(CJFE/IFEX) – CJFE has learned from the International League for Human Rights in New York that the Sierra Leone parliament is expected to vote soon on a controversial media bill, released earlier this week, which proposes to create a media council empowered to suspend or revoke media licenses, and to impose prohibitive fines of up […]
(CJFE/IFEX) – CJFE has learned from the International League for Human
Rights in New York that the Sierra Leone parliament is expected to vote soon
on a controversial media bill, released earlier this week, which proposes to
create a media council empowered to suspend or revoke media licenses, and to
impose prohibitive fines of up to 500,000 leones (US$285). According to the
legislation, complaints against journalists will be reviewed and acted upon
by a committee comprised of three members, to be appointed by the president.
In addition, the bill grants the Ministry of Information the authority to
register newspapers for publication and, if deemed necessary, the authority
to revoke newspaper registration. The registration process would require
publishers to provide documentation proving that they have paid all of their
income taxes. The media bill does not proscribe existing restrictive laws
such as the 1964 criminal libel law.
The following are excerpts from the media bill:
“It shall be the responsibility of the (media) commission to…compile and
adopt a comprehensive media code of practice and to monitor the
implementation of the code;”
“An application shall…be accompanied with a statement to be issued by the
commissioner of Income Tax certifying that the proprietor has discarded all
his legal obligations under the income tax act” and “a non-refundable
processing fee of 25,000 leones (US$15);”
“Any printer or person who publishes or disperses any newspaper or magazine
on which the name or business address of the printer is not printed…is
liable to a fine not exceeding 50,000 leones (US$30);”
“Where a complaint is refered to the board…the complaint’s
committee…comprising the chairman of the board and two other members,
shall review the complaints and make recommendations…such fines shall not
exceed 500,000 leones (US$285);”
“The minister may…make regulations for the purpose of giving effect to the
provisions of the Act in particular, make regulations in relation to the
following: the issue, conditions, duration, suspension or revocation of any
media license or registration…radio and television broadcasting…and
anything prescribed under this act.”
