The World Movement for Democracy would like to express its grave concern upon the conviction of Paul Kamara, editor of the Sierra Leone paper For Di People. On October 5th, Mr. Kamara received a four year prison sentence for criminally libeling Sierra Leone President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

Paul Kamara is a well known democracy advocate in Sierra Leone. Winner of the 2000 World Press Review's International Editor of the Year Award and the 1997 International Press Directory's Freedom of the Press Award, he was sentenced under the Public Orders Act of 1965, which allows for the jailing of journalists, printers and vendors for libel.

Mr. Kamara's conviction stems from articles he wrote in October 2003 regarding a 1967 Commision of Inquiry into fraud allegations at the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board, an organization which Ahmad Kabbah, finance minister at that time, oversaw.

In 2002, Mr. Kamara was also convicted of criminal libel and served a six month prison for defaming a judge. Both sentences have received strong criticism from international and local media groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists.

The manager of the newspaper, Brima Sesay, was also sentenced to six months in prison and fined Le10,000 (US $4), although after paying his fine his sentence was suspended. The printing press owner and the administrator were acquitted. The judge in the case also recommended to the Independent Media Commission that the newspaper be shut down for a period of six months.

Suggested Action:

To express your concern for Paul Kamara and the infringement on the freedom of press in Sierra Leone please write to President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah or the Embassy of Sierra Leone in your country.

His Excellency Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Office of the President
State House
15 Siaska Steven Street
Freetown
info@statehouse-sl.org
Fax: +232 22 230565

For More Information Please Refer to the Following Articles:

• A press release by Reporters Without Borders regarding Paul Kamara's sentence
• A letter by the Committee to Protect Journalists to President Kabbah
• An article in AllAfrica.com about Paul Kamara's case