Yus, thanks for this forward.  The only recourse the press and all well
meaning Gambians have is to refused to be muzzled by forming a united front
against this bill and it's backers.  I do not have any faith that the courts
will take up any such case should the victims seek redress from this
Kangaroo gang.  It is our responsibility, all of us, to see to it that we
put up a fight to repeal the entire bill or the restrictive clauses theirin.
  We can only be enslaved if we as a people accept the conditions of those
that wished to enslave us.  Let us stand up with our brothers and sisters of
the press and say no to this abuse by the legislature.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>From: "Yusupha  C. Jow" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Media Bill Passed - A Bloody Shame
>Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 10:43:31 EDT
>
>Gambian parliament passes tough media bill
>
>
>BANJUL, May 3 (Reuters) - Gambia's parliament passed a media bill which
>critics say will muzzle reporters, just minutes before World Press Freedom
>Day on Friday.
>
>The bill passed late on Thursday is the latest of a string of media laws in
>Africa sponsored by governments accused by press watchdogs of trying to
>introduce subtle forms of censorship.
>
>Gambia's new law sets up a 10-member commission charged with issuing
>licences
>to media organisations in the tiny West African country. The body can try,
>fine or imprison journalists who work without a proper licence or write
>what
>it deems as inaccurate stories.
>
>The government of President Yahya Jammeh, whose supporters have all but
>three
>of parliament's 53 seats, says the bill will ensure the impartiality,
>independence and professionalism of journalists in the former British
>colony.
>
>But the president of Gambia's press union criticised the bill as "a very
>bad"
>one. "It's a visible threat to press freedom in this country," Demba Jawo
>said.
>
>Friday is World Press Freedom Day, meant to remind people of the principles
>of a free press and the difficulties journalists face. Gambia is one of a
>number of African countries passing or planning to laws to restrict press
>freedoms, editors say.
>
>Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontieres says 2001 was the
>worst
>year for African journalists since the early 1990s, with 180 reporters
>arrested compared to 150 in 2000.
>
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