Trouble Suah, reporter of the independent Inquire newspaper, was on Saturday December 14 flogged by five officers of the Presidential elite guard, the Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU). Suah urinated blood as a result of the torture and is on admission at the St. Joseph Catholic Hospital in Monrovia.

According to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources in Liberia, the journalist was returning home from work at about 8:30pm when the ATU men arrested him. When he identified himself as a journalist, the security officers accused Suah of being an enemy of the government.

The MFWA condemns the attack on Suah and is deeply concerned about the safety of independent media practitioners in Liberia. The MFWA calls on the government of President Charles Taylor to halt the culture of impunity in the country and sanction the perpetrators of violations against the freedom of expression and media rights of Liberians.

We, request you to kindly protest against the insecurity of the independent media in Liberia. Please send your protest to:

H.E. Charles G. Taylor
President
Fax: (231) 226-544/228-026

Hon. L. Koiboi Johnson
Minister of Justice
Cell phone: 00377-47-511846
Fax: (231) 22-78-72

Hon. Paul E. Mulbah
Director of Police
Cell phone: 00377-47-510432

The Executive Director
Media Foundation for West Africa
P.O.Box LG 730
Legon
Accra Ghana
Tel : 233 21 24 24 70
Fax : 233 21 22 10 84