(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, RSF protested the suspension of the daily “African Champion Newspaper” and its editor by the Independent Media Commission, a regulatory body for the journalism profession. Explaining that the organisation did not wish to comment on the facts of the case, RSF asked the head of […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, RSF protested the suspension of the daily “African Champion Newspaper” and its editor by the Independent Media Commission, a regulatory body for the journalism profession. Explaining that the organisation did not wish to comment on the facts of the case, RSF asked the head of state to consult with the competent authorities and see to it that the suspension measure is lifted. “The authorities should not forget that the commission’s initial purpose was not to suspend or punish the independent press. The commission should not act as a substitute for legal measures or be used to hinder journalists’ everyday work. In addition, an increasing number of observers are questioning whether the commission is truly independent,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “As the presidential elections draw closer, the president has to ensure that there is information pluralism in Sierra Leone and make a commitment to support press freedom,” Ménard added.
According to information obtained by RSF, during the week of 11 March 2002, the Independent Media Commission ordered a two-month suspension of the private daily “African Champion Newspaper”. The publication’s managing editor, Mohamed D. Koroma, was barred from practicing journalism for the same period. When RSF spoke to him by phone, he stated his intention to continue publishing his newspaper, despite the suspension order. “African Champion Newspaper” was distributed on 18 March. In a press release, the commission explained that the newspaper had published an article titled “Kabbah stinks in dubious deal again”, in which it denounced the president’s corrupt son. The newspaper added that the son was being protected by his father.
