No subject
Tue Apr 2 03:57:03 PDT 2024
Friday, July 05, 2013
http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/bill-that-seeks-to-deter-treachero=
us-campaigns-against-gambia-gets-assemblys-blessings
A Bill that seeks to provide for the deterrent punishment of persons who ar=
e engaged in =91treacherous campaigns=92 against The Gambia both internally=
and externally on Wednesday got approval at the country=92s Legislature, w=
ith members describing it as important for the nation.
Presented before lawmakers by the Information and Communication and Infrast=
ructure minister, the Bill that is named =93Information and Communications =
Amendment Act=94 includes internet-related under Section 173A.
It stated that; =93A person commits an offence if he or she uses the intern=
et to =96 spread false news against the government or public officials; inc=
ite dissatisfaction or instigate violence against the government or public =
officials; impersonate any public official; blackmail any person; or threat=
en to commit a criminal offence against any person.=94
It further stated that a person who commits an offence under sub-section (1=
) is liable on conviction to a fine of three million dalasis or imprisonmen=
t to 15 years or to both the fine and imprisonment. It further stressed tha=
t this section shall apply to all persons without regard to the place from =
which the offence was committed.
Information minister, Nana-Grey Johnson told deputies that in the recent pa=
st, some citizens of The Gambia have waged concerted efforts to pit the peo=
ple and the nation=92s security officials against their government. He stre=
ssed that they do this by inciting the people to engage in unpatriotic beha=
viour, spreading false news and engaging in criminal defamation against gov=
ernment officials.
The Information minister warned that such tendencies, if unchecked, are a r=
ecipe for chaos and instability in any country. =93Therefore, this bill see=
ks to provide for the deterrent punishment of such persons who are engaged =
in such treacherous campaigns against The Gambia both internally and outsid=
e The Gambia,=94 he concluded.
A nominated member, Hon. Seedy Njie, who seconded the bill, described it as=
timely and very important. The Majority leader and member for Serrekunda =
East, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, also commented on the bill.
--_000_6DCAB3E586E6A34FB17223DF8D8F0D3D91BB80F2W8EXMBDPunamloc_
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Dear Latjor,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>the case you present happening in Gambia with new laws is alarming. As=
many of us as can, should find ways to support you. I will share one view =
but there surely are many, better, others.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The law you describe is not Internet-specific enough and that is part =
of the problem you face. It is a law about speech and conduct and I think i=
t should be confronted as such.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>In this sense, it is very likely that ISOC Gambia cannot do much alone=
, while on the other hand there must be national and more international org=
anizations that are deeply concerned and mounting a response. That response=
is fully on the plane of free speech
and support for a free press, with a reaction to a definition of crimes an=
d misdemeanors which is too vague and broad, and open for misuse almost sur=
ely by design. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Those organizations should take the lead, mark the tone, and assess th=
e risks. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>ISOC's role may be better defined if it focuses on the Internet aspect=
s of these laws - how they extend to online forms of expression like blogs,=
social-media sites, etc. but mostly if there is a difference between onlin=
e and traditional media. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>A key, and very inspiring, reference for this discussion will surely b=
e the statements made over the last couple of years by the special rapporte=
urs for free speech of the UN and other international organizations, Frank =
La Rue, Carolina Botero, and others
(they are known under the blanket name of Frank La Rue). Do you have acces=
s to them? </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The main point there is that the Internet should not be restricted to =
any less rights than are available offline, nor should restrictions to the =
use of the Internet be established that restrict, in turn, previously exist=
ing offline rights. Frank adds some
very clear conditions for restrictions on speech: they must be exceptional=
, mandated by law, and transparent.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I think that you will also find very useful the Camden Principles of t=
he organization Article 19.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>My view is that keeping focussed on the Internet aspects of the proble=
m makes you more effective and causes less flanks open, less risks to your =
credibility, easier to attract support, despite a possible initial reaction=
by the rights and press organizations
that you are being weak, not risking enough, etc.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>All of this I think is a bit beyond the core ISOC mandate but of cours=
e you can't extricate yourself totally from this evil; still, the best stra=
tegy for you may be to provide support through information and thought lead=
ership, based on contributions like
the above and the many better ones I hope will follow from other ISOC chap=
ters.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Hope this makes sense; don't take it as advice but do as thoughts that=
have been useful for some, in some specific contexts, and may help you ana=
lysis in The Gambia. I for one wish you a good resulta and offer to continu=
e support.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Yours,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Alejandro Pisanty</div>
<div>
<div><br>
<p> </p>
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Blog: http://pisanty.blogspot.com<br>
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/pisanty<br>
Unete al grupo UNAM en LinkedIn, http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/22285/4A106C=
0C8614<br>
Twitter: http://twitter.com/apisanty<br>
---->> Unete a ISOC Mexico, http://www.isoc.org<br>
. . . . . . . . . .&n=
bsp; . . . . . . </font></p>
</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Times New Roman; color: #000000; font-size: 16px=
">
<hr tabindex=3D"-1">
<div id=3D"divRpF156058" style=3D"direction: ltr;"><font face=3D"Tahoma" si=
ze=3D"2" color=3D"#000000"><b>Desde:</b> chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.i=
soc.org [chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org] en nombre de GABRIEL LA=
TJOR NDOW [md at gambian.com]<br>
<b>Enviado el:</b> viernes, 05 de julio de 2013 15:39<br>
<b>Hasta:</b> GABRIEL LATJOR NDOW<br>
<b>CC:</b> Chapter Delegates<br>
<b>Asunto:</b> Re: [Chapter-delegates] Disturbing trends in The Gambia with=
regards to Internet Freedom<br>
</font><br>
</div>
<div></div>
<div>Further to my previous posting, one of the other national papers has p=
ublished the following in response to the new amendment:
<div><br>
</div>
<div> <a href=3D"http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/quest-for-fr=
eedom-of-speech" target=3D"_blank">http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article=
/quest-for-freedom-of-speech</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Latjor (I prefer my trad. name)</div>
<div><br>
<div><br>
<div>
<div>On Jul 5, 2013, at 8:10 PM, GABRIEL LATJOR NDOW wrote:</div>
<br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline">
<blockquote type=3D"cite">
<div style=3D"word-wrap:break-word">Greetings,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div>A couple of months ago, the regulator, PURA, and the ministry of commu=
nications, MOICI, released press statements effectively banning the use of =
VOIP services in cyber cafes claiming that it has resulted in massive finan=
cial loses for the incumbent operator,
GAMTEL, though no evidence was provided to substantiate their claim.&=
nbsp;</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Included in the same Press Release was the banning of internet 'dating=
services' offered (as it turns out by at least one) by cyber cafe.</=
div>
<div> </div>
<div>A couple of days ago, the government presented an amendment to the Inf=
ormation and Communications Act, 2009, which was lauded as one of the most =
progressive and far reaching legal instruments in Africa by regional actors=
. The Amendment according to the
Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. Nana Grey-Johnson, seeks to=
"provide a deterrent punishment of persons engaged in 'treacherous ca=
mpaigns' against The Gambia both internally and externally'! (<a href=
=3D"http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/bill-that-seeks-to-deter-treac=
herous-campaigns-against-gambia-gets-assemblys-blessings" target=3D"_blank"=
>http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/bill-that-seeks-to-deter-treacher=
ous-campaigns-against-gambia-gets-assemblys-blessings</a> )</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Yesterday, Reporters without Borders (<a href=3D"http://www.rsf.org/" =
target=3D"_blank">www.rsf.org</a>) made the following statements pertaining=
to this new development:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Under the amended law, =93spreading of false news against the governme=
nt or public officials=94 is punishable by up to 15 years in prison or a fi=
ne of 3 million dalasis (64,000 euros). Its main target is Gambians who mak=
e fun of government officials online.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div> ISOC Gambia is still in its infancy (one year fully operational)=
and while we have made tremendous progress in inserting our voice on the l=
ocal landscape, many of the members are nervous discussing or addressing th=
is issue of Internet Freedom, Human Rights,
Online Content, etc... though they are the major internet issues in this c=
ountry that needs to be addressed as they impact on many other areas of int=
ernet development in the country. So, as Chapter a leader who spent 20 year=
s of his life in the U.S. before
returning home 7 years ago and guiding the process to become an ISOC Chapt=
er, I am seeking guidance from the ISOC family on 'best practices' in =
tackling scenarios as the one in my beloved country. Note the there a=
re no strong civil society voices/orgs operating
in The Gambia as many have been silenced, forced into exile or operate und=
erground for fear of persecution.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Below are the Press Release from RSF and one of the national papers on=
the issue.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Thanks, </div>
<div>Gabriel Latjor Ndow (Chair)</div>
<div>ISOC Gambia </div>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-family:Calibri; font-si=
ze:16px"><font size=3D"4"><b><span style=3D"font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">=
Press Release</span><br>
<br>
</b><font style=3D"font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">5 july 2013<br>
<br>
<font size=3D"4"><b>THE GAMBIA<br>
<br>
</b></font></font></font></span>
<div style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-l=
eft:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; padding-le=
ft:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px">
<font size=3D"4"><b><span lang=3D"EN-GB">Internet users targeted by changes=
to information law</span></b></font></div>
<div style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-l=
eft:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; padding-le=
ft:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px">
<font size=3D"4"><b><span lang=3D"EN-GB"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" s=
tyle=3D"font-family:Helvetica; font-weight:normal; font-size:medium"><a hre=
f=3D"http://en.rsf.org/gambia-internet-users-targeted-by-changes-05-07-2013=
,44899.html" target=3D"_blank">http://en.rsf.org/gambia-internet-users-targ=
eted-by-changes-05-07-2013,44899.html</a></span></span></b></font></div>
<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin=
-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-b=
ottom:0px; padding-left:0px; font-family:Calibri; font-size:16px">
<span lang=3D"EN-GB"> </span></p>
<div style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-l=
eft:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; padding-le=
ft:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px">
<span lang=3D"EN-GB">Reporters Without Borders is very disturbed by amendme=
nts to the 2009 Information and Communications Act =96 the main law limitin=
g freedom of information in Gambia =96 which the National Assembly passed o=
n 3 July.</span></div>
<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin=
-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-b=
ottom:0px; padding-left:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px"=
>
<span lang=3D"EN-GB"> </span></p>
<div style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-l=
eft:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; padding-le=
ft:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px">
<span lang=3D"EN-GB">Under the amended law, =93spreading of false news agai=
nst the government or public officials=94 is punishable by up to 15 years i=
n prison or a fine of 3 million dalasis (64,000 euros). Its main target is =
Gambians who make fun of government officials
online.</span></div>
<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin=
-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-b=
ottom:0px; padding-left:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px"=
>
<span lang=3D"EN-GB"> </span></p>
<div style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-l=
eft:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; padding-le=
ft:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px">
<span lang=3D"EN-GB">=93The amendments to the Information and Communication=
s Act that the Gambian parliament has just adopted aggravate what is alread=
y one of Africa=92s most repressive laws,=94 Reporters Without Borders said=
.</span></div>
<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin=
-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-b=
ottom:0px; padding-left:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px"=
>
<span lang=3D"EN-GB"> </span></p>
<div style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-l=
eft:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; padding-le=
ft:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px">
<span lang=3D"EN-GB">=93The authorities are using these amendments to targe=
t news providers and crack down on the Internet, one of the last spaces for=
freedom of information in Gambia.<span> </span>We call for thei=
r immediate withdrawal and a complete overhaul
of the law, which already gags the media in the name of state security.=94=
</span></div>
<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin=
-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-b=
ottom:0px; padding-left:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px"=
>
<span lang=3D"EN-GB"> </span></p>
<div style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-l=
eft:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; padding-le=
ft:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px">
<span lang=3D"EN-GB">The amendments were proposed by information and commun=
ication minister Nana Grey-Johnson, who said their aim was the =93deterrent=
punishment=94 of persons who engage in =93treacherous campaigns=94 at home=
and abroad and incite =93unpatriotic behaviour.=94</span></div>
<p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin=
-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-b=
ottom:0px; padding-left:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px"=
>
<span lang=3D"EN-GB"> </span></p>
<div style=3D"margin-top:0px; margin-right:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-l=
eft:0px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; padding-le=
ft:0px; font-family:tahoma,sans-serif; font-size:16px">
<span lang=3D"EN-GB">President Yahya Jammeh is on the May 2013 Reporters Wi=
thout Borders list of =93Predators of Press Freedom=94 (<a href=3D"http://e=
n.rsf.org/predator-yahya-jammeh%2c44529.html" target=3D"_blank">http://en.r=
sf.org/predator-yahya-jammeh,44529.html</a>)
while Gambia is ranked 152nd out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Wi=
thout Borders press freedom index (<a href=3D"http://en.rsf.org/press-freed=
om-index-2013%2c1054.html" target=3D"_blank">http://en.rsf.org/press-freedo=
m-index-2013,1054.html</a>).</span></div>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div class=3D"ShowMediaDate" style=3D"text-align:right; font-family:Tahoma,=
Verdana,Trebuchet,'Trebuchet MS'; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:13px"=
>
<b>From the Daily Observer</b><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"bor=
der-collapse:separate; font-family:Helvetica; font-size:medium"><b> </=
b></span></div>
<div class=3D"ShowMediaDate" style=3D"text-align:right; font-family:Tahoma,=
Verdana,Trebuchet,'Trebuchet MS'; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:13px"=
>
<b>Friday, July 05, 2013</b></div>
<div class=3D"ShowMediaDate" style=3D"text-align:right; font-family:Tahoma,=
Verdana,Trebuchet,'Trebuchet MS'; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:13px"=
>
<span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse:separate; font-fa=
mily:Helvetica; font-size:medium"><b><a href=3D"http://observer.gm/africa/g=
ambia/article/bill-that-seeks-to-deter-treacherous-campaigns-against-gambia=
-gets-assemblys-blessings" target=3D"_blank">http://observer.gm/africa/gamb=
ia/article/bill-that-seeks-to-deter-treacherous-campaigns-against-gambia-ge=
ts-assemblys-blessings</a></b></span></div>
<div class=3D"ShowMediaDate" style=3D"text-align:right; font-family:Tahoma,=
Verdana,Trebuchet,'Trebuchet MS'; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:13px"=
>
<span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse:separate; font-fa=
mily:Helvetica; font-size:medium"><b><br>
</b></span></div>
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<b>A Bill that seeks to provide for the deterrent punishment of persons who=
are engaged in =91treach</b><b>erous campaigns=92 against The Gambia both =
internally and externally on Wednesday got approval at the country=92s Legi=
slature, with members describing it as
important for the nation.</b></div>
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Presented before lawmakers by the Information and Communication and Infrast=
ructure minister, the Bill that is named =93Information and Communications =
Amendment Act=94 includes internet-related under Section 173A.</div>
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It stated that; =93A person commits an offence if he or she uses the intern=
et to =96 spread false news against the government or public officials; inc=
ite dissatisfaction or instigate violence against the government or public =
officials; impersonate any public official;
blackmail any person; or threaten to commit a criminal offence against any=
person.=94</div>
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It further stated that a person who commits an offence under sub-section (1=
) is liable on conviction to a fine of three million dalasis or imprisonmen=
t to 15 years or to both the fine and imprisonment. It further stressed tha=
t this section shall apply to all
persons without regard to the place from which the offence was committed.<=
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Information minister, Nana-Grey Johnson told deputies that in the recent pa=
st, some citizens of The Gambia have waged concerted efforts to pit the peo=
ple and the nation=92s security officials against their government. He stre=
ssed that they do this by inciting
the people to engage in unpatriotic behaviour, spreading false news and en=
gaging in criminal defamation against government officials.</div>
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The Information minister warned that such tendencies, if unchecked, are a r=
ecipe for chaos and instability in any country. =93Therefore, this bil=
l seeks to provide for the deterrent punishment of such persons who are eng=
aged in such treacherous campaigns against
The Gambia both internally and outside The Gambia,=94 he concluded. <=
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A nominated member, Hon. Seedy Njie, who seconded the bill, described it as=
timely and very important. The Majority leader and member for Serrek=
unda East, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, also commented on the bill.</div>
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