29 September 2008

Alert

Police Council assumes responsibility in assault on journalists, pledges compensation for damages


Incident details

journalist(s)

attacked

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(MFWA/IFEX) - On 24 September 2008, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) lifted the news blackout it imposed on the activities of the country's police over attacks on some of its members by police personnel.

The Media Foundation for West Africa's (MFWA) correspondent reported that the lifting of the ban followed the intervention of Sam Sumana, the country's Vice President, and Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, the Communications Minister.

The correspondent said Sumana, who is the Chairman of the Police Council, assumed responsibility for the attack and promised to refund the monies and equipment the journalists lost.

After some feet dragging, SLAJ imposed the blackout on 22 September, six weeks after the police authorities had refused to implement a recommendation by a committee to compensate the affected journalists. Eight journalists were violently attacked by policemen at the State House in Freetown on 13 August while on assignment.

Updates the case involving the police assault on journalists: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/97176



Source:

Media Foundation for West Africa
PO Box LG 730
30 Duade Street, Kokomlemle
Legon, Accra
Ghana
alerts (@) mediafound.org
Phone: +233 302 242470
Fax: +233 302 221084
 

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More on this case

Journalists impose news blackout on police activities to protest assault on colleagues 23 September 2008 Security personnel assault, injure eight journalists covering political party meeting 14 August 2008

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