African editors demand release of journalists arrested in Gambia

28 June 2009

The president of the Gambian Press Union (GPU) is calling for international media freedom organisations to support its campaign for the release of journalists being held under sedition charges.
Their alleged crime is to have criticised the country’s president over the handling of investigations into the murder in 2004 of editor Deyda Hydara.

Links and documents:
Gambia Press Union - Press Release, 18 June 2009 (download Word.doc)
Statement of The African Editors Forum, 23 June 2009 (download Word.doc)
The African Editors Forum is shocked, Gambia Press Union
Amnesty International Urgent Action (download Word.doc)
GPU-UK Message of Solidarity (download Word.doc)
Sign a new GPU_USA petition

Urgent Action - Gambia - Journalisten in Haft, 18 June 2009 (German site)

President Jammeh concedes witch hunting

6 June 2009 | Gambia / Cassamance
President Yaya Jammeh has admitted witch hunting allegations against his government. [1]

Jammeh has said that he believed witchcraft was behind his aunt's death December 27, 2008 [5], and has been inviting "witch doctors" from nearby Guinea to combat witches. Jammeh's aunt Aja Fatou Jammeh she passed away after suffering from a long illness at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) [4].

Amnesty International had called on the Gambian government to put an immediate stop to the campaign, investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice. [2]

On 03/14/2009 the Imam of the State House mosque, Alhaji Abdoulie Fatty has dismissed reports of alleged state sponsored 'witch hunting' in which more than a thousand people are reported to have been arrested, as wild rumors aimed at discrediting the government of president Yahya Jammeh. [3]

References:
[1] africanews.com - Gambia: President drops bombshell
[2] Amnesty International - Hundreds released as Gambian witch hunts end

[3] Senegambianews.com - Imam Fatty Dismisses Witch Hunting Allegations, Praises President Jammeh

[4] President Jammeh’s Aunt Passes away, Daily Observer, December 30, 2008

[5] Daily Observer, February 05, 2009

Related links:

Time to stop the abuse, Abena Ampofoa Asare, Pambazuka News, 14 May 2009

Witch hunts in Papua New Guinea, The Independent World, Unreported World: Bush Knives and Black Magic, Channel 4, tonight, 7.35pm, Friday, 8 May 2009