Gambia ALERT: Another Gambian journalist threatened and forced into hiding

Modou Lamin Jaiteh, Banjul ( Gambia ) correspondent of the Pan African News 
Agency (PANA), an African news wire service based in Senegal , and a former 
staff reporter of “The Point” newspaper in Banjul has gone into hiding for 
fear of his life.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that persons 
suspected to be working with the feared National Intelligence Agency (NIA) 
have been harassing and accusing him of being associated with the MFWA.

The persecution of Jaiteh is the latest in the growing number of Gambians 
fleeing the repression of journalists that has characterized the 13-year 
rule of President Yahya Jammeh.

The sources said what prompted  Jaiteh’s flight were several calls he 
received on June 29, 2007 from  suspected agents of the NIA, including Dr. 
Sajal Taal, a close confidante of President Jammeh and managing director of 
the Banjul-based  pro-government “Daily Observer” newspaper. Dr. Taal is 
reported to have called Jaiteh to ascertain his relationship with MFWA.

MFWA sources have consistently accused Dr. Taal of masterminding the arrests 
and dismissals of several journalists working at the “Daily Observer”, 
including Chief Ebrima Manneh who has been held incommunicado since July 
2006.

MFWA has been exposing the abuse of press freedom and human rights 
violations in the Gambia .
It has filed a suit at the Community Court of the Economic Community of West 
Africa (ECOWAS) to demand the release of Chief Manneh as part of a campaign 
to end impunity against journalists in the country.



Kwame Karikari, Prof.
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra

Tel:       233-21-24 24 70
Fax:      233-21-22 10 84
Email: [log in to unmask]

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