11 August 2009

Reporter attacked by security personnel


(CEMESP/IFEX) - On Wednesday, 5 August 2009, reporter Dominic Farley of the
"Public Agenda" newspaper was attacked by state security personnel from the
executive mansion while returning from reporting on an action aid workshop
in Monrovia.

The security men, according to Farley, were riding in a white government
mini-van with the inscription "Ministry of State Employees Only".

The reporter was trying to establish the cause of a motor vehicle accident
involving the mini-van in which the state security men were riding.

He was immediately confronted by two of the security officers from the van,
who requested that he identify himself.

According to Farley, he immediately identified himself but the officers
seemed determined to stop him they violently rushed him and seized his note
pad, while attempting to force him into their van.

The management of "Public Agenda" newspaper told CEMESP that requests by
their staff to have Farley's notepad returned were ignored, and that staff
were subject to insults and assaults from the security officers.

The management says it is surprised at such uncivilized behaviour from
officers who are supposed to demonstrate good manners in public and who
claimed to have come from the office of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

This is the second brutal incident against Farley. The first took place
when a pick-up truck full of products drove off the street and almost went
into the river. Security men were caught on camera taking some of the
truck's goods. The reporter's camera was seized but was later returned
following the intervention of "Public Agenda"'s editior.