(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Information Reginald Goodridge, RSF expressed its concern over the deterioration of working conditions for journalists in Liberia. “The authorities try to control information inside and outside the country by any means. An independent weekly has been closed and foreign journalists, accused of spreading negative propaganda, are now […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Information Reginald Goodridge, RSF expressed its concern over the deterioration of working conditions for journalists in Liberia. “The authorities try to control information inside and outside the country by any means. An independent weekly has been closed and foreign journalists, accused of spreading negative propaganda, are now subjected to restrictive rules,” explained Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. RSF asked the minister to lift the ban on the weekly “The Journalist” and to withdraw restrictive rules for foreign journalists. The organisation also called on the authorities to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which guarantees the free circulation of information. Finally, RSF noted that in less than a year, eight Liberians and foreign journalists have been jailed and accused of “spying.”
According to information gathered by RSF, on 28 May 2001 the government announced “new rules” for the entry of foreign journalists into Liberia. In a press release, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism explained that this measure is intended to “minimise the impact of the anti-government propaganda that is currently being orchestrated by a select number of foreign journalists.” The ministry will now require a “letter of intent” from the head of media outlets that wish to send a reporter to the country. A “minimum of 72 hours notice will be required.” Furthermore, the ministry reserves “the right to conduct background checks” on journalists and to “reject the request for accreditation if their credentials are not bonafide.”
On 30 April, the Ministry of Information banned the weekly “The Journalist” without any explanation. Another weekly, “The Analyst”, recently had its computers seized by the authorities.
For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, rue Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51, e-mail: afrique@rsf.fr, Internet: http://www.rsf.fr
