Committee to Protect Journalists - Liberia tag:cpj.org,2008-09-16://1 2013-03-13T21:40:48Z Movable Type 4.38 Attacks on the Press: The Power of the Ordinary tag:beta.cpj.org,2013://1.20569 2013-02-14T05:04:34Z 2013-03-13T21:40:48Z Who is allowed to talk? What are they allowed to say? Award winners seek the answers. By Kristin Jones... Committee to Protect Journalists Who is allowed to talk? What are they allowed to say? Award winners seek the answers. By Kristin Jones

(AFP/Michael Nagle)

]]> Honoring tenacity and courage tag:cpj.org,2012://1.20655 2012-11-13T15:31:05Z 2012-11-17T03:39:09Z Committee to Protect Journalists New York, November 13, 2012-- Four fearless journalists from Brazil, China, Kyrgyzstan and Liberia who risked their lives and liberty to expose wrongdoings will be awarded the Committee to Protect Journalists' 2012 International Press Freedom Awards, an annual recognition of courageous reporting.  Harassed, tortured, threatened and imprisoned for their critical investigations, the awardees have endured reprisals for their work and continue to persevere.   The awards dinner is open for press coverage. Accreditation requests will be accepted until noon on November 19 (EST).

]]> CPJ urges Liberia to protect threatened journalist tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18896 2012-03-13T21:46:43Z 2012-03-13T21:55:04Z Dear President Johnson Sirleaf: The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by threats made against Liberian journalist Mae Azango, who has been in hiding since last week after she reported on the practice of female genital mutilation. We urge you, Madam President, as Africa's first and only female head of state and a champion of women's rights, to direct the Liberian authorities to ensure her safety and fully investigate the threats made against her. Committee to Protect Journalists March 13, 2012

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
President of the Republic of Liberia
Executive Mansion
P.O. Box 9001
Capitol Hill, Monrovia
Republic of Liberia

Dear President Johnson Sirleaf:

The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by threats made against Liberian journalist Mae Azango, who has been in hiding since last week after she reported on the practice of female genital mutilation. We urge you, Madam President, as Africa's first and only female head of state and a champion of women's rights, to direct the Liberian authorities to ensure her safety and fully investigate the threats made against her.

Azango, a reporter for the daily FrontPage Africa and New Narratives, a project supporting independent media in Africa, published an article on March 8 entitled "Growing Pains: Sande Tradition of Genital Cutting Threatens Liberian Women's Health." The article described how tribes practice female genital mutilation on as many as two out of every three girls in the country. Although March 8 was International Women's Day, the publication of the article was followed by death threats against Azango. "They left messages and told people to tell me that they will catch me and cut me so that will make me shut up," she told CPJ. "I have not been sleeping in my house."

National Police Deputy Director Al Karley told CPJ today that he had made Azango's case a high priority. However, we believe your political leadership is required to ensure the government will take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of this journalist.

We ask you, Madam President, to use the moral authority of your office to speak out against the threats made against Azango, and to ensure that other journalists taking on this sensitive topic do not suffer the same fate.

We look forward to your response.

Joel Simon
Executive Director

]]> In Liberia, reporting on genital mutilation draws threats tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18884 2012-03-09T21:44:36Z 2012-03-12T19:33:36Z New York, March 9, 2012--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Liberian authorities to ensure the safety of journalists who have been repeatedly threatened for exposing the practice of female genital mutilation in the country.... Committee to Protect Journalists Journalist Mae Azango and her colleagues at FrontPage Africa have been threatened repeatedly for her story on female genital mutilation. (New Narratives)

New York, March 9, 2012--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Liberian authorities to ensure the safety of journalists who have been repeatedly threatened for exposing the practice of female genital mutilation in the country.

]]> Journalist harassed by police officer in Liberia tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18488 2012-02-15T21:33:04Z 2012-02-15T22:54:03Z New York, February 15, 2012--A Liberian police officer on Sunday roughed up a journalist trying to cover allegations that police were harassing motorists, according to news reports.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, February 15, 2012--A Liberian police officer on Sunday roughed up a journalist trying to cover allegations that police were harassing motorists, according to news reports.

]]> Liberian government silences three broadcasters tag:cpj.org,2011://1.18085 2011-11-08T22:04:07Z 2011-11-08T22:16:08Z New York, November 8, 2011--The administration of incumbent Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf silenced on Monday three Liberian broadcasters that have covered the campaigning of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party in the run-up to today's runoff presidential vote, according to news reports.... Committee to Protect Journalists Liberian police face opposition CDC supporters in the run-up to presidential elections. Three broadcasters have been shut down by the government for covering the CDC party's campaign. (AFP)

New York, November 8, 2011--The administration of incumbent Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf silenced on Monday three Liberian broadcasters that have covered the campaigning of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party in the run-up to today's runoff presidential vote, according to news reports.

]]> Liberian media outlets targeted in post-election violence tag:cpj.org,2011://1.18020 2011-10-18T19:46:31Z 2011-10-18T19:56:53Z New York, October 18, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Monday's arson attack against a Liberian radio station and threats made against another radio station's journalists in response to their coverage of Liberia's presidential elections.... Committee to Protect Journalists Inside Love FM, after Monday's bomb attack. (Press Union of Liberia)

New York, October 18, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Monday's arson attack against a Liberian radio station and threats made against another radio station's journalists in response to their coverage of Liberia's presidential elections.

]]> Liberian journalist could be forced to reveal source tag:cpj.org,2009://1.10818 2009-02-03T16:07:33Z 2009-02-03T19:46:03Z New York, February 3, 2009--A Liberian journalist who testified against ex-President Charles Taylor should not be forced to reveal a confidential source, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, February 3, 2009--A Liberian journalist who testified against ex-President Charles Taylor should not be forced to reveal a confidential source, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

]]> Attacks on the Press 2007: Africa Snapshots tag:cpj.org,2008://1.6721 2008-02-05T16:59:20Z 2009-04-07T17:36:46Z Committee to Protect Journalists Attacks & developments throughout the region]]> Liberian tabloid files appeal with Supreme Court after government ban over sex photo tag:216.139.245.96,2007://1.5929 2007-03-06T17:00:00Z 2007-03-06T17:00:00Z New York, March 6, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Liberia’s Supreme Court to rescind a ban on private bi-weekly The Independent. The paper filed an appeal with the court on grounds that the government violated Liberia’s constitution when it revoked their license and closed its offices after the... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, March 6, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Liberia’s Supreme Court to rescind a ban on private bi-weekly The Independent.

The paper filed an appeal with the court on grounds that the government violated Liberia’s constitution when it revoked their license and closed its offices after the paper’s February 20 and February 27 publications of a compromising photo of ex-Presidential Affairs Minister Willis Knuckles with two women, according to local journalists.
]]> Attacks on the Press 2006: Africa Snapshots tag:216.139.245.96,2007://1.6796 2007-02-05T16:46:58Z 2009-04-07T18:14:35Z Committee to Protect Journalists Attacks & developments throughout the region

]]> CPJ urges president to probe attacks on press tag:216.139.245.96,2006://1.2103 2006-06-19T16:00:00Z 2008-09-15T20:00:22Z Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is troubled by a recent string of attacks on journalists in Liberia, some of which were carried out by government security forces. The Press Union of Liberia wrote to you on May 30 to express concern about these attacks and call for an investigation. However, despite an Information Ministry statement the following day affirming the government's commitment to press freedom, there has been no evidence of an investigation into these incidents nor any public effort to punish those responsible. Committee to Protect Journalists June 16, 2006

Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
C/O The Embassy of Liberia
5201 16th. Street, NW
Washington DC, 20011

Via Facsimile: (202) 723-0436

Your Excellency:

The Committee to Protect Journalists is troubled by a recent string of attacks on journalists in Liberia, some of which were carried out by government security forces. The Press Union of Liberia wrote to you on May 30 to express concern about these attacks and call for an investigation. However, despite an Information Ministry statement the following day affirming the government's commitment to press freedom, there has been no evidence of an investigation into these incidents nor any public effort to punish those responsible.
]]> Journalist assaulted by security forces tag:216.139.245.96,2006:/cases//9.385 2006-05-24T16:00:00Z 2006-05-24T16:00:00Z May 24, 2006 Posted: June 12, 2006 George D. Watkins, Radio Veritas ATTACKED Watkins, a journalist for the Catholic Church-owned Radio Veritas, was assaulted by State Security Services (SSS) agents while reporting on the SSS’s alleged enlistment of a former rebel commander, according to the independent daily The Analyst and... Committee to Protect Journalists May 24, 2006
Posted: June 12, 2006

George D. Watkins, Radio Veritas
ATTACKED

Watkins, a journalist for the Catholic Church-owned Radio Veritas, was assaulted by State Security Services (SSS) agents while reporting on the SSS’s alleged enlistment of a former rebel commander, according to the independent daily The Analyst and the Press Union of Liberia.
]]> Sports editor assaulted tag:216.139.245.96,2006:/cases//9.384 2006-03-21T17:00:00Z 2006-03-21T17:00:00Z MARCH 10, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Peter Nimely Toby, The Analyst ATTACKED, THREATENED Armed and masked men assaulted and threatened Toby, sports editor for the independent newspaper The Analyst in the capital, Monrovia, the newspaper reported. The men jumped out of a black jeep, beat Toby with guns, and... Committee to Protect Journalists MARCH 10, 2006
Posted March 21, 2006

Peter Nimely Toby, The Analyst
ATTACKED, THREATENED

Armed and masked men assaulted and threatened Toby, sports editor for the independent newspaper The Analyst in the capital, Monrovia, the newspaper reported. The men jumped out of a black jeep, beat Toby with guns, and threatened him with death.
]]> Attacks on the Press 2004: Africa Analysis tag:216.139.245.96,2005://1.6941 2005-03-14T16:57:00Z 2009-04-23T17:27:22Z Overviewby Julia Crawford With the rule of law weak in many African countries, journalists regularly battle threats and harassment, not only from governments but also from rogue elements, such as militias. Repressive legislation is used in many countries to silence journalists who write about sensitive topics such as corruption, mismanagement,... Committee to Protect Journalists Overview
by Julia Crawford

With the rule of law weak in many African countries, journalists regularly battle threats and harassment, not only from governments but also from rogue elements, such as militias. Repressive legislation is used in many countries to silence journalists who write about sensitive topics such as corruption, mismanagement, and human rights abuses. If fewer journalists were killed or imprisoned in Africa than in some other regions in 2004--two were killed and 19 were behind bars for their work at year's end--the problems they face are insidious and ongoing.
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