Sierra Leone News: Committee Presents Findings over Beating of Female Journalists
Stephen V. Lansana
The Investigative committee constituted by the government to look into the alleged beating of two female Journalists , Francess Bernard and Esther Marie Samura by a member of the Joint Presidential Guard Force (JPGF) has on Thursday October 17, 2019, presented it findings and 13 recommendations.
Presenting the recommendations at the regular government press conference at Yiouyi Building in Freetown, the chairperson of the Committee, Lawyer Doris Sunsiama, said, “The alleged perpetrator who was positively identified during the incidents should be removed from JPGF with immediate effect and appropriate disciplinary action be taken against him.”
The committee also recommends that a public apology should be made for the unprofessional conduct by certain personnel of JPGF, and the State should facilitate other medical attention needed by the female journalists and other victims which they identified during their investigation.
The Committee which investigated the alleged beating of the female journalists working for the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) was constituted by the Government, through the Ministry of Information and Communications.
The Committee comprises two representatives from the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU), Sierra Leone Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC), Center for Accountability and Rule of Law — Sierra Leone (CARL-SL), Human Rights Commission Sierra Leone (HRCSL), JPGF and Sport Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL).
The government commitment in investigating the matter came shortly after Journalism fraternities: Sport Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL), Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), and Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), among others condemned the attack on female journalists.
It could be recalled that two female sport journalists were allegedly severely beaten up by presidential bodyguards during the FIFA World Cup 2022 preliminary return-leg match between Leone Stars and Lone Star of Liberia at the National Stadium on Sunday September 8, 2019. The two female sports journalists were reportedly in the commentary booth at the far end of the presidential stand doing their work when the said bodyguards ordered them and their colleagues to vacate the booth “as they posed a security threat to the President”.
Lawyer Sunsiama said that their mandate of the Committee was to investigate the allegation levied against the security personnel attached to the JPGF. She said that the committee interviewed 18 people, adding that as part of their effective work, they developed a methodology. She said that during the course of their investigation, they admonished themselves that they should ensure that they give equal opportunity to every party to explain their own side of the story.
She said that the committee spoke to 18 people comprising the victims, the alleged perpetrators and other persons of interest. “As part of the committee’s work, we developed a methodology. The methodology includes: individual testimonies from all the parties involved including other persons of interest; we visited the crime scene and collected physical and electronics evidence,” She added. “After we finished with the witnesses, as committee members, we deliberated based on the testimonies and we put our reports together.”
She said that this committee report captures everything from the alleged perpetrator, the victims and other persons who expressed interest to testify. She added that the report also proffers findings and recommendations. “I want to assure you that this report is a very comprehensive report and it took into account all what we heard as a committee during our investigation.”
The Minister of Information and Communication, Mohamed Rahman Swaray commended the members of the committee for their investigation. “Government is going to study this report, but let me assure you that the President is committed to media freedom and to the rights of every Sierra Leonean,” he said. “Government will study this report and take the recommendations in good fate. Those recommendations that are imperative, we will duly consider them based on their merits, and I can guarantee you that before long, government will issue a statement regarding its positive.”
He assured that the effort of the Committee members would not go in vain, adding that they acted promptly when the incident happened because “this is a talk and do government”.
