(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 has expressed great concern about the serious attacks on press freedom, including the banning of newspapers and the exile, imprisonment and torture of journalists, during the recently ended period of military rule in Sierra Leone. ARTICLE 19 welcomes the restoration of the democratically elected government in Sierra Leone and the […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 has expressed great concern about the serious
attacks on press freedom, including the banning of newspapers and the exile,
imprisonment and torture of journalists, during the recently ended period of
military rule in Sierra Leone. ARTICLE 19 welcomes the restoration of the
democratically elected government in Sierra Leone and the promise it holds
for the restoration of media freedom.
However, according to ARTICLE 19, some 22 newspapers have been banned by the
current government on the grounds that they are not formally registered. The
affected newspapers reportedly include: “The Express”, “The New Pioneer”,
“The Rolyc”, “The Independent Observer”, “The New Times”, “The Morning
Post”, “The Watch”, “The Triumph”, “The Financial Times”, “The Reporter” and
“The New Nation.” According to ARTICLE 19, no newspapers are currently
registered, and therefore the imposition of this ban appears to be
discriminatory, based upon the editorial content of the affected papers.
However, more broadly, ARTICLE 19 considers that any registration process
which gives the authorities discretion to refuse a right to publish
constitutes prior censorship and is inconsistent with Article 19 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. While such
registration requirements have been in force in Sierra Leone for many years
under successive governments, it must be stressed that such a power to ban
publications is unacceptable under any regime and is particularly
inconsistent with the democratic standards which the current government is
pledged to uphold.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
provisions permitting registration or licensing of journalists or
publications
Appeals To
President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah
State House
Freetown
Sierra Leone
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
