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To: IFEX Autolist (other news of interest)
From: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), [email protected]

Media release
19 June 2003

IFJ Calls for Safety Guarantees As Journalists Face Terror Threat in Liberia

Journalists are facing a reign of terror in Liberia says the International
Federation of Journalists following recent rebel incursions into the capital
Monrovia.

Following the retreat by rebel forces of the Liberians United for
Reconciliation and Democracy group terror has descended on the city, with
attacks involving government forces. The IFJ says more than 25 journalists
have been displaced by the fighting.

Journalist Lyndon Ponnie narrowly escaped death when armed men attacked his
home on 12 June 2003 and robbed him of all possessions. He is now forced to
spend nights at his office in central Monrovia. The whereabouts of his
family are unknown. Ponnie is former editor of The Concord Times newspaper
and has suffered harassment and death threats for reporting critical of the
government of President Charles Taylor. In 1999 he published a series of
articles alleging corruption in the government. In 2000 the paper was
banned.

Two investigative reporters of the independent newspaper The News, Bobby
Tapson and Bill Jarkloh, as well as Joe Watson of the state-owned Liberia
Broadcasting System, were abducted on 12 June by LURD rebels. They were
released almost one week later.

On 5 June, Stanley McGill, another reporter with The News, is in hiding
after being beaten up by armed men who confiscated his laptop. On 27 May he
was attacked by three men wearing uniforms of the presidential elite guard,
the Anti Terrorist Unit. The homes of journalists Philip Moore,
editor-in-chief of Independent newspaper, Charles Asumana, of Inquirer
newspaper, and Kaba Williams have been looted and set ablaze.

"This is a catalogue of hate and terror that is intolerable," said Aidan
White, IFJ General Secretary. "The Liberian government has ratified the
Geneva Conventions and must protect the rights of journalists and innocent
civilians caught in the fighting." Since July 2002, the Media Foundation for
West Africa claims there have been 135 cases of press-freedom and human
rights violations by the government in Liberia.

Earlier this month, the government shut down six amateur FM radio stations.
The National Communication Bureau said that the motives and scope of
operations of these stations were not clear to the government.

Further information: + 32 2 235 22 00
The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries

**The information contained in this autolist item is the sole responsibility
of IFJ**