For Di People is a Sierra Leonean Krio-language newspaper based in Freetown, Sierra Leone.[1] It was founded in 1983 by Paul Kamara, who has served as its editor more or less continually since that date.[2] Kamara and other staff have been threatened and imprisoned numerous times in the newspaper's history,[2] most notably in a high-profile seditious libel case following a suggestion that President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah's 1968 conviction for fraud made him constitutionally ineligible for high office.[3]
Kamara was arrested, equipment was confiscated from the newspaper offices, including Kamara's car,[4] and the newspaper was shut down for six months.[5]On 24 July 2005, Kamara's replacement as editor, Harry Yansaneh, died from a beating reportedly ordered by a member of parliament.[6] BBC News described the case as sparking "wide public interest with pleas from media rights groups worldwide demanding his release".[5] The Committee to Protect Journalists issued an appeal on Kamara's behalf,[7] as did Reporters Without Borders.[3]
On 30 November 2005, Kamara won an appeal against his conviction and was freed.[5] After his release, he told reporters, "imprisonment has not broken my spirit to publish the truth or stand for the people's right to know".[5]