Gambia: ITUC and IFJ Warn of HR Breaches

ITUC and IFJ Warn of Breaches of International Human Rights in Gambia

Brussels, 3 July 2009 (ITUC OnLine): A delegation from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today delivered to the Gambian Embassy in Brussels letters to President Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, protesting the prosecution of seven journalists whose trial started today in Banjul on charges of sedition and defamation.

The delegation, headed by Paco Audije, IFJ deputy general secretary and Tim Noonan, ITUC director of campaigns and communications, met with the deputy head of mission at the Gambian Embassy and handed over the two organisations’ representations.

“The IFJ and its affiliates worldwide add their voice to the scores of trade union organisations, human rights and media advocacy groups in their condemnation of such an act of intimidation designed to stifle freedom of expression and trade union rights in the Gambia,” said the Federation’s letter signed by Jim Boumelha and Paco Audije, respectively IFJ president and deputy general secretary.

The delegation expressed their organisations’ serious concerns over the arrest and trial of the seven journalists, most of whom are leaders of the Gambian Press Union (GPU), an IFJ affiliate and one of whom, Pa Faal, is also general secretary of the ITUC-affiliated Gambia Workers’ Confederation.

“There are mounting concerns by our affiliates around the world at Gambia’s failure to comply with its international obligations, especially in regard to the International Labour Organisation,” said Noonan. “We are asking your government to reconsider its decision and withdraw the charges.”

Last month, the seven journalists, including the GPU vice president Sarata Jabbi-Dibba and the general secretary Emil Touray, editors and a reporter from several of the country’s national newspapers were arrested by the National Intelligence Agency and charged with three counts of seditious publication. Their arrest followed a GPU statement criticising the president’s comments about veteran journalist Deyda Hydara, who was killed in 2004. Investigation into his murder has stone-walled despite media and human rights organisations’ repeated calls for the government to show commitment to finding his murderers.

Protest letter from the ITUC: http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/09-06-22_TUists_journalists_arrested.pdf

ENDS

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