Liberia: US$5 million lawsuit filed against newspaper

The "Chronicle" newspaper has been brought before the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court in the capital, Monrovia, in an action for "damages for injury to reputation". Philip Keikpo, former business manager of exiled former president Charles Taylor, is claiming US$5 million for a front page lead story entitled, "How Taylor Diverted Millions", published in the 23 January 2004 edition of the "Chronicle".

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - LIBERIA

6 February 2004

US$5 million lawsuit filed against newspaper

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

**MISA and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), as a joint activity,
will henceforth issue alerts, statements and appeals to highlight media
freedom and wider human rights violations in West Africa. See www.misa.org
and www.mediafoundationwa.org for more information**

(MISA/IFEX) - The following is a joint MISA-MFWA alert:

The "Chronicle" newspaper has been brought before the Sixth Judicial Circuit
Court in the capital, Monrovia, in an action for "damages for injury to
reputation".

Philip Keikpo, former business manager of exiled former president Charles
Taylor, is claiming US$5 million for a front page lead story entitled, "How
Taylor Diverted Millions", published in the 23 January 2004 edition of the
"Chronicle".

According to MFWA sources in Liberia, the paper reported that Keikpo is a
close associate of former president Taylor, and has information on some of
Taylor's secret bank accounts abroad. The story also alleged that Keikpo was
the paymaster of the ruthless Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in
Sierra Leone. Keikpo has denied the allegations.

The "Chronicle" is owned by Philibert Browne, who was assistant defence
minister for public affairs in Taylor's government.

The lawsuit against the "Chronicle" is the second to be filed against a
newspaper in Liberia within one week. On 21 January, the Monrovia
Magisterial Court, presided by Judge Joseph Fayiah, ordered the arrest and
detention of three journalists from the weekly newspaper "The Telegraph"
(see IFEX alert of 5 February 2004). Managing editor Adolphus Karnuah,
editor Philip Moore and reporter Robert Kpardeh were charged with "criminal
malevolence".

The paper was brought to court by Lorsey Kendor, minister-designate of the
Ministry of National Security, who claimed that a story published in the
paper's 21 January edition was false. The story, quoting Philip Massaquoi,
special assistant to the minister-designate, accused Kendor of embezzling
US$15,000 in public funds.

MISA and the MFWA are concerned about the persistence of debilitating damage
claims and other attacks on Liberia's already disabled media institutions.
Taylor's 14-year dictatorship effectively destroyed the social, economic and
institutional infrastructure of the country and media. Every effort and
support must now be deployed towards rehabilitating and strengthening the
capacity of the media to effectively play their watchdog role in this
critical transitional period. MISA and the MFWA urge members of interim
President Gyude Bryant's government, the judiciary and all public office
holders to encourage a greater tolerance and support of media and to desist
from any acts that could potentially undermine the growth of a free and
vibrant media in Liberia.

For further information, contact Zoe Titus, Program Coordinator, Media
Freedom Monitoring, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street, Mailing
Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232 975, fax:
+264 61 248 016, e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.misa.org,
or Kwame Karikari, Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa, P.
O. Box LG 730, Legon, Ghana, tel: +233 21 24 24 70, fax: +233 21 22 10 84,
e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.mediafoundationwa.org

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of MISA.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MISA.
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