TAKE ACTION: Drop Charges against two journalists, MFWA Demands

Journalist Ceesay and Saidykhan

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is utterly dismayed at the sluggish attitude of the Gambian police service in handling the case of the two journalists who are facing criminal charges in Gambia.

The MFWA calls on all Gambians living in the Diaspora, individuals and all organisations to condemn the situation and call on the authorities to drop the charges immediately.


Baboucarr Ceesay, first vice president of the Gambian Press Union (GPU) and Abubacarr Saidykhan, a freelance journalist have been charged with “conspiracy to commit felony, seditious publication and inciting violence.”

The charges followed their arrest and detention on September 6, 2012 for seeking police permit to peacefully demonstrate against the execution of nine death row inmates on the orders of Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh.

The MFWA’s follow-ups have shown that Ceesay and Saidykhan have exhibited enough compliance, by among other demands, consistently reporting to the police station for more than a month without receiving any clear indication from the authorities as to how the case is being handled.

The Foundation cannot fathom the link between applying for a permit to peacefully demonstrate and the various charges preferred against the two journalists.

A CALL TO THE GAMBIA POLICE SERVICE

Take action now by signing below to join the campaign to pressurize the police service (authorities) to:

-Drop the charges preferred against the two journalists;
-Acknowledge that, by applying for a police permit to peacefully demonstrate, the journalists acted in the confines of the law;
-Respect the Constitution of The Gambia, specifically, Section 25 (1d) which guarantees the right to peaceful demonstration; “freedom to assemble and demonstrate peaceably and without arms”
-Act in accordance with all international human rights laws and treaties that the Gambia has ratified.

 MFWA