CPJ protests arrest of three journalists
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is protesting in the strongest terms against the recent arrest of three journalists from “The Independent” newspaper. **Updates IFEX alerts of 28 July and 26 July 1999** Officers of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) arrested Baba Galleh Jallow and Yorro Jallow, editor-in-chief and managing editor, respectively, of “The Independent”, on the evening […]
WAJA protests newspaper suspension
(WAJA/IFEX) – The following is a WAJA statement on the suspension of “The Independent” newspaper: **Updates IFEX alert of 26 July 1999** WAJA STATEMENT ON SUSPENSION OF THE INDEPENDENT OF GAMBIA The West African Journalists Association has protested in very strong terms to Gambian Justice Minister Fatou Bensouda for the suspension of The Independent, a […]
Newspaper suspended
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Gambian Justice Minister Fatou Bensouda, RSF has expressed its concern about the suspension of the private bi-weekly “The Independent”. RSF urged the minister to “clarify this decision.” RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard added: “We do hope that the newspaper will be authorised to resume publication as soon as possible.” According […]
CPJ protests continued closure of independent radio station, repressive media legislation
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 17 June 1999 CPJ letter addressed to the President of Gambia: **Updates IFEX alerts of 17 June 1999. For further background information, see IFEX alerts of 19 May, 20 April, 3 March, 19 February, 13 February and 9 February 1998** President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh State House Banjul The Gambia […]
Government media control criticised
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: **For background information, see IFEX alerts of 19 May, 20 April, 3 March, 19 February, 13 February and 9 February 1998** London, Johannesburg and Banjul: 17 June 1999 THE GAMBIA: INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS GROUP CRITICISES GOVERNMENT MEDIA CONTROL, FOOTDRAGGING ON RADIO CENSORSHIP CASE As the […]
Gambian newspaper staff detained
(IFJ/IFEX) – According to IFJ, Theophilus George, managing director, Baba Galeh Jallow, editor-in-chief, and Demba Jawo, news editor, all of the “Daily Observer”, were arrested on Sunday 30 August. They were detained in connection with an article published in the “Daily Observer” about the discovery of armoured cars and an armoury behind a collapsed wall […]
ARTICLE 19 protests harassment of independent press
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is the full text of a letter dated 19 May 1998, from ARTICLE 19 to His Excellency Colonel (Retd.) Yahya Jammeh, President of the Second Republic of The Gambia: ARTICLE 19 is writing to express our deep concern about continued harassment of the independent press by the Gambian authorities. We […]
Newspaper office raided; staff members detained
(PEN/IFEX) – According to PEN American Center, on 26 April 1998, officials from the Gambian Immigration Department, the National Intelligence Agency and the police raided the news bureau of “The Daily Observer” newspaper while it was in production. While the officials apparently came looking for writers and editors who had already left for the day, […]
Radio owner on trial
(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is most concerned about the case of Baboucar Gaye, the proprietor of Citizen FM, and the continued closure of his radio station. **Updates IFEX alerts of 3 March, and 9, 13 and 19 February 1998** Baboucar Gaye and Ebrima Sillah, news editor of Citizen FM, were arrested by members of the National […]
Continued lockout of radio station
(RSF/IFEX) – According to RSF, on 7 February 1998, authorities closed radio Citizen FM, officially citing Citizen FM’s failure to pay the US$ 2,500 licensing fee as the reason for the closure. Since then, members of the Police Intervention Unit have been impeding access to the premises of the radio station, which is shared by […]
Journalist charged; continued closure of radio station
CPJ/IFEX) – On 12 February 1998, Baboucar Gaye, proprietor of the Citizen FM radio station, was charged with operating an unlicensed radio station. No court date has been set for Gaye. Citizen FM remains off the air. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 9 and 13 February 1998** Background Information Gaye and Ebrima Sillah, news editor of […]
Renewed detention of journalist; continued closure of radio station
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – According to ARTICLE 19, Baboucar Gaye, proprietor of Citizen FM radio, was detained on 10 February 1998, and the enforced closure of the radio station continued on 11 February 1998. Background Information Gaye was arrested, along with Ebrima Sillah, news editor of Citizen FM radio, by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on […]
Two journalists arrested; radio station closed
(IPI/IFEX) – On 5 February 1998, Boubacar Gaye and Ebrima Sillah, the proprietor and news editor respectively of Citizen FM radio, were arrested by members of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and brought to NIA headquarters for questioning. The following day, NIA officials and more than a dozen armed soldiers sealed off the Citizen FM […]
Ghanaian journalist expelled
(RSF/IFEX) – On 1 November 1997, Muhamed E. Seade, editor-in- chief of the privately-owned newspaper the “Daily Observer”, was expelled from The Gambia by the immigration department. No official reason has been given so far. Seade is from Ghana and had worked for the “Daily Observer” since 1995. Following the 1994 deportation of Kenneth Best, […]
Journalist Bruce Asemota flees The Gambia after continued harassment
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 23 and 8 May 1996** On 5 June 1996, Bruce Asemota, a reporter for the independent “Daily Observer”, fled The Gambia. He was arrested at the border town of Andali by officials of the Gambian National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and was beaten; he now sustains an injury to his left leg. […]
“The Point” journalist Ansumano Badjie (m) in hiding
Ansumano Badjie, senior reporter for the independent newspaper, “The Point”, has gone into hiding. Badjie was sent to cover the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council’s (AFPRC) two-week tour of its rural projects, from 3 to 15 June. When the entourage arrived in the rural city of Soma on 13 June, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) […]