-----Original Message-----
From: saul khan <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 30 December 1999 11:57
Subject: Pres. Jammeh V. The Independent Newspaper
>All,
>
>Here is a small story regarding the four Independent Newspaper journalists
>currently being harrassed at the DIRECT orders of His Excellency, Rtd. Lt.
>Col, Dr., Alhagi, Yaya Jemus Junkung Jammeh. What the Observer piece does
>not state is that, the three journalists located so far, were picked up by
>TEN police officers of the SERIOUS CRIMES UNIT, and hauled off to a police
>station. What "serious crime" have they committed? They've revealled a
>marriage that is public knowledge among a large segment of the Gambian
>population. According to first-hand accounts, the unit investigating their
>"serious crime" is at a loss as to how to proceed with the case. For that
>reason, the CO has to travel to Kanilai to ask the Boss what to do every
>step of the way. Libel, by the way, is not an arrestable offence. So, why
>the heavy handedness?
>
>The Gambian press generally has been at the receiving end of the repression
>that characterizes the APRC regime. The Independent, in particular, has
been
>the subject of constant harrassment. From the petty -constantly switching
>off their energy/water supply, to the outrageous - stripping them naked,
and
>throwing them into mosquito-infested cells for not having the "proper"
legal
>papers, the govt. has been sticking it to them. And the reason is clear:
the
>Independent team rebelled against the manipulative tactics that the govt.
>employed towards the Observer newspaper, for which all the Independent
>reporters worked. In my judgment, they're the most independent, and upfront
>newspaper in the Gambia today. They make no apologies when it comes to
>telling it like it is. And they hit all sides with equal force. So the
govt.
>is doing all it can to put them out of business.
>
>Because of it's age, and the ridiculous legal bottlenecks that the govt.
>throws at them all the time, the Independent is not yet on sound financial
>footing from what I've gathered. For that reason, they need all the help
>they can get to fend off this frifolous law suit. These very gallant
>fighters: Babagalleh Jallow, Yorro Jallow, Mr. Daffeh, Mr. J. Wally, and
the
>country's best reporter (my opinion) Demba Jawo, deserve our help.[Jawo was
>the gentlemant whose blunt representation of Gambian reality irked the
>president so much that he bought out the Observer through a proxy. Is it
any
>wonder then that Mr. Jawo was the first to be shamelessly fired? Out of
>integrity, the rest of the Independent team followed Jawo.] So, for those
of
>us who are always making noise about "sacrifice" back home, this is one
>group that exemplifies that sacrifice. They deserve our support!
>
>I intend to send the group some money to help with their legal defence by
>Saturday (1/1/2000.) Those willing and able to donate ANY amount at this
>time, can send me a private note, so we can set something up. Or you can
>send the money to the Independent directly through Tel: 494262. Anything in
>the next few weeks will be highly appreciated. Let's not fail these
brothers
>in their stand against tyranny.
>
>Saul.
>
>Here is the article from the Observer:
>
>Managing editor Alagie Yorro Jallow, editor-in-chief Baba Galleh
>Jallow and reporters NB Daffeh and Jalali Wally of the Independent
>newspaper, were yesterday morning, charged with "libel against the
>president" under the criminal code of the Laws of The Gambia.
>
>
>
>The three (Jalali Wally was at large) were released on bail in the sum of
>10,000 dalasis
>each with Gambian sureties.
>
>Speaking to our reporter following their release, Yorro Jallow explained
>that they have
>been asked to report to the police daily until they are taken before a
>court. He said they
>will put up a strong defence to the charge.
>
>The president, Yahya Jammeh, was yet to file his statement to the police.
>It is not yet
>clear how much damages the president is going to claim from the Independent
>newspaper for the report regarding his marital affairs.
>
>Meanwhile, the Gambia Press Union, after an emergency meeting yesterday,
>expressed
>its disappointment at the trend of relations between the press and the
>government. The
>union said the Independent newspaper, in this case, was simply carrying
>out its
>legitimate duty of reporting on the activities of public figures.
>
>"The case is not unique as this was exactly the situation with Jammeh's
>second wife.
>There were rumours, then denials only to be confirmed later. This is one
>reason why the
>union in particular and the press in general are calling for transparency
>and unfettered
>access to information. To punish the press for providing information which
>is of
>legitimate public interest, such as the activities of the president of the
>republic, is unfair,
>unjust and totally unjustifiable," the GPU message concluded..
>
>
>______________________________________________________
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