Despite local and international outcry, Gambian dictator president Yahya Jammeh has assented to the controversial the newspaper Act bill, latest reports hinted. The signing of the anti media legislation came in the wake of mounting pressure from press freedom bodies, such as the New York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders, urging the Gambian tyrant not to sign the bill into law. Appeals launched by these media institutions had fallen into deaf ears, as Jammeh decided to sign the anti media bill into law. A retired army lieutenant, Yahya Jammeh had earned himself with the reputation of being anti press freedom. Since the advent of his administration he had passed numerous draconian laws in a bid to curtail free press in the tiny West African country. Under his rule, arrest and torture of political opponents had went unabated. Foreign journalists critical of his despotic regime are exposed to random deportation. The late journalist Deyda Hyadara was on the forefront in campaigning against the newspaper Act. Prior to his gruesome murder, Deyda was said to have written series of commentaries on his popular "teeth Bite" and "Good Morning Mr.President" columns criticising the new legislation. One thing is evident, Jammeh is ready to steal the 2006 polls. Without free press, there will hardly be any free, fair and transparent elections. Without free press, there cannot be meaningful development. Jammeh and his cohorts will empty the treasury in Banjul without fear of being checked by the media. Gambians should stand up to be counted. I subscribed to Father Cleary's call. This regime is taking Gambians to ransom. It's high time we break the chain of slavery. We can do this, by voting monster Yahya out come the 2006 polls. Indications are that if Jammeh should win for a "third time" he is likely to amend the Constitution to provide a provision for one party state. Under Jammeh's rule, one can rule out such reports. The disgraced jailed majority leader Baba K Jobe had been advocating for it prior to his unceremonious incarceration. 2006 will determine the future of our country. If the opposition play their cards well, they will uproot Jammeh, who is a menace to our beloved country. We want to see this monster go. He is a stumbling block to development _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい