Ngetcell-Banjul (The Gambia) The Gambia Press Union (GPU), in a
statement delivered at the 58th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human
and Peoples Rights on Tuesday urged the Gambian Government to put an end to
impunity and ensure safety of journalists during the electoral process.
According to the statement delivered by
Saijkou Jammeh, Secretary General of GPU, there is no evidence of new case of
physical attack on the press since the last Commission meeting here in November
2015. It remains to be seen whether this represents a shift in approach on the
part of the government. What is however certain is that the level of
self-censorship is unprecedented. An estimated 20 per cent of Gambian
journalists are in exile and impunity continues to prevail over the previous
cases of violations of press freedom.
“2016 is an election year in The Gambia.
There are enduring political, legal and economic restrictions on the right to
freedom of expression and press freedom. We call on the Commission to urge the
government to ensure safety of journalists during the electoral process. Access
to state information is unduly restricted in the Gambia. The government is yet
to grant TV license to private individuals, ensuring monopoly of state-owned
TV. Tax levies on printing materials have induced high production cost for
print media and radio stations mainly shy away from current affairs for fear of
reprisals.”
The statement also revealed that the
legislative framework on freedom of expression, media regulation and licensing
is fundamentally flawed. The laws are neither in line with international
standards nor are they conducive in a democracy.
“While there is global trend of states
reforming and outlawing laws that criminalise speech, such as criminal defamation,
false news, and sedition, The Gambia has only recently amended some of these
laws with heftier penalties and broader definitions. The Information and
Communication Act was amended in 2013, increasing punishment to prison terms of
15 years or a fine of 3 million dalasis for spreading on the internet false
news, caricature or derogatory information against the government or public
officials. Similar amendments were made to Section 114 the Criminal Code three
months before, increasing the punishment for the offence of giving false
information from six months maximum jail term and 500 dalasis fine to a jail term
of five years or a fine of 50,000 dalasis.”
It also indicates that about a dozen
Gambians, including security personnel, civil servants, and ordinary citizens,
are being prosecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The Union went on to call on the
Commission to urge the government to conduct comprehensive reforms of laws governing
freedom of expression and press freedom. The reforms should include enactment
of right to information law, while laws on sedition, false news, defamation,
regulation and licensing should be reviewed and brought in line with the
standards put in place by the African Commission.
“The Gambia Press Union wishes to once
again bring the attention of the commission to the sedition and false
information trial involving Mr Abdoulie Ceesay, the manager of Teranga FM. The
case has been dragging at the courts for eight months now. Ceesay, who was only
yesterday admitted at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital for the second
time in two weeks, has been in the custody of the state for more than nine
months, and his family has since Friday been denied access to him at the
prison. The courts have several times refused to grant his right to bail,
despite concerns over his health condition. The case will soon be set for
judgment. We once again call on the commission to urge for his release.”
Abdoulie Nget
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