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| YJAG also calls for the withdrawal
of military officers from the streets (Photo Credit: Lamin Jahateh/FPI/Sept2013) |
The Young Journalists’ Association of The Gambia (YJAG) says it is “gravely concerned and troubled by the current
political deadlock” following outgoing President Yaya Jammeh’s rejection of the
December 1 presidential election results one week after conceding defeat.
Mr. Jammeh’s earlier acceptance of
the outcome of the election earned him commendation from Gambians and non-Gambians
at home and abroad.
“However, the unconstitutional
declaration to annul the results and deem them null and void is a total
disregard to the will of the Gambian people,” YJAG said in a statement on December
20 following an emergency executive meeting.
YJAG President Nfamara Jawneh said Jammeh’s
actions could undermine the peace and security in the country as it could serve
as “a recipe for chaos and disorder.”
“…which undoubtedly, could endanger
the lives of all Gambians particularly the young reporters thus threatening our
cardinal principles of access to information, media freedom and the protection
of welfare of our members,” he said.
Jawneh said young people and media
practitioners are always first victims of conflicts and that YJAG is urging outgoing
President Jammeh to respect the verdict of the Gambian people.
Sulayman Ceesay, secretary general
of YJAG, said apart from the prospects of endangering the lives of young
reporters, Jammeh’s rejection could paralyze and compromise the principles of
journalism and “our ability to access and disseminate information.”
“As young people in the media, whose
mandate include promoting democracy and good governance in the country, YJAG
urges the outgoing President to reconsider his decision and respect the will of
the sovereign people of The Gambia,” Mr. Ceesay said.
YJAG further urges Mr. Jammeh to
accept defeat and peacefully hand over power to President-elect Adama Barrow
unconditionally.
It said it is also concerned about
the deployment of soldiers in strategic locations around the greater Banjul
area which no doubt create fear among the populace including young reporters.
“As such, we call for the withdrawal
of military officers in our streets since we are not at war,” the journalists’
body demanded.
Written by Modou S. Joof
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