(MFWA/IFEX) – The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sierra Leone Police has questioned Fatmata Hassan, a member of parliament who allegedly initiated the assault leading to the death of Harry Yanssaneh, acting editor of the independent newspaper “For Di People”. On 1 August 2005, Hassan, an MP of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sierra Leone Police has questioned Fatmata Hassan, a member of parliament who allegedly initiated the assault leading to the death of Harry Yanssaneh, acting editor of the independent newspaper “For Di People”.
On 1 August 2005, Hassan, an MP of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party (SLPP), was asked to write a statement concerning the circumstances surrounding the assault.
According to MFWA’s Sierra Leone source, the Law Officers Act of 1965, Section 2, Subsection 9 requires the police to inform the attorney general before inviting for questioning a parliamentarian, diplomat, local government councillor or legal practitioner alleged to have committed an offence punishable with imprisonment.
The source said Hassan went through this procedure and was granted police bail after writing down the statement.
In a separate development, MFWA reports that members of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union have resolved to place a media blackout on Vice-President Solomon Berewa, Parliament and the police. The union said there would be no media coverage of the authorities mentioned until the editor’s death is properly investigated and the perpetrators brought to book.
After an urgent meeting on 2 August, union members resolved unanimously to carry out the threat to serve as a warning to police to put an end to impunity as regards attacks against journalists in the country.
According to the union, the news blackout is an indication of their disappointment at how the authorities have handled the assault on Yanssaneh. The vice-president chairs the Police Council.
The union has also called on Speaker of Parliament Justice Cowan for the immediate suspension of Hassan from Parliament until the case is investigated and prosecuted.
