By Kemo Cham
The space for freedom of expression is gradually shrinking in Sierra Leone, Kelvin Lewis, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) lamented over the weekend.
He cited a recent spate of clampdown on both the traditional media and social media users as suggesting hard time for journalism in the country and this, he said, required journalists to reflect thoroughly.
Speaking on Saturday, the second and final day of the just concluded two-day Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association in Kenema, Lewis cited the arrest and detention of several journalists over the years, notably Jonathan Leigh and Bai Bai Sesay of the Independent Observer newspaper, and David Tam-Baryoh of Monologue fame. He also pointed to the brief detention of Theo Gbenda of Culture Radio, fingered for posting a whatsapp comment alleging that a certain medical doctor had contracted the Ebola virus. It turned out that was untrue.
Journalist Gbenda severally apologised to the doctor concerned but that did not prevent him from been detained.
At least two people were recently reported to have been arraigned before courts in Freetown over postings on social media. One of them allegedly posted an insulting comment about President Ernest Bai Koroma.
“It means that the boundaries are shrinking. The space we have to work on is shrinking,” said the SLAJ President.
But he also scolded journalists who practiced irresponsibly, urging them to strive to employ professionalism and deprive anti-press freedom agents the excuse for their actions.
Until now the current APC-led government has boasted of the cleanest sheet in terms of free expression. One of the arguments of the government`s supporters has been that under President Koroma`s leadership, no journalist had been jailed or detained. To many this record was broken with the arrest of the first of these journalists.
But Deputy Information Minister Theo Nicul contended that the record is still unbroken. He argues that none of the journalists had been either arrested or detained on the President`s orders.
And Nicul blamed unprofessionalism for experiences of media practitioners who fall foul of the law.
“You can`t practice [journalism] and expects total freedom,” he argued.
He said as journalists one was obliged to be responsible. Nicul said both David Tam-Baryoh and Jonathan Leigh had publicly admitted wrongdoing, attesting to the fact that their arrests were done on just grounds.
On social media, the deputy information minister defended the actions against those on trial. He said because social media was not under control, people were taking advantage to abuse it and posting all sorts of unacceptable materials.
Those who are prepared to be irresponsible should be prepapred to be held accountable, he said.
© Politico 09/06/15
