MESSAGE FROM THE SIERRA LEONE ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS (SLAJ) ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2007
BY IBRAHIM BEN KARGBO, PRESIDENT

SLAJ is aware of the fact that journalists in several countries have gone through and continue to go through difficulties at the hands of dictatorial governments and in countries overwhelmed by violence such as Iraq and Palestine. The disappearance of the BBC journalist, Alan Johnston, continues to be a matter of grave concern and the arrest and detention of our colleagues in many countries also continue to be of serious concern to members of SLAJ.

In Sierra Leone, the executive and members of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists continue to express dismay at the fact that the matter relating to the death of the late journalist, Harry Yansaneh, still remains unresolved even though there is a court order to the effect that some of the assailants of the late journalist be extradited from the United Kingdom to stand trial in Sierra Leone.
The death of Harry Yansaneh at the hands of vindictive people, including a politician, is largely responsible for the most unnecessary misunderstanding between the community of journalists in Sierra Leone and the government.

As we commemorate this day, especially as we remember our fallen colleagues, it must also be stated that no amount of intimidation can deter the journalists of Sierra Leone from disseminating information in a truthful and objective manner.

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists is again asking the government of Sierra Leone to come out with a clear picture as to how the Harry Yansaneh matter is being pursued, especially since it is also very necessary for the journalists to be convinced that Sierra Leoneans are administered in an atmosphere consistent with the concept of the Rule of Law.

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists also wishes to use this occasion to further emphasize the point that anti-press and anti-democratic legislations, especially those that interfere with the freedom of expression and freedom of association, be repealed from the law books of Sierra Leone.

It is most inconsistent for Sierra Leoneans to believe that they are part and parcel of the global democratic culture when there are still domestic laws that stand out as serious hurdles to the freedom of expression and freedom of association, two fundamental principles enshrined in our Constitution.

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists will never compromise on those issues that are paramount in the promotion of a democratic culture, especially those issues that directly relate to a free press and the right to hold views that are different from those that are in power.

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists has come of age and more than anytime before, SLAJ is being seen as a mature organisation that can play a fundamental role in putting in place the democratic mechanisms so vital in promoting a democratic culture.

The executive of SLAJ only recently, signed a Media Code of Practice, committing its membership to the reportage of the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in an objective and even-handed manner.

Furthermore, SLAJ is prepared to provide all its resources to ensure that the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections are conducted in a free and fair manner which explains why SLAJ is quite prepared to organize the presidential debate and other debates that will expose the political candidates to the electorates.

SLAJ has not forgotten the difficulties some of the journalists have gone through over the years and this would include the imprisonment of For Di People Editor, Paul Kamara and the temporary detention of the Peep Magazine editor, Olu Gordon, just as SLAJ also commemorates the incident that led to the detention of journalists of the Trumpet Newspaper.

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists holds the view that in modern day democratic practice, the media has a fundamental role to play as it is expected to serve as the watchdog of society and at the same time to hold government accountable as provided in the State Constitution.

As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, we should not forget that SLAJ was unexpectedly recently hit by the death of one of the finest journalists in Sierra Leone, Christian Katta Keili, Editor of the Salone Times Newspaper.

SLAJ also wishes to use this occasion to remember fallen journalists such as Franklyn Bunting-Davies, one-time President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Sheka Massaquoi, also one time President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Donald Davies, one of the founding members of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Glena Forde of Radio Democracy 98.1, Adolphus Samuels of the Military P.R.O. Unit, another committed member of SLAJ, Agnes Saio of Radio Mankneh in Makeni, Peter Goma of the Standard Times Newspaper and Mohamed Mansaray of the Voice of the Youths Newspaper.

Colleagues and other fellow Sierra Leoneans, the most important preoccupation of SLAJ at the moment is to ensure a smooth political transition after the July 28th presidential and parliamentary elections as the elections are perceived by our organisation as the litmus test that would determine whether Sierra Leone has actually attained lasting peace and acceptable democracy.

This very important historical event, the conduct of vital elections, puts the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists in a very challenging position whereby SLAJ will not only be expected to take part in ensuring that the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner, but also to inform members of the public, including the international community about the manner in which the elections themselves are conducted.
At the moment, various international organisations look up to SLAJ as an objective and independent civil society organisation which should be able to tell the truth after the elections, as it must be emphasized that SLAJ is at liberty to tell the world that the elections were either properly conducted or were flawed.

In the event that the elections are properly conducted, as journalists, we should be bold enough to inform all and sundry that the outcome of such elections should be accepted.

But in the event that it becomes clear that the elections are manipulated to the disadvantage of the populace, SLAJ will also not hesitate to tell the world that the elections are flawed.

But also important, the executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists expects it membership to perform their duties professionally in an effort to promote the culture of objectivity and fair play.
The point must be emphasized that a journalist who does not cross check his stories does not qualify as a journalist worthy of respect as the cross checking of facts is one of the fundamental tenets of professional journalism.

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists is always willing and prepared to stand for the rights of journalists and to protect practicing journalists operating within Sierra Leone, but also it is expected that a journalist should not abandon those aspects that are consistent with the promotion of quality journalism.
It must be stated to a large extent, the standard of journalism in Sierra Leone has improved considerably even if sometimes under very difficult circumstances as Sierra Leone can now boast of close to thirty newspapers and independent radio stations in Freetown and in almost every district.

As we conclude, the point must be made very clearly that the death of Harry Yansaneh continues to create a very serious problem within Sierra Leone itself just as the repeal of the obnoxious clauses in the 1965 Public Order Act must also be seen as a very urgent priority.

As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, the executive of SLAJ, we assure our membership about the robustness of the executive of the SLAJ to protect journalists and the profession itself.