H.E. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh
Chairman – Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Counciland Head of State
c/o Embassy of the Republic of The Gambia
1424 K Street, NW (Suite 600)
Washington, DC 20005
Fax: (202) 785.1430
Your Excellency:
We were relieved to hear of the release on bail last week of six Gambian journalists jailed in late June for issuing a statement critical of Your Excellency. But given Gambia’s recent record of harassment, our hopes of a just resolution of their case are not high.
The journalists — secretary general of Gambia Press Union Emil Touray, GPU treasurer, Pa Modou Fall, The Point publisher, Pap Saine, The Point editor, Ebrima Sawaneh, Foroyaa editor Sam Sarr and Foroyaa reporter, Abubakar Saidykhan — were released only a day after two of their colleagues were arrested yesterday, and seven others were charged with “seditious publication.” Pap Saine is said to be in severely bad health.
Over the recent crack-down on free expression in Gambia, hovers the ghost of Deyda Hydara, editor of The Point and widely regarded as the country’s leading journalist before his murder in December, 2004. Two separate investigations by Reporters Without Borders (RWF/RSF) indicated a strong link to Gambian security services in Hydara’s killing. On June 12, the Gambian Publisher’s Union issued its own report calling on your government to accept responsibility in the Hydara’s murder. Within a week, the arrests of our colleagues began, including five officials and members of the GPU.
Meanwhile, this month, marks three years since the disappearance of “Chief” Ebrima Manneh, a reporter for the Daily Observer. Manneh was arrested in 2006 by government security agents. Since then, your government has alternated between denying knowledge of his detention and resisting calls for his release.
It is a sad litany. The confused prosecution of Gambian colleagues will only fuel the outcry around the world on their behalf. Your Excellency, we add our voice to that outcry.
Respectfully yours,
Larry Martz
Kevin McDermott
Co-Chairmen – Freedom of the Press Committee
cc:
Minister Counselor Musa Mboob
Chargé d’Affaires
Embassy of the Republic of The Gambia
1424 K Street, NW , Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
Fax: (202) 785.1430
Ambassador Crispin Grey-Johnson
Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of the Republic of The Gambia
to the United Nations
800 Second Avenue, Suite 400-F
New York, NY 10017
Fax: (212) 856.9820
H.E. Barry L. Wells
U.S. Ambassador to Gambia
Embassy of the United States of America
Kairaba Avenue, Fajara
P.M.B. 19
Banjul
The Gambia
Fax: (011.220) 439.2475
Halifa Sallah
Foroyaa Newspaper
P.O. Box 2306
Serrekunda
The Gambia
Tel: (011.220) 439.3177
The Point Newspaper
2 Garba Jahumpa Road
Fajara
The Gambia
Fax: (011.220) 449.7442
Ebrima Manneh
The Daily Observer Company (Gambia) LTD.
Sait Matty Junction, Bakau
P. M. B. 131
Banjul
The Gambia
Gambia Press Union
78 Mosque Road, Serekunda
P.O. Box 1440, Banjul
The Gambia
Tel/Fax: (011.220) 437.7020
E-mail: gpu@qanet.gm
Terry Modglin
Executive Director
Youth Crime Watch of America
9200 South Dadeland Boulevard, Suite 417
Miami, FL 33156
USA
Fax: 305-670-3805
Email: ycwa@ycwa.org