South African Press Agency reported today (August 21) that four journalists, including a South African cameraman Gugu Radebe were arrested in Liberia at the weekend. The four were arrested on suspicion of espionage and have been accused by that country's justice minister of "clandestine activity to injure the image and character of the president of Liberia. It is expected that they will appear in court today on charges of espionage. Matt Baker, spokesperson for the British television company Channel 4, which commissioned the documentary the four were filming, said that the team had filmed in Morocco and Mali before moving on to Liberia. They were also expected to travel to Angola. The four were granted visas and had permission from the Liberian ministry of information to film in the country. Baker said that they travelled to Liberia on the understanding that they would be granted a major interview with President Charles Taylor. "Channel 4 is confident that the tapes confiscated will show that the journalists were only engaged in legitimate journalistic activities."

Sapa said that a liberian lawyer had been retained and attempts were being made to negotiate with authorities in Monrovia for the men's release. "A British lawyer and a company representative were also en route to Liberia to help resolve the matter," Baker said.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Daniel Ngwepe confirmed that Radebe and his colleagues had been arrested on espionage charges. The detainees are all in good health.

Recommended action:

Send appeals to the president: - expressing the opinion that the arrests of the four TV journalists are a violation of everyone's right to "seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers" as guaranteed by Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights - also respectfully reminding His Excellency that Liberia is a signatory of the African Charter on Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression - urging him to ensure the immediate release of the journalists - also urging His Excellency to do everything in his power to ensure that journalists working in Liberia are allowed to report freely and without fear of intimidation and harassment

APPEALS TO: H.E. Charles Taylor President of the Republic of Liberia Monrovia, Liberia Fax: +231 226 076

cc Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Fax: 012 351 0253