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The Guild of Newspaper Editors in Sierra Leone has issued a strong condemnation of a violent assault on Prince Christopher Kamara, Editor of the Open Space Newspaper, reportedly carried out by staff members of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).
According to the release, Kamara had visited the SLBC premises to investigate reports of a staff strike when he was recognized by certain individuals as the author of a critical article. Subsequently, he was viciously attacked by more than a dozen individuals, resulting in a head injury before being forcibly ejected from the compound.
The Guild described the incident as a flagrant violation of journalistic freedom and a blatant infringement of Kamara’s constitutional and legal rights. They emphasized that such an assault sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in Sierra Leone.
The Guild urged the leadership of SLBC to promptly initiate a comprehensive and impartial investigation and ensure that all those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
Chairman of the Guild, Thomas Josephus Dixon, expressed, “The media, which is accustomed to scrutinizing and offering opinions on others, must exhibit greater tolerance when facing scrutiny itself. Media gangsterism is unacceptable. We are trained to wield our pens and microphones with intelligence. Let us reject media gangsterism.”
In conclusion, the Guild called upon all media institutions to uphold the principles of the rule of law, professionalism, and tolerance, even in the face of criticism. They stood in solidarity with Mr. Kamara and reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights, dignity, and safety of all media professionals in Sierra Leone.
