According to a press release from the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, SLAJ, it was a shock to hear that four female journalists in Kenema, eastern Sierra Leone were last Saturday captured in Kenema by some ‘Soweis’ (female genital mutilation actresses) and other members of the women secret society, for allegedly reporting on the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on various news channels. But what baffled SLAJ is the inhuman treatment meted out to Balama-Samba who was reported stripped naked in the bush and was later paraded humaniliatingly on the streets of Kenema to the Paramount Chief, Amara Bonya Vangahun before being set free.
She said several threatening phone calls were made to her by supporters of FGM and felt humiliated and her life threatened by last Saturday incident. The others that were arrested were; Henrietta Kpaka, also of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service, SLBS, Isha Jalloh and Jenneh Brima both of Eastern Radio. The President of SLAJ Umaru Fofanah said “We condemn in the strongest of terms these illegal arrests and detentions in a Secret Society Bush of the journalists and reiterate our appeal to the public that formal and civilized channels exist for seeking redress which must be respected. We commend the Sierra Leone Police whose prompt collaboration with SLAJ led to the release of the journalists.”
The Women’s Leader in Kenema and head of the Secret Society, Haja Massah Kaisamba said the journalists were taken into their custody because they spoke unfavourably on radio about FGM and vowed they would not allow anyone to do so. The journalists have all denied any wrongdoing saying they had no hand in any campaign on radio against the practice of FGM.
“Once again SLAJ reiterates its position that Sierra Leone is a country governed by laws and if the FGM people felt strongly at anything said about them on radio, they have a right to reply and should ask the radio station for a rejoinder rather than illegally arresting and detaining journalists. SLAJ does not want to be forced to use harsher methods of getting redress and would like all to behave as by law established”. Umaru stressed.
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