Following the recent incursions (and subsequent retreat) of LURD rebels into Monrovia, capital of Liberia, residents of the Duala and New Kru Town suburbs have been particularly subjected to a reign of terror alleged to be perpetrated mainly by government forces.

Journalists and human rights activists in Monrovia have been the worst victims of what appears to be the targeted and systematic looting, arson and rape of residents caught up in the raging conflict.

Independent journalist Lyndon Ponnie, narrowly escaped death when armed men attacked his home on Thursday, June 12 and robbed him of every possession. He now passes the night at his office in central Monrovia. The whereabouts of his family are not known. Ponnie, who is the former editor of The Concord Times newspaper, has been a constant victim of harassment and death threats for allegedly embarking on a campaign to discredit the government of President Charles Taylor. It will be recalled that in 1999, The Concord Times, relying on the Auditor General’s annual report, published a series of articles that pointed to corruption in government. The paper was banned by Taylor’s government in 2000.

Two investigative reporters of the independent The News newspaper, Bobby Tapson and Bill Jarkloh, as well as Joe Watson of the state-owned Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), were abducted on Thursday June 12 (and released almost one week later) by the LURD rebels.

Stanley McGill, another reporter with The News was earlier on Thursday, June 5, 2003, assaulted by armed men who brutalized him and confiscated his laptop computer. A week before, on Tuesday May 27, 2003, he was attacked by three armed men wearing uniforms of the Presidential elite guard, the Anti Terrorist

Unit (ATU) who robbed him of personal effects, and left with a “promise” to “get back”. He is currently in hiding. The homes of journalists Philip Moore (editor-in-chief of the Independent newspaper) Charles Asumana (the Inquirer) and Kaba Williams have been looted and set ablaze.

More than 25 journalists have been displaced by the fighting in Monrovia. Several others are unable to locate family members, who have, themselves, been victims of the reprisals. The mother of Patrick Wolokpor, a reporter with the independent Inquirer newspaper was shot and killed by elements of the ATU when she protested the killing of her dog by the soldiers.

Three nieces of Ishmael P Campbell, human rights advocate and Vice President of the Liberia Bar Association, were assaulted and sexually abused. His home was looted, and he is reported to be in hiding.

The Media Foundation is deeply concerned about the safety of journalists and other media workers in Liberia. We urge the government and all fighting forces to guarantee and protect the lives and rights of journalists and innocent civilians, particularly women and children, caught up in the fighting.

The government of Liberia has shut down six amateur FM radio stations operating in Bong County, central Liberia, and Margibi County, some 40 kilometres east of the capital, Monrovia. The stations affected include: Y-FM, Bright FM, Jet 89.9, The Voice of Kakata, and the Voice of YMCA.

According to Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Liberia sources, no specific charge has been preferred against them. However, the Director of National Communication Bureau at the Ministry of Information, Emmanuel D.S. Todo alleged that, “the motives and scope of operations of these stations were not clear to the government.”

The Association of Amateur Radio Stations (AARS) insists, however, that the affected stations were all registered with the government. The AARS has appealed to the government to allow the stations to resume operation because of the important community service function they perform in serving the news and information needs of their listeners.

Stanley McGill, a journalist working with the independent The News newspaper was on Tuesday May 27, 2003, attacked by three armed men wearing uniforms of the Presidential elite guard, the Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU).

McGill had just returned from work at about 22:45 GMT when his assailants, who had apparently been trailing him, accosted him at gunpoint, robbed him of personal effects, and left with a “promise” to “get back”. This is the second attack on journalist Stanley McGill by men wearing state security uniforms. In April 2002, armed men suspected to belong to the ATU attacked McGill, assaulted him, and made away with his transistor radio and cellular phone.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is worried about the blatant abuse, at the least pretext, of the freedom of expression rights of Liberians; and in particular, the persistent threats and attacks on journalists and the private media in the country. On December 14, 2002, five ATU men attacked journalist Throble Suah of The Inquirer newspaper and tortured him until he went unconscious. His tormentors accused him of publishing stories that sought to embarrass the government. Mr Suah is still hospitalised in Accra, Ghana, and is undergoing physiotherapy for “sensory and motor dysfunctions.”

In April 2003, the government imposed a ban on public preaching. A statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, Charles Mataley, claimed that the measure was “for the sake of public safety.” Again, only a week ago, six FM radio stations were shut down because according to the Director of National Communication, Emmanuel Todo, their “motives and scope of operations …were not clear to the government.”

The MFWA calls on the government of President Charles Taylor to appreciate the democratic rights of all persons in Liberia to the fundamental freedoms of thought and expression and to guarantee the security of journalists in their exercise of those rights.