Hello, Jabou, I saw this online somewhere today, but can't remember where. If this isn't going to show the international community Jammeh's true colors, then I don't know what will. Ginny ----- Original Message ----- From: <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 4:14 PM Subject: Fwd: Jammeh denied free expression group from holding conference!!! Breaking News-AU Summit failure begins as Jammeh denied free expression group from holding conference!!! JOINT ACTION: NGOs protest government's barring of forum on freedom of expression Country/Topic: The Gambia Date: 23 June 2006 Source: Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Person(s): Target(s): Type(s) of violation(s): Urgency: Threat (MFWA/IFEX) - The following is a joint statement by MFWA and several other IFEX members, as well as other organizations: Free expression and journalist organisations prevented from holding a Forum on freedom of expression in The Gambia Dakar, June 23, 2006: The Coordinating Committee set up by the government of The Gambia to oversee the African Union (AU) Summit has barred civil society organizations on the continent from holding a forum on freedom of expression in the country. The forum was scheduled to take place in Banjul, the capital, on June 29 and 30, prior to the Summit. In a letter sent on June 19, 2006 to "The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations" (TANGO) and copied to the Kombo Beach Hotel, which had been booked as venue for the Forum, the General Coordinator of the Summit, Mr. Bolong Sonko, who is also a former Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia, told the hotel management to suspend the freedom of expression forum until the government approves it. The Gambian government therefore effectively stopped the NGOs from holding the forum. We view the Gambian government's action as a declaration of its hostility to human rights. It is also a violation of the Constitutive Act of the African Union. It is unacceptable for the Gambian authorities to attempt to subject an NGO forum, particularly one aimed at discussing an issue as fundamental as the right to freedom of expression, to governmental approval. The freedom of expression forum was singled out for obstruction by the Gambian authorities. Other civil society meetings focused on less "sensitive" issues have been given the green light to proceed. This action indicates clearly that the "topic" of the forum, which is "Freedom of Expression in Africa", poses a major threat to the Gambian government, whose preoccupation appears to be how to polish its image with the African Union Summit. It is a clear testimony to the fact that President Yahya Jammeh's government is afraid of the possibility of NGOs using the AU Summit to criticise his regime's widespread violation of human rights. In recent months, since the government announced the foiling of an alleged attempted coup d'彋at, President Jammeh's much-dreaded security agents have arrested scores of Gambian citizens, including journalists, lawyers, members of his own government and army, and even the speaker of the Gambian Parliament. The state of fear imposed on the people of The Gambia is such that citizens are afraid to have any conversation whatsoever about public affairs. The regime has closed down several newspapers and radio stations, and has frightened and gagged most of the newspapers not yet closed. It is for this reason that the Network of African Freedom Expression Organisations (NAFEO) declared President Jammeh's government "the most violent violator of press freedom in West Africa" today, and The Gambia one of the six "hotspots" of freedom of expression violations in Africa. The African Union offers a new framework for good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law. It is therefore unacceptable and intolerable that, despite being the host of the African Union Summit, the Gambian government persists in silencing free speech and trampling on the basic rights of Gambians. Demands: Accordingly, the signatories to this Statement hereby: 1. denounce and protest the Gambian government's high-handed action and violent repression of human rights in The Gambia; 2. call on the leaders of democratic governments attending the Banjul Summit to reject the Gambian government's action against the planned freedom of expression forum; 3. demand that the AU makes it obligatory on any host government to permit civil society organisations to organise their forums during all AU-authorised events, including summits; 4. demand of leaders of democratic governments attending the Banjul Summit that they condemn the widespread and unending violent attacks on human rights in the Gambia. 5. call on the Heads of State and Governments of the AU to take urgent steps to ensure that the Gambian government respects its obligations under international human rights law. BACKGROUND: The Freedom of Expression forum was planned ahead of the African Union Summit by ARTICLE 19, in partnership with the Gambia Press Union (GPU), Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), The All Africa Editors Forum (TAEF), Panos Institute for West Africa (PIWA), The Inter African Network for Women, Media, Gender Equity and Development (FAMEDEV), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)-Africa Office, the West African Journalist Association (WAJA), Highway Africa Conference, SAB Miller Chair of Media and Democracy and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and other member organizations of the Network of African Freedom of Expression Organisations (NAFEO). The aim of the Forum is to provide in-depth knowledge of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa and other African Union mechanisms, including the African Peer Review Mechanism. The Forum will focus on how these mechanisms can be utilised at the national and regional levels to strengthen freedom of expression. It will also address key freedom of expression challenges and highlight the threats in many parts of the continent. The Forum will also seek to reinforce the work of existing freedom of expression and journalists' networks in Africa and to encourage them to utilise the mechanisms of the African Regional Human Rights System. Signed by: ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression The Gambia Press Union (GPU) Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) The All Africa Editors Forum Panos Institute for West Africa (PIWA) The Inter African Network for Women, Media, Gender Equity and Development (FAMEDEV) The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)-Africa Office West African Journalist Association (WAJA) The Highway Africa Conference The SAB Miller Chair of Media and Democracy Media Rights Agenda (MRA) The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos National Council for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT) The Network of African Freedom of Expression Organisations (NAFEO) MORE INFORMATION: In another development, the International press watch dog IFEX reported about the Botswanan professor who was expelled by his government because of critical teachings. Please read on.... Expelled from Botswana in 2005 for critical teachings, professor takes case to African Human Rights and People's Commission Country/Topic: The Gambia Date: 22 June 2006 Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Person(s): Kenneth Good Target(s): academic(s) Type(s) of violation(s): expelled Urgency: Bulletin (MISA/IFEX) - Those who thought Professor Kenneth Good's case was resolved should brace themselves for a surprise. The drama has now shifted to Banjul, The Gambia, where the indefatigable political science lecturer has lodged a complaint with the African Human Rights and People's Commission. Deputy Attorney General Abraham Keetshabe has confirmed to MISA that the Botswana government has been hauled before the commission by Good, who was deported from Botswana in 2005 for lecturing critically on national affairs. "Some two weeks ago, I was in Banjul defending the Republic of Botswana in relation to a complaint that was lodged by Professor Good. He is basically challenging the presidential decision to declare him a prohibited immigrant. Our position is that he has no legitimate complaint," said Keetshabe. Keetshabe also said his legal team has raised a preliminary point arguing that Good's case should be declared inadmissible. The government is waiting for a ruling on this preliminary point. Although he did not travel to represent Good in Banjul, Dick Bayford, who is the instructing attorney in the matter, said he was aware that the case is before the African Commission. He said that they have instructed the lawyer Anton Katz and, due to cost considerations, could not travel with him to Banjul. He said Good's complaint is motivated by the realisation that Botswana has certain obligations under the African Human Rights Charter and the International Convention on civil and political rights. "Being a signatory to these treaties, Botswana is under obligation to incorporate, into national laws, aspects that would give effect to the tenor and spirit of these treaties. In instances where the national laws are found to be in disagreement with these international instruments, the state would have to cancel or repeal such laws." In his view, Good's argument is bound to succeed because Botswana has failed to fulfill its obligations by having in its laws the Immigration Act, a provision that gives the president the right to expel an individual from Botswana without affording that person the right to challenge the decision before any court of law. Bayford said he was hopeful that Good would win the case. "Based on similar cases, the bulk of which we have relied upon, the trend is that the commission would find the Botswana government to be in breach. In a similar case, the commission found the Republic of Zambia to have been in breach." Both Bayford and Keetshabe said the decision of the commission is not binding. "We know the decision would not be binding and, as such, the case is purely for political and moral persuasion." "The Botswana government is known as a compliant state and they would not want to be declared a rogue state," Bayford said. Meanwhile, Bayford has confirmed that Good is now in Sweden as a visiting professor, though he still wants to return to Botswana. "He has lived here for a while and loves the country," Bayford said. 中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中 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] 中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中 中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中 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] 中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中中