MEDIA-SIERRA LEONE: A Cache of Arms Seized, Journalists Detained

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

FREETOWN, Jun 11 1999 (IPS) - Six people, including four journalists, have been detained, after arms and ammunition were ‘discovered’ in the offices of a local newspaper in the Sierra Leonean capital of Freetown, following a search operation.

Jerry Tryson of the Progress newspaper and Bai Bai Sesay of the Independent Observer are among the six suspects picked up by security personnel on Thursday.

According to the spokesperson of the Nigerian-led West African peace-keeping force, Lt-Col. Chris Olukolade, “an assortment of ammunition, three pistols, grenades and other military paraphernalia were discovered in the newspaper offices.”

The Independent Observer, from whose offices the arms and ammunition were ‘discovered’, has been on a running battle with the security personnel and government officials for sometime.

Its editor, Jonathan Leigh, has been declared wanted by state security and he is believed to be on the run. Two weeks ago, Leigh spent six days in detention, following the publication of uncomplimentary statements about certain ECOMOG officials.

ECOMOG, the Nigerian-led West African Peace-keeping force, has deployed more than 14,000 troops to prop up the beleaguered civilian government of President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah against rebel forces.

The security officials also confiscated documents alleged to be linked to the clandestine ‘NINJAS’ webside on the Internet, a page handled by self-styled opposition journalists to the government of Kabbah.

“This is a serious matter bothering on state security. We will ensure the matter is thoroughly investigated and appropriate measures are taken,” a senior police officer dealing with the investigations told IPS Friday.

The raid on the Independent Observer comes at a time when relationships between the authorities and independent journalists are at an all-time low.

Two other journalists from the New Sierra Leonean newspaper were also picked up Thursday, following the publication in their tabloid of a story suggesting that the pro-government KAMAJOR militia are plotting the overthrow of president Kabbah, if his government shares power with the rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).

The rebels and government are currently meeting in the West African state of Togo to try and find a solution to the eight- year conflict in the country.

In the past two months, more than five independent journalists, including publishers and editors have been in and out of detention, as a result of brush with the authorities.

Sierra Leone’s opposition politicians have criticised the clampdown on the independent media. “Arrests and intimidation of journalists cannot help resolve our national crisis. I think the government’s crackdown on the vocal press is either diversionary tactics, or an act of paranoia,” said opposition politician Jospeh Kamara.

His colleague, who refused to be named for security reasons, said: “How could journalists keep arms and ammunition ? My feeling is that it may well be a set-up to silence a paper that has proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the authorities.”

The authorities, however, insist the matter has nothing to do with press freedom, but with state security.

An aide to President Kabbah told IPS on Friday that: “What is so special about journalists that they should not be interrogated when they go against the laws? The matter will be pursued until they are proved innocent.”

The Independent Observer started publishing in the wake of the May 1997 military coup that ousted President Kabbah.

While the President was in exile in Guinea, for nine months, the Independent Observer, like a number of other private papers, stayed behind fighting against the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) junta.

Journalists from the paper were often detained, beaten and tortured. The paper is the fastest-selling among the 50-odd tabloids that pass for newspapers in this war-ravaged country.

“We think our newspaper and editor are being persecuted for taking an independent stance and exposing corrupt government officials as well as pointing out the excesses of the security forces. But this incident is not going to change our stance,” said a journalist with the Independent Observer.

The journalists’ association is yet to make any statement on the incident.

The conflict in Sierra Leone erupted in 1991 when former army corporal Foday Sankoh launched a bush war to overthrow the government of then President Joseph Momoh.

Since then, more than 30,000 people have been killed in the conflict, while an estimated quarter of the country’s 4.5 million people are scattered as refugees in neighbouring countries.