Statement Final

June 17, 2009 Press Release FAMEDEV and Radio AVG Condemn Arrests and Harassment of Gambian Journalists The Inter Africa Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development (FAMEDEV) and Radio Alternative Voice for Gambians (Radio AVG), a Dakar-based online radio that mainly monitors and covers activities in The Gambia, today join rights and media groups in strongly condemning the mass arrest of media practitioners, gatekeepers and members of the Executive of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) in The Gambia. On Monday June 15, seven journalists including newspaper editors and executive members of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), were arrested and detained by members of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and have since been held without charges or access by their families and lawyers. Those being detained are: the First Vice President Sarata Jabbi who is a nursing mother with a six months old infant, the Secretary General Emil Touray, the Treasurer Pa Modou Faal, the Editor and Deputy Editor of the Point newspaper, Pap Saine and Ebrima Sawaneh respectively, and the Editor-inChief and a reporter of Foroyaa newspaper Sam Sarr and Abubacarr Saidykhan. They were all arrested in connection with a press release issued by the GPU in reaction to a state television interview in which President Yahya Jammeh vilified Deyda Hydara, the murdered Editor of The Point newspaper and made irresponsible comments about the state of press freedom in The Gambia. This latest action is another manifestation of the heavy-handedness and intolerance of the Jammeh regime towards journalists and media practitioners in the country. Over the past few years, The Gambia has proved to be one of the most volatile countries to practice as an independent journalist. Media practitioners, mainly local journalists have been threatened, arrested, detained, tortured, murdered and forced to flee the country. Private radio stations and newspapers have been closed down mainly because they refused to dance to the tune of the dictatorial regime of Yahya Jammeh. We strongly call upon the authorities to release all the detained journalists with immediate effect. We fear for the safety and security of our colleagues and therefore call on national, sub-regional and international bodies and organisations to exert more pressure on the regime in the interest of press freedom, freedom of expression, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. We urge all foreign companies and nationals with business interests in The Gambia to not just care about their business ventures and interests but to also conscientiously consider and raise human rights issues in the country as a priority. We call on them to put pressure on the ruling government to respect the rights and dignities of its citizens. We reiterate our solidarity and unflinching support for our colleagues of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) and all media practitioners and journalists in The Gambia in these challenging times. For more information contact The Inter Africa Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development, FAMEDEV and Radio Alternative Voice for The Gambia, AVG, at 00 221 33 867 55 98.