Sierra Leone: SLAJ intensifies campaign to repeal criminal laws
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has announced that it would on July 13, 2009 march through the streets of Freetown, as part of its long-sustained pressure to get the country’s Supreme Court to give a ruling on the case it filed in February 2008 challenging the constitutionality of provisions of the Public Order Act of 1960.
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has announced that it would on July 13, 2009 march through the streets of Freetown, as part of its long-sustained pressure to get the country’s Supreme Court to give a ruling on the case it filed in February 2008 challenging the constitutionality of provisions of the Public Order Act of 1960.
According to SLAJ, the Public Order Act contains criminal and seditious provisions that have been used to send a number of Sierra Leonean journalists to prison.
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that this latest move was an outcome of SLAJ’s general assembly on June 20 that reviewed the June 13 news blackout that the Association imposed on the country’s judiciary.
Even though the Supreme Court should have given its verdict within three months after the end of the court case, as required by the Constitution, it has failed to do so.
SLAJ’s action has been necessitated by the failure of the blackout to yield the desired impact. To make it more effective, the boycott on the judiciary remains in force until June 27.
Prof. Kwame Karikari
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233 21 24 24 70
Fax : 233 21 221084
Website : www.mediafound.org
Email: [email][email protected]