By Yusupha Jobe
Home Digital FM in Brikama, West Coast Region, and King FM Tallinding were shut down on Sunday, while four journalists were arrested and detained by the government of President Adama Barrow.
Home Digital FM radio and Mengbekering online TV in Brikama proprietor Pa Modou Bojang was arrested on Sunday and his station was shut down by security force following 3 Yrs Jotna protest.
King FM Managing Director Jibbi Jallow, Ebrima Jallow and a journalist were also arrested on Sunday and t all three from the station are detained at the Bundung Police Station.
Saikou Jammeh secretary general of Gambia Press Union confirmed the arrest and closure of the stations. “The station has been forced off air #PressFreedom under attack in The Gambia, a country that’s supposed to be dancing to the tunes of its new found global acclaim as defender of human rights,” he said.
The shutdown of Home Digital FM station and subsequent arrest of the owner who was later taken by police went viral on social media with people posting protest comments calling for his immediate release and the opening of the station.
The independent station is allegedly accused by authorities for releasing confidential state reports on special radio programs.
The station which is currently under police guard was storm by crowd demanding the station to open but the security force tried to disperse them.
The station’s Manager Omar Fofana in an interview with reporters said they have all legal rights to operate as a private radio station, adding the arrest of their proprietor and subsequent shutdown of two radio stations has put threat to media freedom saying that the release of their proprietor will not be based on negotiation but on legal ground.
“We know we are a long target of the state authorities because of our focus on national issues but this will not stop our ambitions. The arrest of our proprietor and the closure of two radio station is threat to media freedom which should be a concern to all media fraternity,” he said.
However, the executive of the Gambia press union have also visited the radio station and including the police station where Mr. Bojang is detained.
Meanwhile another radio station King FM located along Brikama, Westfield highway in Latrikunda was also shut down by security forces including several attacks on journalists covering 3 Yrs Jotna protest.
