Breaking News-AU  Summit failure begins as Jammeh denied free expression 
group from holding  conference!!!
JOINT ACTION: NGOs protest  government's barring of forum on freedom of 
expression


Country/Topic: The Gambia
Date: 23 June 2006
Source: Media  Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) 
Person(s): 
Target(s): 
Type(s) of  violation(s): 
Urgency: Threat 
(MFWA/IFEX) - The following is a joint statement by MFWA and several other  
IFEX members, as well as other organizations:  
Free expression and journalist organisations prevented from holding a Forum  
on freedom of expression in The Gambia  
Dakar, June 23, 2006: The Coordinating Committee set up by the government of  
The Gambia to oversee the African Union (AU) Summit has barred civil society  
organizations on the continent from holding a forum on freedom of expression 
in  the country. The forum was scheduled to take place in Banjul, the capital, 
on  June 29 and 30, prior to the Summit. 
In a letter sent on June 19, 2006 to "The  Association of Non-Governmental 
Organisations" (TANGO) and copied to the Kombo  Beach Hotel, which had been 
booked as venue for the Forum, the General  Coordinator of the Summit, Mr. Bolong 
Sonko, who is also a former Minister of  Foreign Affairs of The Gambia, told 
the hotel management to suspend the freedom  of expression forum until the 
government approves it. The Gambian government  therefore effectively stopped the 
NGOs from holding the forum.  
We view the Gambian government's action as a  declaration of its hostility to 
human rights. It is also a violation of the  Constitutive Act of the African 
Union. It is unacceptable for the Gambian  authorities to attempt to subject 
an NGO forum, particularly one aimed at  discussing an issue as fundamental as 
the right to freedom of expression, to  governmental approval.  
The freedom of expression forum was singled out  for obstruction by the 
Gambian authorities. Other civil society meetings focused  on less "sensitive" 
issues have been given the green light to proceed. This  action indicates clearly 
that the "topic" of the forum, which is "Freedom of  Expression in Africa", 
poses a major threat to the Gambian government, whose  preoccupation appears to 
be how to polish its image with the African Union  Summit. It is a clear 
testimony to the fact that President Yahya Jammeh's  government is afraid of the 
possibility of NGOs using the AU Summit to criticise  his regime's widespread 
violation of human rights.  
In recent months, since the government announced  the foiling of an alleged 
attempted coup d'état, President Jammeh's much-dreaded  security agents have 
arrested scores of Gambian citizens, including journalists,  lawyers, members of 
his own government and army, and even the speaker of the  Gambian Parliament. 
 
The state of fear imposed on the people of The  Gambia is such that citizens 
are afraid to have any conversation whatsoever  about public affairs. The 
regime has closed down several newspapers and radio  stations, and has frightened 
and gagged most of the newspapers not yet closed.  
It is for this reason that the Network of African  Freedom Expression 
Organisations (NAFEO) declared President Jammeh's government  "the most violent 
violator of press freedom in West Africa" today, and The  Gambia one of the six 
"hotspots" of freedom of expression violations in Africa.  
The African Union offers a new framework for good  governance, respect for 
human rights and the rule of law. It is therefore  unacceptable and intolerable 
that, despite being the host of the African Union  Summit, the Gambian 
government persists in silencing free speech and trampling  on the basic rights of 
Gambians.  
Demands:  
Accordingly, the signatories to this Statement  hereby:  
1. denounce and protest the Gambian government's  high-handed action and 
violent repression of human rights in The Gambia;  
2. call on the leaders of democratic governments  attending the Banjul Summit 
to reject the Gambian government's action against  the planned freedom of 
expression forum;  
3. demand that the AU makes it obligatory on any  host government to permit 
civil society organisations to organise their forums  during all AU-authorised 
events, including summits;  
4. demand of leaders of democratic governments  attending the Banjul Summit 
that they condemn the widespread and unending  violent attacks on human rights 
in the Gambia.  
5. call on the Heads of State and Governments of  the AU to take urgent steps 
to ensure that the Gambian government respects its  obligations under 
international human rights law.  
BACKGROUND:
The Freedom of Expression forum was planned ahead  of the African Union 
Summit by ARTICLE 19, in partnership with the Gambia Press  Union (GPU), Media 
Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Media Institute of  Southern Africa (MISA), The 
All Africa Editors Forum (TAEF), Panos Institute for  West Africa (PIWA), The 
Inter African Network for Women, Media, Gender Equity  and Development 
(FAMEDEV), the International Federation of Journalists  (IFJ)-Africa Office, the 
West African Journalist Association (WAJA), Highway  Africa Conference, SAB 
Miller Chair of Media and Democracy and Media Rights  Agenda (MRA) and other member 
organizations of the Network of African Freedom of  Expression Organisations 
(NAFEO).  
The aim of the Forum is to provide in-depth  knowledge of the Declaration of 
Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa  and other African Union 
mechanisms, including the African Peer Review Mechanism.  The Forum will focus on how 
these mechanisms can be utilised at the national and  regional levels to 
strengthen freedom of expression. It will also address key  freedom of expression 
challenges and highlight the threats in many parts of the  continent. The 
Forum will also seek to reinforce the work of existing freedom of  expression and 
journalists' networks in Africa and to encourage them to utilise  the 
mechanisms of the African Regional Human Rights System.  

Signed by:  
ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free  Expression
The Gambia Press Union (GPU)
Media Foundation for West Africa  (MFWA)
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
The All Africa Editors  Forum
Panos Institute for West Africa (PIWA)
The Inter African Network for  Women, Media, Gender Equity and Development 
(FAMEDEV)
The International  Federation of Journalists (IFJ)-Africa Office
West African Journalist  Association (WAJA)
The Highway Africa Conference
The SAB Miller Chair of  Media and Democracy
Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
The International Press  Centre (IPC), Lagos
National Council for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT)
The  Network of African Freedom of Expression Organisations (NAFEO)
MORE INFORMATION:

In another  development, the International press watch dog IFEX reported 
about the Botswanan  professor who was expelled by his government because of 
critical teachings.  Please read on....
Expelled from Botswana  in 2005 for critical teachings, professor takes case 
to African Human Rights and  People's Commission


Country/Topic: The Gambia
Date: 22  June 2006
Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) 
Person(s):  Kenneth Good
Target(s): academic(s) 
Type(s) of violation(s): expelled  
Urgency: Bulletin 
(MISA/IFEX) - Those who thought Professor Kenneth Good's case was resolved  
should brace themselves for a surprise. The drama has now shifted to Banjul, 
The  Gambia, where the indefatigable political science lecturer has lodged a  
complaint with the African Human Rights and People's Commission.  
Deputy Attorney General Abraham Keetshabe has  confirmed to MISA that the 
Botswana government has been hauled before the  commission by Good, who was 
deported from Botswana in 2005 for lecturing  critically on national affairs. "Some 
two  weeks ago, I was in Banjul defending the Republic of Botswana in 
relation to a  complaint that was lodged by Professor Good. He is basically 
challenging the  presidential decision to declare him a prohibited immigrant. Our 
position is  that he has no legitimate complaint," said Keetshabe.  
Keetshabe also said his legal team has raised a  preliminary point arguing 
that Good's case should be declared inadmissible. The  government is waiting for 
a ruling on this preliminary point.  
Although he did not travel to represent Good in  Banjul, Dick Bayford, who is 
the instructing attorney in the matter, said he was  aware that the case is 
before the African Commission. He said that they have  instructed the lawyer 
Anton Katz and, due to cost considerations, could not  travel with him to 
Banjul. He said Good's complaint is motivated by the  realisation that Botswana has 
certain obligations under the African Human Rights  Charter and the 
International Convention on civil and political rights.  
"Being a signatory to these treaties, Botswana is  under obligation to 
incorporate, into national laws, aspects that would give  effect to the tenor and 
spirit of these treaties. In instances where the  national laws are found to be 
in disagreement with these international  instruments, the state would have to 
cancel or repeal such laws." In his view,  Good's argument is bound to 
succeed because Botswana has failed to fulfill its  obligations by having in its 
laws the Immigration Act, a provision that gives  the president the right to 
expel an individual from Botswana without affording  that person the right to 
challenge the decision before any court of law. Bayford  said he was hopeful that 
Good would win the case.  
"Based on similar cases, the bulk of which we have  relied upon, the trend is 
that the commission would find the Botswana government  to be in breach. In a 
similar case, the commission found the Republic of Zambia  to have been in 
breach." Both Bayford and Keetshabe said the decision of the  commission is not 
binding. "We know the decision would not be binding and, as  such, the case is 
purely for political and moral persuasion." "The Botswana government is known 
as a compliant  state and they would not want to be declared a rogue state," 
Bayford said.  Meanwhile, Bayford has confirmed that Good is now in Sweden as 
a visiting  professor, though he still wants to return to Botswana. "He has 
lived here for a  while and loves the country," Bayford  said.


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