New wave of media repression after African Union summit; journalist missing, believed arrested, another in hiding
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 14 July 2006 CPJ press release: THE GAMBIA: New wave of media repression after African Union summit New York, July 14, 2006 – After a brief respite while hosting the African Union summit, Gambian authorities have resumed a crackdown on the media. One journalist has not been seen since […]
“Daily Observer” journalist still in detention
(MFWA/IFEX) – Malick Mboob, a former “Daily Observer” journalist, is still in National Intelligence Agency (NIA) custody, 42 days after his arrest by the Gambian police force. He has been in arbitrary detention without trial far in excess of the 72 hours that the Gambian 1997 constitution stipulates, since his arrest on 26 May 2006. […]
CAPSULE REPORT: RSF urges journalists covering African Union summit to remember repressive conditions faced by their Gambian colleagues
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF open letter to journalists covering the African Union summit: Dear colleagues, Since you have been sent to Banjul to cover the African Union (AU) summit, Reporters Without Borders suggests that just for a few moments you put yourself in the place of a Gambian journalist and try to […]
Expelled from Botswana in 2005 for critical teachings, professor takes case to African Human Rights and People’s Commission
(MISA/IFEX) – Those who thought Professor Kenneth Good’s case was resolved should brace themselves for a surprise. The drama has now shifted to Banjul, The Gambia, where the indefatigable political science lecturer has lodged a complaint with the African Human Rights and People’s Commission. Deputy Attorney General Abraham Keetshabe has confirmed to MISA that the […]
IPI welcomes Millennium Challenge Corporation’s suspension of The Gambia from list of countries suitable for assistance
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is a 21 June 2006 IPI press release: Vienna, 21 June 2006 IPI Welcomes Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Suspension of Gambia According to information provided to IPI, on 19 June, the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an organisation providing US congressional aid to countries that rule justly and […]
Editor of “Daily Observer” missing, colleagues fear he was arrested
(MFWA/IFEX) – Lamin Cham, a stringer of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in The Gambia, was arrested on 30 May 2006 by the security forces (see IFEX alerts of 6 and 2 June 2006). [Cham was released on 6 June.] Omar Bah, news editor of the privately-owned “Daily Observer” has been missing since 12 June […]
“Independent” reporter Lamin Fatty released on bail
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: THE GAMBIA: Independent reporter released on bail New York, June 12, 2006 – A court in the Gambia freed a reporter on bail today, more than two months after he was detained by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), local sources told the Committee to Protect Journalists. […]
Journalist Lamin Cham released
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has published photographs showing the marks left on the body of a journalist from the blows he received from members of the National Guard while detained earlier this year in Gambia, where two journalists are still in detention. The journalist’s identity and the circumstances of his imprisonment are known to […]
BBC reporter arrested in widening crackdown; one detained journalist released
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 1 June 2006 CPJ press release: THE GAMBIA: BBC reporter arrested in widening crackdown New York, June 1, 2006 – Gambian security officers arrested a local journalist working for the BBC on Tuesday, a local source told the Committee to Protect Journalists. A BBC source in London confirmed that […]
Three journalists detained in crackdown on US-hosted website, two still in custody
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: GAMBIA: Three journalists detained in crackdown on U.S.-hosted Web site New York, May 30, 2006 – At least three local journalists were detained by the Gambia’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on Friday as part of a growing crackdown on the U.S.-based news site Freedom Newspaper, local […]
Detained journalist pleads “not guilty” to charges, editor of same newspaper in hiding
(MFWA/IFEX) – Lamin Fatty, a reporter for the Banjul-based bi-weekly “Independent” newspaper, who has been in police detention for the past seven weeks, was charged with publishing false information on 21 May 2006 by the Gambian Police Force’s Crime Management Squad. While Fatty is yet to be arraigned before a court of law, Musa Saidykhan, […]
Website contributors and sources summoned by police, at least one journalist briefly detained; reporter Lamin Fatty still detained, charged with “spreading false news”
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: THE GAMBIA: Police summon Web site contributors New York, May 26, 2006 – Police in the Gambia on Monday summoned contributors and sources for the U.S.-based Web site Freedom Newspaper (http://www.freedomnewspaper.com). Local sources told the Committee to Protect Journalists today that at least one local journalist […]
Journalist continues in detention without charges; newspaper remains closed, its offices occupied by security forces
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 17 May 2006 CPJ letter to Gambian President Yahya Jammeh: President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh c/o Embassy of the Gambia 1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20005 Via facsimile: (202) 726-1860 Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply troubled by the deterioration of press freedom in […]
Police prevent “Independent” staff from reopening the paper
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 25 April 2006 CPJ press release: THE GAMBIA: Police prevent Independent staff from reopening the paper New York, April 25, 2006 – Two vanloads of police officers prevented The Independent from reopening today and briefly detained an employee who came to unlock the offices of the Gambian private newspaper. […]
“The Independent” allowed to reopen; reporter still held
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 April 2006 CPJ press release: THE GAMBIA: The Independent allowed to reopen; reporter still held New York, April 24, 2006 – Officials at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) today told staff of the private newspaper The Independent that authorities were lifting a month-long occupation of the newspaper’s offices […]
Two journalists released; third still in custody
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: Two Gambian journalists released; third still in custody New York, April 20, 2006 – Two senior journalists from a leading Gambian newspaper were released without charge today after three weeks in the custody of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). Editor Musa Saidykhan and General Manager Madi […]