Gambian journalists react to assault on colleagues covering president’s tour

Banjul, Gambia (PANA)   - The Gambia Press Union (GPU) Thursday expressed serious concern over the manhandling of three journalists covering the ongoing Meet the People’s Tour of President Adama Barrow.

According  to a statement made available to PANA  here, the GPU said  it had been informed that Sally Jobe of Kerr Fatou, Ebrahim Jambang of Gambian Talents Promotion, both online newspaper staff, and Landing Ceesay of Paradise FM were physically and verbally assaulted by members of the delegation or supporters of President Barrow.

The incident happened at Janjanbureh-Lamin Koto ferry crossing point in the Central River Region when the journalists began to film a protest by some members of the entourage who were not happy with certain logistical arrangements.

It was at that point that the perpetrators advanced towards the journalists raining insults on them and eventually physically assaulting them. 

Landing said he was hit on his chest.  A phone in Sally’s possession was broken after it was smashed as she was taking a video of a man who was insulting her parents.

Commenting on the incident, GPU President Sheriff Bojang Jr said: “When we first got the news, I reached out to the director of press and public relations at the office of the president and spokesperson of the government to express our concerns to them.”

“They both expressed regret over the incident and apologised on behalf of the presidency.”

Meanwhile, the GPU has expressed concern about the safety of journalists covering the tour.

“We will continue to engage the presidency on the safety of journalists to make sure that the safety and security of journalists on the ground are guaranteed,” the president said.

The GPU has called on the authorities to swiftly investigate the matter.

-0-      PANA     MSS/RA    21Nov2019