| Foroyaa Editorial:The Answer to Isolation is Expanded Democratisation, Term Limit and Respect for Human Rights It is becoming increasingly clear that The Witch Hunt in the Gambia, the disappearance of Chief Manneh, the rigorous pursuit of libel as a crime which led to the incarceration of journalists for expression of opinions and the issuing of threats of death or harm to perceived dissidents have put the country in focus in domains like ECOWAS, the US Congress, the Commonwealth and the UN. Foroyaa has published all the developments in the International scene for the Government in particular and our readers in general to be aware. We have expected that the Government will direct Ministers or Permanent Secretaries to convene Press Conferences to address all the allegations made against it but this has not materialised. No public figure especially a Head of State could shield himself or herself from scrutiny or criticism. Just look at what is happening to Brown in the UK . He is attacked from all angles in the British Media. However he takes the time to convene Press Conferences and explain his positions in detail with the objective of convincing the electorate. This is what is not happening in The Gambia . Many official Press Releases are being issued by Human Rights defenders which make allegation against the Government. They are simply left to pass without a comment to clarify matters on behalf of Government. What is the use of having a Ministry of Information or a Press and Public Relation\ Officer at the President’s office if he or she is not mandated to receive inquiries and issue Press Releases approved by the President to respond to public concerns. It is common for Press Conferences with the President to be restricted to GRTS and Daily Observer which is sympathetic to the Government. The Cabinet and the National Assembly need to discuss the issue of Governance and Human Rights. The Government is ignoring the Press Releases on issues of Governance and Human Rights at its own detriment. The media is the friend of the public authority who could utilise freedom of expression to defend his or her integrity. It is very evident that leaders in the opposition are the subject of hash media criticism but many of them do rise to the occasion to defend their integrity. The Government should expect that all the issues being raised in the International which Foroyaa is publishing may arise as Gambia’s Human Rights Record come up for review in Geneva in February 2010. It is best for the Government to appoint a special rapporteur to examine all the allegations and pose the questions to the government for answers .Without such preparation and redressing of violations for all to see the government is in for surprises. We hope Foroyaa’s wise council would be put to use. In our view when a Government is threatened with isolation its remedy is to set up a term limit, negotiate an exit strategy, expand the democratic space and empower the people so that they could be the architect of a smooth transfer of political office. One can see the allegation made by the International Humanist and Ethical Union that President Jammeh was behind the witch hunt in The Gambia. Foroyaa will contact the President’s Office for clarification. We hope they will cooperate this time to help the Gambian people to know the truth. |
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