Thursday, June 18 2009 
19:00HRS 
GPU EXECUTIVE, OTHERS IN REMAND 
HALIFA SALLAH, ABBA GIBBA ARRESTED 
Three members of the Gambia Press Union Executive Emil Touray, Secretary General; Sarata Jabbi Dibba, Vice President and Pa Modou Faal, Treasurer together with Pap Saine, Ebrima Sawaneh, Sam Sarr and journalists of the The Point and Foroyaa newspapers were today, shortly after 4pm GMT remanded in Mile Two. 
The group, who pleaded not guilty, were charged with three counts of 1) Conspiracy to publish sedition publication contrary to Section 368 of Criminal Code 2) Publishing seditious publication Contrary to Section 51, Sub Section 1 A  re, together Section 52, sub section 1C of Criminal Code engaging Foroyaa and 3) Publishing Seditious Publication Contrary to Section 51 Sub Section 1 A re, together Section 52, sub section 1C of Criminal Code engaging The Point. 
They are said to have been dragged to the Kanifing Magistrate’s shortly after the 7 hour constitutionally permitted detention limit closing without informing GPU lawyers. 
Halifa Sallah, board member of Foroyaa was tricked into arrest when NIA called him earlier this afternoon, asking him to visit their offices in order to sign bail conditions for Foroyaa Editor, Sam Sarr.  Upon reaching the NIA, Mr Sallah was detained.  So far, no reasons have been forwarded for his detention as neither Counsel nor family have had access to him. 
Abba Gibba, an assistant editor at The Point Newspaper was also picked up from the paper’s premises around midday today when Intelligence Agents stormed the paper demanding how and why the paper was being published despite the fact that its Publisher, Pap Saine and Editor, Ebrima Sawaneh, were in State custody. 
This latest twist to this saga further demonstrates the lengths to which the Gambian Authorities go to twist the laws of The Gambia in their quest to silence divergent views, to silence objectivity and to stifle freedom of expression and opinion.  
An ill conceived move. What a shame! 
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out!
http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_012009
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤