With every incomprehensible action this Government takes, they are
inching closer to the Cliff. ''If you don't know where you're going,
any road takes you there''(Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll),
everyone can see they are heading for the cliff but them, they are
clueless.
Now that Rights Organisations, International Media etc.. are all
watching the appalling Human Rights situation as it increasingly
deteriorates in Gambia. And the leaders on the ground seem unwilling
to let their rights wither away any more than it already has, this
will spur the masses to take the same stance, which brings that cliff
frightiningly closer for those on the wrong side of the law[if they
can see it of course].
Thus, I call on the Government to do itself a favour and release the
journalists and all political prisoners; also start respecting the
constitution.
For Justice,
Edrisa Jah
On 17/06/2009, malik kah <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> If anyone is to be called the IRON LADY in Gambia Ndye Tapha Sosseh merits
> the accolade, in these turbulent times when everyone is cowering for shelter
> she stands firm and reaffirms the position of the GPU, she is a true leader
> from whom many of us can emulate. Many Gambians faced with such a level of
> intimidation and threats normally fizzles away but here is a woman of
> principle who recognises the risks and consequencies f defying thuggery and
> yet she stay firm. I feel these events should galvanise the diasporans to
> come up with concrete programmes of action to deal with such events. We
> should not only haul innuendos but draw up stragies to confront the issues
> on the ground and map out a way we can help and supplement the efforts of
> those on the ground. In America a lot of work seems to be happening whiles
> in Europe we are lagging behind, I hope we can initiate a confrence, meeting
> or whatever to kick start a movement geared to helping the politicians and
> civic society at large. Any one with proposals can forward it and we can
> have a debate. We must not allow our brothers and sisiters to take the bull
> by the horn whiles we intellectualise without anything concrete the time for
> talking should cease and the time for action should start, I for one will
> attend any meeting designed to initiate any thing meaningful, I know we
> tried in the past and failed but we can still try again.
>
>
>
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [>-<] GPU-Gambia Issues Another Strong Statement
> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:15:56 +0000
>
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> On behalf of our parent body and on behalf of GPU-USA, I want to say a very
> big thank you to all who have added their voices to the chorus of
> condemnation against the impunity being perpetrated by the Jammeh
> dictatorship against innocent Gambian journalists. The outpouring of outrage
> testfies to the heart-warming reality that Gambians will no longer take the
> abuses thrown at them by a despotic and callous regime. We all must continue
> fighting back with whatever means at our disposal in order to end the
> impunity of the Jammeh regime. Because of their insensitivity and greed,
> despotic regimes can understand only the language of force, which they use
> against innocent people but which they dread like the bubonic plague itself.
> Again, thanks all for the solidarity. Below is the new statement issued by
> GPU-Gambia, which refuses to be silenced or intimidated by Jammeh's bully
> tactics.
>
> Baba
>
>
> GAMBIA PRESS UNION
> NO. 5 GARBA JAHUMPA ROAD BAKAU NEWTOWN
> P. O. Box 1440, Banjul, The Gambia
> email: [log in to unmask] url: www.gambiapressunion.org
> Press Release
> Tuesday, June 16 2009
> 20:00 HRS
> GPU Calls on International Community, others
> The Gambia Press Union wishes to bring to the attention of the Gambian
> Public, Gambians in the Diaspora, international and regional journalist
> associations and institutions and the international community that the
> National Intelligence Agency (NIA) still has in its custody, three senior
> members of the Union Executive and four other journalists, over 24 hours
> after the first arrests which took place early on Monday afternoon.
> The group, namely GPU Secretary General, Emil Touray, Vice President Sarata
> Jabbi-Dibba, and Treasurer, Pa Modou Faal; together with Pap Saine and
> Ebrima Sawaneh, Publisher and Editor of The Point newspaper respectively;
> And, Sam Sarr and Abubcarr Saidykhan Editor and Reporter, Foroyaa newspaper,
> have all been denied legal access. The GPU lawyer has made several efforts
> to speak to the group since their arrest on Monday but was told the earliest
> he could get someone of Authority to grant the permission, is tomorrow,
> Wednesday. Their families and loved ones have also been denied access.
> We consider this a violation of their rights to counsel, to liberty and to
> freedom of expression. All of these, rights inter alia guaranteed by the
> 1997 Constitution of The Gambia in Sections 17, 21, 25, 33 and 207.
> As stated earlier, we still stand by our statements of Thursday, June 11 and
> will not, for fear of arrests and continued detention waver in the face of
> truth.
> The truth so remains that the Deyda Hydara investigations have stalled, the
> truth so remains that the statement of the head of state on Deyda’s death
> signals an apparent growing State irrationality and unwillingness to
> entertain the topic and to continue the investigations; the truth so remains
> that Chief Manneh disappeared and that the State, even though all the
> chances were afforded to so clear its name in the matter, chose not to and
> refused to do so at the right forum, the ECOWAS Court of Justice; And the
> truth so remains that the media laws in The Gambia and the prevailing
> environment of hostility towards the media, make it practically impossible
> for one to practice efficiently as a journalist.
> In reiterating our demand for the immediate and unconditional release of our
> colleagues, one of whom is a nursing mother, we call on the international
> community to join the GPU, journalist groups to condemn these latest attacks
> on media freedoms in The Gambia and to call on the Gambia Government to
> cease the unnecessary and continued harassment of Gambian journalists.
> The struggle continues.
>
> Ndey Tapha Sosseh
> President
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out!
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get the best of MSN on your mobile
> http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/147991039/direct/01/
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