2 August 1995

Alert

Judgement expected in "New Breed" case




**Updates IFEX alerts dated 26 July, 19 and 12 January
1995; 13 December 1994**




Judgement in the case against journalists from the newspaper "The
New Breed", which has been before the Sierra Leonian courts for
over 21 months, is due 7 August 1995. If convicted, the
defendants, including journalist Julius Spencer, may be
imprisoned for seven to ten years.

Recommended Action


Send appeals to Sierra Leonian authorities:
  • expressing the belief that the conviction or sentencing of these
    journalists to lengthy prison terms would constitute a terrible
    miscarriage of justice
  • respectfully urging that the criminal charges against them be
    dropped
  • urging that they uphold in practice the right of journalists to
    hold and express opinions and ideas, as guaranteed by Article 19
    of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by
    Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
    Rights, and by Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and
    Peoples' Rights, the last to which Sierra Leone is a signatory
    the Sierra Leonian diplomatic representative in your country





    Appeals To



    His Excellency Captain E. M. Strasser
    Chairperson, National Provisional Ruling Council
    State House
    Tower Hill
    Freetown, Sierra Leone
    Fax: +232 22 222250 or +323 22 242146






    Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.






    Source:

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