From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:SIERRA LEONE: GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF MUZZLING THE PRESS
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 13:43:21 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1993, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: SIERRA LEONE: GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF MUZZLING THE PRESS


an inter press service feature

by lansana fofana and rod mac-johnson

freetown, jan 18 (ips) -- pro-democracy and human rights
activists here monday condemned moves announced last week by
sierra leone's military government to curb proliferation of
independent newspapers.

''we are witnessing a system where those in control of state
power appear thick-skinned and extremely jittery'', said paul
kamara editor of the radical 'for di people' paper.

kamara is also chair of the national league for human rights
and democracy. he was detained last month after his paper
run a story critical of alleged overspending by a government
official.

''the military government has fired the first shot across th
bow to muzzle the press. we must call for the repeal of the
guidelines... they spell doom for free speech. this is an
infringement on human rights'', kamara told ips.

he was reacting to new guidelines for the press announced the
government of 27-year-old cpt. valentine strasser wednesday.

the guidelines stipulate that with effect from feb. 1, a
newspaper can only resume publication if it has collateral
amounting to two million leones ( about 4,000 u.s. dollars).

every editor will also be required to have a university
degree and no less than four years work experience.

head of newspapers with lesser academic qualifications should
have a minimum ten years working experience to be retained as
editors, said guidelines announced on radio.

addition, the government said that every newspaper must
employ at least six reporters and run offices with facilities
that include telephones.

before the new guidelines, registration of newspapers in the
west african country was very lax. even ordinary school leavers
become editors.

the new requirements are likely to led to a shutdown of half
of sierra leone's 25 registered newspapers. many of them are cash-
strapped and run by unqualified journalists.

the guidelines come into effect feb. 1.

''many of the newspapers are virtually running on one-leg.
to implement the guidelines would be to break this thin leg,'
said one western diplomat. (more/ips)


sierra leone: government (2)

kamara's view is shared by former opposition leader sulaiman
banja tejan-sie.

''the latest crackdown on the free press is a signal that the
regime is not prepared to usher in a sound basis for democracy,
contrary to earlier proclamations.

''i think that the regime is drawing toward a more fascist
position ,'' said tejan-sie who is a leading freetown barrister.

but some editors said the new measures will help stem the
mushrooming of unprofessional newspapers.

''this will bring sanity to the profession and weed out the
fakes'', said editor frankyn bunting-davies of the popular
'newshaft' weekly.

about six editors appeared in court last year on charges of
sedition and libel.

sierra leone's military governent has come under the spotlight
for alleged human rights violations since capt. strasser toppled
gen joseph momoh in a coup apr. 29 last year.

three months after the coup, strasser ruled that any editor
printing what the authorities deemed as having potential of causing
public alarm and despondency should be jailed or fined heavily.

since then a number of editors have become frequent guests at
the prisons.

the summary execution of 26 alleged coup plotters last month
and alleged army atrocities against civilians in operations to mop
up rebels in the south east of the country have already led to a
freeze in aid by britain.

but hindolo tyre, the secretary of state for information an  d
broadcasting defends the new regulations.

''we are not gagging the press. the action is to uplift the
profession (journalism) and give it respect'', he said.
(end/ips/lf/mj/fc/93)