By Alagie Manneh
The Gambia Press Union has warned telecommunications regulatory body, Pura, against using its regulatory weight to ‘oppress freedom of expression’ in the country.
Pura last week released its “final note of caution” warning radio stations against spreading “abusive, uncouth and incendiary language.”
It warned of consequences if the practice continues, but the Union said the statement was a “clear threat” to freedom of expression.
“We are aware that Pura has the legal mandate to regulate content for the broadcast media and as such, it is okay to intervene where the journalism code of conduct is violated,” Lamin Jahateh, GPU programme manager, told The Standard. “However”, Mr. Jahateh said, “Pura could have written to the media houses concerned to bring their attention to the ethical bridge so that internal corrective actions could be taken”.
He added that by issuing a threat-laded ‘final warning’ without making specific reference to any media house or programme, “Pura is merely using its regulatory weight to oppress the media houses for giving people with divergent and dissenting opinions an opportunity to be heard through phone-in programmes”.
Jahateh described as “worrying” the trend Pura appeared to be setting towards restrictions on press freedom and freedom of expression when it is supposed to ‘regulate’ the media to afford voices of dissent an opportunity to be heard.
He said: “As a progressive, not fault-finding, regulator, Pura could simply engage the radio stations to endeavour to get live broadcast delay equipment to be able to filter certain offensive, libelous or profane call-in contributions, if the abuse of the phone-in opportunity is getting rampant and widespread.”
