As we continue to celebrate the victory over the repeal of Part 5 of the 1965 Public Order Act, which criminalised libel, we are proud to state that Government and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists SLAJ have Thursday 23rd July, 2020 collectively conquered and expunged the bad law.
That libel is now decriminalised, does not warrant unnecessary defamation and libel by journalists against people. It is a win for democracy, SLAJ and its partners.
The victory comes with a freedom and a great responsibility by journalists.
At least we can now argue against those political opinions that hold the views that President Bio is not a talk and do presidents. Of course no, and we can now say he has done it as promised.
He of course promised to repeal Part 5 of the 1965 POA, which came to pass last Thursday July 23rd, 2020, and thank, you Mr President for fulfilling your promise as vowed during your campaigns. And we hope you do likewise to other pledges in all other areas under your hegemony.
Social media commentators share damning tributes of the 1965 POA, with most of them recollecting the use of the bad law by former late President Alhaji Dr Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, against Paul Kamara of For Di People newspaper.
The law was passed in 1965 by Prime Minister Albert Margai to silent critical voices against his then administration, which successive governments have used, not until when it was finally repealed on 23rd July, 2020 by MPs in the well of parliament.
Though it is a national achievement, for which all and sundry are commending Government and the journalists union, yet others dubbed it as a “SLAJ-New Direction victory,” bearing in mind the level of commitment demonstrated by all parties involved the process.
Considering the role played by the Ministry of Information and Communications, under the leadership of Mr Mohamed Rahaman Swaray. He has always been out and about with the fullest commitments to the logical conclusion of a process that fulfils one of President Julius Maada Bio’s campaign promises.
Government and President Bio thus far deserved praises and laudable commendations for meeting such promise. An already a broken records which has never been done due to lack of the political will on the part of past leaders.
We therefore join the media fraternity at home and the world over to thank you and your entire team for answering to the calls of the media community in Sierra Leone.
With that in hand, this medium reminds Government of ensuring that other democratic values that have not been properly observed, be fully restored for the strong consolidation of democracy in Sierra Leone by granting a freedom with reasonability at grater magnitudes.
Our sincere thanks and appreciations to the Independent Media Commission-MIC, SLAJ, Members of Parliament of Sierra Leone, the Media Reform Coordinating Group, and all those who in diverse ways contributed towards making the efforts successful.
To our PMs, we dove our hats to you all for putting national interest above partisan politics, which had manifested the highest level of maturity of our democratic practices in the House, and we look forward to seeing stronger synergies amongst our MPs devoid of partisan indifferences.
“Freedom comes with great power and great power comes with great responsibility. By repealing Part 5 of the POA 1965 you have given us great freedom to do our work without fear or favour. Equally so, by enacting the new IMC Bill 2020 you have reminded us of the great responsibility that goes with that freedom.
How we maintain that delicate balance is what all of us journalists should work towards as we go beyond the repeal,” said SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla in a press release, acknowledging efforts of all.
SLAJ commended founding members, Civil Society Organizations and its national executive, noting that it would be embarking on capacity building as in line with the SLAJ code of ethics.
On that note we once more say thank you all for a job well done.
For the IMC Act 2020 it gives provision for the safeguard of the wellbeing of journalist and open doors for investment in the media but comes down heavily on defaulters with fine failure the media house is shutdown.
That aspect is not a victory worthy celebrating as it goes a long was in also limiting media ownership and freedom of expression and it is therefore seen as a mere use of the regulator IMC to muscle the press in another way round. In order words, you give Part 5 and they limit your freedom with IMC Act 2020, which really need to be looked at once more before president Bio assenting to it, for there should be complete free speech liberty.
