Articles by Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP)
CEMESP condemns “unnecessary” accreditation requirements for journalists covering Truth and Reconciliation Commission proceedings
(CEMESP/IFEX) – The following is a 5 January 2008 CEMESP letter to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission chairman: January 5, 2008 The Chairman Truth & Reconciliation Commission Monrovia, Liberia Mr. Chairman: We write to introduce the Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP), a media development and peace building organization, which has been working […]
Journalists detained for photographing corpses at police station; camera confiscated
(CEMESP/IFEX) – National police in Monrovia, the capital, detained three journalists for photographing the removal of two decomposed human bodies from a police cell on 19 December 2007. Journalists Jerome Toe of the “Liberia Journal” newspaper, Helroz Zorleh of “Public Agenda” and Emmanuel Mensah of the “National Chronicle” were detained for what the police called […]
Police forcefully close community radio station for 24 hours over coverage of labour dispute
(CEMESP/IFEX) – On 13 December 2007, the government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice, unlawfully closed down Stone FM, a community radio station located in Harbel, approximately 35 miles from Liberia’s capital, Monrovia. The premises of the radio station were sealed by a squad of officers of the Liberian National Police led by Captain […]
Judge threatens journalists with contempt charges, jail over coverage
(CEMESP/IFEX) – On 22 October 2007, Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis threatened to imprison journalists for committing such “infractions” as “misspelling his name”, “giving him wrong and inappropriate titles” and “attaching his photos to stories that have nothing to do with him in their papers.” Lewis made the threats in open court, with the heads of […]
Government demands proof of registration from media outlets before paying advertising debts
(CEMESP/IFEX) – Media houses in Monrovia have begun complaining that government agencies are refusing to pay their legitimate advertisement debts until they produce evidence of legal existence. An inquiry by CEMESP received corroboration from “The New Democrat”, “The News” and “Public Agenda” newspapers. Other papers have been hesitant to comment. In its 15 October 2007 […]
Authorities announce media restrictions for coverage of president; three journalists face legal action for article criticising the courts
(CEMESP/IFEX) – The Government of Liberia, through the Executive Mansion Press Bureau and the Ministry of Information has imposed what has been described as “media censorship” on the independent media in Liberia. The disclosure was made on 1 October 2007 at the regular press conference hosted by Presidential press Secretary Cyrus Badio. Mr. Badio said […]
Journalists manhandled by presidential bodyguards
(CEMESP/IFEX) – On 21 September 2007, bodyguards of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, from the Special Security Service (SSS), brutalized and intimidated several local journalists and correspondents of international news organizations. The journalists, including Jonathan Paylelay of the BBC, Dosso Zoom of Radio France International, Alphonso Towah of the Reuters News Agency and other local journalists […]
Journalist assaulted by police, arrested while covering drug raid
(CEMESP/IFEX) – A combined team of officers from the Liberia National Police and the Drug Enforcement authority physically attacked and arrested a journalist for attempting to cover a police operation on 31 August 2007. Journalist J. Rufus Paul of the “Daily Observer” newspaper was arrested for what the police call “trying to cover a raiding […]