Gambia: Congolese correspondent arrested

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
> _________________________________________________________________
>
> ALERT - THE GAMBIA
>
> 29 July 2002
>
> Congolese correspondent arrested and held without charge
>
> SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris
>
> **For further information about the recent passage of the National Media
> Commission Bill, see IFEX alerts of 7 and 2 May 2002**
>
> (RSF/IFEX) - On 29 July 2002, RSF called for the immediate and
unconditional
> release of journalist Guy-Patrick Massoloka, a Banjul-based correspondent
> for the Pan African News Agency (PANA) of Congolese (Brazzaville)
> nationality. Massoloka was arrested by National Intelligence Agency (NIA,
> secret service) officials on 19 July and is still being held without
charge.
>
> "This arrest, which coincides with the promulgation of a law creating a
> national media commission, is disturbing for press freedom in Gambia," RSF
> Secretary-General Robert Ménard said in a letter to Gambian President Yaya
> Jammeh. "As far as we know, nothing justifies this journalist's prolonged
> detention," Ménard noted in the letter, adding that, "Reporters Without
> Borders is astonished that the NIA has presented no serious charge or
> justification for the arrest and no one has been able to contact Mr.
> Massoloka."
>
> Following his arrest, Massoloka was taken to NIA headquarters, where he is
> still being held. Although he resided in The Gambia for just one month
prior
> to his arrest, the NIA claimed that he was publishing an unregistered
weekly
> in the country. This was denied by the Gambian Press Union (GPU), which
> noted that there is no indication of his being involved in any publication
> in The Gambia. The real reasons for his detention are still unknown.
>
> RSF notes that the National Media Commission created under a law adopted
on
> 25 July constitutes a virtual press tribunal with powers that pose a
serious
> threat to press freedom in The Gambia.
>
> For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, rue
Geoffroy
> Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11
51,
> e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.rsf.fr
>
> The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of RSF.
> In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit RSF.
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