Truth, Reconciliation & Reparations Commission (TRRC) Digest Edition 6
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Contribution to the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism 7Th Session of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review
Contribution to the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism 7th session of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review A joint submission on the Republic of the Gambia, by International PEN, International Publishers Association (NGOs in Consultative Status with ECOSOC) and Index on Censorship 21 August 2009 International PEN, on behalf of the submitting organisations, welcomes the opportunity provided by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights to comment on the human rights situation in the Republic of The Gambia, about which it has had serious concerns for a number of years. This document provides an overview of the current situation for print journalists and examples of specific cases of individuals whose right to freedom of expression and other basic rights have been severely restricted. 1. Overview of free expression situation Although freedom of expression is protected in The Gambia under both national1 and international2 law, the enjoyment of this right has deteriorated drastically under President Yahya Jammeh, who seized power in 1994 following a military coup which ended decades of democracy. Since then, apart from a brief post-coup honeymoon period and despite a nominal return to constitutional rule in 1996, President Jammeh has been openly hostile to the country’s historically well organized independent media, an attitude manifest in numerous public statements. As early as 1994, for example, he declared: “Journalists are the illegitimate sons of Africa. Citizens should not buy newspapers so that journalists can starve to death.” The President’s attitude towards the media has hardened over the last 15 years. He has continued to make statements showing his disregard for freedom of expression and of the press and directly threatening journalists. -
Gambia Parliamentary Elections, 6 April 2017
EUROPEAN UNION ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION FINAL REPORT The GAMBIA National Assembly Elections 6 April 2017 European Union Election Observation Missions are independent from the European Union institutions.The information and views set out in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. EU Election Observation Mission to The Gambia 2017 Final Report National Assembly Elections – 6 April 2017 Page 1 of 68 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................. 3 I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 4 II. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 9 III. POLITICAL BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................. 9 IV. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ELECTORAL SYSTEM ................................................................................. 11 A. Universal and Regional Principles and Commitments ............................................................................. 11 B. Electoral Legislation ............................................................................................................................... -
Predators of Freedom of Information in 2013 3 May 2013 World Press Freedom Day
3 may 2013 PREDATORS OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION IN 2013 3 MAY 2013 WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 39 LEADERS, GROUPS NAMED AS PREDATORS OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION IN 2013 Reporters Without Borders is today, World Press Freedom Day, releasing an updated list of 39 Predators of Freedom of Information – presidents, politicians, religious leaders, militias and criminal organizations that censor, imprison, kidnap, torture and kill journalists and other news providers. Powerful, dangerous and violent, these predators consider themselves above the law. “These predators of freedom of information are responsible for the worst abuses against the news media and journalists,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “They are becoming more and more effective. In 2012, the level of vio- lence against news providers was unprecedented and a record number of journalists were killed. “World Press Freedom Day, which was established on the initiative of Reporters Without Borders, must be used to pay tribute to all journalists, professional and amateur, who have paid for their commitment with their lives, their physical integrity or their freedom, and to denounce the impunity enjoyed by these predators.” Five new predators have been added to the list: the new Chinese president, Xi Jinping, the Jihadi group Jabhat Al-Nosra from Syria, members and supporters of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, Pakistan’s Baloch armed groups, and Maldives’ religious extremists. Four predators have been dropped from the list: former Somali information and communications minister Abdulkadir Hussein Mohamed, Burmese President Thein Sein, whose country is experiencing unprecedented reforms despite the current ethnic violence, the ETA group, and the Hamas and Palestinian Authority security forces, which are harassing journalists less. -
The Gambia’S Notorious Prison System, Has Proven Deadlier Than the Previous Laws
The more recent Publication of False Information Act, which mandates heavy fines or imprisonment in The Gambia’s notorious prison system, has proven deadlier than the previous laws. THE GAMBIA 152 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2010 INTRODUCTION OVERALL SCORE: 1.66 THE GAMBIA THE Repressive media laws continue to hamper the independent press in The Gambia—in sharp contrast to the country’s constitution, which grants all citizens the freedom of expression and supports press freedom. The Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), the ruling party since a bloodless coup in R1994, eroded and flouted the existing principles of democracy and human rights. APRC wasted little time introducing legislation, such as Newspaper Decree 70 and 71, aimed at gagging the media. The more recent Publication of False Information Act, which mandates heavy fines or imprisonment in The Gambia’s notorious prison system, has proven deadlier than the previous laws. Those who petition the president, seeking redress when their rights are violated, must prove their allegations in court—and if they fail to prove their cases, they face jail time. A human rights advocate was jailed recently under this law. Libel is punishable with civil penalties as well as criminal penalties, and the accused bear the burden of proof. The libel law and the laws on sedition and false publication all carry the same minimum custodial penalty of one year in prison and/or heavy fines. In 2009, several journalists were fined or imprisoned under these three laws. Although no one faced charges of libel, sedition, or false publication in 2010, the psychological impact of threatening remarks from the president’s office has driven editors to self-censorship, and dampens free speech among citizens. -
Democratic Transition in Anglophone West Africa Byjibrin Ibrahim
Democratic Transition in Anglophone West Africa Democratic Transition in Anglophone West Africa Jibrin Ibrahim Monograph Series The CODESRIA Monograph Series is published to stimulate debate, comments, and further research on the subjects covered. The Series will serve as a forum for works based on the findings of original research, which however are too long for academic journals but not long enough to be published as books, and which deserve to be accessible to the research community in Africa and elsewhere. Such works may be case studies, theoretical debates or both, but they incorporate significant findings, analyses, and critical evaluations of the current literature on the subjects in question. Author Jibrin Ibrahim directs the International Human Rights Law Group in Nigeria, which he joined from Ahmadu Bello University where he was Associate Professor of Political Science. His research interests are democratisation and the politics of transition, comparative federalism, religious and ethnic identities, and the crisis in social provisioning in Africa. He has edited and co-edited a number of books, among which are Federalism and Decentralisation in Africa (University of Fribourg, 1999), Expanding Democratic Space in Nigeria (CODESRIA, 1997) and Democratisation Processes in Africa, (CODESRIA, 1995). Democratic Transition in Anglophone West Africa © Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa 2003, Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop Angle Canal IV, BP. 3304, Dakar, Senegal. Web Site: http://www.codesria.org CODESRIA gratefully -
THE GAMBIA Deyda Hydara
THE GAMBIA - Deyda Hydara The death of a journalist under surveillance May 2005 Investigation: Leonard Vincent Reporters Without Borders International Secrétariat Africa Desk 5, rue Geoffroy Marie 75009 Paris-France Tél. (33) 1 44 83 84 76 Fax (33) 1 45 23 11 51 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rsf.org Trapped in its own absurd hypotheses, the offi cial investigation into the murder of Deyda Hydara has gone nowhere. Reporters Without Borders has tried to shed some new light on the case in this report. Our enquiries show that Hydara, the co-founder and editor of the inde- pendent newspaper The Point, had not only received death threats from individuals who he thought belonged to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) but also that he was under sur- veillance, almost certainly by the security for- ces, a few minutes before his murder. Five months have gone by since Hydara, who was also the correspondent of Agence France- Presse (AFP) and Reporters Without Borders, was fatally shot behind the wheel of his car in your allegations or else you will go to prison for Kanifi ng, a district of Greater Banjul, on the libel.” night of 16 December. But those who murde- red Gambia’s most respected journalist are still at large. Indeed, there is no indication that A journalist who was being they are being sought by the Gambian police. watched To get an update on the police investigation and to seek new information about the case, 2004 was already a trying year for Gambia’s Reporters Without Borders sent a representati- journalists before Hydara’s murder in Decem- ve to Banjul and Dakar from 25 April to 4 May. -
Editions 13&14
TRUTH, RECONCILIATION & REPARATIONS COMMISSION (TRRC) DIGEST ©Helen Jones-Florio Photo: Newspaper The Point ANEKED & © 2020 EDITIONS 13&14 Presented by: 1| The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) is mandated to investigate and establish an impartial historical record of the nature, causes and extent of violations and abuses of human rights committed during the period of July 1994 to January 2017 and to consider the granting of reparations to victims and for connected matters. It started public hearings on 7th January 2019 and will proceed in chronological order, examining the most serious human rights violations that occurred from 1994 to 2017 during the rule of former President Yahya Jammeh. While the testimonies are widely reported in the press and commented on social media, triggering vivid discussions and questions regarding the current transitional process in the country, a summary of each thematic focus/event and its findings is missing. The TRRC Digests seek to widen the circle of stakeholders in the transitional justice process in The Gambia by providing Gambians and interested international actors, with a constructive recount of each session, presenting the witnesses and listing the names of the persons mentioned in relation to human rights violations and – as the case may be – their current position within State, regional or international institutions. Furthermore, the Digests endeavour to highlight trends and patterns of human rights violations and abuses that occurred and as recounted during the TRRC hearings. In doing so, the TRRC Digests provide a necessary record of information and evidence uncovered – and may serve as “checks and balances” at the end of the TRRC’s work. -
Justice on Trial
Vol 6. No 4. 2019 JUSTICE ON TRIAL Courts and Commissions in West Africa Sampala Balima Sampala Balima is a lecturer at the Ouaga II University of Ouagadougou and an associate researcher at 'Les Afriques dans le Monde' at Sciences Po Bordeaux. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu Chidi Anselm Odinkalu works with the Open Society Foundations (OSF). He writes in his personal capacity. Sait Matty Jaw Sait Matty Jaw is a lecturer at the University of The Gambia, and the executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Development - The Gambia. Tarila Marclint Ebiede Tarila Marclint Ebiede holds a PhD in Social Sciences from KU Leuven, Belgium. Tarila's research on political violence, peace building, democracy and Human rights in Nigeria seeks to promote open and peaceful socio-political relations that benefits ordinary people in society. Justice on trial POST-COUP JUSTICE: Strengthening Burkina Faso's transition to democracy? NIGERIA'S JUDICIARY: On trial THE COMPLICATED QUEST FOR Truth, Reconciliation and Justice in The Gambia JUSTICE BEYOND BORDERS? Human rights and the ECOWAS Court of Justice Justice on trial This Issue: Justice on trial: Courts and commissions in West Africa his edition of West Africa In e Gambia, Sait Matty Jaw, looks Insight looks at the ways in at the ongoing work of the Truth, Twhich justice is being sought, Reconciliation and Reparations and delivered, in Nigeria, Burkina Faso Commission and argues that the and e Gambia. political environment is one factor making it very difficult to achieve the In Burkina Faso, Sampala Balima dual objectives of reconciliation and reects on the September verdict justice. -
Extremism and Terrorism
The Gambia: Extremism and Terrorism On January 28, 2017, days after being inaugurated into office, The Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow, renounced the country’s status as an Islamic republic. The previous president, Yahya Jammeh, had declared The Gambia to be an Islamic republic in 2015. Jammeh had also expressed his desire to introduce sharia law into The Gambia and presented Zakir Naik––an Islamic extremist preacher wanted in his home country of India for alleged involvement in terrorist acts––with The Gambia’s highest honorary award. (Sources: Daily Post, BBC News, Freedom Newspaper, PeaceTV) Overview The Gambia spent 22 years under the authoritarian rule of Yahya Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup and whose government has been accused of several human rights violations regarding the ruthless tactics it used to silence opponents. Jammeh embraced Islamic fundamentalism during his rule of The Gambia, whose 1.9 million population is at least 90 percent Muslim. In 2015, Jammeh declared the Gambia to be an Islamic republic––making it the second Islamic republic in Africa after Mauritania––and some months later, pledged to introduce the rule of sharia law into the country. Additionally, Jammeh invited Zakir Naik––an Islamic extremist preacher wanted in his home country of India for alleged involvement in terrorist acts––to visit The Gambia as a special guest, and presented him with the country’s highest honorary award. In 2014, Jammeh signed a bill into law which punished some homosexual acts with life imprisonment. (Sources: BBC News, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Overseas Security Advisory Council, Jamestown Foundation, BBC News, Freedom Newspaper, Guardian, Guardian, PeaceTV, All Africa, All Africa) In The Gambia’s December 2016 presidential elections, Jammeh was unexpectedly defeated by another candidate, Adama Barrow. -
Freedom of the Press 2009
Freedom of the Press 2009 FURTHER DECLINES IN GLOBAL MEDIA INDEPENDENCE Selected data from Freedom House’s annual survey of press freedom Acknowledgments Freedom of the Press 2009 could not have been completed without the contributions of numerous Freedom House staff and consultants. The following section, entitled “The Survey Team,” contains a detailed list of writers without whose efforts this project would not have been possible. Karin Deutsch Karlekar, a senior researcher at Freedom House, served as managing editor of this year’s survey. Extensive research, editorial, and administrative assistance was provided by Denelle Burns, as well as by Sarah Cook, Tyler Roylance, Elizabeth Floyd, Joanna Perry, Joshua Siegel, Charles Liebling, and Aidan Gould. Overall guidance for the project was provided by Arch Puddington, director of research, and by Christopher Walker, director of studies. We are grateful for the insights provided by those who served on this year’s review team, including Freedom House staff members Arch Puddington, Christopher Walker, Karin Deutsch Karlekar, Sarah Cook, and Tyler Roylance. In addition, the ratings and narratives were reviewed by a number of Freedom House staff based in our overseas offices. This report also reflects the findings of the Freedom House study Freedom in the World 2009: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Statistics on internet usage were taken from www.internetworldstats.com. This project was made possible by the contributions of the Asia Vision Foundation, F. M. Kirby, Free Voice, Freedom Forum, The Hurford Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the National Endowment for Democracy, The Nicholas B. -
Safeguarding Press Freedom in Perilous Times
IMS Defending Journalism book series / 1 IMS book series – 2020 Defending journalism Shared responsibility: Safeguarding press freedom in perilous times Lessons learned and new approaches to media safety 2 IMS Defending Journalism book series / 3 IMS Defending Journalism book series Published in Denmark, April 2020 Publisher: International Media Support (IMS) ISBN 87-92209-64-5 4 List of acronyms EAN 9788792209641 5 Acknowledgments IMS Nørregade 18 6 Foreword by Jesper Højberg 1165 Copenhagen K Denmark 9 Foreword by Agnés Callamard +45 88327000 [email protected] 12 Executive summary © 2020 IMS 16 Introduction: The content of this publications is copyright protected. Meeting the challenge of defending journalism in perilous times International Media Support is happy to share the text in the publication with you under the Creative Commons Attribution- through multi-stakeholder action ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a summary of this license, please visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ 21 Chapter 1: by-sa/4.0. Can adversaries ally? Building trust, engagement and collaboration between the state and civil society stakeholders 32 Chapter 2: Join the global work for freedom of expression and Anchoring mechanisms in national human rights institutions and stay up to date on media issues worldwide strong coalitions forfreemedia 39 Chapter 3: InternationalMediaSupport Media, the reluctant stakeholder – gaining more commitment and improving practices among the media sector International Media Support is a non-profit organisation -
Congressional Record—Senate S7722
S7722 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 30, 2008 today what we have to do. I told Sen- forward of their children, grand- Arizona (Mr. MCCAIN) and the Senator ators what we have to do. I am tremen- children, and great-grandchildren bur- from Mississippi (Mr. WICKER). dously disappointed that the tax ex- ied by Bush deficits. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there tenders were not passed. I was just The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- any other Senators in the Chamber de- given a note by the chairman of the ator from Arizona. siring to vote? Environment and Public Works Com- Mr. KYL. I note that 88 Senators The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 51, mittee about something that also is in voted in favor of that approach dealing nays 43, as follows: this bill that would create lots of jobs, with this subject. [Rollcall Vote No. 192 Leg.] at least 150,000 high-paying jobs, and Mr. REID. I appreciate the statement YEAS—51 that is to replenish the money from the of my friend from Arizona. I believe in Akaka Dole Menendez highway trust funds. Those moneys are these extenders so strongly that even Baucus Dorgan Mikulski not going to be there, which will cause though I would much rather have them Bayh Durbin Murray paid for, we all know the debt has to Biden Feingold Nelson (FL) people not only to not have jobs, but it Bingaman Feinstein Nelson (NE) will stop projects from going forward stop someplace. As I indicated, the Boxer Harkin Pryor that are already in progress.