EXPOSED!: EXPOSED!!: EXPOSED!! EXPPOSED!!!! Dont kill Pipul Pikin. He is just a good journalist. BIG BLUNDER BY ATTORNEY-GENERAL & MINISTER OF JUSTICE. đđđđđ Human Rights organisation DISMISSES governmentâs press release on arrest and dentention of Tam-Baryoh as ABSOLUTELY UNFOUNDED, UNFORTUNATE, MISCHIEVOUS, TOTALLY FALSE , and falls short of inferring, if any, the specific elements of the crime or offences as stipulated under statute or emergency regulations/measures for the arrest and detention. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sierra Leone Human Rights group calls on United Nations to investigate allegations of unlawful arrest, torture and detention of journalist David Tam-Bayoh after questioning government Ebola response Freetown, 8 November, 2014, an independent human rights group, Rightsway International has made an unprecedented appeal to the international community including the United Nations, Africa Union, ECOWAS, Commonwealth, European Union and other human rights organisations to investigate allegations of unlawful arrest, torture and detention of journalist David Tam-Bayoh after questioning government Ebola response. David Tam Baryoh, a high-profile radio journalist whose reports have often exposed alleged corrupt government officials, was arrested on November 3, 2014, and being detained at the maximum-security Pademba Road prison in the capital Freetown. His popular weekly programme, Monologue, was taken off air mid-show as he interviewed an opposition party spokesman who criticised the presidentâs alleged intentions to run for a third term. Since his arrest, Tam-Bayoh has been denied access to his wife and family, his lawyers were allegedly constrained to see him. His health is deteriorating, as a result of governmentâs alleged delay in allowing access by his doctor for a medical examination who later confirmed David Tam Baryoh was in a state of âhypertensive emergencyâ. Elvis Kamara, Director for RightsWay International, said: âThe decision to arrest and detain David Tam-Baryoh sends a chilling message of censorship and dictatorship. It is essential that the freedom of the press is upheld, if Sierra Leone is to succeed in the fight to eradicate Ebola. There were no accessible emergency media regulations, otherwise rules preventing journalists from questioning government Ebola response, to warrant such an arrest. There can be no reasoning â no justification â for the use of emergency powers to undermine press freedom. The people of Sierra Leone now look to the international community, to be resolute and committed to condemn the excesses of the governmentââ. RightsWay is extremely disappointed by the recent Governmentâs press release issued on November 7, 2014, regarding the arrest and detention of Tam Baryoh, stating that: ââ the Government takes exception to any one preaching tribalism, hatredness and promoting divisions in the NationâŠââ. Rightsway dismisses the governmentâs press release as absolutely unfounded, unfortunate, mischievous, totally false, and falls short of inferring, if any, the specific elements of the crime or offences as stipulated under statute or emergency regulations/measures for the arrest and detention. This is another alleged falsehood which has been peddled with alacrity by the government and most regrettably by senior figures and pro-government media struggling to justify the unjustified alleged unlawful arrest of the journalist. There were no evidence to suggest that Tam Baryoh was inciting tribalism, hatredness and promoting divisions during his radio program. The journalist was merely doing his job. According to information received by RightsWay, President Koromaâs proclamation of the Public State of Emergency to eradicate Ebola is allegedly being abused. Regrettably, authorities are allegedly using Emergency Powers to intimidate journalists and supress dissent. This is can be a deliberate ploy to undermine press freedom for political gains. The prolonged and arbitrary detention of Tam-Baryoh is causing more and more concern across Sierra Leone. It is only exacerbating the tensions in the country amid fears of Ebola. Journalists and human rights defenders have also reported threats, attacks and intimidation. Rightsway warns that if the arrest of Tam-Baryoh is not immediately investigated, this could lead to another unrest in the country. Sierra Leone is at a crossroads of war and peace, between disorder and rule of law, between a divided Sierra Leone and united Sierra Leone; between fear and hope. Not just âtalkingâ, the government must genuinely show that its remains committed to upholding the fundamental human rights of all citizens, and recognises the tremendous role that the media is playing and continues to play in a fragile democracy and in the fight to eradicate Ebola, without imposing unlawful exceptions or limitations. RightsWay notes the danger to liberty in the concentration of power in the hands of the President is inherent in Section 29 of the 1991 Constitution granting to the executive enormous public emergency powers, which is now allegedly being abused to curtail fundamental rights and freedoms. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC, 2004) commented on executive abuse of the public emergency powers as a contributing factor in the rise of political intolerance and repression in the country. Rightsway calls on the Sierra Leonean authorities to act on the opinions of the people, in the interest of justice and immediately release Dr. David Tam Baryoh detained for exercising his legitimate right for questioning government Ebola response. The arrest and detention is a serious distraction and diversion from efforts to eradicate Ebola. Government must ensure that due process was followed even in a state of emergency, in accordance with international standards. RightsWay calls on the Sierra Leone Independent Media Commission (IMC), Human Rights Commission (HRC), journalists, civil society and lawyers to ask for explanations from the Government. RightsWay maintains that it is essential for groups to vigorously condemn attacks against journalists and to act with due diligence and swiftness to establish an effective regulatory framework on media law and ethics, ensuring that the rights of others are not violated. RightsWay urges the government to allowed journalists and activists to pursue their work and speak up without fear for their safety. Meanwhile, the people of Sierra Leone desperately needs international support as we continue working to tackle the ever-increasing challenge to eradicate Ebola. END NOTE: RightsWay International is a campaigning organisation with a group of high profile lawyers, journalists, activists and artists working in Sierra Leone and across the world. We protect civil liberties, promote human rights and justice for everyone, in the RightsWay. All media inquiries to: Email: rightsway.sl @gmail
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 09:47:16 +0000