Calls renewed for Gambia to respect ECOWAS Court decisions

The journalists need a media environment free from intimidation, arbitrary arrests, detention, disappearance, torture, killings and all forms of human rights violations designed to gag the media in The Gambia, the GPU stated. (Photo Credit: Haddija Jawara/Facebook)

The Gambia Press Union, GPU, Saturday renew calls for The Gambia Government to respect two verdicts of the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

 

The call was contained in a solidarity statement that strongly condemned the Ethiopian government’s crackdown and jailing of nine journalists and bloggers in April 2014, while calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

Its 1^st Vice President, Baboucarr Ceesay said: “The solidarity statement for jailed Ethiopian journalists and bloggers cannot be concluded without renewing Gambian journalists call on the government of The Gambia to respect the ECOWAS court’s verdict…

A nurse and journalist who was truly fearless in confronting authority in both Church and State

Mrs Bijou Edith Ernestine Bidwell Nee Peters 1927 – 2014

Bijou Peters (Photo credit: Gamcotrap)

Bijou Edith Ernestine Bidwell Nee Peters was the eldest daughter of the late Mr Lenrie Peters and Mrs Kezia (Broderick) Peters of Bathurst (now Banjul), The Gambia. 

She was born on the 29^th of March 1927 in Freetown, Sierra Leone and educated in her school days at St. Mary’s Anglican Primary School and Methodist Girls High School, under the educationist Mrs Norah Senior, MBE and missionary from Somerset, UK. She was Head Girl and passed the senior Cambridge School Certificate Exam.

She died on February 12, 2014 at 86 years of age. Prayers where held at St. Paul’s Parish Church, Fajara and buried at the Banjul Cemetery on Monday, March 3, 2014.

THE GAMBIA: State of Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression 2013

One unresolved murder, one disappeared, two media houses reopened, one remain closed, several arrests and detentions, four exiled, two on trial and more draconian media laws

The West African country have passed laws that carry up to 15 years of jail term or a fine of three million Dalasi (around 63,250 Euros) or both - for whoever spreads “false news” about the government or public officials on the internet.

The Gambia’s Internet Law: RSF very disturbed, Amnesty International shocked

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)

‘Gambian citizens’ wage concerted efforts to pit security against Government’

Information Minister, Nana Grey Johnson, justified harsh law with claims that Gambians have waged concerted efforts "to pit people and security officials against their Government" (Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES/Globe/FPI)

ICFJ-Gambia Project Closes

ICFJ Country Director Alieu F. Sagnia announced closing of project in The Gambia (Photo Credit: M.S.Joof/TNBES/June 2013)

ANNOUNCEMENT

World Press Freedom Day 2013

Theme: Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media.

Policy Dialogue on Freedom of Expression

Friday 3 May 2013 – TANGO Conference Hall

Organized by GPU, TANGO and ICFJ

PRESS RELEASE