YJAG condemns attack on Foroyaa reporter

By Omar Bah In a statement sent to this medium, the Young Journalists’ Association of The Gambia (YJAG) has condemned the physical assault on their acting PRO and treasurer Journalist Kebba Jeffang by UDP militants at a UDP, NRP and GMC joint press conference held at the UDP’s Manjai Kunda bureau. The Foroyaa reporter was attacked by supporters believed to be loyalists of the United Democratic Party. “Attacking media personnel is a threat to the state, because such an attack seeks to suppress freedom of expression, which is the foundation of democracy. We condemn this action in the strongest possible terms and recommends that such action should not be accepted in our new Gambia again,” the release signed by Sulayman Ceesay, Secretary General, YJAG reads. “We want to register our profound disappointment of the action of these UDP supporters and call on the authorities to take appropriate action and bring these culprits to justice as soon as possible without any delay; it is an unacceptable conduct”. The release added: “If action is not taken as soon as possible we are urging on all young journalists to boycott all activities of UDP, NRP and GMC tactical alliance until they are ready to take action. We equally demand a public apology from the leaders of these three parties on the action of their supporters, must specially the UDP leadership. “We call on all Gambians and local, regional and international human rights organisations and freedom of the media organisations to stand up to demand justice for Kebba Jeffang and protect free press in the Gambia. We cannot and must not tolerate any attack against the media by anybody”.]]>