Gambia’s Interior Minister has publicly apologized to Foroyaa Journalist Kebba Jeffang who was assaulted by three political party supporters last Sunday.
Minister Fatty made the apology on Friday, March 10, after a closed door meeting with Journalist Jeffang and the executive of the Gambia Press Union to find a solution to the pending assault case.
Mr Jeffang was physically assaulted by supporters of the UDP, NRP and GMC parties during a press conference last Sunday at the UDP Bureau in Majai Kunda, for merely asking a question to party leader Ousainou Darboe.
The Press conference was convened by the three parties to clear the air on their position for the upcoming Parliamentary elections at a time when the coalition could not reach an agreement as to how they would be contesting in the elections.
According to Minister Fatty, the assault against Journalist Jeffang was uncalled for, unacceptable and he condemned it outright in its totality.
“I think there should be no appropriate justification to attack anyone particularly a journalist in the course of their duties. They are performing a very indispensable role in our development. Journalists are part of development, they are not punching bags” he said.
He categorically made it clear that the incident that happened involving Journalist Jeffang and the three political parties was wrong, morally unjustifiable, illegal and should not have taken place, saying this is not The Gambia we want to build.
“The Gambia we want to build is one of tolerance and acceptability, respect for the rule of law, inclusion. If our supporters are found wanting, it is appropriate that we come out and condemn it publicly and express solidarity with the victim. I will go beyond that to take personal responsibility for the actions of my supporters if they were those involved and on their behalf to apologized to Mr Jeffang for their actions which was inappropriate” he said.
At the level of the Ministry, he said, it was important that they have learnt a lesson from this incident saying, if they were aware that a public function will take place and they were informed on time, they would have provided adequate security to protect and avert precisely situation of this nature.
“I am confident that if we had police protection, Mr Jeffang would not have been subjected to what he was in the hands of certain elements whose actions tend to be prejudicial to stability. Jeffang is a good journalist. He has written many articles that supported many of these parties involved. He also wrote issues of concerns. That is the work of a journalist. They should not only be praise singers. They are supposed to inform and educate and that was what Jeffang was doing. I am made to understand that Mr Jeffang was in fact in possession of an invitation letter to come to this event. So, he was our guest and if you got assaulted as a guest, its only appropriate that the host to come to his defense” he concluded.
Emil Touray, the President of the Gambia Press Union also described the attack on Journalist Jeffang as uncalled for and not in line with the constitution of The Gambia.
“We are in a new Gambia were we feel that behaviors such as assault on any citizen have no place in society. It is therefore profoundly important that the militants of this parties understand that their actions are not only unlawful but inhumane and degrading and they should be censored in its totality. It is with that view that we working in addressing this issue and to talk to party leaders so that they can make their members understand that in any democracy, there must be respect to the fundamental rights as well as the universal human rights. Therefore it behoves on all to ensure that those rights and values are protected and the only way to do that is they do not behave in any way that compromise these values” he said.
According to him, Interior Minister Mai Ahmad Fatty has expressed remorse for what happen, saying that alone shows that this is a government that is ready to work with the Press. “We will also do our best as members of the fourth estate to make sure that we continue the good work and as well as ensure that we do our work within the limits and according to law” he concluded.
