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STOP THE HARASSMENTS
THE MEDIA RIGHTS AGENDA (MRA) CONDEMNS THE ARREST OF THE
PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE SUNDAY MAGAZINE (TSM), MRS. CHRIS
ANYANWU.
THE MRA ALSO VIEWS THE HUNT FOR THE EDITOR OF TSM, COMFORT
OBI, AS AN UNWARRANTED ACT OF HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION AND CALLS ON
SECURITY AGENTS TO DISCONTINUED IT IMMEDIATELY.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE EXCUSE OF THE REPORTED ATTEMPTED
COUP IS BEING USED TO HUNT DOWN JOURNALISTS WHO ARE PERCEIVED TO BE
CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS POLICIES.
WITH MRS. ANYANWU’S ARREST COMING AFTER THE PROSCRIPTION OF
OVER 15 NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE TITLES AND THE RECENT ARREST AND DETENTION
OF THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE NEWS MAGAZINE, MR. BAYO ONANUGA, WE
SEE A GRAND DESIGN TO COMPLETELY EMASCULATE THE PRESS IN NIGERIA BY
DESTROYING THE FIERCELY INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND CONTROLLING THE REST.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS FRESH ATTACK ON JOURNALISTS IS
COMING AT A TIME THE GOVERNMENT IS CELEBRATING ITS SO-CALLED HUMAN RIGHTS
VICTORY AT THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED GENEVA CONFERENCE OF UNITED NATION’S
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS. THE FEDERAL MILITARY GOVERNMENT IS BY ITS
PRESENT ACTIONS LENDING CREDENCE TO THE PERCEPTION THAT THE VICTORY WAS
UNDESERVED.
WE CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SPARE JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA
INSTITUTIONS THIS SPATE OF REPRISALS FOLLOWING REPORTS OF THE COUP
ATTEMPT.
THE MRA DEMANDS THE IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF
MRS. ANYANWU AND MR. ONANUGA AS WELL AS THE RE-OPENING OF ALL CLOSED MEDIA
HOUSES.
TIVE DENEDO
NATIONAL SECRETARY
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