Reporters Without Borders is appalled by the two-year jail sentences that the Banjul high court passed today on six journalists for alleged sedition and defamation of the government. The six journalists, all leading members of the Gambia Press Union, were immediately taken away to Banjul’s Mile Two prison.
“We will soon run out of words to express our outrage at President Yahya Jammeh’s government and its behaviour towards journalists,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Is it a crime to express an opinion and ask government officials to explain their actions? Appealing for what is regarded as transparency in other countries is a crime punishable by imprisonment in Gambia.”
The press freedom organisation added: “These disgraceful sentences seem like a provocation at time when the US secretary of state is touring Africa to promote good governance. We urge Hillary Clinton to modify her itinerary and make a stopover in Banjul.”
Banjul high court judge Emmanuel Fangbele found the six journalists guilty on six counts including defamation and “seditious publication”. He passed two-year jail sentences on four of the charges and fines of 250,000 dalasis (10,000 US dollars) on the other two counts.
The six journalists were charged in mid-June after issuing a joint statement appealing to President Jammeh to recognise his government’s responsibility in the 2004 murder of leading Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara. They were placed in pre-trial detention in Mile Two prison twice but each time they were then freed on bail.
See the latest release: http://www.rsf.org/President-s-threats-leave.html
The six imprisoned journalists are:
- Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, Gambia Press Union vice-president
- Emil Touray, GPU secretary-general
- Pa Modou Fall, GPU treasurer
- Pap Saine, publisher of the independent newspaper The Point
- Ebrima Sawaneh, The Point editor
- Sam Sarr, editor of the opposition newspaper Foroyaa Reporters sans frontières exprime sa plus profonde révolte après la condamnation à deux ans de prison énoncée le 6 août 2009, par la Haute Cour de Banjul, à l'encontre de six journalistes de l'Union de la presse gambienne (Gambia Press Union – GPU). Notamment reconnus coupables de "diffamation" et de "sédition", ils ont été immédiatement conduits à la prison Mile Two à Banjul, la capitale gambienne.
"Les mots vont bientôt manquer pour qualifier le régime du président Yahya Jammeh et son comportement à l'égard des journalistes. Est-ce un crime d'exprimer une opinion et de demander des comptes aux autorités qui vous gouvernent ? Ce qui est considéré ailleurs comme de la 'transparence' constitue un délit en Gambie, puni d'une peine de prison. Alors que la chef de la diplomatie américaine est en ce moment même sur le sol africain pour vanter les mérites de la 'bonne gouvernance', ce verdict honteux sonne comme une provocation. Nous demandons solennellement à Hillary Clinton d'adapter le programme de sa visite en Afrique pour faire escale à Banjul", a déclaré l'organisation.
- Sam Sarr, rédacteur en chef du journal d'opposition Foroyaa _____________
Ambroise PIERRE
Bureau Afrique / Africa Desk
Reporters sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris, France
Tel : (33) 1 44 83 84 76
Fax : (33) 1 45 23 11 51
Web : www.rsf.org