A job well done. Any person who is familiar to Gambian press know Bijou Peters. I know she is now coming to six or seven or eight scores.Any individual associated with Daily observer in the 1990's have a progressive discussion with Bijou Peters. Folks please read her piece below:- Opinion
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A chronicle of unwarranted and evil arson attacks on the media
By Bijou Peters
Mar 2, 2005, 07:15

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Journalists are a significant group in any society because they play a pivotal role in the development process of the country and are therefore partners in development. Every country which boasts of democracy must allow freedom of speech and of the press, otherwise democracy becomes a mockery. Sadly, in most African states this is not the case and journalists have become enemies of the state because they are critical of government policies which governments consider out of place, unpatriotic and anti-government. The Gambia is no exception in this respect, unfortunately. Journalists have been molested, harassed, detained, attacked and their properties maliciously destroyed by burning. Is this fair play for members of the community who are actively participating in the development of The Gambia? The frequent and hideous arson attacks on the media during the past four years are dreadful and demonstrate the unhappy plight of journalists in the country. It is necessary to add that the
 press has a responsibility of reporting genuine and factual reports relating to government policies, or any other subject they must avoid sensational journalism which can embarrass or adversely affect the state. They must act responsibly and with maturity in every story they decide to publish bearing in mind that the newspapers is read far and wide. It must be remembered that no government will allow any character assignation from the media. So we conclude that journalists also must act responsibly if they are to be accepted as important and indispensable partners in development. In the past four years, the Gambia media has suffered many attacks and distress from unknown assailants and it is shameful and alarming that up to date the perpetrators of these grave crimes against the media have not been identified, arrested and brought to justice. The security officers appear incompetent to produce the names of the criminals responsible for these crimes in spite of their investigations.
 Thus these criminals have gone unpunished and are moving about the community with impunity as freeman. This situation is intolerable and unacceptable and the public is adamant that these criminals be arrested and given the punishment they deserve. Dayda Hydara a well-known veteran journalist, co-editor of The Point Newspaper was murdered in his car on December 16, while driving home two female members of his staff. The two ladies sustained serious injuries and were evacuated to Dakar, Senegal for treatment. This was a case of brutal murder and an outrageous attack on a journalist and necessitated urgent and competent investigations. Since that terrible incident, there does not appear to be much progress in the investigations being carried out by the security officers. It is over two months now and the public had expected to have received some worthwhile news relating to the extent of their investigations so far. Its long enough for the police to have identified the culprit or
 culprits of this criminal act. If the police are incompetent to solve this mystery, then urgent steps must be taken now to seek investigatory assistance from abroad. The murderers or murderer of Mr Hydara must be apprehended and brought to justice. This crime must not and cannot be swept under the carpet like the other arson attacks on The Independent and other media houses. These attacks on the media and inadequacies of the security forces are a threat to true democracy, the rule of law and is incompatible to peace and security in the country. These crimes must not be allowed to continue. It must stop forthwith if The Gambia is to continue to be described as the Smiling Coast and its people a peace- loving community. The situation calls for urgent intervention of security officers from abroad since Gambian security officers have not come up with relevant facts indicating that they are anyway close to discovery of Mr Hydara’s murderers. A murder has been committed and no stone must
 be left unturned to apprehend and punish the culprits. Here is a chronicle of the criminal of the criminal events which have been perpetrated against Gambian journalists during the past four years and for which the security officers have miserably failed to identify the criminals responsible for such brutalities: i. August 8, 2001 - arson attack on Radio 1 FM station. Its proprietor, George Christensen escaped with burns. ii. Two days later, August 10, 2001, another arson attack on the home of a member of staff of the above radio station. iii. December 26, 2003 - leading barrister, Ousman Sillah was shot and seriously injured. iv. April 13, 2004 - Arson attack on The Independent newspaper when their printing press was maliciously burnt and the staff on duty escaped being incinerated with the printing press. v. August 15, 2004-arson attack on the home of the BBC correspondent, Ebrima Sillah. vi. December 16, 2004- a leading newspaper editor and journalist Deyda Hydara was shot dead.
 It will be noted that three of these attacks occurred in 2004 and up to date no arrests have been announced. The latter is the most serious crime, all the other crimes though grave enough appeared to have been swept under the carpet for nothing has been heard about them. The murderers or murderer of Deyda Hydara must be discovered and punished accordingly. This case must not be swept under the carpet like the others. It is the responsibility of both the police, the judiciary and other arms of government to investigated thoroughly every case of murder and ensure that the perpetrators of this diabolical crime are brought to justice. If not, the security of the state is at stake and the lives of innocent citizens in jeopardy.

© Copyright 2003 by Observer Company

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