(RSF/IFEX) – In a 2 July 1999 letter to Minister of Justice Solomon Begewa, RSF protested the arrest of a journalist in Freetown. RSF urged the justice minister “to use his influence to ensure that Abdul Rhaman Swaray is released immediately.” Robert Ménard, RSF’s Secretary General added: “As far as we know he merely exercised […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 2 July 1999 letter to Minister of Justice Solomon Begewa,
RSF protested the arrest of a journalist in Freetown. RSF urged the justice
minister “to use his influence to ensure that Abdul Rhaman Swaray is
released immediately.” Robert Ménard, RSF’s Secretary General added: “As far
as we know he merely exercised his right to inform. Moreover he simply
quoted an official person who spoke during a public session.” The
organisation also asked the Minister of Justice to “convince his Honorable
Tarashid Tara Wallie to stop the legal proceeding against the journalist.”
According to the information gathered by RSF, on 1 July, policemen from the
Special Security Department (SSD) arrested Rhaman Swaray, a reporter with
the daily “Independent Observer”. Tara Wallie ordered this arrest because of
an article the journalist wrote two weeks ago, in which he quoted a member
of parliament saying that 300 rebels had joined the regular Sierra-Leonean
army. Two other journalists with the “Independent Observer” have been
detained since 10 June.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the minister of justice:
immediately
Appeals To
Solomon Begewa
Minister of Justice
Fax: +232 22 22 93 66
Telephone: +232 22 22 34 98
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
