In his campaign during the 2018 Elections, President Bio’s party, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), made nine commitments to promoting press freedom. These promises were repeated during the President’s speech to the 5th Parliament. Key among such commitments is the repeal of the criminal and seditious libel law of the Public Order Act of 1965.
On Wednesday 27 June 2018, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalist in partnership with Pen Sierra Leone called on the government to fulfil its commitment as outlined in the manifesto.
Kelvin Lewis, President of SLAJ underscored the adverse affect the criminal libel law poses on the work of journalists and ordinary citizens and therefore urged the government of Sierra Leone to respect its commitment to press freedom. Lewis pointed out that SLAJ is not averse to the civil law stating journalists are not criminals and therefore a civil action should be taken against a journalist who contravenes the law.
Lewis spoke on the efforts made so far in the process of repealing the criminal libel law and strengthening of the Independent Media Commission (IMC).
Lewis explained that SLAJ had some lengthy consultations on the need for repeal of the law with support from the offices of the former Ministers of Justice and Information, the Justice Sector Coordinating Office (JSCO), the British High Commission, the US Embassy, the Irish Embassy and involving all stakeholders from the Sierra Leone Police, CSOs to the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) and the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA).
“A lot has been done over the years, individually and collectively. The previous government, worked towards the bill. It even went to the point where we hoped it was going to be passed in Parliament but unfortunately it didn’t pass. We now have the new government who is commitment to the repeal of the law and we are therefore counting on the government to fulfil its commitment,” he added.
Francis Sowa, Chair, Media Reform and Coordinating Group (MRCG) said that repealing the law is a matter of right pointing out that the SLPP government must manifest what is in their new direction manifesto.
Sowa also spoke on the several efforts by SLAJ and other defenders of press freedom towards improving the work of journalists to ensure that professionalism is upheld.
As other representatives pointed out how the law limits freedom of expression and how it impedes professional journalism, Sheku Lexmond Koroma, Deputy Secretary General, SLPP also supported repealing the law.
SV/27/6/18
By Sylvia Villa
Thursday June 28, 2018.
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