CPJ-A journalist in Sierra Leone has been
imprisoned after criticizing President Ernest Bai Koroma's handling of
the Ebola outbreak, according to news reports and local journalists.
David Tam Baryoh was arrested on Monday.
Baryoh, host of the popular
weekly "Monologue" radio program aired on the independent Citizen FM,
was arrested in his office by police who did not have a warrant,
according to news reports
and local journalists. Baryoh was initially detained overnight at the
Police Criminal Investigation headquarters in the capital, Freetown,
where he met briefly with his lawyer, local journalists told CPJ. He was
not allowed to see his wife.
Local journalists said they believed Baryoh's arrest to be in connection with the November 1 "Monologue" show, which was taken off the air during its live broadcast, Kelvin Lewis, president of Sierra Leone's Association of Journalists, told CPJ. In that show, Baryoh interviewed an opposition party spokesman who criticized Koroma and his government's handling of the Ebola outbreak, local journalists said. Baryoh and the party spokesman also criticized Koroma's intention to run for a third term in office, according to news reports. During the program, Baryoh also interviewed Vice-President Samuel Sam-Sumana, whose relationship with Koroma has soured, according to local press reports.
Local journalists said they believed Baryoh's arrest to be in connection with the November 1 "Monologue" show, which was taken off the air during its live broadcast, Kelvin Lewis, president of Sierra Leone's Association of Journalists, told CPJ. In that show, Baryoh interviewed an opposition party spokesman who criticized Koroma and his government's handling of the Ebola outbreak, local journalists said. Baryoh and the party spokesman also criticized Koroma's intention to run for a third term in office, according to news reports. During the program, Baryoh also interviewed Vice-President Samuel Sam-Sumana, whose relationship with Koroma has soured, according to local press reports.
