UDP Welcomes The Release Of Six Jailed 
Gambian Journalists
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE RELEASE OF THE SIX JOURNALISTS
The United Democratic Party has learnt of the release of the six Gambian journalists: Pap Saine, Managing Editor of the Point newspaper, Ebrima Sawaneh, News Editor of Point Newspaper, Mr. Sam Sarr, Managing Editor of the Foroyaa newspaper, and three Executive officials of The Gambia Press Union, Mrs. Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, Emil Touray and Pa Modou Faal. The release was the result of a presidential pardon according to the GRTS announcement.
This unfortunate saga which has come to an end with the release, has shown above anything else the sacrifice and plight of the men and woman. Of the Press and the sacrifice they inevitably have to make in carrying out their thankless and altruistic job of reporting news and views to the general public.
The experience, to them and particularly the families they left behind, can only be fathomed when we realize that this is the month of Ramadan with all that the month comports for peace, friendship, selflessness and forgiving. They have endured their ordeal with dignity and sense of fatality with the knowledge that our hearts were with them. We welcome this wonderful news and we congratulate the journalists and their families for steadfastness in those trying times.
In as much as we welcome the President’s gesture as a step in the right direction, it would even be more meaningful if it were to be followed, in the same spirit, by a total release of all political prisoners including Kanjiba Kanji, the UDP Kombo East Constituency Secretary who has not been seen or heard of since his abduction on the eve of the 2006 National Assembly elections.
UDP Secretariat
Banjul, the Gambia,
5th September, 2009