The struggle which culminated in the murder of Deyda Hydara, an ardent critic of the regime of President Yahya Jammeh, three years ago, has been given meaning with the launch of his biography in The Gambia.
The book entitled: “A Living Mirror: The Life of Deyda Hydara” focuses more on the life of the journalist, rather than his death. It was jointly published by Demba Ali Jawo, former Gambia Press Union (GPU) president and Aloa Ahmed Alota, a Nigerian journalist based in The Gambia and Editor at The Point Newspaper.
The book which was launched on May 3, 2008, World Press Freedom Day, was according to the authors to keep the values of Hydara alive.
According to Ahmed Alota, proceeds from the book would be used to set up an Educational Trust Fund to provide support for deserving students from secondary schools across the country.
Hydara was murdered in December, 2004 by unknown assailants, and the government has still failed to investigate his death.
Meanwhile, at a recent meeting with newly elected executives of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) Gambia’s Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy assured the public that investigations were still ongoing in the case of Deyda Hydara. This, however, has remained the official position of the regime ever since the murder, and yet no progress has made.
I cannot help but laugh when I hear comments from Isatou Njie-Saidy that investigation into Deyda's murder is still going on. Is this not the same government that has not investigated the murder of their own minister Koro Ceesay or the shooting of demonstrating students? What a joke Isatou Njie-Saidy is. I am not a vindictive person, but I honestly believe that all of these people should answer for the crimes that occurred while they served prominent roles in this government and did not do anything to stop them or voice their opposition to them. If they fear for their own safety, they should not add to the pain of those who have had their loved ones murdered, by perpetuating the lies that these murders are being investigated.