Gambia ALERT: Another Gambian journalist threatened and forced into hiding
Modou Lamin Jaiteh, Banjul ( Gambia ) correspondent of the Pan African News Agency (PANA), an African news wire service based in Senegal , and a former staff reporter of “The Point” newspaper in Banjul has gone into hiding for fear of his life.
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that persons suspected to be working with the feared National Intelligence Agency (NIA) have been harassing and accusing him of being associated with the MFWA.
The persecution of Jaiteh is the latest in the growing number of Gambians fleeing the repression of journalists that has characterized the 13-year rule of President Yahya Jammeh.
The sources said what prompted Jaiteh’s flight were several calls he received on June 29, 2007 from suspected agents of the NIA, including Dr. Sajal Taal, a close confidante of President Jammeh and managing director of the Banjul-based pro-government “Daily Observer” newspaper. Dr. Taal is reported to have called Jaiteh to ascertain his relationship with MFWA.
MFWA sources have consistently accused Dr. Taal of masterminding the arrests and dismissals of several journalists working at the “Daily Observer”, including Chief Ebrima Manneh who has been held incommunicado since July 2006.
MFWA has been exposing the abuse of press freedom and human rights violations in the Gambia .
It has filed a suit at the Community Court of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) to demand the release of Chief Manneh as part of a campaign to end impunity against journalists in the country.
Kwame Karikari, Prof.
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-21-24 24 70
No comments:
Post a Comment