(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA and Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) alert: On 5 December 2003, Kenji Kato, a reporter on assignment in Liberia for the Japanese newspaper “Yomuri Shimbun”, was assaulted by Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebels. Kato was not physically harmed, but the rebels seized his […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA and Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) alert:
On 5 December 2003, Kenji Kato, a reporter on assignment in Liberia for the Japanese newspaper “Yomuri Shimbun”, was assaulted by Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebels. Kato was not physically harmed, but the rebels seized his notebook. No reason was given for the assault.
According to MFWA-Liberia, the incident occurred at the Po River Bridge, 17 kilometres northwest of the capital, Monrovia, on the Monrovia-Tubmanburg highway. Kato was on assignment with Winston Monboe, the Monrovia correspondent for Voice of America (VOA) radio, when he was attacked by the rebels. The matter has been reported to the LURD High Command.
MISA and MFWA strongly condemn the attack on Kato and are deeply troubled over the report of an assault on a journalist in Liberia at this time. Media practitioners in Liberia have had no respite from the repressive Charles Taylor dictatorship for the past 14 years and any attempt to obstruct their work of informing the public must be condemned.
The LURD leadership, which is ultimately responsible for the conduct of LURD fighters, must ensure that they respect the basic rights of Liberians, including press freedom and freedom of expression rights.
