The Hydara family and the Gambian media fraternity, in conjunction with the international press, last Saturday commemorated the second anniversary of the murder of a valiant veteran Gambian journalist, Deyda Hydara, co-proprietor and Managing Editor of The Point Newspaper, who was killed in cold blood by unidentified men on December 16, 2004 at the Sankung Sillah Junction along Banjul Highway.

This year’s commemoration was marked by a recitation of the Holy Quran at the family compound of the late Mr Hydara on Saturday morning and a symposium at the Alliance Franco Gambienne from 5:00 p.m. onwards. The occasion was graced by the Hydara family, Mr Pap Saine, co-founder of The Point Newspaper, members of the media fraternity, international press delegates, representative of the Gambia Bar Association, Human Rights activists and a cross section of the wider society.

In speeches and contributions, participants at the symposium deplored the yet unresolved heinous crime and prayed for the departed soul of the late Deyda Hydara. They also reiterated strong calls for the Gambian authorities to explore all available avenues to speed up investigations into Deyda’s murder and bring the perpetrators to book.

Madi Ceesay, the GPU president, bemoaned what he termed the extremely hard and unfavourable environment in which the Gambian media operates, making reference to arrests and detentions, tortures, harassment, attacks, killings and disappearances of journalists who, he said, continue to operate under harsh media laws. He pointed out that the GPU has made several fruitless attempts to engage the Gambia government to ensure that the killers of Deyda Hydara are apprehended and brought before justice, as well as to revoke the Criminal Code Amendment Act 2004 that criminalises Journalists. The GPU boss expressed his belief that government is not ready to co-operate with the country’s press union in these matters.

For her part Amie Bensouda, president of the Gambia Bar Association, said the killing of Deyda Hydara on December 16, 2004 and the shooting of lawyer Ousman Sillah earlier on have undermined the security of defenders and promoters of freedom of expression in the country, stressing that freedom of expression is a fundamental right to every individual.

Swaebou Conateh, Editor/Publisher of News & Report Magazine, described the environment in which the press in The Gambia operates as a hostile one for journalists, citing various attacks, harassment, threats, killing and other instances of suppression against the independent media.

He also expressed the need for further financial and moral support to GPU so as to enable the institution to more effectively challenge issues that are of threat to freedom of expression in The Gambia and thus ensure a vibrant independent media in The Gambia.

Presenting a paper on Media and the Law, Mr Sam Sarr, Editor of Foroya Newspaper, made reference to section 25 of The Gambian Constitution which he said guarantees Freedom and the Independence of the Press, thereby making it a constitutional right for people to monitor and hold government accountable and responsible for its actions. Mr Sarr however cautioned that journalists are also limited from publishing libellous articles.

On Deyda’s killing, Mr Sarr expressed disappointment that for two years now the murderer(s) of Deyda Hydara is/are yet to be tracked down and brought to book.

Mr Sarr however urged Gambian journalists to join together to strengthen the GPU in order to help it in its bid to achieve press freedom and freedom of expression in The Gambia. He also unveiled various plans intended to improve GPU’s capacity.

Other speakers included Ndey Tapha Sosseh.

Mr Ousman Yabo, Director of Tango, chaired the ceremony.