NEWS "WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL JUSTICE IS DONE ON DEYDA'S MURDER CASE" -SAYS GPU PRESIDENT MADI CEESAY BY PA NDERRY M'BAI & YERO JALLOW(DALTON) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 13, 2005 The President of Gambia Press Union Madi Ceesay, in an exclusive interview told The AllGAMBIAN online Newspaper that they will pursue the murder case of journalist Deyda Hydara come rain, come shine. Madi made these comments before completing his month long visit in the U.S. Mr.Ceesay who was a guest of the U.S State Department was among many other journalists invited from over twenty two countries who took part in the program. Participants of this important forum briefed delegates about the media situations in their respective countries. Rounding up his visit to the US Madi Ceesay, who is also the Managing Editor of The Gambia News and Report weekly Magazine told The ALLGAMBIAN that he is not a journalist who can be intimidated by enemies of freedom."I am not afraid of anything. Whatever I am saying here, I have said things of the same nature while in The Gambia and these are facts inline with the law.", he pointed out. Reaffirming their determination to pursue the killers of the former Banjul Point Newspaper Managing Editor Deyda Hydara, Ceesay added"On Deyda's death, we will not rest until justice is done. We are firmly determined to pursue justice in this high profile murder against our colleague Deyda Hydara. We will we try all avenues to ensure that the said killer(s) are apprehended and brought to book. We are not interested to hear why he was killed, but who killed him. Madi said, it is clearly stipulated in the Gambian constitution that one cannot take someone's life like and go scot free with it. Ceesay added that if the Gambia Government cannot get something done on this case, let them ask for help from the American FBI and Scotland Yard to track Deyda's killer(s). While making an apparent reference to a British subject who was murdered in The Gambia few years, and was a subject of Scotland Yard detective investigation, Madi said thanks to the Scotland Yard the alleged killer was finally traced in Gambia's soil. Ceesay said the Gambian police could not trace the killer, which prompted their counterparts in Scotland to to launch a joined man hunt for the killer, who was later arrested. According to Madi, the twenty-three page NIA so called confidential report on Deyda's death came as a big surprise and shock to them. In another notation Madi also painted a bleak future for The Gambian media saying "we are under hostile environment." He cited many examples, such as the burning of Ebrima Sillah's house, the Independent newspaper, Radio One FM and many other unresolved episodes. Notwithstanding Ceesay says, he put his life on the line to defend press freedom and will not give into any form of intimidation. In his closing remarks, Ceesay challenged Gambians in the diaspora to support the country's local media, arguing that "people should understand that there cannot be any meaningful democracy without free" Madi reminded his colleagues in the diaspora that if Gambian political activists can sponsor politicians back home, why not writing practitioners living abroad to do the same thing. According to Madi, they are badly in need of help to maintain certain facilities at the GPU Secretariat. Madi also expressed delight in talking to Gambian on line writers and called for a closer collaboration with their colleagues in The Gambia. Meanwhile, a media fundraising show coordinated by Joe Sambou is underway. Journalists residing in the United States and outside the United States are asked to contribute each $50 dollars to help their colleagues in The Gambia. ALLGAMBIAN Editor-in-chief, Pa Nderry M'Bai, who is also the former Secretary General of The Gambia Press Union is liaising with Mr.Sambou together Alagi Yorro Jallow to ensure that such a fund raising drive becomes a successful one. The media fund was initiated by the GPU President Madi Ceesay who asked his colleagues in the US to extend financial help to the Press Union. Mr.Ceesay says The Gambian Press needs moral and financial support to do their work effectively. Editorial staffers of The ALLGAMBIAN have welcomed such a brilliant initiative and therefore urged all press freedom defenders to take part in such a worthy cause. Go To Top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2004 AllGambian.Net. 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