By Tabora Bojang
The Gambia National Trade Union Congress has condemned charges against Madi Jobarteh, a leading pro-democracy campaigner who was expected to be arraigned Monday, before the police extended his bail to next week.
In a statement signed by the secretary general Ebrima Garba Cham, the unionists called on the Inspector General of Police to drop all charges against Jobarteh.
It argued that hauling charges of false publication against Madi for his comments on the death of Haruna Jatta, Kebba Secka and Ousman Darboe is an “affront on freedom of expression and democracy creating a culture of fear in our society.”
The unionists warned that “any attempt to stifle dissenting voices in this country will be challenged. The best thing is to explain to him what is done about the matter and its outcome.”
“It is not healthy to criminalise speech. This is not what we fought for.” The statement concluded:
