(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 April 2002, RSF strongly condemned the Liberian government’s closure of the independent newspaper “The Analyst” and called for the arbitrary ban to be lifted at once. “This is the second time the paper has been interfered with under the pretext of national security since the state of emergency began last 8 […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 April 2002, RSF strongly condemned the Liberian government’s closure of the independent newspaper “The Analyst” and called for the arbitrary ban to be lifted at once. “This is the second time the paper has been interfered with under the pretext of national security since the state of emergency began last 8 February,” RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said in a letter to Information Minister Reginald Goodridge.
Police searched the newspaper’s offices on 26 April and ordered it closed. According to Goodridge, this was decided so that an investigation could be made. He said the newspaper was suspected of being “an agent for political detractors by inciting the public to create chaos” during the state of emergency. Police Chief Paul Mulbah reportedly said the newspaper might not appear again.
RSF recalled that on 13 February, four of the newspaper’s journalists, including managing editor Stanley Seakor and reporter James Lloyd, were arrested by police in the capital, Monrovia. Police chief Mulbah said they were detained because of several articles that were “not out for peace” and “poisoned the minds of the people.” He cited several of the newspaper’s headlines, such as “Liberians drowning in horrors”, “Emergency power pinch businesses” and “What rights and freedoms can the President suspend?”, and warned that any journalist who tried to “subvert the peace” would be prosecuted.
President Charles Taylor declared a state of emergency on 8 February after rebels attacked the town of Klay, about 40 kilometres north of Monrovia.
