The NEWS (Monrovia)
Bill K. Jarkloh
10 July 2002
Monrovia — The United States Government has spoken against the failure of the Liberian Government to produce Journalist Hassan Bility and others, calling on "the Monrovia Government to create the condition where true national reconciliation can occur by encouraging rather than banning peaceful political expression and activities.
According to VOA reports, the States Department said the United States shares the concern of the Amnesty International, the Reporters Without Borders and other groups about the personal safety of Mr. Bility, the editor of the Analyst Newspaper who was arrested along with two associates on June 24.
The State Department recalled that Mr. Bility has been detained twice and his newspaper closed down on two occasions for publishing articles critical of the Taylor-led government.
According to reports, Mr. Bility and his colleagues were taken away by plain clothes police with Information Minister Reginald Goodridge announcing that Mr. Bility and his two associates were being held on suspicion of operating terrorist cells of the Liberian rebels.
The reports said a written statement volunteer to reporters quoted State Department Spokesman Richard Barchel as echoing the concerns of Amnesty International about Bility.
He urged the Liberian authorities to adhere to the professed interest in national reconciliation, the protection of human rights and freedom of expression.
But President Charles Taylor told the KISS FM at his home town Arthington that Bility and those arrested with him are terrorists and would be treated in the same manner in which the U.S. treats terrorists.
President Taylor noted that Mr. Bility and the two Kamaras were in military custody and would be tried by military courts. He however clarified that such organizations like the Red Cross would have access to them but did not mention whether the human rights community and their family members would also be granted access.
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