Gambian journalists commemorate 16th anniversary of murder Deyda Hydara
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) – Gambian journalists on Wednesday marked the 16th anniversary of the murder of the editor and co-founder of The Point Newspaper, Mr Deyda Hydara, on the orders of former President Yahya Jammeh.
Mr Hydara was a founding member and former president of the Gambia Press Union (GPU).
He was killed in a drive-by shooting on the night of 16 December, 2004.
It was the 13th anniversary of the newspaper and he was driving home two of his staff -- Ida Jagne, a typist, and Niansarang Jobe, a layout editor.
Although the former government denied any involvement in the killing of the journalist, a member of the hit squad of then-president Jammeh told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that he participated in the killing of Mr. Hydara.
He confirmed that Jammeh ordered the assassination in an operation to get rid of the ‘magic pen’ (a codename referring to Mr. Hydara).
The GPU president, Mr Sheriff Bojang Jr., said in a statement that “as an institution, we have submitted ourselves to the ongoing transitional justice process and have cooperated with the current government in pursuit of justice for crimes against journalists".
“Now that compensation has been fully paid by the Gambian government to the family of Hydara, as dictated by the ECOWAS Court of Justice, we are keenly monitoring the truth commission and are hoping that the recommendation it will make will be in the interest of justice."
-0- PANA MSS/MA 16Dec2020
