The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has slammed an indefinite news blackout on the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) for a disrespectful leadership approach to the arrest and detention of their colleague, Sorie Saio Sesay, of Okentuhun Radio FM 90.0 in Kamakwei.
His arrest was as a result of allegedly re-publishing false information on a social media (WhatsApp) group about an incident between police and commercial bike riders in the municipality of Makeni on Thursday, May 26,, 2022.
The pace of arbitrary arrests and detention of journalists in Sierra Leone after the repeal of Part Five of the Public Order Act 1965 is alarming, despite an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP).
Journalist Sorie Saio Sesay, while in police custody, confirmed to SLAJ that he had mistakenly forwarded the said information from one WhatsApp group to his forum, though he was not the author. Members of his group included high-ranking officials of the SLP.
The President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, the Organising Secretary, and the northern region chairman, Sahr James Bangah, the following day after the arrest, went to engage the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police North, Gabriel Tommy, at his Makeni office, on the issue of the detained journalist. Once the media hierarchy disembarked from their vehicle while the regional chairman was introducing his president, AIG Tommy rushed into dismissing them by suggesting he was not prepared to talk to anyone; hence, he walked off.
On Saturday, May 28,, 2022, the journalists were made to know that their colleague, Sorie Saio Sesay, was escorted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the capital, Freetown, approximately 115 miles from Makeni, and 185 miles from where he was arrested, for further investigations after spending two nights in police custody.
The Northern region chairman of SLAJ, Sahr James Bangah, said, "In solidarity with our colleague, SLAJ North calls on all media houses in the North-East region to declare a total news blackout on the activities of the SLP whilst calling for the immediate release of the Sorie."
The President of the media umbrella body initially condemned the arrest and detention of their colleague and called for his immediate release while he was still in detention in Makeni. The association warned the SLP to stop arresting journalists for what they publish, whether the information is false or true, as all such cases should now be determined by the Independent Media Commission (IMC), or the association’s Disciplinary Commission for appropriate action.
Before the regional decision decisions, station managers in the northern region, including those outside the radar, had consented to replicate any decision from the association on what they described as a disrespectful act by AIG Gabriel Tommy, their president, regional chairman, and other executive members on the said issue.
The repeal of the 56-year-old obnoxious section (Part Five of POA, 1965) of the law that criminalizes the practice of journalism in Sierra Leone was seen by many as a relief to press freedom and freedom of speech. In the past, people in positions of power used that section to order the arrest of journalists on Friday evening, detained and released on Monday after court.
Young citizens are expressing interest in joining the profession after the repeal was noticed to be on the increase. The increasing arbitrary arrest lately, particularly in the provinces, is undermining their quest to join a profession they so desire to practice. Their fate will be assured by this decision (news blackout) and how far station managers in that part of the country can adhere to the call from their association.
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