NEWS
"WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL JUSTICE IS DONE ON DEYDA'S MURDER CASE" -SAYS GPU
PRESIDENT MADI CEESAY
BY PA NDERRY M'BAI & YERO JALLOW(DALTON)



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October 13, 2005
 The President of Gambia Press Union Madi Ceesay, in an exclusive
interview told The AllGAMBIAN online Newspaper that they will pursue the
murder case of journalist Deyda Hydara come rain, come shine. Madi made
these comments before completing his month long visit in the U.S.

Mr.Ceesay who was a guest of the U.S State Department was among many other
journalists invited from over twenty two countries who took part in the
program. Participants of this important forum briefed delegates about the
media situations in their respective countries.

Rounding up his visit to the US Madi Ceesay, who is also the Managing
Editor of The Gambia News and Report weekly Magazine told The ALLGAMBIAN
that he is not a journalist who can be intimidated by enemies of
freedom."I am not afraid of anything. Whatever I am saying here, I have
said things of the same nature while in The Gambia and these are facts
inline with the law.", he pointed out.

Reaffirming their determination to pursue the killers of the former Banjul
Point Newspaper Managing Editor Deyda Hydara, Ceesay added"On Deyda's
death, we will not rest until justice is done. We are firmly determined to
pursue justice in this high profile murder against our colleague Deyda
Hydara. We will we try all avenues to ensure that the said killer(s) are
apprehended and brought to book. We are not interested to hear why he was
killed, but who killed him. Madi said, it is clearly stipulated in the
Gambian constitution that one cannot take someone's life like and go scot
free with it. Ceesay added that if the Gambia Government cannot get
something done on this case, let them ask for help from the American FBI
and Scotland Yard to track Deyda's killer(s).

While making an apparent reference to a British subject who was murdered
in The Gambia few years, and was a subject of Scotland Yard detective
investigation, Madi said thanks to the Scotland Yard the alleged killer
was finally traced in Gambia's soil. Ceesay said the Gambian police could
not trace the killer, which prompted their counterparts in Scotland to to
launch a joined man hunt for the killer, who was later arrested.

According to Madi, the twenty-three page NIA so called confidential report
on Deyda's death came as a big surprise and shock to them.

In another notation Madi also painted a bleak future for The Gambian media
saying "we are under hostile environment." He cited many examples, such as
the burning of Ebrima Sillah's house, the Independent newspaper, Radio One
FM and many other unresolved episodes. Notwithstanding Ceesay says, he put
his life on the line to defend press freedom and will not give into any
form of intimidation.

In his closing remarks, Ceesay challenged Gambians in the diaspora to
support the country's local media, arguing that "people should understand
that there cannot be any meaningful democracy without free" Madi reminded
his colleagues in the diaspora that if Gambian political activists can
sponsor politicians back home, why not writing practitioners living abroad
to do the same thing. According to Madi, they are badly in need of help to
maintain certain facilities at the GPU Secretariat. Madi also expressed
delight in talking to Gambian on line writers and called for a closer
collaboration with their colleagues in The Gambia.

Meanwhile, a media fundraising show coordinated by Joe Sambou is underway.
Journalists residing in the United States and outside the United States
are asked to contribute each $50 dollars to help their colleagues in The
Gambia. ALLGAMBIAN Editor-in-chief, Pa Nderry M'Bai, who is also the
former Secretary General of The Gambia Press Union is liaising with
Mr.Sambou together Alagi Yorro Jallow to ensure that such a fund raising
drive becomes a successful one.

The media fund was initiated by the GPU President Madi Ceesay who asked
his colleagues in the US to extend financial help to the Press Union.
Mr.Ceesay says The Gambian Press needs moral and financial support to do
their work effectively. Editorial staffers of The ALLGAMBIAN have welcomed
such a brilliant initiative and therefore urged all press freedom
defenders to take part in such a worthy cause.



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