On this sad day, the Leadership and entire membership of GMC extend solidarity to the Family of the late Deyda Hydara, the people of The Gambia, and to the journalism fraternity of The Gambia. On this day, we joined the nation in offering our prayers in remembrance of a Great Gambian Hero.

GMC once more expresses its shock that six years after the murder of the late Deyda Hydara, The Gambia Government continues to inexplicably defy persistent national and international demands for a proper investigation. The failure and/or refusal of The Gambia Government on its own launch a proper professional law enforcement investigation (not manufacture of scandal) into the murder of a national or at the repeated demands of Gambian citizens by implication casts negative aspersions on it, and continues to consolidate mounting public speculation of its alleged involvement.

GMC urges The Gambia Government to protect and defend the honour of our Republic by finally taking visible practical steps to properly investigate, arrest, and prosecute the murderers. The Gambia Government’s continues defiance against this public request from citizens of The Gambia is a violation of public trust and further constitutes a fundamental breach of the President’s Oath of Office. The entire humanity expects more from a government whose primary obligation is to protect lives, enforce the rule of law and respect the will of its people.

Issued on the Order of GMC National Secretariat

16^th, December, 2009.