By: Mohamed Sahr mohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
Commemorating the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalist on 2nd November every year, Media Reform Coordinating Group Sierra Leone (MRCG-SL) has remained steadfast to call on government institutions to uphold the General Assembly’s Resolution for the safety of journalists during its press release on 2nd November 2023.
The press release stated that 2nd November every year was staged to reflect the assassination of two French International journalists and sound Engineer who were first kidnapped in the Sahel region in Mali. Council on Foreign Relations recent article in 2023 observed that the journalists interviewed the leader of the Tuareg separatist group quoting the French Foreign Ministry, where they were taken by group of arm men and later killed both Claude Verion colleagues Ghislaine Dupont. Meanwhile, no group organization has claimed responsibility. “The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2nd November Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ in the General Assembly Resolution,” MRCG-SL press statement mentioned.
They said the Resolution is keen to urge Member States to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity; Member States need to play their ultimate role to preventing violence against Journalists and media workers, and ensure that victims have access to appropriate solutions.
MRCG-SL with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) has engaged in monitoring and publishing reports on media freedom documenting scenarios of invitations, intimidations, attacks, assaults, arrests, detentions and prosecution of journalists. “MRCG-SL tenth report on Press Freedom in Sierra Leone showed that from the First to the Tenth Edition, sixty-six cases have been monitored, of which forty-seven of the cases were concluded and abandoned because of lack of progress,” the press release noted.
It emphasized that four cases were in court and fifteen remained police custody; adding that March, MRCG-SL monitored the attack of the Station Manager of Fountain of Peace Radio (FOP) Alie Tokowa in Moyamba District where he was allegedly assaulted by supporters of the ruling party.
The press release said another case was monitored during the attack on the BBC Correspondent in Sierra Leone, Umaru Fofana by supporters of the main opposition party All People’s Congress (APC) party at the time of the party’s press conference in June 2023 in Freetown.
MRCG-SL said they have received couple of complaints from journalists and media workers on alleged assaults and death threats with emphasis on journalist Musa S. Kamara, working for Radio Democracy 98.1FM in August 2023.
MRCG-SL furthered that issues relating to the safety and security of journalists go beyond politicians and police; noting that there are reports of several attacks on journalists from local authorities, youths and members of the public. “We want to remind media owners and managers that one of its reports shows that majority of the media houses lack a safety and security policy and there are concerns about addressing the welfare of journalists,” MRCG-SL said.
They call on government, politicians, media organizations, civil society organizations and the public to ensure the safety and security of journalists across the country.