PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Gambian journalists to celebrate World Press Freedom Day
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - The Gambia Press Union (GPU) will on Tuesday observe the 2011 World Press Freedom Day against the background violations of press freedom by the government of Yahya Jammeh.
Over the years, press freedom and free expression have come under attack in The Gambia, especially with the disappearance and trial of journalists for their publications.
The Day will be observed under a global theme, “21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers.”
Although violations of press freedom have slowed down in The Gambia since 2010 the continued disappearance of the pro-Government newspaper journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh, the unresolved murder of Ebrima Barrow and Deyda Hydara and the harassment of journalists are still fresh on the minds of the people.
This year, sports producer and presenter for West Coast Radio, Bakary B. Baldeh, has been put trial by Gambian police for hosting aggrieved workers of a golf club.
The government last year sent a representative to participate in the 2010 Press Freedom Day celebrations for the first time ever.
With a call for dialogue by the Government extended to media chiefs of independent newspapers in March 2011, though the meeting seemed not to realise its objective, it is believed that the realisation of a free press may be gaining grounds gradually.
GPU said a minute's silence would be observed in honour of journalists who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
-0- PANA MSS/MA 2May2011
Over the years, press freedom and free expression have come under attack in The Gambia, especially with the disappearance and trial of journalists for their publications.
The Day will be observed under a global theme, “21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers.”
Although violations of press freedom have slowed down in The Gambia since 2010 the continued disappearance of the pro-Government newspaper journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh, the unresolved murder of Ebrima Barrow and Deyda Hydara and the harassment of journalists are still fresh on the minds of the people.
This year, sports producer and presenter for West Coast Radio, Bakary B. Baldeh, has been put trial by Gambian police for hosting aggrieved workers of a golf club.
The government last year sent a representative to participate in the 2010 Press Freedom Day celebrations for the first time ever.
With a call for dialogue by the Government extended to media chiefs of independent newspapers in March 2011, though the meeting seemed not to realise its objective, it is believed that the realisation of a free press may be gaining grounds gradually.
GPU said a minute's silence would be observed in honour of journalists who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
-0- PANA MSS/MA 2May2011
