THE INDEPENDENT AT 27: A LEGACY STILL AWAITING JUSTICE

By Alagi Yorro Jallow

Twenty-seven years post-establishment, The Independent newspaper reiterates its demand for accountability regarding the 2005 arson attack on its printing facility, asserting that, despite extensive investigations, testimonies, and national reconciliation endeavors, justice remains unattained.

The publication emphasizes that although the physical destruction caused by the fire in 2005 has been resolved, the pursuit of justice continues to be unfulfilled more than twenty years later.

As reported, the attack was allegedly executed by members of the former presidential hit squad, referred to as the Junglers, who purportedly targeted the newspaper due to its independent journalistic practices during the tenure of former President Yahya Jammeh.

The Independent asserts that substantial evidence recovered from the site—comprising firearms, ammunition, and a weapon purportedly discarded by former Jungler Sana Manjang during his escape—was submitted to law enforcement. The newspaper further contends that, despite the presentation of this evidence and subsequent admissions by Jungler members to the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparation Commission (TRRC), no criminal proceedings have been instituted that directly address the destruction of its printing press.

Throughout Jammeh’s 22-year regime, The Independent emerged as a leading independent news outlet, invariably contending with ongoing pressure. Journalists associated with the newspaper faced arrests, intimidation, exile, and purported torture, while the newsroom itself endured persistent harassment culminating in the obliteration of the printing press.

The publication had anticipated that the democratic shift following Jammeh’s exit would facilitate justice for media professionals who experienced violations of human rights under the dictatorship. However, it argues that these hopes remain unfulfilled.

Furthermore, The Independent expresses concern that while the TRRC acknowledged the attack as a grave violation of human rights and documented confessions from former Junglers, the arson incident was excluded from the cases recommended for prosecution by the proposed Special Tribunal.

According to the newspaper, this exclusion has resulted in victims being deprived of reparations or judicial recourse, despite the robust evidence unveiled during the truth-seeking initiatives.

The newspaper also noted that it had previously contemplated initiating legal proceedings before the ECOWAS Court but ultimately chose not to do so, preferring to place its confidence in Gambian institutions post-democratic transition.

On the occasion of its 27th anniversary, The Independent clarifies that its aim is not to elicit sympathy but rather to gain acknowledgment as a victim of state-sponsored repression, urging authorities to facilitate accountability for the attack.

The publication asserts that recognizing the assault on its printing press and prosecuting those responsible would represent a pivotal advancement in fortifying press freedom, upholding the rule of law, and reinforcing the nation’s dedication to transitional justice.

Additionally, The Independent recalled that one of the firearms allegedly utilized during the assault, a French-manufactured MAB P.15 pistol with the serial number 15 PXT0294, was retrieved at the site and presented to investigators. The newspaper deems this weapon a persistent reminder of the violence inflicted upon it, as well as the torture endured by journalist Musa Saidykhan during the Jammeh administration.

More than two decades subsequent to the incident, The Independent underscores that its struggle transcends the mere reconstruction of a printing press; rather, it revolves around obtaining justice and ensuring that one of the country’s most consequential assaults on press freedom is neither forgotten nor left without punitive consequences.