Gambia Press Union calls for ‘immediate and an unconditional’ release of detained journalist

The Gambia Press Union is calling for unconditional and immediate release of Alhagie Jobe, deputy editor of the pro-government Daily Observer newspaper, who has been detained since 7^th February 2013.

Alagie Jobe

“We are calling on the authorities to release him with immediate effect since he has been detain for more than the legal limit of 72 hours stipulated in the constitution of The Gambia,” president of the Union, Emil Touray, said.

“The Union is going to write to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), who are detaining Mr Jobe, to call on them to release him unconditionally since they are yet to charge him formally,” he added.

A security source has it that Mr Jobe is accused of using his position as deputy editor of the pro-government Daily Observer to run a visa and asylum fraud scheme.

Gambian journalists denied entry at the Supreme Court by security agents

Sainey Marenah

Binta Bah

 Journalists working for the Standard and Daily News, two newspapers closed down in September were on Monday denied entry at the Supreme Court in Banjul to cover the case involving former chief of defence staff, Lang Tombong Tamba and six others who are appealing the death sentence verdict handed to them by the High Court. 

Binta Bah and Sainey Marenah from the Daily News and Standard respectively were prevented from attending the court proceeding by plain clothes security officers who claimed the order to stop them had emanated from the Office of the President.

The duo said “we were told by a plain clothes officer (a member of national intelligence agency) that since our media houses are closed – no more publishing - we should not cover the case anymore.”

However, Binta was let in after telling the officer that she was a blogger as well so will use her blog to publish the story.

“I was later let in but after about 15 minutes I was told by the state security agent that the director of press at the State House, Modou Saidy, said he was not aware of my blog because my blog is not registered so I should not cover the case as my paper is no longer publishing” Ms Bah explained.

“The officer said they operate on directives and he is given a directive that we are not allow to cover the case anymore. ‘Sorry but you have to go out, he officer told me’,” Binta added.