MEDIA-SIERRA LEONE: New Rules Introduced, Journalists Detained

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

FREETOWN, Jul 3 1998 (IPS) - Sierra Leone’s civilian government this week imposed new press regulations that prevent journalists from publishing any story “that is likekly to cause public alarm or despondency”, and rounded up several journalists from independent newspapers.

Two editors and a publisher were picked up Thursday by state security and detained for questioning at the Criminal Investigation Department.

Managing Editor of the ‘Independent Observer’, Jonathan Leigh, editor of the ‘Democrat’, Joseph Mboka, and the publisher of ‘Newstorm’, Ahmed Kanneh, had their offices thoroughly searched by police officers and some documents were confiscated.

“Six police detectives stormed our (‘Democrat’) offices with a search warrant, purportedly for ‘subversive documents’, raided and turned the whole place upside down,” says Michael Foray, the paper’s publisher.

According to Foray, two editions, which ran commentaries on the rumoured release from detention in Nigeria of rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leader, Foday Sankoh, were confiscated by the police.

“This may not have gone down well with the authorities, because we understand that moves were underway to release the rebel leader and return him to Sierra Leone, to participate in a power-sharing government,” Foray says.

Sankoh has been in detention for over a year on allegations that he violated Nigerian law by travelling with arms and ammunitions into that country. He has never been charged in court.

Leigh was arrested in connection with a story published in his weekly tabloid, suggesting that ECOMOG — the West African Intervention Force — was secretly training 3000 ex-junta soldiers for eventual re-absorption into the new Sierra Leone army.

ECOMOG, which restored President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah to office in March, quickly denied the story. “The news report about the recruitment of 3000 junta troops is completely misleading, malicious, false and unfounded,” an ECOMOG statement read.

The press regulation, which is in conformity with the recently promulgated public emergency legislation, warns editors and publishers “not to publish any statement or article that would disturb the public peace, order and stability.”

Violators are liable to a jail term of not more than two years, or a fine of 500,000 Leones, or both. (1,500 Leones is equal to one US Dollars).

Recently, Sierra Leone’s tabloid press came under serious scrutiny for alleged sensationalism and publication of alarming stories.

“We are still in a state of emergency and any editor or publisher who violates this regulation will face the full force of the law,” information and broadcasting minister Julius Spencer warned newspaper editors in a meeting held last week.

Sierra Leone has a population of about 4.5 million, with an illiteracy rate of 85 percent. Even the 15 percent literate group enjoys a low purchasing power, because of the civil war and nine months of a military junta reign, that impoverished the majority of Sierra Leoneans.

Furthermore, the newspaper market is overflooded with over 50 newspapers — all tabloids — competing for a small readership.

“We’ve had to depend on advertising revenue, which is irregular and then to make headlines with sensational stories, if the paper is to sell,” says Alusine Fofanah, managing editor of the ‘Star’ newspaper.

In a nationwide broadcast on state radio and television Thursday, President Kabbah appealed to editors to stop reporting unsavoury things about the country that would turn away investors.

“We should all learn to love our country, to report things that would attract our country to foreign investors and not publish alarming stories that would put our country in a bad light,” he said.

Journalists say they are getting a raw deal from a government that they helped to reinstate in office after it was overthrown and sent into exile for nine months last May.