Association of Liberian Journalists

Association of Liberian Journalists "provides an umbrella to Liberian journalists who fled the country's seven-year war or were forced into exile by the "democratically-elected" government of President Charles Taylor. The organization is dedicated to the defense of press freedom in Liberia." [1]

Background

In 2001, The U.S. based Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) has condemned the arrest and detention of four Liberian journalists of independent newspaper, The News, by the Liberian Government on charges of espionage and has called for their immediate and unconditional release. In a strongly worded press release issued over the weekend, signed by its Secretary-General, Gabriel Williams, and approved by Acting President, Isaac Bantu, AJLA charged that the detention of the journalists was not only illegal and politically motivated, but also a serious breach of the Liberian Constitution." [2]

"Meanwhile, the Washington DC-based National Endowment for Democracy and the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) are preparing to convene an international conference on the role of the media in bringing about peace and reconciliation in Liberia. Scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C. on 24-25 May, the conference will invite Liberian government officials to participate in a dialogue with Liberian journalists and others who "support the process of peace and democracy," says ALJA. The association also plans to unveil an action plan focused on securing peaceful conditions for the holding of the 2003 elections in Liberia."[3]