Publisher and printer held for past few days by National Security Agency

Reporters Without Borders is disturbed to learn that Syrenius Cephus, the publisher of the Plain Truth daily newspaper, and Michael Makinde, the general manager of the Seamarco Printing Press, are being held in connection with a report claiming that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s government supplied arms to dissident forces in neighbouring Guinea. “If the report that appeared in Plain Truth is baseless and defamatory, we think the authorities should be able to demonstrate it without having to arrest those responsible,” Reporters Without Borders said, calling for the release of both men. Makinde, whose company prints Plain Truth, was arrested by the National Security Agency on 12 December for publishing information involving state security. The NSA accused him of “criminal facilitation” two days later. Cephus, who was arrested on 14 December, has not yet been charged. The only source cited in Plain Truth’s 9 December article was an unidentified member of the Guinean military government.