Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Thu, 21 Sep 2006 11:33:26 EDT |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Chief Electoral
Officer
IEC
GRTS VIOLATES ELECTIONS DECREE
I wish to convey to the commission through you that the GRTS had
deliberately decided to violate section 93 (1) of the election decree which states that
“the commission shall, during an election campaign period, ensure that equal
air time is given to each candidate and national party on the public radio
and television” For your information the GRTS decided to broadcast a
statement made by Buba Sanyang while he was in custody at the NIA headquaters
indicating that he was given nomination forms to fill but that he had impersonated
IEC personnel to obtain the signatories of some of the people. It is not my
concern whether such confession was obtained under duress or not. This is for
the courts to determine. What is of concern to me is the GRTS Radio is
reporting as news that I have asked Buba Sanyang to obtain the signatories by
impersonating I.E.C personnel. I have been duly nominated with over 6000 people
subscribing to my nomination. The GRTS report is giving the impression that
my nomination is invalid. Many of my supporters are calling to find out
whether my nomination is still valid. This conforms that the TV and Radio
broadcast is calculated to sow the seed of uncertainly among the voters.
This is buttressed by the fact that the GRTS failed to send reporters to
cover a press conference I held to clarify matters on 20th August 2006 after
their broadcast. They repeated their 20th August broadcast on Buba Sanyang on
21st August 2006 but suppressed the broadcasting of my 20th August 2006
broadcast in which I tried to clarify the issue.
The matter was reported to Mr. Joe Colley but nothing was done until the end
of the campaign period. What is repugnant is that the Radio broadcast on
the Buba Sanyang still on and is likely to feature in the 1pm news, a day
before the election.
In this light I will like the Commission to act with immediacy to issue a
press release indicating that my nomination as a candidate has not been
invalidated, that I have reported that my 10 minutes air time have been suppressed
to your disapproval and to call on all media houses including the state media
to desist from any news item that could be prejudicial to any candidate. It
is your duty to get the GRTS to interview me and broadcast my opinion on the
issue in the interest of natural justice and fairness.
While anticipating your maximum cooperation.
I remain
Yours in the service of the nation.
……………………………..
Hon Halifa Sallah
NADD Presidential candidate
Cc: Commonwealth Observer Team
WACSOF
Pan African Election Expert
GRTS
Media Houses
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
|
|
|