginning between government and the press.

Suwaubou Conateh, veteran Gambian journalist and publisher of the News and Report Magazine, recommended that the government provide a platform for regular press briefings, especially at the Office of the President, as well as the ministries of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, and the Interior respectively. He also recommended repealing of certain media laws in the country.
Pap Saine, the managing director of The Point Newspaper underscored the importance of having access to government news to enable journalists effectively contribute their quota to the dissemination of information about what the government is doing and saying, for the benefit of the general public. While emphasising that the media is not an enemy to the government, The Point boss and Reuters Dean of Correspondents underscored the need for the institutionalisation of training of media personnel, particularly to diploma level at the University of The Gambia. This, he argued, will enhance quality of output and strengthen professionalism. Sam Sarr, managing editor of Foroyaa Newspaper and Abdul Adiamoh, publisher of Today Newspaper all expressed similar sentiments.
Fatou Camara, director of press and communication, Office of the President, co-chaired the ceremony.

Author: by Hatab Fadera

By Musa Saidykhan

I am grateful to God for sparing my life to witness what I have been longing to see for years - the restoration of my human dignity by a panel of judges at the ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja, Nigeria. My illegal arrest and detention and subsequent inhumane tortures were purposely meant to seize my dignity.

Unfortunately, the people who led my torture sessions had long since joined their ancestors. Musa Jammeh and Tumbul Tamba would have been buried in shame or received heavy punches from their master fond of exonerating himself from blame when things go wrong.

One may wonder why I was not so quick to react to this much-awaited landmark court. The fact is that I received the news with mixed feelings - it was like being blown with hot and cold air at the same time.

I would have been much happier had Deyda Hydara's killers been brought to justice and punished for their heinous crime, or if the government comes public with what had happened to Chief Ebrima Manneh whose whereabouts remain mysterious, despite being arrested and detained by the very government whose leadership swore to protect him.
I was definitely delighted that after years of denial, vigorous defense aimed at covering the truth, the court has proven The Gambia government guilty of illegal arrest, detention and torture.

This is the kind of justice I will be denied outright in The Gambia where the judiciary has lost its credentials of being the last bastion of hope. Our judicial justice has been so rotten that majority of victimized Gambians prefer to cry in silence rather than seek legal redress. What a mockery to democracy, rule of law and justice delivery system!

The trial was long, tiring, time-consuming and expensive but my determination to play my little part to correct injustice and defend the rights of would-be victims kept me riding, which was why I did not budge even a second throughout the trial. And as a journalist, I would have committed a grave crime for not seeking legal redress against violations of my God-given rights, something I had been advocating for throughout my entire career.

It was not easy shuttling back and forth to Nigeria where I had frictions with immigration officials at the Nmadi Azikwe International Airport for not securing a visa. I defended that as an ECOWAS citizen, I did not need a visa to Nigeria as long as I am not staying beyond 90 days, which was understood by immigration officials.

But they insisted that as a bearer of United States Travel Document, I needed a visa but I remained adamant. In all cases, I had to be bailed me out, and given only a week to stay in Abuja with threats that "you will be smoked out" had I extended my stay. I was prepared to bear these challenges on my road to justice.

I am delighted that this long, tedious and rocky journey to justice has finally come to an end with such a resounding victory, an obvious significant factor in our quest to establish a society free of all forms of human rights violations. This is a victory for democracy, rule of law, press freedom and justice. I therefore dedicate this victory to my fallen colleagues and human rights defenders denied justice all over the world.

I hope The Gambia government will admit their fault and correct its rotten human rights credentials so as to avoid embarassing legal confrontations over human rights violations in future. I am eagerly waiting to see whether the Jammeh government will swallow its pride and honour the court's verdict. I am grateful to my family, the Media Foundation for West Africa, Falana Falana Chambers, Dr. Dialo Diop of Senegal, all the insitutions and individuals for their undivided support and solidarity throughout the trial.

By Demba Jawo/CPJ Guest Blogger

I can still vividly recall how the news of Deyda Hydara's killing was relayed to me on the morning of December 17, 2004, after I returned from a trip to Zambia the previous night. Very early that morning, I called his childhood friend and partner at The Point, Pap Saine, who told me: "They shot him dead last night." I had to pinch myself to realize that I was not actually dreaming.

My first encounter with Deyda was in 1979 when, as a junior reporter for The Nation newspaper (published by the late William Dixon-Colley), I was arrested and detained by the police for a commentary I wrote about corruption in the police force. Deyda frequently visited me at the police station and gave me the encouragement I needed to survive the ordeal. As the then-manager of the first private commercial radio station in Africa, Radio Syd, and vice chairman of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), he not only fully supported me in my journalism career but also encouraged me to apply to be a union member. After that, he became my friend and confidante. Even when I took over as president of the GPU from him in 1998, he continued to give me invaluable counseling and advice.

Deyda was quite courageous and very passionate about defending press freedom in the Gambia, and he would go to any length to express his views on it in his popular "The Bite" column in The Point. Deyda was not only a journalist, but a human rights activist and a philanthropist who participated in various humanitarian causes, including raising funds for the mental wing of the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul. He was also quite a sociable person who had many friends across the social strata.

Since Deyda's murder, Gambian authorities have not shown genuine interest in investigating his murder, leading the GPU to call for external investigators. We have watched as the Gambian government invited British investigators to help investigate certain crimes--the latest being the large haul of drugs recently uncovered in the country. We are convinced that if the same dedication had been shown to Deyda's case, it could have been resolved long ago.

Nevertheless, while the Gambian authorities have woefully failed in their duties to bring the justice to Deyda's case, his family, friends and colleagues are consoled by the overwhelming support and interest that his murder continues to generate, both at home and abroad. Since 2004, Deyda has received so many international awards and accolades, the latest being the "Hero of African Journalism Award" by the African Editors' Forum, of which he was a founding member.

Rather than continuing to treat this case as a non-event, Gambian authorities should assume their responsibility of investigating who killed Deyda and why. That is what all decent Gambians and the international community expect of them, and nothing less.

As indicated in our last edition, we indicated that judgment on Saidykhan’s case alleging unlawful arrest and detention and torture was entered in his favour on 16 December 2010 at Abuja. In the judgment the court declared that the arrest of Saidykhan is illegal and unconstitutional, his detention for 22 days without trial is illegal and the torture inflicted on him is illegal. Saidykhan was awarded damages amounting to $200,000 to be paid by the Gambia Government. He is also entitled to costs to be borne by the government.
We produce below, a full text of the judgment.
<ins>
</ins>IN THE COMMUNITY COURT OF JUSTICE, ECOWAS, HELD IN ABUJA (FCT), FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

SUIT NO. ECW/CCJ/APP/11/07
JUDGMENT NO. ECW/CCJ/JUD/ 08/10

MUSA SAIDYKIIAN ………….PLAINTIFF
V.
REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA.....DEFENDANT

BEFORE:
1. HON. JUSTICE HANSINE N. DONLI ……….PRESIDING
2. HON. JUSTICE AWA NANA DABOYA..........MEMBER
3. HON. JUSTICE ANTHONY A. BENIN ……...MEMBER

ASSISTED BY TONY ANENE-MAIDOH………CHIEF REGISTRAR

DATED 16TH DECEMBER 2010

COUNSEL:
Sola Egbeyinka for the Plaintiff
Martins U. Okoi for the Defendant

1

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT
Parties
I. The plaintiff is a journalist by profession and a national of the Republic of The Gambia and sues his own country which is a member state of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Plaintiff’s Case
2. By application filed with this court on 19th November 2007, the plaintiff complained of violation of his human right to personal liberty, dignity of his person and fair hearing guaranteed by Articles 1, 5, 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). From the narration of the facts, the plaintiff was the Editor of The Independent newspaper based in Banjul, The Gambia. According to the plaintiff, his newspaper published the names of alleged coup plotters on 21st March 2006. Six days later, to be precise on 27th March 2006, he was arrested at night by a combined team of armed soldiers and policemen, without a warrant of arrest. They took him to a detention centre in the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency in Banjul. For the next twenty-two (22) days, the plaintiff claimed he was held totally incommunicado.

3. The facts continue that during those three weeks the plaintiff was not allowed to take a bath, put on shoes or change his clothes, he was stripped naked whilst electric shocks were administered to his body, all in effort to extract a confession from him of his involvement in the coup plot. Among those who tortured him were officials of the Presidential Bodyguards including the President’s cousin Lt. Musa Jammeh and RSM Tamba.

4. The plaintiff further averred that during the interrogations he was accused of being disloyal to the government because he had invited President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa to pressurize the government of The Gambia to expedite investigations into the brutal killing of one Deyda Hydara, a newspaper editor, and attacks on newspaper houses. He was also accused of embarrassing the government by writing stories about the mysterious killings of over forty ECOWAS nationals by the Gambian security forces in 2005.

5. The plaintiff claimed that he suffered injuries on his back, legs, arms and a bayonet cut on his left jaw. He also suffered mental and psychological torture.

6. He was released on bail, yet the security officers continued to put him under surveillance and this put his wife, aged mother and junior brothers to fright. The situation became unbearable so he and his wife decided to flee the country for security reasons. Therefore on the night of 13th May 2006 they fled the country and arrived in Dakar, Senegal on 15th May 2006. However, the defendant has continued to harass and intimidate his family members in Banjul, especially his brother who stood surety for his bail. He stated that it was in Dakar that he received medical attention at the expense of Amnesty International.
Pleas in law

7. The plaintiff stated in his application that he would rely on Article 4 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty. He also stated that he would rely on Articles 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 (b) and (d) of the ACHPR. These enactments will be referred to as and when appropriate in this judgment.

Reliefs and Orders sought
8. The plaintiff sought the following reliefs and orders from the court:
“a. A declaration that the arrest of the plaintiff in Banjul, The Gambia on March 27, 2006 by the armed agents of the defendant is illegal and unconstitutional as it contravenes the plaintiff’s human right to personal liberty as guaranteed by Article 6 of the ACHPR.
b. A declaration that the detention of the plaintiff by the defendant’s agents at the National Intelligence Agency detention centre for 22 days without trial is illegal as it violates the plaintiff’s right to personal liberty and fair hearing as guaranteed by Articles 6 and 7 of the ACHPR.
c. A declaration that the torture inflicted on the plaintiff by the defendant’s agents during his 22 days detention is illegal as it violates the plaintiffs right to personal dignity as guaranteed by Article 5 of the ACHPR,
d. An order restraining the Defendant from harassing or intimidating members of the plaintiffs family who are based in The Gambia in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.
e. US$2 million being compensation for the violation of the plaintiffs human rights to dignity, personal liberty and fair hearing.”
3
The Defence’s case
9. The defence consisted largely of a complete denial of all the averments contained in the initiating application. The defendant denied any knowledge of the publication of the names of coup plotters and denied sending any security agents to arrest any journalists. The defendant further stated that they did not receive any reports of any arrests, detention or torture and put the plaintiff to strict proof.

10. The defence stated that Lt. Musa Jammeh and RSM Tamba are not identifiable persons. A person known as Col. Musa Jammeh is deceased. That the names Musa Jammeh and Tamba are very common names in the Gambian Armed Forces, with many persons bearing those names and with similar ranks.
11. In respect of the matter concerning President Thabo Mbeki, the defendant stated that this was a calculated and mischievous attempt to plant seed of discord and contempt between The Gambia and South Africa. The general traverse is sufficient to put the plaintiff to strict proof of all averments contained in the application.

12. The defence also delved into arguments which should not be engaged in during pleadings; the arguments will be considered during the analysis of the case. The court reiterates that the pleadings should be confined to a concise and precise presentation of facts and brief summary of evidence in support including references to documents. All arguments shall be reserved for the oral phase of the proceedings. Reference is hereby made to Articles 33 and 35 of the Court’s Rules of Procedure.

Oral Procedure
13. The plaintiff (PW1) gave oral testimony and called a medical doctor (PW2) to give expert evidence. They put in some documents, including medical certificates to buttress the plaintiff’s case. The defendant did not proffer any evidence. Instead they tried to put across their case during the cross examination of the plaintiff and his witness, whilst at the same time trying to punch holes in the plaintiff’s case and attack his credibility. Let us now examine the evidence.

14. At the hearing on the 3rd June 2010, the plaintiff gave evidence by himself and called one expert witness. The plaintiff stated that he was at home in Banjul, The Gambia on the 27th day of March 2006 when security operatives and police officers invaded his home around midnight and arrested him. He indicated that he was first taken to the National Intelligence Agency Headquarters in Banjul and subsequently to different detention centres.

15. Plaintiff posited that he was interrogated by the Director of National Intelligence Agency, Captain Saeed. Thereafter he was tortured around 2:00 am on the nights of 8th and 9th April 2006 by a group of soldiers, part of the President’s own bodyguards and led by Lieutenant Musa Jammeh and RSM Tumbo Thamba. Plaintiff made it known that he was stripped naked and beaten with sticks. Further, he was also dragged on the floor and electric shocks were administered on his body. He also intimated that his right hand was broken and was also threatened with death, the soldiers claiming that they had already killed and buried some suspects.

16. He went on to state that he was questioned as to the reasons for his arrest but he replied that he did not know. According to him, the soldiers then told him he was being tortured because he was a traitor and had tarnished the image of the country by telling the former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki that there were human rights violations in The Gambia, and in particular that the Gambian government was responsible for the killing of the Point Newspaper Editor, Deyda Hydara. He responded by telling the soldiers that he was not a traitor and all that he told Thabo Mbeki was that there were human rights violations in the country which were not being investigated by the Gambian government including two arson attacks on his newspaper and the killing of Deyda Hydara. Further, Plaintiff said he was told by the soldiers to assure them that he was going to stop practising journalism but he declined that request.

17. Plaintiff continued his testimony that about a week later the soldiers brought Lamin Laddy, a reporter of the Independent Newspaper and Madi Ceesay, the General Manager of the Independent Newspaper and himself together and tortured them. He stated that he was told that they have put the three of them together because their newspaper published a story about the failed coup attempt on 21st March 2006; that the story contained a lot of errors and was not factual. He went on to say that this time electric shocks were administered on his whole body, including his genitals until he became unconscious and went into a coma for about thirty minutes.

18. The plaintiff’s evidence continued that he was later released on bail after his brother had tendered in his passport as a surety. He stated that he was informed that a decision had been taken at a meeting held at the National Intelligence Agency to incarcerate him soon after the African Union Summit, which was to be held in July 2006. Plaintiff said that he was released because President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa had made his release a condition precedent to his attending the African Union Summit and the subsequent payment of a sum of money to The Gambia. Plaintiff further stated that after coming into knowledge of the plan by the Gambian authorities to incarcerate him and the fact that security officials of the state with unidentified vehicles used to keep surveillance of his compound late into the night, he decided to flee the country with his pregnant wife. Accordingly he and his wife left The Gambia on the 13th of May 2006.

19. The evidence continued that the plaintiff escaped to Senegal where he was able to seek medical attention through the assistance of Amnesty International and subsequently a Medical Certificate was issued to him. He sought medical assistance in Senegal because whilst in The Gambia no medical practitioner was bold enough to examine him, let alone issue him a Medical Certificate. He subsequently sought and was granted political asylum in Senegal but was relocated to the United States of America in 2008 for security reasons as officers of the Gambian National Intelligence Agency in Dakar kept monitoring him. When he got to the United States of America, he also received some medical treatment.

20. Plaintiff identified photographs that were taken after his torture to confirm the injuries he sustained as a result of the torture. The photographs were tendered in evidence by counsel to the plaintiff. Counsel to the defendant stated that the pleadings of the plaintiff did not disclose this aspect of the evidence but nonetheless did not object to their admission and stated that he would deal with that in his written address. Copies of Medical Certificates issued to the plaintiff whilst he was in Senegal were also admitted in evidence without objection from learned counsel for the defendant. Documents to support the fact that the Plaintiff received medical attention in the United States of America were also admitted in evidence although learned counsel to the defendant intimated to the Court that he wanted to place it on record that these were new documents which were never brought to his knowledge before their introduction but he was going to deal with it in his address.

21. During cross-examination by learned counsel to the defendant, plaintiff told the Court that he spoke French though he preferred the cross-examination to be conducted in English. He also told the Court that the medical procedures he went through in the United States of America were carried out in 2008. Plaintiff refused to name the person(s) who informed him that there was a plan by the Gambian authorities to put him behind bars after the African Union Summit but stated that he had his sources within the National Intelligence Agency.

22. Plaintiff stated that he knew the vehicles patrolling his area at night were security vehicles because they were without number plates and other vehicles were generally not permitted to drive around without number plates especially at night. He also informed the Court that he has a problem with his manhood but refused to state categorically whether he was impotent or not. Plaintiff continued that he did not have a copy of the newspaper publication in respect of the alleged coup plotters, which plaintiff had said was one of the reasons for his arrest. He also said that he had a copy of the petition he sent to President Thabo Mbeki but not with him in Court. He further stated that he was beaten to a state of unconsciousness by the soldiers and he estimated that he was unconscious for thirty minutes. Finally, plaintiff stated that the security officials who arrested him were in uniforms except one; two of them were in police uniforms and four others in military uniforms.

23. The plaintiff’s only witness Dr. Jalojo Dior (PW2) is a Senegalese medical practitioner resident in Dakar, Senegal. He stated that he has been in medical practice for the past twenty-eight years. He continued that he received the plaintiff in his office at the hospital and examined him when he was referred to him by the Senegalese section of Amnesty International. According to him, the plaintiff narrated his whole story to him. He stated that he conducted a medical examination on him and the examination was in two parts: questioning and physical examination. He subsequently issued the plaintiff with a Medical Certificate. He referred him to a female dermatologist who subsequently referred him to another dermatologist, Professor Khan. He stated that though he did not treat the plaintiff personally, he observed his injuries and accordingly issued him with a Medical Certificate. PW2 identified the Medical Certificate he issued through his handwriting, his letter head and his signature. At the instance of the Court, PW2 read the Medical Certificate in French which was simultaneously interpreted in English to the Court. The Medical Certificate was tendered in evidence by plaintiff’s counsel.

24. During cross-examination by learned counsel for the defendant, PW2 stated that he did not know the time interval between when plaintiff left the detention camp and when they first met because he did not know when plaintiff left the camp but they met for the first time on 27th June 2006. He also told the Court that plaintiff was referred to him by telephone. PW2 also made it known that he does not know the number of times he met plaintiff after their first meeting but they met on several occasions as plaintiff often came by his office to tell him how his treatment was going and also brought prescriptions from time to time.

25. The witness further stated that the doctors he referred plaintiff to made some referrals to him in the form of prescriptions and also mentioned that the documents involved belonged to the plaintiff so he gave them to him. He looked at some documents placed at the disposal of the Court by the plaintiff and identified some as the prescriptions by Professor Khan.

26. Following a question from the court, PW2 stated that he did not reveal the identity of plaintiff to his colleague doctors as they were not members of Amnesty International. He continued that he would have had to disclose the identity of the plaintiff to the other doctors in order to secure another Medical Certificate but he declined to do that for security reasons. Finally, he said that he gave a copy of the Medical Certificate he issued to the plaintiff to Amnesty International and added that he did not report to Amnesty International as an employee as the relationship between them was not one of employer and employee.


TO BE CONTINUED: Source Foroyaa.gm

For six solid years the assassin(s) of Deyda Hydara, the murdered Managing Editor of The Point newspaper is/are not known. Why? The assassin who drink from the jug of cowardice, have gunned down a hero of the voiceless and cruelly went into hiding.

It is that the authorities don’t want to investigate it or what is the problem? Deyda is a Gambian like any other Gambian and he has the rights like others to live and contribute to the socio -development of this country.

At this point in time what the old man needs is justice and nothing else. We will continue to chant this slogan until justice is done to him. It is sad to this date that the coward(s) who killed him under the covered of darkness is/are roaming the streets with impunity.

No matter how long it takes, one day justice will prevail and all those behind this heinous crime will dance to their own music. They have killed him, but today he is known world wide and respected by all who believes in democracy, rule of law, good governance and freedom of speech.

He died defending the press of this country, Africa and the world in general. That is why when the coward(s) gunned him down on the December 16, 2004, the whole world stood up and called on the government of The Gambia to investigate his murder for goodness sake. We are still waiting for that day when the authorities will find, arrest and prosecute the brutal killer(s) responsible for his death.

Last Thursday, colleagues in the media fraternity gathered at the TANGO hall to commemorate his sixth anniversary with renewed called on the government of The Gambia to find those who killed him. The Gambia is not an Island and therefore what is said and done here is heard and watched by outsiders. Deyda will live on and will continue to live on as long as the ink in our pens is not dry.

For the interest of justice, we are calling on the authorities to once again look into this matter and this time around arrest the killer(s) of Deyda Hydara and be brought to justice. Who killed Deyda? We want an answer. Period! We don’t care whose ox is grind all what we need is justice.

Justice delayed is justice denied. He is gone forever, but his work and his beautiful write ups will and will continue to guide us along the way till such a time that justice is done. Hey! The killer(s) you have achieved nothing by killing Deyda. You have turned this man into a martyr and an international icon whose name and legacy shall stay in this earth till dooms day for you see. So tell me what have you achieved? Nothing!

He is more than just a journalist but a father and at the same time a husband. He is someone who loved his work, a profession that he died for. Sometimes you sit and wonder where we are heading to, in a country where people can take guns and kill their fellow Gambian brothers and nothing comes out of it. This is madness of its highest order.

What we need in this country is love and not bullets.

We hope and pray that before the seventh anniversary of the assassination of Deyda Hydara, his killer(s) will be arrested, arraigned and face the Laws of The Gambia.

Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh who is missing for four solid years now is no where to be seen or heard. We don’t know why? We cannot fully establish whether he is even alive or not.

The Independent newspaper’s printing press was burnt down and noting came out it despite the fact that names were mentioned. Time will tell. Several journalists were arrested and jailed for only speaking their minds in this country. When shall we respect freedom of the press, freedom of expression and allow journalists to do their work freely? God help us.

Long Live The Press, Long Live The Gambia.

Author: Lamin Njie

Passengers plying the Barra-Banjul ferry could not contain their shock at seeing a middle-aged man die a sudden death, following what many described as an avoidable accident at the Barra ferry terminal.

Lamin Darboe, sports editor of the Foroyaa newspaper and treasurer of the Sports Journalists Association of the Gambia (SJAG), died in the accident after his four-wheel land cruiser vehicle plunged headlong from the ferry into the river, shortly before the ferry depart for Banjul. 

He was said to be on his way to Banjul, back from his home village of Bakindick in Niumi district in the North Bank Region, where he observed this year’s Tobaski feast with his family. 

The rescue workers at the ferry terminal in Barra were once again tested for their readiness as they were overwhelmed by the incident for several hours, while onlookers wondered if the workers were really primed for such an eventuality. 

The accident occurred on Saturday morning, and engaged the rescue workers throughout the day until Sunday morning, when the body was finally recovered from the river in Essau. 

Eyewitnesses gave contradictory statements about how the accident happened. While some said it occurred when Darboe was instructed by a man believed to be working in the ferry to move his vehicle which was already parked forward, when there was no barrier to stop any vehicle from plunging overboard, others claimed there was in fact a cable or chain for that purpose. 

When contacted to shed light on the incident, Halifa Bah, the director of Operations Ferry Services described it as unfortunate, adding that this was the first of its kind in the history of the Gambia

"I can't imagine what happened leading to the decease's vehicle falling into the river, because there is a barrier," Bah said.

It might have been as a result of the vehicle's "break failure, as there was a barrier", Mr. Bah told our reporter in an interview yesterday.

Bah added that the entire management of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) was shocked by the sudden death of Lamin A. Darboe, and announced that the GPA management will meet today to look into the situation, so as to avoid any further occurrence of such.  

Lamin Darboe, who was recently elected into the executive committee of SJAG, is a qualified teacher with PTC and HTC certificates.

Ba Ansu Darboe, father of the deceased, confirmed to our reporter that the body of the late Darboe was found yesterday morning in the river at Essau.

He told this reporter in a telephone interview that the body was immediately taken to the Fire and Rescue Service premises in Barra, before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital for a post-mortem.

Sam Sarr, the managing editor of Foroyaa newspaper, described the late Darboe as a gentleman with a calm character, who also enjoyed a good relationship with everybody within the Foroyaa family.

"I received the news of Darboe's demise from secondary sources on Saturday morning at around 11.30am, but what is certain is that the incident occurred when his vehicle plunged into the river at the Barra ferry terminal," Sarr told this reporter in a telephone interview yesterday.

According to him, the news was received with great sadness by everybody at Foroyaa, where Darboe had a strong relationship with everyone at his workplace.

During his time as a member of the SJAG, according to Sainabou Kujabi, president of the association ,the late Darboe was an active sports reporter as manifested by the services he rendered in sports development at various levels.

Kujabi, who described the news of Darboe's demise as shocking, added that his memory will remain in the hearts of his media colleagues forever.

"I came to know Darboe since 1998, during our days with Radio Gambia as roving reporters for Sports Roundup under the leadership of Peter Gomez," Pa Modou Faal, auditor of the SJAG said.

"Despite been a qualified teacher, Darboe has devoted all his life to sports journalism where his significant contribution is considered to be one of the driving forces behind the country's success in sports reporting in various disciplines."

According to Faal, Darboe's legacy should not be allowed to die as he has done extremely well for Gambian sports, especially at the community and the grassroots levels.

Darboe is survived by a wife and three children.

Author: Lamin Drammeh of The Piont.gm

Paper Presented by Alh. Mohamed Garba, President West African Journalists Association

PANEL ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN AFRICA NGO FORUM PRECEEDING 48TH SESSION OF THE ACHPR

KAIRABA HOTEL, BANJUL,THE GAMBIA 

NOVEMBER 7, 2010

There’s no arguing the fact that the media, especially the private media in West Africa has and continues to contribute significantly towards democratic governance and accountability on the part of state officials. However, in spite of the remarkable progress made in media proliferation and diversity over the last few years, there still remain troubling concerns.

Political space for the unfettered operation of the media continues to be non-existent in many so-called `democratic' West African countries. The principal weapons used against freedom of expression in West Africa today aren’t confined to arbitrary detentions and violent physical attacks on journalists and their press houses. More and more frequently the courts have been coerced into providing the gags and handcuffs.

In the recent past, the media has demonstrated its watchdog role by playing a front role, sometimes in partnership with various regional and international institutions in the call for improved democracy, good governance and respect for the rule of law, in turn, West African citizens are today more than ever before aware of their rights as citizens, the role of their governments and the various public institutions notably the judiciary, parliaments and inter-governmental organizations.   One of the most striking features of the high level of awareness of West African citizens are the sacrificial efforts made by media practitioners to safeguard the freedom of the press.  Newspapers in particular are almost unavoidably highly critical, and State authorities seek to control them.   These and a variety of factors led lead an ‘official’ repressive enthusiasm, and these are the relative basis on which the number of press prosecutions and the seeming reluctance to enforce positive press legislation. 

The price tag for this boom and the strides to improve ... does not only end at for West African journalists we have had cases of exile, enforced disappearances, death threats, murder.

Over the years, some governments and regional institutions have also recognized the crucial role of the Press to achieve these goals. Some countries including Liberia and Ghana have liberalized a lot of restrictive media laws by decriminalizing press offences and doing away with some of the archaic colonial laws that were used to muzzle divergent opinion.  Other countries like The Gambia, Mauritania and Togo continue to draw up new laws geared towards muzzling press freedom and freedom of information.  

There has been a marked increase in the number of media outlets now operating within the sub region, the media and press organs are faced with a host of difficulties. The media in West Africa has made a tremendous effort to defend democratic gains and to expand the bounds of freedom by trying to force accountability from officials and political institutions. These efforts have, however, made the independent media in West Africa vulnerable to potential cases for libel suits, seditious charges, contempt charges, exorbitant fines, and not infrequently, prison sentences.

One of the greatest forces preventing freedom of expression from thriving beyond statute books in West Africa has to do with unjust laws tracing back to colonial times, while successive post-colonial governments have introduced other capricious and damaging laws. 

In the past year, in a majority of the countries journalists have faced charges of libel, defamation, sedition.  

In Cote D’Ivoire and Togo, journalists have also been gagged by Presidential lawsuits and other … We however welcome the move by Togolese President … to drop all charges he raised against the 3 journalists following a petition by the WAJA.

Sennegal which used to enjoy relative press freedom has also seen a steady and unfortunate decline in the legal environment and their tendencies of authoritian moves by the State.

Surprisngly, the junta in Niger has so far made many positive strides to include the media as a partner in their transition period.  This is usually not the norm in West Africa. 

Legal sanctions have not entirely replaced other forms of oppression. For, in this decade, there have been countless arrests, detentions, harassments, beatings and murders of journalists. Progress has inevitably been met by more attacks.

Given that the context within which we operate largely remains the same, it is important to note that he daring nature of such sabotage differs from country to country. From Dele Giw’s murder in the late 1980s, to that of Dele Giwa in the 90s and that of  Deyda Hydara in 2004 all in times of peace and in West Africa, to date none of them investigated have provoked international outcry, anger and indignation at their governments. 

Journalists who guard their freedom of expression and oppose officials who want to be treated as sacred cows will continue to be gagged by the courts and thrown into prison this has also led to a mass exile of the best in West Africa’s journalism circles.  In the past year, there has also been a marked increase in the numbers of exiled journalists from Guinee Conakry, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and The Gambia, most of them facing persecution at home.

As States do not see the defence of journalists as an issue of human rights, this has more and more also emboldened other sectors of society to attack journalists.  Another disturbing trend is the increased in physical attacks of journalists’ especially by state- actors including the police, and some members of the security agencies, who have the constitutional mandate to protect civilians including journalists. Non-state actors had also attacked journalists. In Nigeria this year alone three journalists have been killed and 6 kidnapped for other motives.  In Sierra Leone female journalists covering FGM were undressed and humiliated in public.  The burning down of and attacks against  media institutions, death threats to individual journalists and other moves to silence the media still continue unabated and uninvestigated in most of the West African countries. 

Many West Africans are pessimistic about the future of press freedom in the region, predicting a continuation of the downward spiral, We at the WAJA believe that if we are to conquer our quest for good governance, democracy and development in our sub-region, it is legitimate to ask how much press freedom really exists in West Africa and continue to work on the measures that inhibit this. 

We therefore resolve to work amongst ourselves, with development partners and state parties,

·      To consolidate the statute of journalists, their work conditions and their right to professionalism and professional representation

·      To reinforce regional solidarity, to unify and reinforce professionalism especially in the areas of addressing key professional problems in the sub-region: training, self-regulation, media laws, ethics and access to information.

To reinforce the defense of the rights social-professionals of the journalists in the area;

By Madi Njie & Saikou Ceesay

Women Human Rights Defenders from Asia, Africa and Latin America at the end of a three day regional consultative meeting preceding the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), have adopted declaration, among others, calling upon the African Union to include the protection of women human rights defenders in the new strategy of human rights in Africa.

The consultative meeting meant to further define strategies to promote their work and press for protective measures, held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel from 4 - 6 November 2010 was organised by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), in colla boration with Conectas Direitos Humanos, African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), East Horn of African Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRDN) and W est African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN)/ROPADDH).

Reading the declaration at the closing ceremony, Madam Tilder Kumichii, Gender Empowerment and Development Officer from Cameroon on behalf of the participants "call upon the African Union to include the protection of women human rights defenders in the new strategy of human right in Africa.

She also expressed the need for the AU to consider supporting women who struggle with justice because of the work they carry out.

Madam Kumichii requests the special rapporteurs on women rights and human rights defenders of the African Commission to conduct a joint research on social fundamentalism.

She also called on the need to take ownership of the goals and objectives of the African women’s decade 2010-2020 and to involve in its effective implementation at the local, national, regional and international levels.

She also requests the African Commission to set up mechanism between the special rapporteurs on women’s human rights defenders.

She spoke of the need for promotion of collaboration among women human rights defenders from across the regions to share experiences and best practices to improve protection system in international and regional mechanisms.

She also call on the African Commission to set up a mechanism between the special rapporteur on women’s rights and human rights defenders to give particular attention to the cases of violations against women human rights defenders.

With a view to protect women human rights defenders, she said: "participants designed strategies to sensitise the broader population including men, community, traditional and religious leaders on specific challenges women human rights defenders face; use cultural approaches to highlight the challenges of women and women human rights defenders; promote and strengthen quality documentation with gender perspectives that enhance effective work of the re gional and international special rapporteurs; promote collaboration among women human rights defenders from across regions to share experiences and best practices to improve protection system in international and regional mechanisms; develop support mechanisms for women human rights defenders to effectively manage work related trauma.

Commissioner Soyata Maiga, Special Rapporteur on Rights of Women in Africa said it’s time to move into actions. "We are working as a team and with that we can overcome challenges," noting that the forum gives opportunity to push forward towards realisation of our common objectives.

In her closing remarks, Madam Reine Alapini- Gansou - African Commission Chair said a lot have been said about women human rights defenders, noting that there is a need to take stock of the past, with a view to forge ahead in this endeavor. She also said sisters in other countries should be inform about what have been discussed during the three days consultative meeting.

"We also advocate for dialogue, pointing out that nothing can be done in isolation. We need dialogue, in the absence of which nothing is possible," she said.

Other speakers at the closing ceremony include Muhammed Khalfallah Commissioner for Human Rights Defenders in Africa.

Mr Clement Voule of the International Service for Human Rights chaired the ceremony.

Source: Daily News

CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

TO THE AFRICAN YOUTH

On the occasion of the African Youth Day 2010 and the International Year of Youth, I have the great pleasure to convey my sincere congratulations and my best wishes to all African Youth within the continent and the Diaspora!

African Union believes in your dynamism, optimism, solidarity and dedication to make a peaceful Africa, while the Continent is celebrating Peace and Security for sustainable Development. I am fully confident that African youth are playing important role in this process and contributing in sharing the peace values on the Continent, because youth can make peace happen.

The celebration of the African Youth Day on 1st November and 12 months of celebration of the occasion of the international Year of Youth are, together, given opportunities to value mutual understanding and strengthen peace among the young people in Africa, by using more comprehensive dialogue and avoiding conflicts. The theme chosen for both events is so important and meaningful for the whole Africa in a general manner and in particular for the youth. Peaceful communication and dialogue is needed in Africa and can lead all stakeholders to consensus and mutual understanding in so many issues favourable for sustainable development.

The African Union is grateful for your efforts towards networking capacity building, sharing of knowledge, values, collaboration spirit and actions with the AUC, the public authorities and private sector within the continent. The African Union, through its Commission, is also committed to provide the necessary means to facilitate youth participation, visibility, contribution and concrete results for sustainable impacts on African development. The Commission will continue contributing to the strengthening of the youth capacities, skills and networking. The AU Heads of State and Government have always expressed their political will to see the young people strengthened and empowered for quality contribution to the positive change in Africa. Therefore, you, young people of Africa, should take advantage of this opportunity and work harder for more quality and sustainable achievements. Considering the fact that in 2010, in the Summit of Heads of State and Government have decided to devote the July 2011 Summit to the reflection on ways and means to “accelerate youth empowerment for sustainable development” is even more expression of the recognition of the role that African Youth can and must play within the Continent, not only in its quest for sustainable peace, but also in development and true integration of its people, including the youth.

In response to the call of the Heads of State, the Commission, the youth leaders and the African Union Ministers in charge of youth are working through approved frameworks, programmes and projects to improve youth capacities and participation, such as the establishment and implementation of the African Union Youth Volunteers Corps, Roadmap to implement the plan of action for the Decade for youth development, the Promotion of the technical vocational education training, the Implementation of the African youth Charter, the establishment of the database and the mapping on African youth organizations, the active preparation of July 2011 Summit etc. A common position for priority actions for African youth development is adopted by African Ministers of Youth, presented in the World Youth Conference in Mexico and taken into account in the global Declaration that was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2010. The youth agenda has become a priority matter in many member States and considered in many Partners’ mandate, as a necessary road to sustain African development.

I, therefore, wish to encourage all the AU Member states and the African Youth to take the advantage from this momentum on the global and continental concern towards Youth development agenda and enhance partnership in order to give more impetus on youth policies and programmes. I also encourage the stakeholders involved in youth issues to engage more dialogue in order to establish mutual understanding on problems and challenges facing the youth in Africa. It’s the only way to reach peaceful and sustainable solutions. This celebration offers a great opportunity to establish mutual confidence between generations in order to reduce the damageable existing gaps.

Finally, I encourage the African Youth to continue to champion for the dissemination of the African values among themselves and the society in general. Science and Technology are extremely important on this continent, but it may not always promote Patriotism and Pan-Africanism, but the values of Patriotism can promote good citizenship, governance, encourage the dissemination of values and constructive learning dedicated to the relevant knowledge and skills to a better mastery of Science, Technology, ICT and other necessary knowledge towards a sustainable development of Africa.

African Youth, I know you can bring the change, but are you doing enough to promote dialogue and mutual understanding” towards values, leadership, capacity building, etc.?

Your charter: the African Youth Charter holds the answer. Your responsibilities and duties to promote tolerance, understanding, dialogue and respect for others regardless of age, race ethnicity, colour, gender, religion, status and political affiliation are stated. The Charter has entered into force since August 2009. Ensure that it is implemented. Be proud of your Charter and use it! The youth in the world are using it… Be proud of being African Youth, the driving force of the continent’s development and WORK PROUDLY WITH GOOD CONSCIENCE FOR AFRICA!

Long live to the African Youth and May God continue blessing Africa!

November 1st 2010

 Jean Ping

 Chairperson of the African Union Commission