 |
| Both RSF and AI have criticized the
passing of the new law by The Gambia, a tiny West African country where media
laws have since been described as “draconian”. Information
Minister, Nana Grey Johnson presided over the passing of the Information and Communication (adjusted) Act 2013. (Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES/Globe/FPI) |
The free
press and free expression agency, Reporters Without Borders, RSF, has said it
is very disturbed by The Gambia’s new Information and Communication (amendment)Act 2013 - which imposes lengthy jail term and heavy fines for persons
“spreading false news” on the internet.
While another watchdog Amnesty
International said the new bill takes the restriction of freedom of expression
in The Gambia to a “shocking new level”.
Both agencies have criticized the
passing of the new law by The Gambia, a tiny West African country where media
laws have since been described as “draconian”.
Complete
overhaul
The adjusted Information and
Communication Act 2009 which was passed by the National Assembly in Banjul on
July 3 - allows for a fine of D3 million (about USD$100,000) or imprisonment
for fifteen years or to both fine and imprisonment - to anyone convicted of
using the internet to spread false news about the Government or public
officials.
On Friday, RSF said it was “very disturbed” by amendments to the 2009 Information and Communications Act – the main law limiting freedom of information in The Gambia.
“The amendments to the Information and Communications Act that the Gambian parliament has just adopted aggravate what is already one of Africa’s most repressive laws,” the agency said.
“The authorities are using these amendments to target news providers and crack down on the internet, one of the last spaces for freedom of information in Gambia,” it added. “We call for their immediate withdrawal and a complete overhaul of the law, which already gags the media in the name of state security.”
On Friday, RSF said it was “very disturbed” by amendments to the 2009 Information and Communications Act – the main law limiting freedom of information in The Gambia.
“The amendments to the Information and Communications Act that the Gambian parliament has just adopted aggravate what is already one of Africa’s most repressive laws,” the agency said.
“The authorities are using these amendments to target news providers and crack down on the internet, one of the last spaces for freedom of information in Gambia,” it added. “We call for their immediate withdrawal and a complete overhaul of the law, which already gags the media in the name of state security.”
Shocking new
level
According to Amnesty International,
the new law is an outrageous attack on freedom of expression.
“By attempting to repress dissent even on the internet, the new bill takes the restriction of freedom of expression in The Gambia to a shocking new level,” Amnesty International Africa Deputy Director, Lucy Freeman, said.
Amnesty laments that the new law means a simple cartoon or satirical comedy could carry up to 15 years in jail and a fine of up to of three million Dalasi (about £54,500).
“By attempting to repress dissent even on the internet, the new bill takes the restriction of freedom of expression in The Gambia to a shocking new level,” Amnesty International Africa Deputy Director, Lucy Freeman, said.
Amnesty laments that the new law means a simple cartoon or satirical comedy could carry up to 15 years in jail and a fine of up to of three million Dalasi (about £54,500).
While the bill imposes penalties for
“instigating violence against the government or public officials”, it also
targets individuals who “caricature or make derogatory statements against
officials” or “impersonate public officials”.
The Gambia's Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Infrastructure, Nana Grey-Johnson, said the bill seeks to serve as a deterrent.
The Gambia's Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Infrastructure, Nana Grey-Johnson, said the bill seeks to serve as a deterrent.
“This Bill seeks to provide for the
deterrent punishment of such persons who are engaged in such treacherous
campaigns against The Gambia both internally and outside The Gambia,” he said
last Wednesday shortly before the Assembly approves the new bill.
He claims that “In the recent past, some citizens
have waged concerted efforts to pit the people and the security officials of
The Gambia against their Government.”
The bill is expected to be accented to by
President Yahya Jammeh in the coming days.
That law previously allowed a jail term of not more than six months or a fine of D500 (about USD17) or both.
Written by Modou S. Joof
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