Gambian court detains seven journalists again Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:19am EDT
BANJUL, July 3 (Reuters) - Gambia's High Court jailed seven journalists who
were out on bail after being charged with sedition and has brought new
charges against them, legal sources said on Friday.
The arrests have been condemned by global press freedom groups and have
increased the concerns of Western donors about the West African country. The
journalists were initially arrested after the Gambia Press Union issued a
statement last month that was critical of the government's treatment of the
media, especially after the unexplained death of veteran reporter Deyda
Hydara in 2004.
Having been freed on bail last week, the group of journalists was due to
face the charges on July 7. But they were summoned to Banjul's High Court on
Friday, which has remanded them in Mile Two prison until Wednesday, lawyers
said.
"It came as a complete surprise to all of us. No legal reason was given," a
legal source told Reuters, asking not to be named.
"More or less the same charges were replicated in the High Court in Banjul,
with two additional charges," he added.
A second legal source, who also asked not to be named, confirmed that the
journalists had been sent back to prison and said the additional charges
included criminal defamation.
Those charged include three members of the press union, two reporters from
The Point newspaper and two journalists working for Foroyaa newspaper. One
of the journalists for The Point, Pap Saine, also reports for Reuters.
Gambia has long been criticised for its treatment of journalists but
watchdog Reporters Without Borders said the current case had taken the
harassment to unprecedented levels.
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