I am compelled to ask this question for various reasons.  The Coalition of
human rights lawyers are sitting idlying without challenging the infamous
media Commission Act in the courts.  Even though, they were asked by the
Gambia Press Union  to pursue the matter, according to sources  the lawyers
are not keen are not  determine to pursue the case.  They have obtained all
the  relevant information regarding the case from parties pursuing the
matter, but may be due to monetary reasons they  are not active in defending
freedom and democracy. These lawyers are said to be demanding about $13,000
dollars from poor journalists, inorder to pursue the case.  They earlier
said,  they will extend their help to the press union, but this is never the
case now.   Pherps the money is not forthcoming and they decided to adopt
wait and see attitude.

These lawyers stand to be accused of not being committed to their
profession, since they are relutant to defend freedom, which is one of their
mandates as human right lawyers.  Free press is very  essential in any true
democracy.   And as things stand now, the independent media in the Gambia,
is under attack.  We all know that the Media commission, is purposely
designed to end press freedom in the Gambia.  The Bar Association, which the
coalition is a member took the right decision, when it boycotted its seat at
the commission.  This was welcomed by all and sundry.  This is what we
expected of true human right defenders.  You don't wait to be told to do
your job.  When freedom is threatened, you should act without delay.  May be
for one reason or the other, you decided not fight this important case in
the courts.

You should emulate your colleagues in other  sister countries, who devoted
all their time,  energy and resources in defending poor litigants.  You
should provide free legal services to poor litigants who often send to jail
in some instances for lack of proper legal representation.  We don't expect
you  to defend every one going to court, but there are certain human right
cases which  your services are needed.  Your work as human right activists
is all about scarifice.  The issue of money should be a secondary matter.
Some of your colleagues in the sub-region were sent to jail, due to their
human right work.  They devoted all their time in defending freedom and
democracy.  Therefore, if you want win the respesct of Gambians, you must
adopt a new approach to your work.  I am sorry to say you have not been
living on the people's expectations.  Its time to help the poor and the
needy.  Be reminded that history is here to judge all of us.  We must be
sincere to work and forget about the issue of money.

When the Jammeh administration fired justice Hassan Jallow, the Bar
boycotted the courts in protest.  They accused the regime of interfering
with the judiciary.  Again, their action was hailed both locally and
internationally.  Without an  independent judiciary, the citizen's rights
could be in jeapordy.   So the Bar's protest  was indeed necessary.

Now the independent press is in trouble, the coalition of human right
lawyers are still folding their hands.  Are you really committed to your
work?  I doubt it very much.  There is no human right case today in the
Gambia, which is more serious than the media Commission.  We all know that
this piece of legislation is not enhancing the growth of the independent
media.  It will surely kill the private press.  Do you want to be classified
as a party aiding and abading this draconian law?  Your slow intervention
send negative singnals on your credibility.  You are expected to defend
freedom, no matter what it will take.

We are told that Hawa Sisay Sabally a former Attorney General in the Jammeh
administration had decided to provide free services to the press Uninion.
She abandoned all her office work and devoted her time in this high profile
case.  I don't intend to bring any division in the Bar, but i must say that
Hawa is a true human right activists.  She doesn't place money ahead of her
profession.  She is committed to defend freedom and Gambia.  This is what we
expect from human right lawyers.  I must repeat, the issue of money should
be a secondary matter.  If we the Hawa's types in the coalition, am sure
many litigants will enjoy the fruits of freedom and justice.  I know she is
a member of the coalition of human right lawyers.  But why is she pursuing
the case alone?  I think you should help us with the answer.

The coalition should put its house inorder.  Defending the media, means
defending freedom and justice.  You cannot have a just society and
government without a sound and vibrant press.

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