By Ndey Sowe
A former president of the Gambia Bar Association, human rights advocate, and Chairperson of ‘Gambia Participates’ has condemned the Government’s use of “draconian laws” to suppress press freedom, describing the recent charges against The Voice Newspaper journalist as unfortunate, and a major humiliation for The Gambia.
Mr. Salieu Taal, who also called on the Government to drop all charges against the Voice Newspaper journalists, made the condemnation on Wednesday, 23 October 2024, while speaking at a one-day media and CSO engagement organized by WADEMOS to advocate for the respect of constitutional term limits.
Held at a local hotel, the group has concluded a three-day mission in The Gambia, and their initiative seeks to unify stakeholders in resisting attempts by incumbents to manipulate constitutions to extend their tenure in power.
“I want to take this opportunity to call on the Government of The Gambia to drop all the charges against the two journalists,” he said.
Musa Sheriff, the Voice Newspaper Publisher, and Momodou Justice Darboe, the Deputy Editor of the paper, have been charged by the police with false publication, while President Adama Barrow pursues a civil suit against them.
“Today in The Gambia, two journalists have been charged in a criminal court after being sued for simply writing a story that alleges the incumbent augmenting a successor. It is rather unfortunate that a citizen or anybody including journalists who are the carriers of information, can be charged, detained, and taken to a civil court,” he added.
“So, I am calling on the Government to really drop these charges from the criminal court and I am calling on the president personally, to be magnanimous and discontinue the civil suit against these two journalists,” Mr. Taal said.
Meanwhile, he urged all journalists and rights activists to safeguard freedom of expression as it is the cornerstone of all rights. Mr. Taal calls on the Government particularly the President, to use his power of authority and get the IGP to drop the charges against the two journalists.
