By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, May 20 (232news.com) –The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) with support from the European Walked for FREEDOM and DEMAND more FREEDOM in Sierra Leone.
The freedom walk which was part of this year’s celebration of World Press Freedom Day took place in all the major cities in Sierra Leone over the weekend.
Members of SLAJ as well as its partners started walking from SLAJ Headquarters, 56 Campbell St. to the Freetown Cotton Tree, Taylor Cummings Garden.
The President of SLAJ Ahmed Sahid Nasralla described the day as a historic one in observing world Press Freedom Day.
The freedom journey he added is still very long because they are not there yet.
“We are going to demand more freedom because we don’t want it to be taken back from us.”
Nasralla used the day to also pay tribute to SLAJ founding members both the dead and alive and said they will ensure that they take stock of what they have as media people and for them to do the right thing.
He urged media practitioners to practice responsibly in the interest of the public not to black mail people as they will go back to look at the laws on freedom of protest, assemble and movement.
The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Manuel Muller said press freedom only deteriorates if it is not used. He expressed joy to see journalists in Sierra Leone using Press Freedom.
“Media and freedom of expression is a right, it is not giving by the State or someone else’s it is a natural right.”
The thanked SLAJ for such important gathering and for honouring World Press Freedom day and the abolition of the criminal libel law.
Ambassador Manuel Muller sited cases the media is going through in Russia and Ukraine and how the Russian government is oppressing those that want to report the truth and the persecution they are going through.
He encouraged journalists in Sierra Leone who have a relative press freedom than other countries to be in solidarity with journalists the Russian and Ukrainian journalists.
Sierra Leone Police deputy media officer, Superintendent Sallieu Conteh said the SLP is ready and willing to protect journalists.
“The clearance we gave you is an indication that we are not just protecting you but we are with you.”
He assured that the aspect of harassment and intimidation will be thing of the past as they believed journalists and police should work cordially.
He disclosed that the Inspector General of Police have trained Police officers and they have station them across the country to inform, gather, write and dissemination information to the media which was only based in Freetown.
Statements were also made by IMC Chairperson, Head of Right to Access Information Commission, Human Rights Commission and the representative of the Ministry of Information and Communication. The vote of thanks was given by the Chairman Guild of Editors Donald Theo-Harding.
