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''Opposition parties have been deprived of the state media''

  1. Posted on Thursday 18 August 2011 - 17:04
    Jammeh
    Image of Jammeh
    Mr. Sam Sarr, Managing Editor of Foroyaa newspaper has revealed that Gambian opposition parties have been denied access to the state own media.


    Mr. Sarr who was speaking to Africa news in an exclusive interview in the Senegalese Capital, Dakar said, ‘as it stands at the moment the opposition has been deprived of the state owned media, they don’t have access to it, so you don’t have a level playing field.’

    He said the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has the authority to compel the state media during the campaign period for the opposition political parties to have equal access to air time like the ruling party. ‘But until such time, opposition parties have been denied access in the state own media,’’ he revealed.


    According to Mr Sarr, private radio stations are not allowed to broadcast any political issues, whilst the only state owned media is not giving the opposition access to air their views.
    Freedom of Assembly for the opposition
    Turning to freedom of assembly for the opposition. Mr. Sam Sarr revealed that in the past opposition, parties have been denied holding public meetings. He further confirmed that the ban on opposition meetings is now a thing of the past.
    Intimidation
    On the intimidation meted out to people during electioneering period Mr. Sarr further lamented that, governors, village heads and chiefs are being intimidated by the ruling party, to campaign for them in their respective regions or lose their jobs.
    He said that it is now left to the Gambians to decide, adding that the opposition should not see these as obstacles but instead they should be optimistic and take the intimidations as strengths.
    Free and fair election
    Mr. Sam Sarr said, he is optimistic that the IEC will conduct a free and fair election, but then that does not merely mean for someone going to the polls and cast his or her votes, cautioning that it goes beyond that.

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