In Wednesday’s exclusive interview with forGambia News and Radio, European Union Ambassador to The Gambia said he did not see a pattern in the way the Barrow government is stifling free press and speech. But the international community, still, has expressed concern about Madi Jobarteh’s arrest, according to the ambassador. The diplomat’s statement came in the wake of Jobarteh’s current ordeal with the Gambian authorities.

The Ambassador further stated that The Gambia is a young democracy with which we should not expect a linear growth process. The recent arrest of journalists, the closing of Pa Modou Bojang’s radio and Teranga FM still do not define a pattern in the Barrow regime’s handling of free speech and press in the views of the Ambassador.

Nor do these smell of a common denominator as far as freedom of expression and civil liberty in Adama Barrow’s Gambia are concerned in the observations of Ambassador Lajos.

He mentioned that “Any country going through a democratization process, there are hiccups. If you look at the recent demonstrations [3 Years Jotna].”

“The illegal closing of radio stations, and arrests, Gambia is no exception to that. There are hiccups in the process which shows that the process is not yet complete,” he added.

“There is a huge leap, a huge change as far as fundamental human rights are concerned, the legal reforms related to media laws and other important legislations. As in other countries in transition, these changes are not bumpless,” he continued.

“The process is not a linear development. Time to time, there are incidents. There are occasions where some intervention is needed. But I think what matters is what is the follow-up done by the authorities. If I look back, obviously The Gambia has had a big change,” he stated.

Madi Jobarteh’s Arrest:

“In a given democracy, these are fundamental rights to be provided to the citizenry to express their views freely in a way chosen and willingly,” he went on.

“The [democratization] process is not yet over. The whole case, I’ll refrain from [commenting] about although the international community expressed concern about it,” Mr Lajos notes.

“Looking back at the past couple of occasions or similar events, I also have the impression that they will do their best to iron it out. I don’t want to pre-empt the authorities’ decision.”

“Like you said, the case is on and and he is yet to report back next week. So he’s now bailed out. So, we shall wait what will be the final outcome. I hope it will be the outcome that needs to be the outcome.”

Reminded of prospects for the Barrow government’s back-sliding into a Yahya Jammeh-like heavy-handedness on journalists and free speech, especially with the recent arrest of Pa Modou Bojang and Teranga FM boss whose radios were  shut by the gov’t, Mr. Lajos jabbed back that the E.U is an organization that doesn’t look back at the past, but moves on for an optimistic future.

Please we apologize this time for the glitches in the phone lines due to connectivity in The Gambia. Please follow the rest of the interview with the Ambassador here on forgambia by scrolling down to find our play button under Listen Here. Click it and wait for few seconds.

Email us: gambiano821@gmail.com Whatsapp: 417-619-6943