06 August 2011

Gambia ALERT: Dismissed sports editor receives death threats


Nanama Keita, a dismissed Deputy - Editor-in-Chief of the pro-government Banjul-based Daily Observer newspaper, on July 27, 2011 filed a complaint at the Kairaba Police Station in Banjul about consistent threats to his life by unknown persons.
Media Foundation for West Africa's (MFWA) sources reported that Keita has been receiving life threatening SMS texts since July 5. The sources said the latest threats came to him on July 15. In the last threat Keita was allegedly warned to either leave the country, if he values his life, or be taught a lesson that he will never forget. The police have promised investigating the threats.
Keita has since July 5 been standing trial for allegedly "giving false information to a public officer." This was after he petitioned President Yahya Jammeh over his wrongful dismissal from the Daily Observer newspaper. 
On July 4, Keita was arrested and detained overnight and charged with the offence. He was released upon the intervention of the Gambian Press Union. The sources said he was accused of leaking information to an online US-based Gambia website, Freedom Newspaper. 
For more information Please contact:
Kwame Karikari (Prof)
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70
Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

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