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News Archive -
Africa
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Written by David Brewer
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Thursday, 02 July 2009 |
 As the trial of seven journalists takes place in Gambia, media freedom organisations and trade unions are expected to stage protests in Africa and the UK. The journalists are alleged to have criticised the Gambian president for his handling of the investigation into the death of editor Deyda Hydara in 2004. Campaigners say the Gambian government brought the trial of the journalists forward by four days to try to avoid publicity.
 Some arrested journalists worked for The Point Campaigners say the government in Gambia brought the trial of the journalists, who are facing sedition and criminal defamation charges, forward by four days to try to avoid publicity. The trial was to be held on Tuesday 7 July. The journalists were arrested last month for allegedly criticising the country’s president over the handling of investigations into the murder in 2004 of editor Deyda Hydara . An eighth was arrested while covering the first court hearing.
 Pap Saine, one of the arrested journalists
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Amnesty UK and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) are staging a protest outside the Gambian High Commission in London’s Kensington Court at 12:45 today, Friday 3 July.
Amnesty has published a campaign page where supporters of the Gambian journalists can send a letter or fax to the Gambian government. In Dakar, Senegal, the GPU is to hold a joint news conference with local media freedom organisations, SYNPICS, the Senegalese Broadcasters Assocation, the Senegalese Committee to Protect and Defend Journalists, and The African Editors Forum (TAEF).
On 22 July, Amnesty International UK is taking part in an international Amnesty day of action against what it calls ‘the rule of fear in Gambia’. Amnesty UK will also be calling for an investigation into the disappearance of journalist Ebrima Manne three years ago.
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