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Momodou
Denmark
11786 Posts |
 Posted - 03 May 2010 : 17:53:04
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Dailynews Editorial: Call For Justice and Reverse Culture of Impunity:As The World Marks World Press Freedom Day
Today is May 3rd; the day is set aside officially and designated by the United Nation’s General Assembly as World Press Freedom day. All around the world on this day, supporters of media freedom celebrates the fundamental principles of press and media freedom that are articulated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Right.
We in the Gambia are marking the World Press Freedom Day again with a very heavy heart. It is another World Press Freedom Day, when our slain colleague’s case is far from being solved. It is coming to five years when nobody is being brought before any court of justice for the murder of Deyda Hydara. It is in the same vein that another colleague of the Gambian media, Chief Ebrima Manneh is also gone missing in thin air for nearly five years, and yet nobody is claiming responsibility of holding him. What is even worrying is the fact that he is no where to be found. Is he dead or alive? No answer is found.
The occasion is being marked when; certain media houses remained close without any court order. We are marking the day when many of our journalists have fled their mother land and living on foreign lands for fear of returning. We are marking the day, when numerous atrocities meted out on to our journalists and left unsolved, the case of burnt media printing presses, and the physical assaults on journalists. E.g. in the case of Njammeh Bah, formerly of Point newspaper, Charreh formerly of Daily Observer, Alieu Bah formerly of radio one fm, this list can go on, and on. We need solutions to the above unresolved cases; it is only there and there only that one can consider our country to be making head way to attaining a free press status.
We called on the government of the day to repeal the newspaper amendment Act of 2004, and the Criminal Amendment Act of 2004. These are media laws that are found to be unfavorable and need to be repealed. The bond of five hundred thousand dalasi condition for the registration of a newspaper is a way of restriction on press freedom.
World Press Freedom Day, is an occasion also to remind governments all over the world of the need to respect press freedom, and is a day of solemn reflection for media professionals on issues of press freedom and professional ethnics. Just as importantly world press freedom day is a day of support for those media organizations that are the targets of systematic abuse, suppression or discrimination when it comes to carrying out their democratic role.
We are here-by calling for justice and the reverse of the culture of impunity as we mark another World Press Freedom Day. Justice should be seen done in the case of Deyda and those like Deyda across the globe. The respective governments should take note and act immediately. Such is not only good for the family and friends of murdered journalists but it is also in the interest of governments concern.
In Nigeria four journalists who covered the recent dismissal of the electoral commission chairman received anonymous death threats via text message on Wednesday. The messages, sent from the same number, said the reporters would meet the fate of three slain Nigerian journalists.
In the Philippines, political clan members slaughter more than 30 news media workers and dump their bodies in mass graves.
In Sri Lanka, a prominent editor who has criticized authorities is so sure of retaliation that he predicts his own murder. In these and many other journalist killings worldwide, no one has been convicted.
To mark World Press Freedom Day, May 3, Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) has spotlighted 10 emblematic cases worldwide in which journalists have been killed with impunity. CPJ is challenging authorities to solve these 10 crimes and send a message that they are committed to reversing the grave problem of impunity in journalist murders.
"These journalists fought injustice while they lived," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. "We are left to continue their struggle now that they are gone."
In a just concluded congress of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) its President Omar Faruk Osman said "Working journalists in are constantly under fire for simply executing their duties, revealing painful truths and giving a voice to our voiceless people and marginalised communities. Because they want to report in a balanced, objective, accurate and credible way, journalists have to go out and see the facts for themselves. This includes covering the most dangerous and difficult cases that relate to terrorism, criminal investigations, civil wars, corruption, violent demonstrations, political instability, and other deadly conflicts"
In a message marking the World Press Freedom Day, FAJ president said "Last year alone, we lost 13 journalists, who were viciously assassinated for executing their duties honestly and competently. This year is again turning out to be a sad one. This month, three Nigerian colleagues were murdered and there are strong suspicions that their deaths were linked to their professional duties. Countries in which journalists’ safety is endangered include Somalia, DR Congo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Eritrea,Madagascar and The Gambia"
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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