Parliament Passes Harsh Media Bill

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
July 25, 2002
Posted to the web July 25, 2002


The Gambian parliament passed a tough media bill on Wednesday, two
months after President Yahya Jammeh refused to sign an earlier version and
returned it to the legislators for amendment.

The bill was passed by 53 votes to three, with members of parliament from
the ruling party castigating the independent media for being "unpatriotic" and
always reporting "the bad side" of the government.

The Gambia Press Union is opposed to the bill, which provides for the
establishment of a media commission with authority equivalent to that of a
high court. The commission would register all reporters, be authorised to
enforce the disclosure of sources and have the power to impose heavy fines
for the publication of "unauthorised government stories". It would also be able
to sentence journalists to jail terms for contempt, close down media houses
for non-compliance with its orders and admit evidence not admissible in
ordinary courts.

The commission, according to the bill, would "ensure the impartiality,
professionalism and independence of the media, promote the establishment
and maintenance of the highest journalistic standards in the mass media
[and] facilitate the registration of newspaper journals and broadcasting
stations in accordance with the constitution".

Jammeh had returned the bill to the house demanding a change in the
proposed mode of selection of members of the commission. The previous
version gave the president the power to appoint the chairman of the media
commission but he wanted an amendment mandating the chief justice to
appoint a high court judge to chair the body.

The Gambia Press Union said on Wednesday that if Jammeh signed the bill
into law it would challenge its consitutionality. The union's chairman, Demba
Jawo, said "some of its provisions are incompatible with the provisions of the
Gambian constitution".

On 13 May, the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers expressed
concern over the media bill saying it posed a threat to press freedom in The
Gambia and should not be enacted.

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