Gambia
Reporter is still detained GambiaPosted Apr 19 2008
Members of The Gambia’s military and police force failed to appear at a scheduled hearing regarding the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a former reporter for the Daily Observer newspaper. Three military officials and two police officers were scheduled to appear on Mar. 1 before the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria.
Judgment of Manneh’s case was originally scheduled for Jan. 31, 2007, according to the Foroyaa newspaper, and several proceedings have since been delayed. Manneh went missing in July 2006 after he was arrested for passing “damaging” information to a foreign journalist who then used it to write an article critical of the Gambian government.
According to the International Press Institute, Manneh was last seen at a Gambian hospital in July 2006 and the Gambian government says it is unaware of Manneh’s status.
The Media Foundation for West Africa filed suit over Manneh’s disappearance in June 2007. It has requested a court order to require the Gambian government to release Manneh and compensate him since his detention violates the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
Madi Ceesay, president of the GPU, told Foroyaa that Manneh is the longest detained journalist in The Gambia.