Gambia Government Exercises Right To Freedom Of Expression

                 Says Senegal Is Everything But Hostile

Read on behalf of The Gambia Government by Dr. Njogou L. Bah, secretary general and head of the Civil Service

Our position since 1994 has been and will always be to work harmoniously with the Government and people of Senegal for the rapid socio-economic development of our two peoples who are one people divided by the unfortunate colonialism; a big disaster that befell the African continent and other parts of the World like Asia. To this end, both Gambians and Senegalese stand as living witnesses to our numerous Multi Million Dollar projects contracted to Senegalese companies up to date.  In addition to the above, the Government went a step further to treat Senegalese Citizens in The Gambia just like Gambians, by waiving certain taxes that foreigners in The Gambia have to pay.

Gambia UPDATE: Jailed opposition campaign manager freed

December 17, 2010

Femi Peters, UDP Campaign Manager

Femi Peters, a Gambian opposition politician jailed for organizing a public rally without permission was on December 10, 2010 freed without condition.

Although there has not been an official reason for his release, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that it might be due to his ill health.

The sources said Peters, a diabetic patient has been suffering from continuous malaria attack and it has become a subject of international campaign for his release.

Gambian editor tortured under dictatorship of President Jammeh wins case at the ECOWAS Court

Former Editor of The Independent, Musa Saidykhan

The ECOWAS Community Court confirmed on December 16, 2010 that Musa Saidykhan, the former editor-in-chief of the banned Banjul-based, The Independent newspaper was tortured by President Yahya Jammeh’s security agents while in detention in 2006.

The regional court also ruled that his arrest and subsequent detention by the authorities were illegal and violated his right to personal liberty and fair hearing as guaranteed by Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

The three-member panel therefore awarded him damages of two hundred thousand US dollars (US$200,000) far below the two million US dollars (US$2,000,000.00) that Saidykhan requested.

As journalist charged to court, Police brutality on media again

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Sierra Leone Association of Journalists

1^st Floor, 56 Campbell Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone P.M.B. 724,

Website: www.slaj.sl; Email: slaj.salone@gmail.com

President: +232 76/77/33 609285, Ag Secretary-General +232 76 460423/033 533547

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Date: 24 December 2010

PRESS RELEASE

As journalist charged to court,

Police brutality on media again

Senior Journalist Preaches Journalism to Aspiring Writers Club

Presentation By Mamadou Edrisa Njie Second Vice President Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG), Senior Staff Writer  of  The Gambia News and Report Magazine Weekly at a day-long Training on Journalism for St Joseph Senior Secondary School in Banjul  18 December 2010.

The importance of information cannot be over emphasized. The capabilities of a well informed people cannot be compared to those who have been kept in ignorance. All of us need information to make important decision whether we are educationists, economists, business persons, or ordinary people. To talk when information is lacking is like talking for the sake of saying nothing. Information is indeed power.