26 November 2008

Journalist's camera confiscated by chief justice, later returned to him


(CEMESP/IFEX) - On 20 November 2008, the chief justice of Liberia, Johnny
Lewis, ordered a camera belonging to a local journalist seized and
confiscated after the journalist attempted to take a photograph of Lewis.

Journalist Sando Moore said that Chief Justice Lewis ordered United Nations
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) soldiers to seize the journalist's camera while
he was attempting to take photographs on the grounds of the Temple of
Justice in Monrovia. The Temple of Justice is the chief justice's office
building. Moore works for the "Daily Observer" newspaper in Monrovia.

According to Moore, when the chief justice noticed that a photograph was
being taken of him, he stopped to inquire as to why the journalist was
taking his picture. The journalist told Lewis that because he is a "public
figure" he decided to have his photograph for future use, an explanation
that apparently did not satisfy the chief justice.

After these exchanges,
Lewis ordered his UNMIL assigned bodyguards to forcibly seize the
journalist's camera. A tussle ensued between the journalist and the UNMIL
soldiers who succeeded in confiscating the camera. The incident took place
in the presence of associate justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia and
several lawyers.

Lewis later returned the camera to Moore after the Press Union of Liberia,
the umbrella group of journalists in the country, intervened. In a 21
November statement, the press union threatened the chief justice with an
unspecified action and gave him a 48-hour ultimatum calling for the return
of the camera.

In a 22 November meeting with Moore, the managing director of the "Daily
Observer" and a host of other journalists, Lewis said he regretted the
situation and returned the camera.

BACKGROUND:

Lewis has become a persistent threat to the Liberian press. In October
2007, he ordered a number of editors whom he had called for a meeting to
write down his name as HIS HONOR CHIEF JUSTICE JOHNNY LEWIS in his full
view and read it aloud several times.

He contended that the local press do
not put the title HIS HONOR before his name when he is featured in the
media. He threatened any journalist who would not abide by this rule with
detention at the Monrovia Central Prison.

CEMESP sees this latest action of Chief Justice Lewis as a continual
attempt by public officials to tame the local press.

The Press Union of Liberia threatened to implement a media blackout of
judiciary activities if the chief justice continues to intimidate the local
press.
_________________________________________________________________
For further information contact CEMESP, Benson & Buchanan Streets, P.O. Box
3480, Monrovia, Liberia, tel: +231 651 4357, e-mail:
centerforpeacebuilding@yahoo.com, Internet: http://www.cemesp-liberia.org/

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of
CEMESP. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
CEMESP.

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