April 23, 2012
(MFWA) - Participants at the NGOs Forum of African Commission on Human and
People’s Right (ACHPR) on April 12, 2012 added their voice to the widespread
condemnation of the Gambian authorities over their deliberate policy of
blocking access to critical online news websites in the country.
Systematically, the Gambia authorities have either attacked the online
news newspapers by hacking into their websites or blocking their IP addresses,
making it impossible for Gambians to access the news sites.
“We the participants of the NGO Forum are deeply concerned at the
continuous blocking of the online newspapers and information websites thereby
denying alternative sources of information to the Gambian public,” said a
resolution adopted at the end of the forum.
“We note with grave concern that the Gambian government continues to
unduly restrict freedom of expression and access to information ...” the
resolution stated.
Both the online newspapers and the mainstream media have suffered
repeated censorships from the authorities. This situation has forced several
independent journalists to flee into exile.
In 2008 for instance, The Gambia
Echo and Freedom Newspaper, two online newspapers, were blocked for
being critical of the administration. In the case of the Freedom Newspaper,
it reported on the alleged corruption and mismanagement at the country's state
telecommunication company.
The participants appealed to the Gambian government to urgently engage
in a comprehensive media law reform and repeal all draconian laws, especially
the criminal defamation, publication of false news and all other anti-freedom
of expression legislation in the country’s law books.
For Information please contact:
Kwame Karikari (Prof)
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-302-24 24 70
Fax: 233-302-22 10 84
Email:
mfwa@africaonline.com.gh
alerts@mediafound.org Kwame Karikari (Prof)
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-302-24 24 70
Fax: 233-302-22 10 84
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