(MFWA/IFEX) – During the early morning hours of 15 August 2004, BBC Banjul correspondent Ebrima Sillah’s house was set ablaze by suspected arsonists. Sillah, who was alone in the house, was sleeping when the arsonists attacked. According to MFWA sources in The Gambia, the incident occurred in Sillah’s home village of Jamburu, 30 km southwest […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – During the early morning hours of 15 August 2004, BBC Banjul correspondent Ebrima Sillah’s house was set ablaze by suspected arsonists. Sillah, who was alone in the house, was sleeping when the arsonists attacked.
According to MFWA sources in The Gambia, the incident occurred in Sillah’s home village of Jamburu, 30 km southwest of the capital, Banjul. The attackers reportedly doused the house’s sitting room with petrol before setting it on fire.
Upon noticing the fire, Sillah jumped out of a window and fled. He suffered partial burns to his body. Personal belongings in the house, including a new laptop computer and accessories supplied by the BBC, were all gutted by the fire. Other items destroyed in the fire included a television set, furniture and clothing. No arrests have been made.
The attack came barely one month after President Yahya Jammeh warned “opposition journalists” to be careful not to misquote him as they would “pay a high price should they err.” The president had alleged that some journalists in the country were members of the opposition. He made the allegation while addressing a rally in Banjul as part of celebrations of his 10 years in power.
Prior to the arson attack on Sillah, Gambia Press Union President Demba Jawo received an anonymous threatening letter. Jawo’s wife found the letter, which was placed at the gate of his house, on the morning of 7 August.
The letter bore no address, but read, “Dear D. A. Jawo, your writings against President Yahya Jammeh and Gambia generally [sic]. We have noticed that you are always happy to go hard on our good President and the work he is doing. Your constant ranting and lies about development in the Gambia speak volumes of your character as the enemy of truth. No right thinking Gambian would say that Gambia has not seen development since H.E took over power in 1994. But idiots like you are agents of the West and we are closing our nets on you. Very soon we will teach one of your journalists a very good lesson so that all of you will learn one or two things from him. We have laid our lives for this revolution and therefore we will not allow rats like you to spoil the good gains that we have already made. We know where you are staying in Kanifing Housing Estate. We therefore warn you in advance to calm down or we will tame you. I am sure you do not want your bones and flesh to be thrown to dogs and vultures. Peace, In defence of the revolution!!!”
The MFWA condemns the arson attack on Sillah’s home and calls on President Jammeh’s government to conduct a full-scale investigation to bring the culprits to justice. The organisation also urges the government to ensure the security of all journalists in the country.
