President Bio at long last signs repeal of criminal libel laws

Sierra Leone Telegraph: 28 October 2020:

After much dithering and political brinkmanship, president Bio has finally put his signature to the laws passed by parliament many months ago to repeal the country’s notorious laws that criminalised libel, marking the end of a bad law.

The criminal libel laws have been used by every successive government in Sierra Leone to harass, intimidate, arrest, and persecute journalists and political opponents.

Hence, although the repeal of the criminal libel laws was enacted by the country’s parliament months ago, cynics say that the president has today reluctantly signed the document, after much pressure from the international community and foreign diplomats in Sierra Leone who control the government’s purse strings.

But in reply to those cynics, in his address at State House this morning, president said: “………..it is not about scoring political points, or ticking boxes for an international checklist on democratic governance. It has been informed by our unique history, a blameworthy past, and my Government’s fervent belief that we must break with that past towards a more open, participatory, and accountable democracy.”

Also, answering those who are doubting whether the repeal will be retro-active, to ensure that those currently accused of criminal libel and appearing in court, would see their charges dropped by the Attorney General, president Bio said: “…..my Government will review the cases of all persons facing charges of criminal and seditious libel under the old law.”

Addressing Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, Representatives of Civil Society and Rights Organisations, journalists this morning at State House, this is the president’s speech:

“I would like to begin today’s address with the exciting announcement from NACOVERC that night curfew is lifted for a period of four weeks. As with everything related to our management of COVID-19, we are intentional and thoughtful in making this decision. We will observe trends, implications, and outcomes and we will make further decisions. Be reminded that COVID-19 is a deadly pandemic and I urge every citizen to continue to adhere to all health directives and protocols on frequently and properly washing hands, properly wearing face masks, and maintaining social distance.

Two days ago, I met with the leadership of the Independent Media Commission (IMC) and the Ministry of Information and Communications. We discussed how we could support 130 registered newspapers, 165 registered radio stations, and 42 registered television stations to thrive and evolve in a country with an enviable history of pioneering journalism in West Africa.

In its Global Expression Report 2019-2020 -The state of freedom of expression around the world, Sierra Leone has been ranked by the global organisation, Article 19, among the top five countries in Africa for facilitating and supporting freedom of expression. It is acclamation well-deserved and a moment of inspiration to aspire to do more. And that is why we are here.

As previous speakers have indicated, my Government made a firm manifesto commitment to repeal the 55-year-old criminal seditious libel law – (Part V of the Public Order Act of 1965). We followed through in cabinet and as a Government, we have made history.

For more than half a century, we had a legislative and governance regime that criminalised journalism. Successive governments had failed to abolish this law that threatened civil liberties and had been abused over the course of half a century by successive governments. But the criminal and seditious libel law was simply a bad law. The law presumed that persons arrested were guilty even before they were tried. Truth could not be a strong defence or any defence at all.

With the application of the law, everybody involved in the production and dissemination of the alleged libellous publication or broadcast could be liable for summary prosecution and imprisonment.

To wit, bad governments persist by avoiding scrutiny. They believe they thrive when they cast every statement from journalists that is critical of them or seeks accountability as hostile and posing a clear and present danger to their hold on power and thus to the security of the state. Bad governments foster a climate of silence and fear. They prevent scrutiny of their tenure or their actions as leaders.

But we have made a commitment to the people of Sierra Leone that we will foster a culture of good governance and accountability. We therefore made a firm commitment from the outset that we will remove all laws that chill free speech.

Enforcing criminal libel laws contravenes international democratic governance practices. It contravenes international human rights treaties to which Sierra Leone is a signatory, including Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 19(3) of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). All of those international commitments condemn limitations to the right to free expression.

But the impetus for removing the law has also come from within Sierra Leone. A criminal libel law infringes the letter and spirit of the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and of the press as provided for in Section 25 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.

In its annual reports, the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone had recommended that the criminal libel law be expunged from our laws.

The last convened Constitutional Review Committee had also recommended for the law to be removed. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report of 2004 also strongly recommended for the Criminal Libel Law to be removed.

So what we have done is therefore not unprecedented, and it is not about scoring political points, or ticking boxes for an international checklist on democratic governance. It has been informed by our unique history, a blameworthy past, and my Government’s fervent belief that we must break with that past towards a more open, participatory, and accountable democracy.

True to our promise, my Government has already undertaken to legislate into existence a permanent and independent Commission for National Cohesion, forged a closer working relationship with civil society, strengthening community engagements and strengthening local government, and we are also supporting the growth of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ). So along with striking out a bad law, what we are doing as a Government in totality is about strengthening our democracy as a whole.

Obviously, there have been naysayers both within Government and among the general public. They have argued, and understandably so, that removing criminal and seditious libel will open the floodgate of irresponsible and unethical journalism. As we have seen in this country, a few rogue elements could stop at nothing to gratuitously slander and destroy the reputations of government officials and citizens. Some have done so for money, favours, or because of their narrow partisan or ethnic inclinations.

There have been toxic partisan platforms for political propaganda, vindictive persecution, rumour mongering and speculation about people’s personal lives and motives, and even ethnic innuendo. The impact of that sort of journalism has been to widen cracks and fault lines in our country.

Yes, I know the feeling. For years, I was reported to own phantom multi-million-dollar businesses in Ghana and an unending stash of dollars and pounds sterling in foreign accounts from Hong Kong to the Caribbean. That is not to mention personal attacks at my person, my family, career, service, ethnicity, work and even more. So I do understand why citizens would feel more vulnerable to this sort of journalism.

But that would be assuming also that citizens will always misuse democratic freedoms. As I have maintained, the criminal libel and seditious libel laws chilled free speech, undermined the free expression of civil liberties, and denied space for legitimate investigative journalism. Governments should be open to more scrutiny, not less. Equally so, what we need is not to criminalise perceived irresponsible behaviour but to create a space for citizens to experience the alternative – responsible, objective, investigative, and the professional reporting of events.

I have always argued that the repeal will unshackle free speech, expand democratic spaces, and consolidate our democracy. It will open up the space for the growth of the media industry in the country. Professionalism will be enhanced and the best and brightest and more women, especially, will be encouraged to work their trade.

There are still sufficient failsafe mechanisms for the odd rogue element. Media houses will be encouraged to abide by their editorial guidelines. Courts may still consider private civil libel lawsuits. The Independent Media Commission will enforce the Media Code of Practice; and, the SLAJ Disciplinary Committee will ensure the highest levels of professionalism in its ranks.

So my argument is simple. Civilised and democratic countries cannot be seen as jailers of journalists when journalists exercise their professional responsibility to report objectively and ethically. My Government believes that journalists should legitimately and professionally report on matters of public interest without fear or favour. What we must do is create an atmosphere that is conducive to more professionalism – one that strengthens the content and nature of the professional reporting of journalists, and one in which journalists can operate freely without fear of undue harassment, arbitrary arrest, or imprisonment.

For a start, my Government will review the cases of all persons facing charges of criminal and seditious libel under the old law. My Government will also support an investment conference on the media with a view to supporting enhanced private sector investments in the media. I expect more inter-agency collaboration on opening up opportunities in media for more women to actively participate in the journalism profession. I also expect more dialogue among Government, civil society, and communities on what freedom of speech in its entirety means and how it supports good governance in our country.

Let me conclude by thanking everybody who has contributed throughout this very long historic fight. By continuing to strive to open up guaranteed spaces for the full participation of unfettered voices, we will deepen our democracy. By protecting and guaranteeing free speech and freedoms, we will encourage a vigorous culture of scrutiny and debate that is good for the future and the development of this country. I thank you.

6 Comments

  1. Well done to President Bio for this move which is a step in the right direction and a milestone for free speech and democracy. We will be watching and will not want this repeal to be substituted with arbitrary arrests which have become the modus operandi of the Police. I also urge government to bring strong legislation to hold the police to account in the discharge of their duties, in particular – with reference to detention of suspects.

    The practice of arresting people and have them spend weeks without charging them to court is a violation of their human rights. It is convenient when one is not affected or looking at this from a political angle but fairness. In the application of the law it is a fundamental principle of the rule of law.

  2. The repeal of the sedition and libel laws has not come out of the good heart of the legislature and executive – they have just bent with the times. They have been left with no other choice but to formally repeal obnoxious laws, which should never have been enacted in the first place. The truth is the internet or cyberspace has made it impossible to keep the mouth of Sierra Leoneans shut. People with no detailed technical knowledge are now able to make audios and videos to attack public figures or give their opinion without having to look over their shoulders. Otherwise write to express themselves, without the fear that thugs will be sent to burn their premises and beat them up.

    It must be quite frustrating for these public figures to be hit by people they cannot get hold of. It is a kind of gorilla warfare where the enemy is virtually invisible but she/he is there in the shadows.
    It should be stressed however that Sierra Leone is an African country. The private and personal lives of people should be exactly that. Journalists should not pry into the private lives of people much like what obtains in France, where there are laws to the effect. One of their Presidents (Mitterrand) had a daughter out of wedlock and a more recent one (Holland) lived in the presidential palace with his girlfriend.

    If we see President Bio going to work with a partially shaved head with a bandage on, we should just wonder whether Fatima nearly cracked his skull with a stick for infidelity and that’s where it should stop. Journalists should not have a field day over it. Their concern should be about the billions of Leones which keep disappearing under Bio’s watch and the stagnation of the country.

  3. A free press is perforce for good governance and freedom of expression in general, is a sine qua non for a democratic society. The criminal Seditious libel laws were arbitrary laws, a clog to national progress and a manacle to liberty. Ridding the country of this arbitrary laws, out of the books, rendering the Public Order Act obsolete, is an outstanding act of courage. What is more outstanding though, is the fact that, the party which had enacted the laws in 1965 and it was first to have used them arbitrarily against opponents, is the same actor ending the law’s 55 years of disservice. Courage is worth admiring.

    It’s never too late to stop victimizing, intimidating and jailing the innocents, whose only crimes were living up to the full practices of their profession, journalism or seeing politics through a different lens, different from the party in power. The public know and was sicken to the stomachs by the havoc and destruction these infamous, draconian laws in the books had done for far too long to members of the 4th estate. It will be futile effort now, to recount the recorded cases of brutality, violence and tortures of practicing journalists and opposition party members under the regime of the archaic laws.

    For the old saying is, what had been done cannot be undone. However, the president is encouraged to move a further notch soonest and execute the final act to free by executive order, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden and many other journalists standing trials in the courts, on accounts of their journalistic enthusiasm. From now on let freedom of expression, tolerance for juxtaposition of ideas and opinions reign supreme, with candour without rancour. Let the journalists go, as far as their pens and the law can carry and allow them in this new age.

  4. Citizen’s complaint in Cocorioko October 28, 2020. Who, When, Where and What made it. Should have been eradicated years and years ago since Independence in 1961 and copy the example of Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore who achieved Independence in 1965. God bless and help Sierra Leone.

  5. Expressing the truth or exposing the truth was not enough for generations of had working practicing journalists as defence of their thankless, under paid jobs, and life risking profession, that found themselves dragged, and shackled by over jealous oppressive state security apparatus working for their shadowy bosses in government , in court rooms all in the name of being charged for seditious, and libel allegations against them versus the state. In the 1980 was the TABLET news paper that was in the receiving end of the Stevens government.

    And it goes international, when you consider the then Liberian dictator Samuel K. Doe can instruct president Momoh to arrest Foday Kandeh the editor of progress Newspaper for publishing a piece about Doe killing his wife, which he deemed libellous. Thank goodness Foday Kandeh was a Sierra Leonean editor of a national newspaper and was never handed to Doe. Can you imagine if it was the other way round. This is what this law in our country meant for journalists. You can’t practice your profession without fearing for your life and that of your family.

    After fifty-five years President Bio with a stuck of his pen have finally put an end to this all powerful tool of oppression against journalists, that cared for the good of their country, and people and confined it to the dustbin of history. Bravo to the president. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We are going to hold you to your words and remind you every waking morning of your pronouncements on this subject. Now we want your government to go all the way to re-educate and reorient our corrupt justice system, the police, public prosecutors, law enforcement. It is easy to change a law, but it takes the collective efforts of all concern to make it work.

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