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Gambian journalists petitions Gov't
by PK Jarju
Banjul
Gambian journalists have called on the secretary of state for the Interior, Samba Bah and the Inspector General of Police, Landing 13 Badjie to protect media practitioners to be protected from banditry and impunity.
In a letter sent to the two officials entitled A CALL FOR URGENT INTERVENTION TO END IMPUNITY, a six-man steering committee of the Gambia press Union (GPU) said: " Our hearts are filled with grief and sorrow because we have lost a dear colleague, the late Deyda Hydara, the Managing Editor and Co-proprietor of The Point, who was brutally murdered on 16th December 2004. What right does a person have to separate a husband from his wife, a father from his children, a friend from his loved ones, a colleague from his professional community by sheer brutality and malice?
Sirs, what has motivated us to write this letter to you is the desire for media
practitioners to be protected from banditry and impunity. The media community in particular and indeed the entire nation at large are outraged by the brutish act of criminals who used vehicles without number plates in the dark hours of the night to commit murder and arson with impunity; they continue to issue threats and sign as the GREEN BOYS. This is unacceptable and must be put to a halt.
The trail of abuses can be summed up as follows:
- On the 8th of August 2001, there was an arson attack on Radio 1 FM and its proprietor, George Christensen, came out of it with burns.
- A few days later on the 10th August 2001, there was another arson attack on the home of a staff member of Radio 1 FM.
- On the 13th of April 2004, there were arson attacks on the press house of The Independent, which burned down and disabled their printing machine. Earlier on there was an
attack on the offices of the Independent.
- On the 15th August 2004, there was another arson attack on the home of Ebrima Sillah a BBC reporter.
- On 26th December 2003, a Senior Member of the Bar Mr. Ousman Sillah was shot and seriously injured. He merely escaped death.
- In the case of Deyda Hydara, the perpetrators who may have had enough rehearsals ensured that their target went "six feet deep."
This is intolerable. It cannot and must not continue. Such a trend is inimical to peace and security and constitutes a threat to democracy and law and order.
Section 18 of the Constitution stipulate that "No person shall be deprived of his/her life intentionally ……", we have approached you to get rid of impunity which can destroy the fabric of our society because you are directly responsible for the maintenance of law and order and the prevention and detection of
crime.
In short, Section 179 of the Constitution make the Inspector General of Police responsible for the operation, control and administration of the Police Force whose functions under Section 178 of the Constitution include the preservation of law and order and the prevention and detection of crime.
Furthermore, Section 72 of the Constitution has authorized the President to appoint Secretaries of State to be responsible for such departments of state or other business of government as he may assign to them. According to Gazette Notice 85/2002, the Secretary of State for the Interior is responsible for the Police and maintenance of Internal Security and peace among other matters and according to Section 180 of the Constitution, he/she shall be the Chairperson of the Police Council.
Regrettably, we are obliged at this point to draw your attention to the hard fact
that many of our colleagues have lost faith and confidence in the ability or otherwise of the security forces and the government to put an end to IMPUNITY. We have observed a similar trend in our society at large. Such a scenario is inimical to peace and security and posses a threat to media practitioners.
We do hope that you will leave no stone unturned to trace the perpetrators of the crimes listed above and pave the way for an end to impunity and restoration of public confidence.
Below are concerns and recommendations:
1. Let the President set up a Commission of Inquiry to find out why the Police are unable to conduct investigation and bring the culprits to justice and to urgently seek international assistance if the nation lacks the capacity to carry out the task.
2. Take immediate action to arrest and charge those accused of the arson attacks against
the Independent Newspaper or give the nation the evidence why they are not culpable.
3. Give an immediate order for an end to the utilization of vehicles without number plates to carryout security duties.
4. Set up a mobile patrol team with mobile phone numbers that are accessible to the public so that they can be reached at any time of the night.
5. Be informed that unless such measures are taken, your repeated call for the public to give information will go unheeded.
This is because we strongly believe that you have to take the first step to encourage the public to complement your efforts.
We await your prompt and favourable response.
GPU President Steering Committee Coordinator - Demba Jawo
Steering Committee Members
- Swaebou Conateh
- Sam Sarr
- Ndey Tapha Sosseh
- George Christensen
cc Secretary of State for Communication, Information and Technology
Attorney General and Secretary of State for Justice
Speaker of the National Assembly
The Media
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