Liberian 'spy' journalists jailed
2001-02-22 17:51
Monrovia, Liberia - Authorities have jailed four journalists with an independent newspaper seen as critical of President Charles Taylor, accusing them of espionage.
The men, three top editors and a senior reporter from The News, were arrested late on Wednesday, a few hours after the newspaper published a report saying the government was spending $50 000 on helicopter parts - noting that civil servants had not been paid in more than four months.
The News report, quoting what it called "authentic documents", gave few details, though the government has at least three helicopters used for military operations.
While the report did not mention military activity, the writ of
arrest said "the intent of the paper was to reveal national defence
information to foreign powers", and accused the men of espionage.
A government statement later linked the report to the stand-off between Liberia and neighbouring Guinea. The two nations have seen their relations disintegrate over the past couple of years and have traded accusations over backing cross-border raids that have turned their frontier area into a combat zone.
The Press Union of Liberia, the umbrella organisation for Liberian journalists, issued a statement saying it would be closely watching for the proceedings.
The four arrested men are editor-in-chief Abdulai Dukuly, managing editor Joseph Bartuah, news editor Jerome Dalieh and Bobby Tapson, a senior reporter. Their newspaper is seen in government circles as critical of Taylor.
Taylor, a powerful warlord in Liberia's 1989-1996 civil war, is highly sensitive to criticism and has long had strained relations
with journalists. In August, his government arrested a British
television crew and accused its members of spying. The journalists
were released after heavy international pressure. - Sapa-AP
- SAPA