 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11785 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 02:39:23
|
MADI CEESAY TO BAG INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM AWARD
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in commemoration of its 25th anniversary, will honour Mr. Madi Ceesay, President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) together with three other journalists, Jesus Abad Colorado from Colombia, Jamal Amer of Yemen and Atwa Bahjat of Iraq with 2006 International Press Freedom Award in November, 2006.
According to a press release from CPJ, Madi Ceesay is a Gambian veteran independent journalist who suffered attacks and imprisonment for his work. He is also a leading press freedom activist serving as President of the Gambia Press Union, which has spearheaded efforts to fight impunity for attacks on the press, including the unsolved December 2004 murder of prominent newspaper editor Deyada Hydara. In 2006 Ceesay took over as General Manager of The Independent, a private newspaper that has suffered frequent official harassment and two unsolved arson attacks. In March 2006 security forces sealed off the independent’s offices and detained staff. Mr. Ceesay and editor Musa Said khan were held for three weeks without charge by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). Before joining The Independent, Ceesay worked for 10 years for the independent weekly, Gambia News and Report, first as reporter and then as its deputy editor.
Meanwhile, CPJ will posthumously honour Atwar Bahjat, correspondent for Al-Arabiya Satellite Television and former Al-Jazeera reporter who was gunned down while covering a bombing near Samara, Iraq in February.
According to release, Hodding Carter III, the respected newspaper editor, television journalist, foundation executive and teacher will also receive CPJ’s Burton Benjamin Memorial Award for lifetime achievement.
According to Paul Steiger, CPJ Board Chairman, the honour of these brave journalists from around the world for their tenacity in reporting the news at great personal risk and at great odds; that their courage highlights the dangers journalists face to get the story.
“Exposing corruption, criticizing authorities for abuse of power, or reporting from the front line of local conflicts are just some of the ways these reporters do their jobs and inspire us. With these awards CPJ hopes to strengthen the protection for journalists worldwide,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon.
The release further states that the awards will be presented at Waldorf – Astoria in New York City on Tuesday, 21st November, 2006. Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Company, and John S. Caroll, Knight visiting lecturer at the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University, will co-chair the black-tie dinner. CNN’s Chief International Correspondent and CPJ board members Christiane Amonpour will host the ceremony.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 89/2006, 16-17 October, 2006
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 11:15:55
|
Congratulations Madi Ceesay!
However I don;t envy him as these are considered "Faith Awards", for few lucky ones destined to underwent or faced hardship, suffering and other risks to life! As a journalist you can bag it with resolved and sacrifice to represent press freedom under very difficult conditions and challenges! |
Edited by - kobo on 17 Oct 2006 11:27:56 |
 |
|
|
serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 12:15:00
|
| Congratulations, Mr. Ceesay! May the future hold better conditions for him and all his collegues. |
|
|
|
Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 12:55:08
|
Heartiest Congratulations and best wishes to the valiant Mr. Madi Ceesay, President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) and his Newspaper for the outstanding distinction of being one of three to win the 2006 International Press Freedom Award.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=2006+International+Press+Freedom+Award.&btnG=Google+Search&meta=
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=2006+International+Press+Freedom+Award.&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB
Mr. Madi Ceesay
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Mr.+Madi+ceesay&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB
Press freedom is a general challenge to tolerance of not only African governments; it is a general challenge to our most cherished ideals and practice of tolerance & freedom (see how the Israeli press is trying to crush the testicles of their president). And all that the people have on their side is the stiff arm of the law, and a strong public opinion, usually orchestrated by a free press. This is markedly the sign of a thriving democracy.
Those of us who espouse democracy also understand the importance of freedom of expression and a free press which is not only the barometer of the Gambian nation, but also a vehicle for the communication of good ideas towards progress and prosperity and healthy criticism, all of which should be seen to be beneficial to all Gambians.
The Gambian press (as I have known it the past four months is relatively free compared to most places in the world today, but it could be freer.
The African press, (as elsewhere) is usually divided between pro-government and opposition forces. The press has to be more responsible than it has been, so far. Here is a good example of very terrible inaccuracy – the effect of which was – perhaps – that the ministry of justice could very really contradict that false report emanating from “the Gambia Journal confidential” who claimed that Madam Duta Kamaso had ( astagfirullah) passed away in detention, etc.
http://thegambiajournal.net/public/index.html
This kind of spurious reporting usually happens when the opposition takes upon itself to go on a no-holds-barred crusade of vilification which can sometimes far exceed the bounds of lawful and get mired in the haram.
Yahya Jammeh after all is a reasonable man.
The award means that the eyes of the international community, to some extent is focused on Gambian press freedom and- just as Paul Kamara won a similar prize which served to help his pleas the last time he was a true convict, so too we should hope that this award will temper the climate , somewhat. Freedom does not imply the impetus to anarchy or irresponsibility that can hurt citizen and country. In other words, we should try to live up to our responsibility.
I am curious about the freedom of information act – if it exists and how it should be protected in the Gambia.
Let there be no war between press and government.
Rather let the press help the government to succeed with implementing development programs. There are a whole lot of discussions that take place in more secluded and very articulate Gambian forum, in which ideas and critique is circulated within a small group.
It would be a good thing if such discussions were less secluded.
One reason for seclusion is usually the fear of reprisals for opinions expressed.
The opinions expressed so far are neither criminal nor anything less than helpful, since they express the diversity of points of view and concern that we all share.
I hope to be in the Gambia sometime between 21st December and the New Year – to get a little first hand experience in a place that I am growing to like very much, even as my curiosity is increasing. I shall be reporting from there, God willing.
Amin
|
Edited by - Cornelius on 17 Oct 2006 13:04:24 |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 13:22:44
|
Heartfelt thanks to Cornelius for forwarding the Israel President's scenario and this well articulate write up! The award has some significance and political effects by bringing Gambia on the spotlight of the whole world. You said it all Cornelius for the way forward in NEW ERA to promote press freedom, freedom of expression, association and basic human rights meted with ethical responsibilities or to face libel and criminal damages for false repoting.
We hope Gambia will surely moved as an advanced society to compliment the development efforts of present regime??? |
Edited by - kobo on 17 Oct 2006 13:36:51 |
|
|
|
serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 13:44:32
|
I always advocated not only the freedom but also the fairness of the press. As I pointed out in an earlier posting we saw a very unfair media campaign against the former German government. It started the very day the Social Democratic/Greens coalition won the elections (1998), leading to a real mess in German politics.
I know about the dangers of a manipulated and manipulating press. But this concerns both sides, and intimidation, detentions, and murder are definitely no way to deal with the problem. |
|
|
|
Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 17:15:55
|
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&sa=N&resnum=0&q=DEYDA%20HYDARA&tab=wi
Since 2000, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have given the Gambia a rather clean bill of health and a clean slate.
Here is a general rule of thumb formula: DEMOCRACY= rule of law + separation of powers (the president does not have the sword of Damocles hanging over the judiciary) and to keep us all informed and discussing our freedom, is a free press. Journalists are as important to the national life as NGOs and politicians.
The election fever heated things up a bit although the results were a foregone conclusion. The Gambia is calm right now
It’s always better to calm a situation than to add fuel to fire.
The helpful word is mostly meant to be calming. There’s no point rubbing salt in wounds that are healing.
We all want a stable and progressive Gambia. The Gambia is progressing in many ways that can be measured and stability is a necessary factor that always attracts investments.
Instability is not a good state of affairs in a fragile democracy. And African democracies are sometimes fragile because of ethnic tensions (not the case in the Gambia) with President Jammeh coming from a minority group (Jola – (like my banjo friend Daniel Jatta)perhaps the most Christianised group along with the Akus and the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria) which – like Nkrumah – equips him to be a hub in the centre of gravity should things even fall apart as a situation can be exacerbated by human rights abuses and other abuses of democratic freedoms and rights.
Daniel Jatta ( where are you?)
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Daniel+Jatta&btnG=Google+Search&meta=
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Freedom+of+the+press+in+the+Gambia&meta=
Instability in a fragile democracy usually leads to emergency and state of emergency type of detention laws being promulgated and enforced. , “in the interest of state security”
The on-going treason trial by martial law does not precisely enhance the situation. And treason here smells of an undemocratic political agenda: But I do not know anything about the case except that certain soldiers have been charged with treason. Don’t know if the trials are being or will be held “in camera” but all Gambia wants fairness and transparency gives us some possibility of our making some judgement ourselves.
Intimidation (in Sweden referred to as “ölaga hot”/ unlawful threat) and murder fall under the purview of the law and law enforcement. The rule of law goes hand in glove with freedom and a free press.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=The+Gambian+Bar+Association&meta=
Now, we’re not talking about colonial repression or old apartheid South Africa, under which Ngoh Nelson Mandela another valiant one survived - in jail.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22I+am+prepared+to+die%22+Nelson+Mandela&btnG=Search&meta=
“I write what I like “Steve Biko did not:
Steve Biko
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=+Steve+Biko&btnG=Search&meta=
“I write what I like “
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=I+write+what+I+like%22&spell=1
There is the case of DELE GIWA, in another country under another type of regime and the Gambia is not even 1% as grim as that one, or the one that followed after:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=DELE+GIWA&btnG=Search&meta=
The greater the repression of the press, the greater the totalitarianism in a totalitarian state and it is no accident that Animal Farm was in the School syllabus in colonial times, and from there we all learned that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The case of DEYDA HYDARA’s murder and the alleged arson is surely being investigated?
Every time I visit the on-line pages of his newspaper, his picture is there to haunt us.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=DEYDA+HYDARA&spell=1
As the saying goes, there is never smoke without fire and the investigation of the mystery ought to come to some legal conclusion.
|
Edited by - Cornelius on 17 Oct 2006 17:24:14 |
|
|
|
Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 19:49:52
|
For Kobo)
Kobo,
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Yahya+Jammeh
First of all I don’t know if there are latent Ashkenazi vs. Sephardic tensions/rivalries seething under what you call “the Israel President's scenario” as you put it. It is a sordid and sad episode - Ezer Weizman’s departure was slightly less spectacular and Iranian-born Moshe Katzav is unlikely to survive the scandal whether true or false, guilty or innocent of all charges.
Islam of course has the advantage of “ those your right hand possess” and Muta…… Much wisdom and halal enjoyment in Muta.
Of course all the African presidents were in absolute consternation about a little bit of nothing like Monica Jewinsky. In such matters an African president is a real president and master of such situations, without nuclear weapons. Real presidential Dick does what he wants and no questions – cause he does it right. No complaints.
One of the comedians said as president only thing is that the reporters should not ask him such embarrassing questions in front of his wife. That’s dis-respect of the First Lady.
Grandpa’s style of course will deny. I’ve never seen that woman. What she talking about?
http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=slv2-&ei=UTF-8&p=president%20of%20Israel
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-menuext&ie=UTF-8&q=Moshe+Katzav
Here he is discussing the land of his birth and their intentions towards his nation:
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/03/D4F1E891-1815-4CC4-8D41-BA83962E2373.html
Every law abiding citizen is happy about Mr. Madi Ceesay winning such an award and bringing the Gambia – still short of perfection, into the limelight. Welcome focus. Keep democracy on her toes.
There are ways that we can joke about George Bush and get away with it and you know that we cannot joke about even less powerful presidents in the African press. So, that Gambian paper that reported that Madam Duta Kamaso had been tortured to death should have by now apologised profusely for the emotional damage that he wreaked on many who read that fabulous article.
I should also like to point out, by way of explanation of why the Gambia must be attracting very extra attention from the United States of America in particular, must surely be that president Bush does not view commander-in-chief of the Gambian armed Forces as one of his favourite comrades in arms, for the simple reason that the Gambian president had the Chutzpah ( an Arab or Krio word would be “the liver”) to invite two of USA’s arch enemies namely Iran’s Ahmadinejad who is believed to already have the weapons and Venezuela’s St.Hugo Chavez to the Africa Union Summit in Banjul. It’s possible that Kim Jong-Il was not invited to the party. If he had turned up ( invited or uninvited, to join the other two) we would all be in Bush’s very special black book ( and please don’t ask me why BLACK!)
There’s a little point that I would like to clarify about how I compare and assess the chances of leaders like Nkrumah ( who was not much loved by ethnic Ashantis) and Yahya Jammeh who also comes from a minority and therefore likely to galvanise political support on the basis of successful programmes and not on the basis of ethnicity.
I must hasten to mention that Mr. president converted to Islam which is the religion of over 85% of the Gambia, and a strong political basis – at least being an honourable Muslim cannot and should not be held against him. Islam is a Great religion and has given the world a great civilisation, even if that civilisation has been infiltrated and in some cases misdirected and is presently under siege or perceived to be under siege by crusader forces.
Are there any bands in the Gambia? I’d like to kick start one. I have recently been inspired from Guinea and ain’t no one in Babylon like Sekouba Bambino – except Alpha Yaya Diallo…. But does he sing like ?
They should play together! No telling what they can do!
The press could also spend more time on reporting other successes and the cultural in the national life, encourage indigenous & griot literature, etc etc& the teke-teke ( technique) etc…..
|
Edited by - Cornelius on 17 Oct 2006 22:23:38 |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2006 : 20:47:32
|
Thanks Cornelius! These articles are MASTERPIECES in the lecture of DEMOCRACY AND PRESS FREEDOM! Have gathered lots of food of thoughts and hope members of Bantaba who read them are really impressed and will share the same thoughts that they have benefited!
On African politics and democracy would like to re-called and quote the following from Janyafara as there is flaire on them:
"No levaground,
Ee need African Democracy.Its the best kind of democracy and all democracies derrieves from it."
At first I felt very frustrated and totally dis-orientatted when I came across it. Couple of days later Kondorong observed and asked:
"What is africn democracy?"
Janyafara elaborated as quoted:
"African democracy is caring for each other,knowing your position within the age grouping and respect those above you.
There is many more but don't have time .Am sorry"
Then something struck my heart as I got the message and now appreciate the taunts!
Also I had the chance of reading the British papers to make contrasts and realised how politicians are very powerful when I covered the following links on British politics:
How chief of staff used interview to turn up the heat on Blair
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1870880.ece
British soldiers respond to Army chief: 'At last, someone told the truth' under
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article1870872.ece
Blair devastated as Army chief savages his approach to Iraq
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1870873.ece
Ambush: How one interview blew apart Blair's disastrous foreign policy
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1873836.ece
ANGER AT IRAQ EXIT GENERAL
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=anger-at-iraq-exit-general%26method=full%26objectid=17937551%26siteid=94762-name_page.html
Leading article: The general is right... we need to consider our exit strategy from Iraq under
http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article1870832.ece
US will stay at full strength in Iraq until 2010, says army chief
under http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article1873833.ece
THE END RESULTS AFTER THE GRILL:
"THE chief of the army last night faced calls to resign after his attack on Tony Blair's foreign policy.
General Sir Richard Dannatt won huge backing from troops and the public after saying Britain should pull out of Iraq.
But politicians were calling for him to step down for interfering in Government decisions."
Everything tantamounts to "cut your coat according to your size" in any given democracy! Not everything is leaked to the public and if state security is at risks or else it may be detrimental! Politics is just a complex subject and politicians are ver aggressive.
|
Edited by - kobo on 17 Oct 2006 20:51:57 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
