At a glance-
The Dangerous Business of Journalism in The Gambia
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Attacks on the Press in 2011: The Gambia
"The whole world can go to hell. If I want to ban any newspaper, I will," says President Yahya Jammeh
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Press Freedom Index 2011-2012: The Gambia
Ranked 141st in annual press freedom index
20 April 2006
Alert
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 Ceesay of the Banjul-based Independent were told to report to the NIA Friday morning, Ceesay told CPJ.
A third journalist from The Independent, Lamin Fatty, remains in custody at the NIA, said Ceesay, who is also secretary-general of the Gambia Press Union. Fatty was arrested on April 10, although his colleagues were not aware of his arrest until two days later. An NIA official refused to discuss the case with a CPJ representative who traveled to Banjul, and colleagues have not been allowed to visit him in detention.
Security forces have continued to occupy the offices of The Independent since arresting Saidykhan and Ceesay on March 28, another local source told CPJ.
"Gambian authorities have acted outrageously toward these journalists, holding them without charge and sowing confusion about the reasons and whereabouts of their detention," said Ann Cooper, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. "Lamin Fatty must be released immediately and unconditionally, and all further harassment of our colleagues at The Independent should cease."
Fatty was the author of a story headlined "23 'Coup Plotters' Arrested," which appeared in The Independent on March 24. Some local sources believe the journalists' arrests may be linked to the story, although authorities have offered no explanation. The story incorrectly reported that former Interior Minister Samba Bah, who is also a former head of the National Intelligence Agency, was among those arrested in the wake of a purported coup attempt. The paper subsequently ran Bah's response and its own apology.
For more information on these cases, see CPJ alerts: http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/africa/gambia12apr06na.html
http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/africa/gambia28mar06na.html
CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.cpj.org
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Updates to this story
Editor tortured under dictatorship of President Jammeh wins case at ECOWAS Court 17 December 2010 Tortured journalist to appear before ECOWAS court 28 April 2010 Government backtracks in case of tortured journalist 9 November 2009 ECOWAS Court dismisses government's objections over jurisdiction in case of tortured journalist 8 July 2009 Government raises objection in trial of tortured journalist 12 June 2009 MFWA files another lawsuit against government over illegal detention and torture of journalist Musa Saidykhan 29 November 2007 Journalist denies charge of publishing "false information", places responsibility on editor 24 May 2007 Journalist's "false information" trial to be re-initiated under new magistrate 21 November 2006
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