GAMBIA: Parliament passes harsh media bill

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GAMBIA: Parliament passes harsh media bill

BANJUL, 25 July (IRIN) - The Gambian parliament passed a tough media bill on
Wednesday, two months after President Yahya Jammeh refused to sign an
earlier version and returned it to the legislators for amendment.

The bill was passed by 53 votes to three, with members of parliament from
the ruling party castigating the independent media for being "unpatriotic"
and always reporting "the bad side" of the government.

The Gambia Press Union is opposed to the bill, which provides for the
establishment of a media commission with authority equivalent to that of a
high court. The commission would register all reporters, be authorised to
enforce the disclosure of sources and have the power to impose heavy fines
for the publication of "unauthorised government stories". It would also be
able to sentence journalists to jail terms for contempt, close down media
houses for non-compliance with its orders and admit evidence not admissible
in ordinary courts.

The commission, according to the bill, would "ensure the impartiality,
professionalism and independence of the media, promote the establishment and
maintenance of the highest journalistic standards in the mass media [and]
facilitate the registration of newspaper journals and broadcasting stations
in accordance with the constitution".

Jammeh had returned the bill to the house demanding a change in the proposed
mode of selection of members of the commission. The previous version gave
the president the power to appoint the chairman of the media commission but
he wanted an amendment mandating the chief justice to appoint a high court
judge to chair the body.

The Gambia Press Union said on Wednesday that if Jammeh signed the bill into
law it would challenge its consitutionality. The union's chairman, Demba
Jawo, said "some of its provisions are incompatible with the provisions of
the Gambian constitution".

On 13 May, the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers expressed concern
over the media bill saying it posed a threat to press freedom in The Gambia
and should not be enacted.

[ENDS]

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