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IFEX "COMMUNIQUE" # 7-41                 27 October 1998

LIBERIA: GOVERNMENT BANS INTERNET POSTINGS BY
LOCAL MEDIA

The government of Liberia has ordered local media to immediately cease
posting information on the Internet, report the Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ) and Human Rights Watch (HRW). The order, which was
announced in a letter issued on 14 October 1998 by the Ministry of
Information, claimed television and radio stations were operating news
agencies on-line without a permit and "running un-authenticated newspaper
articles and gossip columns." The letter also said that media organisations
must register with the Ministry of Information to run a news agency on the
Internet. In a 22 October letter, HRW wrote to President Charles Taylor,
saying, "this ban and the intimidation of civil society constitute a serious
attack on freedom of expression and association in Liberia," and asked him
to "ensure that the press and all Liberians with links to the Internet have
unfettered access." HRW continues, "Civil society in Liberia -- including
human rights monitoring groups and the independent press -- have played a
critical role in demanding respect for human rights in Liberia, and
consequently have been frequent targets for threats or attacks by previous
Liberian governments or warring factions."

HRW urged President Taylor to guarantee the safety of human rights defenders
in Liberia, including members of the Justice and Peace Commission, a
nongovernmental organization associated with the Catholic church. In
particular, HRW fears for the safety of Samuel Kofi Woods, president of the
Commission, an award-winning activist who has "been a long-standing
independent voice for human rights through years of civil war and repression
in Liberia." HRW alleges, "The harassment of members of the Justice and
Peace Commission appears to be part of a larger attempt by the Taylor
government to curb freedom of expression and freedom of association in
Liberia."

** ** **

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-
Bruce Girard Boa, Comunica.Org
bgirard@comunica.org     http://comunica.org
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