The Gambia: Suspect detained in connection with murder of veteran journalist

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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PRESS RELEASE/UPDATE - THE GAMBIA

25 February 2005

Suspect detained in connection with murder of veteran journalist

SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York

**Updates IFEX alerts of 22 February and 6 January 2005 and 17 December
2004; for further information on the Sillah case, see alert of 16 August
2004**

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 23 February 2005 CPJ press release:

THE GAMBIA: Suspect detained in connection with murder of veteran journalist

New York, February 23, 2005 - Gambian authorities yesterday arrested a
Lebanese businessman in connection with the murder of veteran journalist
Deyda Hydara, according to local press reports.

Wally Mahmoud Hakim was detained after officials found arms in his house,
and he remained in custody today. Authorities gave no details about whether
they had specifically linked any of the guns with the killing.

While local journalists cautiously welcomed the arrest, they have urged
officials to investigate the "Green Boys," a pro-government group that has
issued numerous threats to independent journalists who report critically on
ruling authorities, as Hydara did.

Hydara, managing editor and co-owner of the independent newspaper The Point,
was killed in a drive-by shooting from a vehicle with no license plate on
the night of December 16, 2004, while driving colleagues home. Hydara was
also a correspondent for Agence France-Presse and Reporters without Borders.

The shooting occurred two days after the Gambian National Assembly passed
two pieces of repressive media legislation that Hydara, along with other
local independent journalists, had strongly opposed.

Last week, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) took over the
investigation into the murder.

NIA Director-General Daba Marenah told the press that a cache of guns and
ammunition had been found at Hakim's house, according to a report in the
pro-government Daily Observer, but also said the guns were licensed. The
suspect admitted to having "exchanged words" with Hydara but said he did not
shoot him.

Local journalists said Hakim was a government supporter who had quarreled
bitterly with Hydara over his critical reporting. However, they doubt that
this would have led him to kill the journalist and believe that the Green
Boys, who have issued violent threats to journalists before, may be the more
likely culprits.

In July 2004, the group sent an e-mail to the BBC about the "negative"
reporting of its Gambia correspondent, Ebrahima Sillah, whose house was set
on fire by unknown assailants a few weeks later. No one has been prosecuted
for this or the two other arson attacks on independent media in the Gambia
in the last 18 months.

Local sources say the Green Boys are linked to the ruling APRC party of
President Yahya Jammeh, and that some were sent to Libya to receive arms
training.

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to
safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit
http://www.cpj.org

For further information, contact Africa Program Coordinator Julia Crawford
(x112) at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465
1004, fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: [email protected], Internet:
http://www.cpj.org/

The information contained in this press release/update is the sole
responsibility of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit CPJ.
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