Check this out folks!

Source : http://www.freedomforum.org/international/1999/9/27africanpres.asp

Abdoulie Jallow.

2 African presidents claim allegiance to free speech

By Dana G. Williams
World Center

9.27.99

a.. What do you think? Have your say in The Forum.

                        Zambian President Frederick Chiluba.


            ARLINGTON, Va. — Two African presidents said separately today
they were committed to free speech, but actions contradicted words when the
Gambian president's representatives tried to block some people from entering
a discussion here.

            Zambian President Frederick Chiluba and Gambian President Yahya
A.J.J. Jammeh, speaking separately at back-to-back meetings co-sponsored by
the African Correspondents Association, both said their citizens have
freedom of speech.

            But Jammeh said his government would censor the media when it
was a matter of national security. When newspapers and broadcasts insult the
government, the public becomes suspicious and distrustful of its leaders, he
said.

            “I believe in freedom,” Jammeh said. “I can assure the press is
free, as long as the press is responsible.”

            Jammeh's security force tried to stop several people, thought to
be opposed to Jammeh, from attending the meeting by blocking the doors.
Freedom Forum representatives allowed those people to enter the room.

            Fatou Jaw Manneh, a reporter for the Gambian Daily Observer,
said that the National Intelligence Agency, Gambia's national security
organization, tried to prevent her from entering the forum because they told
her she was a "security risk."

            Manneh also said, "Freedom of the press is not as absolute in
Gambia as Jammeh stated.

            "It is a fake democracy. There is no freedom for the press,"
Manneh said. "The government is devious, the country is not stable, and
anyone who writes something about the president can be arrested without an
explanation."


                        Gambian President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh.



            Jammeh's 1996 newspaper decrees #70 and #71 stipulated fines for
independent news organizations that do not register with the government. The
regulations also doubled the price of registration, according to the
Committee to Protect Journalists’ publication, Attacks on the Press in 1998.
These regulations put a hefty financial burden on all independent news
publications in the Gambia.

            Like Gambia, Zambia censors and harasses journalists for
reporting negatively on government actions, according to the CPJ Web site.

            Chiluba denied there were any restrictions on the media.

            "There is freedom of speech, freedom of association, and there
are lots of newspapers running in Zambia," Chiluba said. "But there are laws
that apply to all Zambians, and if those freedoms interfere with a
neighbor's rights, it is an assault."

            With a growing democracy comes more freedom, and more freedom
requires a greater sense of responsibility, Chiluba said. Although Chiluba
insisted the press had freedom, reporters are restricted by laws that apply
to all Zambian citizens. Thus, Zambian reporters are not free to report the
news as they deem fit.

            To Chiluba, it is a matter of respect for fellow Zambians.
Chiluba said the press had a responsibility to research its facts, report
accurately and not to infringe on the rights of others.

            Both presidents expressed concern that their continent is
portrayed in the news as poor, diseased and corrupt. While admitting their
continent and countries suffer economic hardship, Chiluba and Jammeh said
they were committed to the ideas of free speech, free press and freedom of
assembly in their developing democracies.

            After the forum, Manneh and six other Gambian citizens protested
outside of The Freedom Forum against Jammeh's censorship policies. They
termed the Gambian government corrupt, and said the president was not as
open to free speech as he says he is.

            The Gambia is a West African country situated in the middle of
Senegal. Jammeh came to power in 1994 after spending nine years in the
Gambia National Army, which overthrew Sir Dawda Jawara in a bloodless coup,
according to the official Web Site of Gambia.

            Zambia is in southern Africa, north of Zimbabwe. Chiluba became
president of Zambia in 1991. In 1997, he successfully ended a coup attempt
against his political party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy,
according to CPJ.

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