(MFWA/IFEX) – On 15 March 2007, Sam Dean, publisher of “The Independent”, a Monrovia- based privately-owned newspaper currently facing a ban, alleged that his life is in danger due to continuous threats on his life by agents of the state security. He has therefore been in hiding. Dean told a Media Foundation for West Africa […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 15 March 2007, Sam Dean, publisher of “The Independent”, a Monrovia- based privately-owned newspaper currently facing a ban, alleged that his life is in danger due to continuous threats on his life by agents of the state security. He has therefore been in hiding.
Dean told a Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) correspondent that he needs assistance to leave the country to escape the threats.
“As a result of the continued threats to my life, coupled with the arbitrary banning of the paper (“The Independent”), I am kindly requesting your urgent assistance to get me out of Liberia, as I have been in a hideout since last month (February). I am spending huge sums of money daily to keep myself safe and have run out of cash to contain this insecurity,” said Dean.
In a statement on 9 March, the publisher catalogued a number of threats, harassment and intimidation directed at him and his staff members by state security agents.
On February 19, “The Independent” published a photograph of Willis Knuckles, former Presidential Affairs Minister, allegedly having sex with two women at the same time.
The statement said one Matthew Willie led seven security men to besiege his residence on 22 February in order to arrest him, but his neighbors intervened.
On February 27, “The Independent” republished the photograph following the minister’s resignation. This prompted the government to revoke the newspaper’s license for a year, and order the closure of its offices. After the first publication, Dean was declared wanted; he was not arrested.
