Justice for Deyda Hydara

Today November 16 marks the seventh anniversary of the assassination of Deyda Hydara, and the new Civil Society Associations-Gambia’s (CSAG) first commemoration of his passing. The brutal cowardly murder of Deyda Hydara took Gambians by surprise and left the media fraternity and civil and human rights organizations around the world in utter disbelief. Deyda Hydara’s shooting death is believed to be tied to his principled and fierce opposition to the new Media Bill that was introduced by Gambia’s National Assembly, which sought to severely curtail and restrict the space in which the Gambian media exercised their civil rights and practiced their craft. Today, seven years after the dastardly act of cowardice that took his life, his family, his friends, the media fraternity in Gambia and around the world still have no answer as to why he had to die.

The Civil Society Associations-Gambia, therefore, joins the local and international calls for a thorough and open investigation into Deyda Hydara’d murder. The CSAG mindful that The Gambia regime cannot investigate itself without impartiality and prejudice, demand that neutral investigators from ECOWAS, Scotland Yard or the United Nations be tasked with this investigation. Despite the Gambian media outcry over the years, the regime that has been unable to police itself, has also abysmally failed to launch a serious investigation into Deyda Hydara’s assassination. Furthermore, Yahya Jammeh and his regime’s continuous insulting and demeaning comments about Deyda Hydara’s murder, have proven their insensitivity and lack of respect for the deceased. But Yahya Jammeh must realize that the search for the truth into his death will NOT go away; in fact, for CSAG, it is only beginning.

The CSAG wishes to extend our high regards to the Gambian media, our new partners in the struggle, for the steadfastness with which the media has over the years sought justice for Deyda Hydara, his family, friends, the Gambian and international media fraternity, civil and human rights organizations and the people of the Gambia. The media’s unwavering dedication to the cause of justice for Deyda Hydara over the years continues to be inspiring. The CSAG pledges to add its weight to this effort and continue the unambiguous demand for justice in the assassination of Deyda Hydara our friend, our brother and our compatriot and will continue to amplify this demand until justice is done to the memory of the late doyen of the Gambia media fraternity. The CSAG extends sympathy to the family of Deyda Hydara and will support their efforts in seeking justice for their husband and father.

Signed

Banka Manneh                        Ndey Tapha-Sosseh

Chairman                                Secretary General