(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Justice Eddington Varmah, RSF protested the arrest of a journalist from the private radio station DC 101.1. RSF asked the minister to refer the case to the appropriate authorities and ensure they immediately release T-max Jlateh, host of the “DC Talk” programme. “As far as we know, […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Justice Eddington Varmah, RSF protested the arrest of a journalist from the private radio station DC 101.1. RSF asked the minister to refer the case to the appropriate authorities and ensure they immediately release T-max Jlateh, host of the “DC Talk” programme. “As far as we know, the host did not call for violence, and nothing can justify the detention of a journalist who did nothing more than exercise his right to inform the population,” explained RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “The Liberian authorities should accept that media outlets present all of the people’s points of view, even when they are very critical,” added Ménard.
On 17 September 2001, according to information obtained by RSF, police in Monrovia raided the offices of the private radio station DC 101.1. They demanded that staff evacuate the premises and stopped all broadcasting. The radio station was accused of airing “anti-American sentiments” during the “DC Talk” programme. Callers reacted live to the 11 September attacks in the United States and said, “it is time for America to suffer too for what it has been doing to other people.” Another caller added, “If we are to condemn terrorist acts, we must condemn America, because it is the sponsor of most terrorist acts in the world today.” Another caller said the United States “is getting a taste of its own medicine.”
Police also arrested Jlateh, the programme’s host. Chief of Police Paul Mulbah said that “only Islamic fundamentalists can utter such hateful remarks.” He added that, “Liberia will not allow anyone to destroy the good relations between Liberia and America.” The government issued a press release saying that this decision had been taken in the interest of “national security.”
On 18 September, following an agreement between DC 101.1’s director and the minister of justice, the radio station was authorised to broadcast again. Meanwhile, Jlateh is still being detained in the offices of the Ministry of Justice, and cannot receive any visitors. According to Liberian law, he should be presented before a court within forty-eight hours of his arrest.
