Thursday 6th August, which is considered by many Gambian Journalists to be among the bleakest pages in the history of Gambian Journalism and is comparable only to the day when Deyda was gunned down, is now followed by Thursday 3rd September which heralded the release of the 6 journalists.

We had just finished printing our column on the expressions of solidarity and public concerns from all sectors of society when the calls came that it would soon be announced over GRTS 8 pm news that the President had relied on his prerogative under the constitution to pardon the Journalists. This means that they are cleared of all criminal records. Foroyaa will publish the full content of the Press Release in our Monday issue to fully record the climax of a historical event.
Foroyaa has always maintained that the government had nothing to gain by keeping 6 journalists in prison while the murderer/murderers of Deyda Hydara are at large. The release is what is in line with the dictates of Justice and Common sense. We have gathered the advice given to Journalists by the President that they are not above the law and should desist from making seditious and defamatory publications.
Foroyaa would also like to give this piece of advice to the executive.
Once a Government has been in office for over a decade it should begin to open up and mend fences with all sectors of society in anticipation that another government could take its place. The president should not stop with the Journalists. He should proceed in giving general amnesty to prisoners at mile 2 and people stranded abroad who could contribute to the development of the country. He should then task the law reform commission with the responsibility of reviewing media laws in particular and other constitutional provisions regarding the security of tenure of judges. Members of the Independent Electoral Commission, Auditor General, Speaker of The National Assembly and other positions, in general are in line with standards of good practice. The Inter- Party Committee should be given life so as to enable political parties to come together to prepare an electoral programme which would ensure proper registration of voters, free operation of political parties to conduct their campaigns and free and fair elections in 2011 and 2012.
The famous cases of Deyda Hydara, Chief Manneh and Kanyiba Kanyi should be submitted to a commission of enquiry for advice on how the state should proceed to satisfy the concerns of all.
We hope that this new development will be followed by such measures.