Liberia:
Four jailed journalists face espionage charges Monday
March 23, 2001
His Excellency Charles G. Taylor
President of the Republic of Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia
VIA FAX: 231-225-217
Your Excellency,
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the forthcoming trial of four Liberian journalists on trumped-up charges of espionage. In advance of the opening trial hearing, scheduled for Monday, March 26 in Monrovia, we call for their immediate and unconditional release.
On February 21, police raided the offices of the independent Monrovia daily The News and arrested reporter Bobby Tapson, managing editor Joseph Bartuah, editor in chief Abdullah Dukuly, and news editor Jerome Dalieh. The arrests were prompted by a February 21 article by Tapson that criticized Liberian government spending.
The article reported that the government had recently spent US$50,000 on helicopter repairs and another US$23,000 on Christmas cards and souvenirs. Tapson questioned the rationale for such expenditure at a time when Liberia's civil servants have not been paid for months.
In court documents quoted in local media, state prosecutors claimed the article was intended to "reveal national defense information to a foreign power for the purpose of injuring Liberia...in the event of a military and diplomatic confrontation."
After their arrest, the four journalists were denied bail on the grounds that espionage is a non-bailable offense under Liberian law. Due to various postponements and other legal hitches, they have been in jail continuously since their February 21 arrest.
On March 2, the state moved to transfer the case from the City Court to Criminal Court A, a higher court. The move voided all previous City Court proceedings in the case, meaning that defense lawyers must file yet another motion for bail. The case is scheduled to go to trial on March 26.
This is not the first time Liberian authorities have wielded espionage charges against journalists who dare to criticize their shortcomings. In August 2000, a four-member news team from Britain's Channel Four television network were arrested by Monrovia police and charged with espionage when they tried to film a documentary about your country. Although the Channel Four team had obtained permission from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to conduct interviews, take photographs and make video recordings, their equipment and videotapes were seized from their hotel rooms and the journalists were held for one week before being freed. They too were initially denied bail and spent more than a week in jail under appalling conditions.
As a non-partisan organization dedicated to the defense of press freedom worldwide, CPJ is gravely disturbed by the unjust treatment of the four News journalists. We view their continued unlawful detention as part of a sustained campaign aimed at silencing all critical voices in Liberia.
CPJ urges you to use the powers of your office to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Bobby Tapson, Joseph Bartuah, Abdullah Dukuly, and Jerome Dalieh. We await your comments on this extremely important matter.
Sincerely,
Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director
His Excellency Charles G. Taylor
President of the Republic of Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia
VIA FAX: 231-225-217