(RSF/IFEX) – In a 3 September 1999 letter to Minister of Justice Solomon Begewa, RSF protested the detention of a journalist in Freetown. RSF urged the minister “to use his influence to ensure that Emmanuel Sanossi is released immediately.” Robert Ménard, RSF’ secretary-general added: “Naturally, your government has the right to publish a response when […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 3 September 1999 letter to Minister of Justice Solomon
Begewa, RSF protested the detention of a journalist in Freetown. RSF urged
the minister “to use his influence to ensure that Emmanuel Sanossi is
released immediately.” Robert Ménard, RSF’ secretary-general added:
“Naturally, your government has the right to publish a response when it
thinks an article is wrong but it should not detain a journalist who was
merely using his right to inform.”
According to the information gathered by RSF, on 27 August, policemen from
the criminal investigations department (CID) arrested Sanossi,
editor-in-chief of “The Reporter”. On 20 August, the newspaper published an
article about the purchase of weapons by the government – a decision the
journalist had said could debilitate the peace accord. One week after the
article was published, Minister Begewa addressed a press conference in which
he condemned the article and threatened journalists who publish
“irresponsible news” with imprisonment or fines. On the same day, Sanossi
was arrested by CID officers and interrogated for four hours. He was
released but rearrested two days later. He is currently detained in a police
station in Freetown.
