GMB 001 / 0609 / OBS 088
Arbitrary detention / Release on bail / Judicial harassment
The Gambia
June 24, 2009
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), expresses its deepest concern regarding the following situation in The Gambia.
The Observatory has been informed by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) about the arbitrary detention of seven trade union leaders and journalists following the issue of a statement by the Gambia Press Union (GPU) calling on President Yahya Jammeh to accept his Government’s responsibility in the 2004 murder of Mr. Deyda Hydara, Editor of The Point, the country’s only independent daily[1].
According to the information received, on June 15, 2009, Ms. Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, Mr. Emil Touray and Mr. Pa Modou Faal, respectively GPU Vice-President, Secretary General and Treasurer, were summoned by the Gambian National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in Banjul for questioning in relation to the statement published by the GPU in The Point and Foroyaa on June 12. They were subsequently arrested.
The GPU statement that prompted their arrest criticised Gambian President Yahya Jammeh in relation to comments he had made on June 8 on Government television GRTS, denying any State implication in the murder of prominent Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, which remains unpunished as of today. The GPU statement also denounced numerous instances of harassment and intimidation of journalists by the Gambian authorities, and deplored the state of media freedom in the country.
Furthermore, four other journalists were also arrested by NIA officers in plain clothes on June 15, namely Mr. Sam Sarr, Editor of the opposition newspaper Foroyaa, Mr. Abubacarr Saidykhan, Foroyaa reporter, Mr. Ebrima Sawaneh, The Point News Editor, and Mr. Pap Saine, The Point Managing Editor. Messrs. Ebrima Sawaneh and Mr. Pap Saine are also GPU members.
On June 18, 2009, the seven journalists appeared at Kanifing police court and were subsequently charged with “seditious publication”. Messrs. Emil Touray, Pa Modou Fall, Pap Saine and Ebrima Sawaneh, Sam Sarr and Abubakar Saidykhan were then imprisoned in Banjul’s Mile Two jail. Only Ms. Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, mother of a young child, was released on a bail of 200,000 dalasis (about 5, 400 euros).
On June 22, 2009, Messrs. Emil Touray, Pa Modou Fall, Pap Saine and Ebrima Sawaneh, Sam Sarr and Abubakar Saidykhan were brought to Kanifing police court in the Banjul suburbs and all were bailed in the sum of 200,000 dalasis (about 5,400 euros).
However, all the journalists are due to appear in court again on July 7, 2009 for trial on the “seditious publication” charge.
The Observatory urges the authorities of The Gambia to:
Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of The Gambia in your respective country.
Geneva-Paris, June 24, 2009
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need. The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
Tel and fax OMCT + 41 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29
Tel and fax FIDH + 33 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80
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