For Di People
Encyclopedia
For Di People is a Sierra Leone
an Krio-language newspaper based in Freetown
, Sierra Leone
. It was founded in 1983 by Paul Kamara
, who has served as its editor more or less continually since that date. Kamara and other staff have been threatened and imprisoned numerous times in the newspaper's history, most notably in a high-profile seditious libel
case following a suggestion that President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
's 1968 conviction for fraud made him constitutionally ineligible for high office.
Kamara was arrested, equipment was confiscated from the newspaper offices, including Kamara's car, and the newspaper was shut down for six months.On 24 July 2005, Kamara's replacement as editor, Harry Yansaneh, died from a beating reportedly ordered by a member of parliament. BBC News
described the case as sparking "wide public interest with pleas from media rights groups worldwide demanding his release". The Committee to Protect Journalists
issued an appeal on Kamara's behalf, as did Reporters Without Borders
.
On 30 November 2005, Kamara won an appeal against his conviction and was freed. After his release, he told reporters, "imprisonment has not broken my spirit to publish the truth or stand for the people's right to know".
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
an Krio-language newspaper based in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. It was founded in 1983 by Paul Kamara
Paul Kamara
Paul Kamara is a Sierra Leonean journalist, football manager, and cabinet minister.-Background:Kamara was born on 12 August 1956 in Kambia District, Sierra Leone. He is Catholic and a former priest, and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sierra Leone...
, who has served as its editor more or less continually since that date. Kamara and other staff have been threatened and imprisoned numerous times in the newspaper's history, most notably in a high-profile seditious libel
Seditious libel
Seditious libel was a criminal offence under English common law. Sedition is the offence of speaking seditious words with seditious intent: if the statement is in writing or some other permanent form it is seditious libel...
case following a suggestion that President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992...
's 1968 conviction for fraud made him constitutionally ineligible for high office.
Kamara was arrested, equipment was confiscated from the newspaper offices, including Kamara's car, and the newspaper was shut down for six months.On 24 July 2005, Kamara's replacement as editor, Harry Yansaneh, died from a beating reportedly ordered by a member of parliament. BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
described the case as sparking "wide public interest with pleas from media rights groups worldwide demanding his release". The Committee to Protect Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
issued an appeal on Kamara's behalf, as did Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
.
On 30 November 2005, Kamara won an appeal against his conviction and was freed. After his release, he told reporters, "imprisonment has not broken my spirit to publish the truth or stand for the people's right to know".