Freetown, 08 July-(ANA)-The Sierra Leone Association of Journalist (SLAJ) has unanimously agreed 13th of July, 2009 as 'a News Black out Day' in protest at the country’s libel law.
In a statement, the SLAJ said: “These actions are in protest at the failure by the Supreme Court to give a ruling in our matter seeking a repeal of the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law from the Public Order Act of 1965.”
SLAJ said “This Law does not only inhibit freedom of the press but also implicates such people like newspaper vendors who have nothing whatsoever to do with the editorial decision of a newspaper.”
Under the 1965 Public Order Act, a journalist may serve a longer jail term for merely writing an untrue story about any individual but SLAJ President Umaru Fofanah who also doubles as the BBC correspondent for Sierra Leone stresses the law be removed from the country law books.
The group has also resolved that members will embark on a peaceful protest along the streets of the capital Freetown. (ANA)
Amnesty/Report