For Di People

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For Di People
Type Daily newspaper
Founder(s) Paul Kamara
Founded1983
Language Krio

For Di People is a Sierra Leonean Krio-language newspaper based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. [1] It was founded in 1983 by Paul Kamara, who has served as its editor more or less continually since that date. [2] Kamara and other staff have been threatened and imprisoned numerous times in the newspaper's history, [2] 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. [3]

Kamara was arrested, equipment was confiscated from the newspaper offices, including Kamara's car, [4] and the newspaper was shut down for six months. [5] On 28 July 2005, Kamara's replacement as editor, Harry Yansaneh, died from a beating reportedly ordered by a member of parliament. [6] BBC News described the case as sparking "wide public interest with pleas from media rights groups worldwide demanding his release". [5] The Committee to Protect Journalists issued an appeal on Kamara's behalf, [7] as did Reporters Without Borders. [3]

On 30 November 2005, Kamara won an appeal against his conviction and was freed. [5] 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". [5]

References

  1. ↑ Howard W. French (9 October 1995). "Freetown Journal: In Sierra Leone, Darkness, Not Diamonds' Dazzle". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Paul Kamara, 2001 Honoree". civilcourageprize.org. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  3. 1 2 ""For Di People" editor Paul Kamara freed after 14 months in prison". ifex.org. 30 November 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Police seize newspaper's equipment". Committee to Protect Journalists. 24 November 2003. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Jailed S Leone journalist freed". BBC News. 30 November 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  6. ↑ "After a year in jail, editor freed in Sierra Leone". Committee to Protect Journalists. 30 November 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  7. ↑ Ann Cooper (6 October 2004). "CPJ condemns editor's prison sentence". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
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