Media Commission empowered to discipline defaulters
The Media Code of Practice (MCP) that incorporates the Media Code of Conduct on electoral reporting prepared by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalist (SLAJ) and UNIOSIL now empowers the Independent Media Commission (IMC), hitherto considered a toothless bulldog, to suspend or cancel, with immediate effect, the registration of any medium that breaches the code, Awoko and The News report today. IMC’s chairperson, Mrs. Bernadette Cole, underscored at the launching ceremony of the MCP at the Commission’s Siaka Stevens Street offices on Wednesday 20 June 2007 that media practitioners should take ownership of the MCP and use it as a guide book for self regulation and responsible journalism revealing that the code was the product of five media workshops held between 2001 and 2005 through the collaboration between IMC, SLAJ, Panos-Institute of West Africa and the Ministry of Information. Information Minister, Septimus Kaikai who launched the code, pointed out that government had no intention of muzzling the press as the papers quote him as emphasizing, that “government wants a free but 90% responsible press for the country to develop.”
Special Court convicts three key AFRC leaders
After marathon court proceedings that lasted for more than two years the Special Court for Sierra Leone has finally handed verdict to three key figures of the former rebel Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). In her two hour verdict, Ugandan-born Justice Julia Sebutinde yesterday, found Alex Tamba Brima (Gullit), Brima (Bazzy) Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu (55) guilty on 11 out of the 14 count charges. The Special Court also found the three accused not guilty on count 11 which deals with other inhuman acts and no conviction was entered for counts 7 and 8 that deals with sexual slavery and other inhuman acts under sexual violence. The three will have to wait until 16 July 2007 when their sentences will be handed down, Awoko, Independent Observer and Concord Times report. The three AFRC convicts according to Lead Prosecutor Stephen Rapp are likely to serve their jail term either in Austria or Sweden.
Journalists school on development reporting
Over thirty journalists from the print and electronic media are undergoing media training at the Presidential Lounge, National Stadium, to strengthen their capacity in ensuring accurate and creative reporting on development policies and implementation in Sierra Leone. The training programme which is a joint collaborative effort of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the National Communication Strategy(NCS) and Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), in collaboration with the United Nations Communications Group (UNCG) is geared towards empowering the participants by creating a positive image of Sierra Leone abroad through accurate and factual reports on development activities. According to Concord Times and New Vision quoting the National Consultant of NCS Kalilu Tutangi, the training will help to broaden the knowledge of participants and enable them to report objectively on development issues. A government website to disseminate factual information on government development programmes to the outside world was launched during the five day workshop by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Professor Septimus Kai Kai.
NEC receives Le10 million boost from National Petroleum
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has received a boost of ten million Leones from the National Petroleum (NP) to strengthen the Commission’s capacity in ensuring free, fair and transparent elections. The Director of NP Tunde Cole disclosed that the gesture is to demonstrate to the Sierra Leonean public that they are not only focus on petroleum business but they also have a stake in the election process. “It is the responsibility of the private sector to develop the public sector” and this is exactly what we have done, by way of our contribution to the election basket to enhance the activities of NEC. NEC Head of Outreach, Ms. Miatta French, said the donation is the first ever they have received from the private sector and admonish others to emulate NP as they are determined to conduct a transparent election and therefore need the cooperation of all stakeholders, Concord Times reports.
5000 scouts to complement police for elections
To ensure a smooth electioneering process devoid of violence the Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission, Dr. Christian Thorpe, has requested the assistance of the Sierra Leone Scouts Association for additional manpower to support the Sierra Leone Police. In a letter to the Chief Commissioner of Scouts the NEC Chief requested for about five thousand scouts to complement the efforts of the police in controlling crowd nationwide during the elections of 11 August 2007. The report stressed that the Chief Commissioner of the Scouts Association had mandated that only registered able-bodied scouts above 18 years with valid ID cards would be deployed for the exercise. The report in The Spark adds that a committee to liaise with NEC had been formed. “Scouts who will be trained for the exercise, will be deployed in the areas where he/she is registered,” the paper quotes the Scouts Commissioner, Omo Lisk.
Aftermath of helicopter crash: Minister resigns
Minister of Transport and Communications and former National Secretary General of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party, Dr. Prince Harding, has resigned from the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government, amidst call from the public for him to take full responsibility for the helicopter crash in Lungi that killed Togolese officials. According to a letter dated 18 June 2007 addressed to President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, Dr Harding stated that he has decided to take such as unprecedented step to save his integrity, that of his family and the SLPP government. According to The News and Awoko, the former Minister also disclosed that his resignation would give him the opportunity to successfully defend himself of any charge that may be made against him as a result of the helicopter crash of 3 June, pointing out that for twelve years he had diligently served his country both as a Minister and a devoted member of the SLPP party.
(Compiled by Media Liaison Unit, PIO/UNIOSIL)
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