MEDIA: Five Journalists Murdered Following The Attack On Freetown

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

FREETOWN, Feb 12 1999 (IPS) - Up to five journalists have been confirmed dead, and many more missing, following the rebel attack on the Sierra Leonean capital of Freetown on Jan 6, according to the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ).

The five include Nigerian-born editor of the tabloid ‘Concord Times’ and award-winning journalist, James Ogudguo, the deputy editor of the ‘Standard Times’ Paul Mansaray, leading cartoonist Muniru Azzo Turay, and Alpha Barrie of the defunct ‘Afro Times’ newspaper.

The five were reportedly murdered by rebel forces, who openly declared war on journalists, when they invaded the city in January.

“It is a great loss to us because these departed colleagues have added lustre to the profession of journalism here,” says Frank Kposowa, the president of SLAJ.

Kposowa himself was not spared the rebels’ orgy of destruction. His home and Mercedes Benz car were burned down. IPS correspondent Lansana Fofana also suffered similar fate.

At least one newspaper ‘Concord Times’ offices were set ablaze, while staff writer of ‘Standard Times’ Mustapha Sesay, had one of his eyes plucked out by rebels using machete, the same weapon which they used to stab his head and body parts repeatedly.

“This is a war with no rules and no exceptions,” comments media analyst Jonathan Davies. “I think it is silly that the rebels try to eliminate journalists instead of using them to articulate their cause and agenda.”

He says the rebels’ crude tactics “reflect their warped philosophy and the misdirection of their so-called struggle”, which began in 1991.

The assault on journalists has forced the majority of the country’s independent newspapers to cease publication. Of the 35 or so newspapers registered with the ministry of information in Freetown, no more than five have been able to publish.

“How can we come out against the odd?,” asks an editor of a Freetown-based weekly. “Our computers, faxes and a host of printing materials were looted by the rebels. It is really difficult.

As journalists count their losses, the SLAJ issued a statement this week blaming, in large measure, the government, for the rebels assault on media practitioners.

“The government simply failed in its duty to protect the lives and property of citizens and the press had always reminded it of the need to be security conscious,” says the statement in part.

The incident has united journalists against a government which has never felt at ease with journalists.

Before the Jan 6 attack, up to five journalists were either in detention, or standing trial in court for what the authorities termed “publishing false and alarming reports contrary to the public order act of 1965.”

A few more journalists were also in jail, either awaiting treason trial or been convicted of alleged collaboration with rebels.

Any media reports that referred to advances made by the rebels, was deemed “alarming” and, in one instance, a freelance reporter Kabbah Kargbo, was beaten up and detained for days by pro-government youths, for reporting on a European radio station that rebels were planning to overrun Freetown.

“The event of Jan 6 and its consequences have proved that president (Ahmed Tejan) Kabbah’s government is not security conscious. For it is only a careless and irresponsible government that will toy with its security network, to the extent of exposing its citizens to danger.

The Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), which monitors abuses against journalists worldwide, has also condemned the “systematic killings, torturing and kidnapping of journalists in the Sierra Leonean conflict”.

In a statement this week, RSF called on the rebels, who have retreated into the bush after destroying part of the city, to “release all journalists currently detained to enable them carry out their official duties.”