radioavg.com

You are at: Home

Newsflash

******** Gambian High Court remands seven journalists after government presses more charges ********The journalists were earlier on granted bail by a lower court in �Kanifing Municipality� but that decision was set aside by Justice Joseph Wowo ******** Justice Wowo revoked the bail saying the journalists should not have been released without a �written bail application� ******** He therefore ordered that the seven journalists be remanded at Gambia�s �Mile Two Central Prisons� until July 8th when the case is expected to continue ******** ******** Gambian opposition leader, Halifa Sallah has called on authorities in Banjul to uphold the constitution ******** Speaking from Banjul, Sallah said the Gambian state is "the property of the people" and not those in authority ******** He urges government to allow the media to operate freely and accept "divergent views" ******** ********

African Journalists' summit outlines strategies to roll back impunity and defend journalists

Leaders of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the African regional organisation of the International Federation of Journalists, strongly condemned at their biannual meeting in Djibouti on June 23rd, the unsafe and precarious working conditions of journalists in Africa.

During the meeting, hosted by the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) and supported by the American Centre for International Labour Support (Solidarity Centre), the FAJ leadership body was joined by leaders of the sub-regional groups of journalists' trade unions in Central Africa, Southern Africa, Northern Africa, West Africa and Eastern Africa to discuss the protection, monitoring and promotion of the rights of African journalists.

Leading African Journalists at a Summit in Djibouti

ECOWAS Court Dismisses Gambian Government Objection

The ECOWAS Community Court hearing the case of torture brought by Musa Saidykhan, a Gambian journalist against the operatives of the Gambia's notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA), on June 30, 2009 dismissed the preliminary objections raised by the Gambian government, the defendant in the case.

According to the Community court, Saidykhan is a citizen of West Africa and that the court is mandated by the ECOWAS protocol to hear human rights violation cases brought before it.

Musa Saidykhan displaying tortured marks

Another Point Journalist Arrested As GPU 3, Others Get Bail

Emil Touray, Sarata Jabbi Dibba, Pa Modou Faal, together with Pap Saine, Ebou Sawaneh, Sam Sarr, Abubacarr Saidy Khan of The Point and Foroyaa newspapers were today granted bail by Magistrate Sainabou Wadda of the Kanifing Magistrate�s Court.

The seven GPU members charged with Conspiracy to publish seditious publication and publishing seditious information were Monday June 22, 2009 granted bail at the sum of D200, 000 each with two Gambian sureties and two landed properties.

Pape Saine: one of the journalists bailed

Similar bail conditions were given to Sarata Jabbi-Dibba last Thursday whilst all other six were remanded in state central prisons Mile Two.

The seven journalists arrested since Monday 15 June 2009 and detained at the NIA office in Banjul for three days before their first court appearance Thursday 18 June 2009. They were charged in the absence of their lawyers, denied bail and subsequently remanded, except Mrs Sarata Jabbi-Dibba who was granted bail the same day.

The accused persons declined to take their plea, arguing that they have not spoken to their lawyers. Lawyer Lamin Camara, counsel for the accused persons was not given access to his clients prior to their appeartance in Court today.

The case was adjourned to July 7.

Augustine Kanja of the Point newspaper was today arrested outside the Court premises whilst preparing to take pictures.

Hundreds of Gambians including, journalists and family members of the accused journalists were asked out of the court premises which was heavily guarded by military personnel, armed in riot gear.

The UK High Commissioner and US Ambassador to The Gambia were present in Court.

The Banjul/Serrekunda highway, leading to the Court house was blocked.

GPU, GAMBIAN JOURNALISTS UNDER SIEGE

The Gambia Press Union wishes to express its most profound disappointment over the National Intelligence Agency questioning of three of its senior Executive members namely, Emil Touray, Secretary General; Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, Vice President and Pa Modou Faal, Treasurer who have spent all day today at the National Intelligence Agency Headquarters were they are being questioned.

Ndey Tapha Sosseh: GPU President

NIA detains three GPU executives and editor over a press release on Deyda Hydara

The National Intelligence Agency (NIA), political police of President Yahya Jammeh today, June 15, 2009 began interrogating three executive members of the Gambian Press Union (GPU) and a newspaper editor over a press release that the GPU issued on June 12.
Lire la suite...

Government raises objection in trial of tortured journalist

SOURCE: Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Accra

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 30 June 2009, the ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja, Nigeria, hearing the case of Musa Saidykhan, a Gambian journalist allegedly tortured while in custody of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), will give its ruling on a preliminary objection raised by the Gambian government, the defendant in the case.

Tortured journalist Musa Saidykhan displaying totured marks on his body

MFWA�S REACTION TO GAMBIAN GOVERNMENT�S STANCE ON CHIEF EBRIMAH MANNEH�S DISAPPEARANCE

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is a non-government organization incorporated in the Republic of Ghana with the object of defending and promoting freedom of expression and of the media and the rights of journalists in the West African sub-region. In April 2007, the Media Foundation for West Africa for and on behalf of Chief Ebrimah Manneh brought an action at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice against the Government of the Republic of the Gambia, claiming the following reliefs:

Missing Journalist Ebrima Manneh's Family with GPU members

CHIEF MANNEH �DISAPPEARANCE� � A CHANGE OF STRATEGY

Letters of solidarity for Chief Ebrima Manneh

Letters of Solidarity for Missing Journalist Manneh

The Gambia Press Union wishes to publicly express its determination and continued resolve to bring to a successful outcome, the issue of the whereabouts of Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh. We are indeed saddened that it has taken the Gambia Government, 2 (two) Years, to be more specific, 1001 (one Thousand and One) Days since his disappearance on July 2007 and a ten month silence following the ECOWAS Court Verdict of the year long, Chief Ebrima Manneh/The Gambia Government court case for a senior Government Official to make public mention of their stance on the issue of the State’s involvement in the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh. It is rather unfortunate that the Gambia Government, in the entirety of the ECOWAS Court Proceedings failed to appear even though it was given the opportunity to defend Herself. As has already been pointed out, “the State can only release a person from custody, if he or she is in fact in the custody of the State.”

About us

Radio Alternative Voice for Gambians (AVG) is a new creation by Gambians and NGOs interested in Human Rights as a whole and freedom of expression in particular. Its main objective is to provide the Gambian people an alternative means of accessing information that is impartial and independent. Access to such information will enable citizens to make informed choices regarding the political, economic, social and cultural development of their country. Read more >>>