By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The Media Reform Coordinating Group-Sierra Leone (MRCG-SL) has in a press release called on the government, politicians, media owners and other parties for increased protection of journalists in Sierra Leone.
The call was made yesterday 2 November this year in observance of ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’.
MRCG referred to the case of a journalist Fayia Amara Fayia whose matter had not been called to court, but are seeking the intervention of the Minister of Information and Communications Mohamed Rahman Swaray for an official end to the matter.
The Group since 2018, with support from United States’ National Endowment for Democracy (NED), have been monitoring and publishing reports on press freedom and freedom of expression in the country.
The Group notes in their May 2021 Press Freedom Report that out of 35 cases of intimidations, attacks, assaults, arrests, detentions and prosecution of journalists and civil society activists, 26 have been ‘concluded, settled, resolved, dropped or abandoned because of lack of progress. They noted that three of such cases were in court and six under police investigation.
The MRCG also noted that although the Criminal and Seditious Libel law has been expunged from the country’s law books, there still ongoing cases of libel in court.
With regards to that, the MRCG has brought to the attention of the office of the Ministry of Information and Communication. The Group said the said Ministry has assured them that they will look into the issue.
The Group also states that journalists are also attacked and harassed by local authorities and members of the public.
The MRCG also reiterated their recommendation for media owners and managers to institute a safety and security policy. They also recommended that media owners and managers cater for the welfare of journalists. Later in the day, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the various arms of the country’s security sector. The MOU commits all parties to maintain law and order and ensure the safety and security of journalists at all times.
Copyright © Politico Online 03/11/21
