THE GAMBIA Who killed ?

January 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 E-mail : [email protected] / [email protected] Web : www.rsf.org Who killed Deyda Hydara? He co-founded He 1994. since correspondent Borders’ Without ters Repor- been had He intellectual. respected a was to do with his death. And why Hydara, anyway? He anything having denies which government, their to put Gambians many that question the fact in is Hydara?” Deyda kill to as far so December.go you 22 did “Why on of streets the through marched which they when photo carried Hydara’s journalists Gambian bearing posters the on legend the was Hydara?”This Deyda killed “Who aim their was Deyda, theysucceeded.”when theykilled that “If said. opposition political offito returning of sure be to the ce,”of partisan a order in terror with everyone paralyse to wanted they elections, 2006 the to runup the Senegal. “In within enclave an is that inhabitants million 1.4 of poor,country this small in mind of state the trates illus- conversations, many of course the in heard identifibe often remark, aggrieved of ed. kind This that’s all,” said a businessman who also asked not to tactics, is change will they thing only the sure, for that’s again, happen will thing of kind mity.“This anony- requested who journalist Banjul a by told was speak,”Borders to Without afraid Reporters is everyone but happened what knows “Everyone lese capitalofDakar, from 21to 27December. Senega- the to as well as areas, surrounding and Banjul tofi visit the presentsthat of report ndings investigation. aserious toauthorities conduct This the press to and family his help to Gambia Theto of his death, it made plans to send a representative der. Reporters as Without soon learned AsBorders mur- this behind government’shand the see who many are there and 2004 December 16 of night the on car his of wheel the at blood cold in down G acrimonious nor vengeful. He was an enlightened an was He vengeful. nor acrimonious have succeeded each other in Gambia was neither that regimes the to opposition His columns. its in positions humanistic clear, took French- Hydara speaking, and altruistic Thoughtful, mimeographedpublications. four-page, just of consisted me- dia print the of rest The kind. its of newspaper When its localcorrespondent. him made gradually and translator a as him hired for 1974 since worked also had He Saine. Pap years, 35 of friend his with 1991 in – week a times three gne France-Presse Agence ambian journalist Deyda Hydara was gunned was Hydara Deyda journalist ambian h Point The Point The s apae, t a te only the was it appeared, fi rst – a tabloid that appears that tabloid a – ( AFP , hc originally which ), Thursday 16December, 10p.m. Sankung SillahStreet, no politicalambitions. democrat. Aged 58 at the time of his death, he had of anniversary 13th the was December 16 Thursday, the Casamance road. on south, the to localities with capital the linking road asphalted only the Highway, jul-Serekunda offset and Kanifiof direction the in Ban- the via ng They left Fajara, passed the district of Bakau Kunku, Jobe, behindHydara. 31,sat intheback, Niansarang and seat passenger front the into got 33, Jagne, Isatou Mercedes. blue a car, his of seat declined the invitation. Hydara got into the driver’s he so ride, a him give to else someone found had to his home in the suburbs. But, that evening, Saine of Westfield from where he would usually get a taxi district neighbouring the to Saine partner his take Kanifiof offalso He lived. also he where ng, to ered tor and his typist a ride to their homes in the district finished late – Hydara offered to give his layout edi- Shortly after 9 p.m – as on every evening when they per. fithe diffinancial newspa- the producing of culties and journalists as problems their about members staffseveral with talked fiand his visit courtesy rst newspaper the Staff paid D. ord Joseph bassador am- US afternoon, That Banjul. Greater up make that districts six the of one Fajara, in Road humpa issue had been put to bed at its office on Ja- Garba latest the after drink staffa the to invited owners co- two newspaper’s The Gambia. The in stringer an, fre rdo orait n the and journalist radio former a Saine, h Point The ’s creation by Hydara and his friend friend his and Hydara by creation ’s Reuters 2

THE GAMBIA Who killed Deyda Hydara? n y-ins tl Rpres ihu Borders that a Mercedes taxi Without with no number plate Reporters was par told eye-witness An of thehighway. side other the on begins that neighbourhood a in end of the street in order to drive to his own home the at round turn usually would He right. the on street residential a and left the on lot empty an is street,the end of this where200-metre-long there droppingof habit employeeswasthe two in his at Sillah after the factory located on it, Alhadji San Alhadji it, on located factory the after Sillah Sankung called is street highway.The the of side opposite the on street dirt pot-holed unlit, an into turned and p.m. 10 after shortly located is store Jimpex the where crossroads the reached Hydara ult rd t lot on-ln rne no his into range point-blank almost at first fired bullet the by killed was He instantly. died Hydara way anddisappeared. its on continued gunman the with taxi car.” The impression they wanted to kill everyone the inside the had “You fired: were shots three only if sure not was Borders Without Reporters to spoke who and then chest, fired a shot into the the rear door. in The eyewitness again him shot bullet, mm 9 a in the passenger seat shot Hydara in the head with it go by. The taxi never stopped moving, but a man pass on the left, Hydara reflexively turned to watch to the right to let the taxi pass. As the taxi began to overpulled response,slowedand downHydara In headlights. its on turned and Hydara’scar of back the to close drew taxi the right, the on street the of beginning the at garage-workshop police a to entrance the passing After Hydara. behind Street Sillah intoSankung turned and up started taxi des at sources Several Plastic. & Soap Sillah kung turned off. When Hydara’s car passed, the Merce the passed, Hydara’scar When off. turned ked on the highway that evening, with all its lights Point told Reporters Without Borders that Hydara that Borders Without Reporters told Sankung SillahStreet, Kanifing The The - - - Daily Observer Daily street before their car came to a halt. Her first reac open the front-right door and tumble out onto the Although wounded in the ankle, Jagne was able to flattened. had it weeds the and ditch the of cement the on scene of the murder and saw the marks the car left to wentrepresentative The Borders Without Reporters plant. Company Industrial Hong-Kong Afro the of wall perimeter the beside palm large a with level street, the of side the at overgrownditch the in up ended car the and wheel steering the onto side door lodged in Jobe’s rear left knee. Hydara fell forward the through fired shot The ankle. right the in – front the in passenger the – Jagne hit also chest his through went that shot The temple. left Christmas firecrackers. He said he then heard so heard then he weresaid He firecrackers. they Christmas assumed initially but shots heard he fore 11p.m.” police intervention unit and give the alarm at a po the inform to colleagues his of one asked then He office. his to her led and Jagne injured he the found gate, front the Opening me.” boss. help by Someone killed “They’ve Wolof: in shout meone privately-owned the to gave he interview an In investigators.ned by Gambian Borders the alarm was givenwas alarm the Borders “afterp.m.be 10 and Without Reporters told sources Several highway. the on away metres hundred several barracks lice questio was known, not is name whose them, of One there. from murder the seen have could who who were at the entrance to the police garage and policemen unarmed two to went then she so her, help to refused He highway. the of direction the soap and plastic factory, about 100 metres away in tion was to rush to the guard at the entrance to the on condition of anonymity, he said anonymity,he of condition on locality, and not to a to neighbouring not and locality, the Serekunda, in station police central the to them unknown drove reasons, for and, jured women in a taxi in two the put they accounts, matching two to According ne. anything sce crime the at else or body Hydara’s touch not did they procedure, investigative minal cri with accordance In murder. the after minutes few a scene the at arrived racks from the nearby bar nearby the from policemen Several 3 ------THE GAMBIA Who killed Deyda Hydara? their safety. forfearing secret, location their kept havewomen young two the them Since removed. successfully The bullet lodged in Jobe’s fractured cap knee was there. hospital a to taken were and them, treating doctors Gambian the of agreement the with and lese capital of Dakar at the request of their families, Senega the to flown 23 wereDecember, they of evening On the glass. by theirs from separated room adjoining an to go to made were visitors their and officer lice po uniformed a by monitored were calls phone their said bers mem family Several surveillance. police strict very to subject and observation, un der days seven for there remained They Teaching Hospital inBanjul. Victoria Royal the to mitted Badjie told Reporters Without Borders he was in was he Borders Without Reporters told Badjie Landing general inspector Police Banjul. through electroshock an sent Hydara’sdeath of news The cooperation” The policeaskfor “time and ad were Jagne and Jobe that statement, a make to refusing after night, that later only was It hospital. ning of 17 December in Old Jeshwan cemetery in cemetery Jeshwan Old in December 17 of ning eve the on buried was he tradition, Muslim with accordance In new. nothing revealed night, the during taken was it where Hospital, Victoria Royal the at body Hydara’s on out carried autopsy An information liable to help ensure justice was done. any provide to public the urged and investigation an begun had agencies security the that added It book”.to them bring and culprits the apprehend to best utmost its do pledged “to and act”wardly co “this condemned government Gambian the December, 17 of morning the on statement a In to thecase. rity and he asked for “the best men” to be assigned prio top the made be to murder Hydara the into investigation the for orders gave he said off.” He cordoned been had sector the sure make to was decision first “My midnight. after shortly formed ------Badjie, the police inspector general, told the funeral. at government the represented Janneh Scattred information and communication minister Amadou and Hydara Tidiane Sheikh minister Justice corps. press entire the almost of presence the in Banjul over a June 2004 article about a conflict between conflict a about article 2004 June a over Saine and Hydara threatened publicly had he se The police arrested Njaga Jagne, a resident of Had cooperation.” him to justice. For that I need time and the public’s bring and him arrest responsible, person the find will we that you assure I everyone. for tragedy a is Hydara’smurder concluded: “Deyda He Service. Air Special elite British the SAS,”to an referring of skill the with professionalby “a out carried clearly was and method”“alien an of hallmarks the bore it this.”said like He murder cold-blooded but “not Gambia in explored, violence occasional was being there said he were hypotheses what Asked out how theinvestigation isprogressing.” find to hours three every me calls president The trips. my all police.cancelled “I’vethe on pressure of deal great a putting was government the said Reporters Without Borders on 23 December, Badjie to gave he interview an At help. for police galese Sene the asked had he and watched being were borders the said possible.”He is “everything that, adding said, somewere,”he clue a be must there pect. “We hope one day we’ll have a breakthrough, dington Street in Banjul, on 24 December becau December 24 on Banjul, in Street dington December that the police did not yet have a sus a have yet not did police the that December AFP on 18 4 - - - - THE GAMBIA Who killed Deyda Hydara? h Independent The Natio The arrest. arbitrary to arson from ranging in media Gambia privately-ownedThe the against violence recurring tracked has Reporters Borders Without election, presidential 2001 the Since Harassment mechanisms suppor he 50s, his in Aged capital. the in imams freedom isfear. violations inGambia the prevailing feeling among all witnesses of press who also fulfillstherole ofattorney general. As aresult, minister, justice the by brought been has ever indictment no system, legal British-derived Gambia’sThe under result, a As anything. with up come has investigations police the of None tacks. at repeated these in suspect leading or per petrator the been has (NIA) Agency Intelligence nal an operation likethis.” resourcesorganisehaveto the not does who man Reporters Without Borders. “This is an unemployed Hydara’sDeyda with death,”do to nothing told he November.of start atthe them tacked had he “But at verbally had he that confirmed Saine charged. being without December 29 on released then and Banjul in headquarters police at Unit Crime rious in cle arti the by enraged been reportedly had he and Jobe, Abdoulie Alhaji succeed to imam another of choice the disputing was who Gaye, Imam ted idw.Te fld n h arvl f eea em several of arrival the on fled They windows. the through it to fire set and wall perimeter per’s newspa the over climbed men four hospital, to ironbar.an with him hit taken being was he While and chemical a with caretaker the sprayed came, men three said Bojang Sidi editor day, acting next the conference press a At work. to back gone not and its editor, who fell being ill detained,after had articles its in critical so longer no was it although 2003, October 17 a of evening the fire on later, month on set were premises Independent’s The theyconsidered ofthepresident. critical articles several about him questioned who members NIA by detained been indeed had Sey that time the at Borders Without Reporters told colleagues his of One later. days four released finally was Sey ved. invol not was it journalists the of representatives the and wife his told NIA The responsible. being of suspected was which NIA, the from planation fied place aboard a black Ford Pajero with no num journalists’ union) immediately demanded an ex an demanded immediately union) journalists’ (a Union Press Gambia the and staff His plate. ber 19 September 2003 and was taken to an unidenti an to taken was and 2003 September 19 on p.m. 6 around at newspaper the men at alone while three by arrested was Sey Abdoulie Editor police. the by solved been never have that 2004 and 2003 in attacks of series a of target the was The Point The . He was interrogated by the Se the by interrogated was He . a rvtl-we biweekly, privately-owned a , ------the when parliamentary parliamentary wing of the president’s party, the Al the of leader the Jobe, Baba of 2003 December in Further violence was set off by the fall into disgrace arrived afewbrigade minutes later. fire The newspaper. the protect to contracted is which Agency, Security Sam Uncle the of ployees Independent Independent Newspaper especially Alhagi Yero Jal LEAVE BABA JOBE This is a final warning to you. The with thespellingandgrammar oftheoriginal: letter, the of text the is following The trial. Jobe’s of coverage its of because newspaper his destroy the called “GreenBoys” and him group kill threateningto a by signed letter a received Jallow Yorro h stain eeirtd n 3 aur 2004 January 13 on deteriorated situation The bers oftherulingAPRC’s youth wing. mem toprovide tojobs prices,and sugar and rice to compete with the private sector and bring down PresidentYahya on Jammeh’sup initiative set was (YDE), Enterprise Development Youth the pany, com importing the said he trial, his At duty. toms with journalist a told neighbour a morning next The car. a in left who individuals or individual an by firedDecember. were 26 shots of The night the on party wedding a from return his on Fajara, of district a Atlantic, South in home his outside back the in times several shot was – lawyers Gambia’s of dean the and attorney Jobe’s – Sillah Ousman der ayear later. also warn you and FJC to be very very very care very very very be to FJC and you warn also else you will never see a newspaper again. or Wenow have it stop her elimate will we or warn finally our leader you will regret it, you and FJC have been Jobe again or Baba FJC to on use you to said anything anything about publish you if Jammeh Yahya low you are now be influence by FJC to write about payingwithout cus through port Banjul imported staples basic have to influence political his used and accused of tax evasion. He was alleged to have the arrested same day along with several members of washis family parliament, in leader majority and man right-hand former president’s the Jobe, daughter isstudyingmedicine. his where States United the in exile self-imposed for opted he kidney, damaged a included which in a private clinic. After recovering from his injuries, Sillah was quickly evacuated to Dakar for treatment T-shirt and black trousers in the immediate vicinity. green a with man strange-looking tall, a saw also he that and p.m., 10 around at Sillah’shome from far not parked plate number no and windows ted Hydara’smur to similar was that one succeeded, nearly that attempt murder a prompted It (APRC). Construction and PatrioticforReorientation liance Daily Observer Daily h Independent The hesaw agreen withtin pickup aaig dtr Alagi editor managing 5 ------THE GAMBIA Who killed Deyda Hydara? inse qetoe b RpresWtot Bor Without Reporters by questioned witnesses “Green Boys,” who get their name from the presi the from name their Boys,”get “Green who the that explained journalist Gambian exiled An Signed GREENBOYS herfather comesMauritanian, from Mauritania. a but Gambian a is proveshe public that a out get FJCsimply for can As we it. regret will you or Jobe Baba about writing and lies telling stop us of ful seven – Wandifa Fofana, Seedy Sanneh, Lamine Fo being “part of those who went to train in Libya.” The lice spokesman Supt Jallow, they were arrested for po to According arrested. were members former its of Sillah’sseven on life, attempt the of day The party, the APRC. Officially, it was dissolved in 1999. presidential the forceforback-up as served group the 1994, July 22 on power Col.to brought that coup the after Movement” July “22 the called receivetraining.Initially fundamentalist initiative to be instructed in the use of firearms and Jobe’sat mid-1990s the in Libya to sent were who activists young of consist colour, party’s dential new press that had been bought in January, a Hei lie on the ground. One of them then set light to the fired shots in the air and ordered the employees to April, 13 on a.m. 2 about at works printing the to ders at the time said six armed, masked men came eight months in prison. Three weeks later,weeks Three prison. in months eight and years nine to sentenced was and 2004 March 29 crime”on “economicof guilty found was Jobe 2004withoutbeingcharged. on 13January Darboe and – Sonko Ismaila wereKasama all freed fana, Alhaji Fabou Ceesay, Lamine Manjang, Jerreh delberg Kord 64, completely destroying it. Sports Sports it. destroying completely 64, Kord delberg dependent s rnig rs ws oce. Several torched. was press printing ’s Fax receivedbytheGambia PressUnion The In The ------YOURPRESIDENT AGAINSTYAHYA WRITINGS JAM D.ADear Jawo “7th July2004 journalist Namory Traoré reacted by spraying ga spraying by reacted Traoré Namory journalist idiots like you are agents of the west and we are we and west the of agents are you like idiots velopments since H.E took over power in 1994. But de seen not has Gambia that say would Gambian character as the ennemy of truth. No right thinking your of volume speak Gambia the in velopments de about lies and ranting is constant Your he doing. work the and president good our on hard go to happy always are you that notice have We MED ANDGAMBIA GENERALLY original: the of grammar and spelling the with follows, as Reporters Without Borders has a copy, which reads number.originating or signature no with fax ning threate a received union, journalists’ the of dent presi the Jawo, Ali Demba when the July 7 on for worse turn sudden another took situation The dential guard commander, Maj. Bajinka. presi the of home the at burns his for treatment received afterwards Manjang that and operation the in participated Guisseh, Sherif and Sanna Manjang Cpl. guard, national the of members two that claimed (NRP) Party Reconciliation National opposition the of July,Bah Hamat parliamentarian the back. During a national assembly session on 23 on burned apparently uniform”fleeing, in “mana saw he Borders Without Reporters told works ting prin the as street same the on lives who person A who was badlyburned, dropped hisfirearm. One, flee. to them causing intruders, the on soline or oe ad eh o be thrown to dogsandvultures. to flesh and bones your want don’t you sure Am you. tame will we or down calm to advance in you warning fore there are Estate.We Housing re you are staying in Kaninfing whe know Wemade. already have wa that gains good the spoil toyou like ratsallow not volution and therefore we will have laid our lives for this re this for lives our laid have We him. from things two or so that all of you will learn one lesson good very a journalists soon we will teach one of your Very you. on nets our closing tak t bu 3 .. n 15 on a.m. 3 about at attack arson an was murder dara’s revolu the of defense In Peace. h ls icdn bfr Hy before incident last The tion!!!!“ 6 ------THE GAMBIA Who killed Deyda Hydara? day, Jatta asked about the state of the investiga the of state the about asked Jatta day, ongoing investigations.” prejudicethe anythingtosay cannot I time this At clear. it made have I think “I replied: minister the Opposition parliamentarian Sidia Jatta put a ques poured gasolinethrough themandsetitalight. windows, room living the broke Someone Sillah. h piaeyond rs ad h authorities. the Two days before, on 14 December, the national as and press privately-owned the tensionbetween extreme of time a atStreet came Sillah Sankung on ambush fatal December 16 The Gag lawsforacriticalpress be task easy an not is crimes “investigatingthat, replied minister The home. Sillah’s Ebrahima and of home the on August in the attack on attack the in Bah’s allegations about the identity of the arsonists Hamat to respond Jammeh, would authorities the if asked Kemeseng parliamentarian, position op information.”another for When citizens good on relying are they and present not were police the committed, being were acts the when cause on attacks arson three the and Sillah Ousman attemptedof murderthe into tions pes ees poetn aant h nw laws, new the against protesting release press a draft to information necessary the all had it sure make to December 16 of morning the on cretariat se international the telephoned He December. 14 of evening the on Paris in desk Africa Borders dara had faxed a dispatch to the Reporters Without Borders’Without Hy Reporters correspondent, As comply, theycould notcontinue publishing. not did they If fines. any of payment the for curity se as homes their registerto dalasis and – euros) (12,855 500,000 to euros) (2,571 dalasis 100,000 from – price in fivefold risen had that licence ting opera an buy to proprietors newspaper require would effect, taking of moment the from and, dia me news country’s the all of registration existing the with away did It parliamentarians. opposition 2004, had been fiercely criticised by the handful of Act Amendment Newspaper the one, second The as well asjournalists. politicians concerned it said Union’slawyer,Press Gambia the Sabally, Sise language.”Hawa gatory “dero and news false of dissemination sedition, defamation, for prison in years three to months three of sentences by them replaced and fences According to the to According December. 2 on assembly national the of session plenary a in Bah Samba minister interior to tion h ciia cd, blse fie fr rs of press for fines abolished code, criminal the to amendment an first, The freedom. press into inroads deep made that laws two passed sembly The Independent The Daily Observer Daily BBC tigr Ebrahima stringer The Independent Independent The ’s report the next next the ’sreport ’spress, printing ------h Gmi Pes no togt h to laws two were all the more as cynical they had the been presen thought Union Press Gambia The December issue. which had been severely criticised in The Point’s 15 between the passage of the law and the shooting the and law the of passage the between Hydara’sand link murder.a see don’tnecessarily “I laws repressive new the between link a one make can mean not does hostility of climate this said But information minister Amadou Scattred Janneh listened to by allhiscolleagues. and respected was who someone and union, their Gambia’sof dean presidentof former a journalists, the was who someone of authority the wrotewith column Mr. morning “GoodPresident,” he which in his in especially detractors, persistent most dent’s chief of staff Baboucar Jatta and his deputy, Momo army fired minister, defence also is who Jammeh, when November 16 on came this of example An fensive. That’s alsohispersonality.” of the on bordering are that public in things say to hesitated never has and right and left people fires he irascible, is “He Banjul. in based diplomat Reporters Without Borders was told by a European dent is in the habit of scathing making comments,” presi “The remarks. reprehensible” and pugnant diatelywrote to presidentthe condemning his “re imme Hydara hell,”said. to he go they or writing latest injunctions. “Either they register, or they stop dia refused to comply with the media commission’s n mn ohr, yaa a oe f h presi the of one was Hydara others, many and month later, on 22 December. For all these reasons was himself fired for no apparent reason less than a replacedwasJatta by Baboucar Vincentwho Jatta, years, for Jammeh of ally An retired. immediately were two The explanation. any without Bajie, dou me independent when 2004 May in comment his was example recent A long-standing. and known well- is journalists to Jammeh’s hostility President day.next the passed were that bills new two the presented But the same day, the ruling majority in parliament December. 13 on commission the scrapping was governmentit the thatannouncedwon when had they thought they and campaigns awareness and Gambia’s journalists fought it using legal measures The censorship. to imprisonment and fines from ranging journalists, on sanctions of range broad a impose to power tribunal.”a the “thought had It it call to used Hydara members. main the named It was closely controlled by the government, which media.”the of professionalism and independence impartiality, the to“guarantee supposed was that journalists had been resisting a media commission Gambia’s The 1999, Since commission. media its overgovernment the and journalists independent between battle a of end the at parliament to ted 7 ------THE GAMBIA Who killed Deyda Hydara? that Hydara was working on a particularly sensi particularly a on working was visit Hydara this that of end the at say to representativeposition a in not Borders is Without Reporters The any linkbetween thelaw andtheshooting.” see don’t I so bill, the criticized also newspapers independent other the and it against voted party ruling the of members some even it, to opposed vehemently were who assembly national the of members also were “There added. critic”,he only Everything suggests that Deyda Hydara was mur was Hydara Deyda that suggests Everything Conclusions andrecommendations assembly,”on national said he the by passed been already has bill the because who don’t likewhat Ipublish.” from came threats the said “those Hydarageneral, inspector police the Badjie, to According death. lunches, on 13 and on 15 December, the eve of his two during friend close a to them mentioned had alluded to were anonymous telephone threats. He publicly had Hydara threats recent kes.”only The jo of subject the become even had said. “It Saine phone,” partner or his letter by threatened, being to used wasparticular. “He in anyone against him pitted had dispute private a that or subject tive impartiality andtheprotection ofwitnesses. impartiality investigation’s the for guarantees with ponsible, res was who determine and murder Hydara’s of circumstances the establish to enquiry of mission on attack arson the Sey, Abdoulie of duction ab the Sillah, Ousman lawyer of murder tempted manner in which the shots were fired at the car in targeted.The been have may management entire Point’sevening, The that car his in been have also ditated operation. As his partner, , should premeprofessionalsa well-organised in bydered presume a link between Hydara’s murder, the at the Hydara’smurder, to between link unreasonable a presume not in is similarities it strong operation, of the method of alia, inter view, In tatives oftheindependent press inGambia. Jammeh had already threatened leading represen President support to claiming individuals that fact the includes murder this of context inside.The ne dicates there may have been a desire to kill everyo nationale Independent the immediate creation of an independent com independent an of creation immediate the Reporters Without Borders therefore recommends or another, was involved inHydara’s murder. way one in state, the that convincedwere they as were afraid of being questioned by the authorities suspicion. Most of the witnesses cited in this report others,and regard journalists both policewith the during its visit that most of noted the persons it talked to, Borders Without Reporters home. Sillah’s ( RFI n te ro atc o Ebrahima on attack arson the and o 1 Dcme.“e ant the wasn’t “He December. 17 on ) Radio France Inter France Radio The The ------eotr ihu Bres lo oe ta Gam that noted also Borders Without Reporters commendations. re its and report this present to order in possible as soon as meeting a requesting 2005 January 5 on Jammeh President to wrote organisation The representatives. tion on the press after the loss of one of its leading believes It the two laws not only violate press free can press the professionala in untroubledand function manner. which in framework legislative a determine to Gambia’sjournalists with gotiations ne open should government the that proposes it Union, Press Gambia the with acts Together law. two into these sign to not December, 15 on ter let a once in did it as Jammeh, President urges Borders against Without Reporters conclusion, In ra’s murder are promulgated by thepresident. Hyda eveof the two lawson votednew parliament by the if threatened, be may existence very its bia’sthreat,under indeed pressis privately-owned dom but also constitute a cruel and unjust sanc unjust and cruel a constitute also but dom 8 ------