IPI Public Statements

Gambian Authorities Urged to End Legal Harassment of Editor Pap Saine

24 March 2009

The International Press Institute today urged Gambian authorities to drop all charges against Pap Saine, managing editor of The Point daily newspaper who faces two separate court proceedings and is due back in court on Wednesday.

On Monday, senior Magistrate Sainabou Wadda-Ceesay of Kanifing Magistrates Court adjourned the trial involving charges of publishing false information until 30 March, based on the prosecutor�s application to regularize the charge sheet against Saine. He is due in Banjul Magistrates� Court on Wednesday to face separate charges of obtaining a passport and a birth certificate by false pretences. Saine denies all the charges against him.

"The proceedings pending against outspoken editors like Pap Saine raise concern that the Gambian courts are being misused to settle scores with journalists," said IPI Director David Dadge. "We call on Gambian authorities to ensure that the judicial system does not become yet another tool for media harassment."

Saine�s most recent legal troubles began in early February, after The Point published a story describing a diplomatic reshuffle in Gambia�s Washington, D.C. embassy. Soon after publication, police raided the paper�s offices and detained its staff members, demanding that they reveal their sources. Saine was charged with publishing false news after refusing to disclose his sources. The passport-related charges followed in late February.

IPI recently asked British High Commissioner Phil Sinkinson to voice his government�s concern to the Gambian government about the case against Saine and other journalists. The Gambia is a member of the intergovernmental British Commonwealth.

Aggressive legal prosecution of outspoken journalists is common in The Gambia. On 20 March, Halifa Sallah, publisher of the pro-opposition Foroyaa Newspaper and leading opposition politician, was released after two weeks in police detention. Initial charges against him, including sedition and spying, were dropped on 19 March.

Journalists have also been the target of violence.�In December 2004, Deyda Hydara, Saine�s long-time friend and co-founder of The Point, was shot dead just days after he denounced two new media laws. As highlighted in IPI�s Justice Denied Campaign, the government has shown little interest in thoroughly investigating and prosecuting that crime.

IPI�s General Assembly, meeting in Nairobi in 2005, passed a resolution condemning Hydara�s killing and calling on the government to conduct a thorough investigation. Charges against one suspect were eventually dropped.��

Read Country Reports on 'Gambia':

2007 World Press Freedom Review
2006 World Press Freedom Review
2005 World Press Freedom Review
2004 World Press Freedom Review
2003 World Press Freedom Review
2002 World Press Freedom Review
2001 World Press Freedom Review
2000 World Press Freedom Review
1999 World Press Freedom Review
1998 World Press Freedom Review

Journalists killed in 'Gambia':

2004 (1)
2000 (1)

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