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    Tom Kamara

    From Wikitia - Reading time: 5 min
    Tom Kamara
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    NationalityLiberian
    CitizenshipLiberia
    OccupationJournalist
    Spouse(s)Rachael Kamara
    Awards
    • One man can make a difference Award
    • Titus Brandsma Award (2001)

    Thomas Saah Kamara (1949 in Sodu, Lofa County, Liberia – June 8, 2012 in Brussels, Belgium) was a Liberian journalist. He was best known for advocating freedom of press and openly criticizing the regimes of Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor. He founded the independent Liberian newspaper the New Democrat. Due to political persecution in his home country, he spent eight years in exile in the Netherlands.[1]

    Early life and education[edit]

    Kamara was a Kissi from the village Sodu, located in Lofa County in northwestern Liberia. He went to primary school in Lofa County and then attended William V.S. Tubman high school in Monrovia, where he was the first editor of the school's newspaper.[2] He started his professional career as a reporter for the Liberian Star. He was educated at the University of Liberia and went to the USA to study journalism at the University of Texas.[3]

    Life[edit]

    Kamara returned to Liberia in 1981 and became the editor of the New Liberia, the official newspaper of the People’s Redemption Council. In 1984, Kamara was imprisoned by the National Security Agency for allegedly organizing the distribution of regime-critical leaflets. Without formal charge, he was supposed to be moved to the high-security prison Belle Yella, presumably to be killed en route. However, the officer in charge of flying the plane refused on the basis that there were no legal papers on his case.[4] Kamara managed to escape and attempted to flee to his brother in the United States using a false passport. He was arrested by Dutch authorities at Schiphol Airport. Jacques Keiren and Catholic priest Geert Bles were able to prove Kamara’s identity using an article of The New African. He was granted political asylum and lived in the Netherlands during the following years.[3]

    After Samuel Doe’s assassination in 1990, Kamara returned to Liberia. He continued to be targeted by the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL). In 1990, Kamara encountered INFPL leader Prince Johnson at Bushrod Island, who questioned him and wanted to kill him. While escaping, Kamara was shot in the leg and badly wounded. His injuries were not immediately attended to and the Red Cross flew him to the Netherlands for treatment.[5]

    In 1993, during the First Liberian Civil War, Kamara founded the newspaper the New Democrat. The editorial office was burned down by rebels under Charles Taylor in 1996. The newspaper was shut down in 2000 and Kamara received death threats. He went into exile to Ghana and then to the Netherlands. After all other editors of the New Democrat fled to Ghana, the New Democrat was published exclusively online. In 2005, Kamara and his wife Rachael returned to Liberia. Supported by Dutch organizations Free Voice and OneMen, the New Democrat could be printed again.[1][6]

    In 2010, the New Democrat published a story where they accused the Consolidated Group, a company of former president Charles Taylor, of purchasing 'useless’ road equipment for the government. Following these accusations of corruption, the New Democrat was found guilty of libeling and fined US$900,000.[7] The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and the World Editors Forum protested the fine and urged President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to consider a punishment proportionate to the damages.[8] In February 2012, Kamara was appointed as member of the board of directors of National Port Authority by President Sirleaf. He refused the offer citing other responsibilities.[9]

    Death and aftermath[edit]

    On June 8 2012, Kamara collapsed at Brussels International Airport while on his way to the Netherlands to receive medical treatment.[10] He fell into a coma and died later that day at St. Luc hospital.[11] On June 10, a memorial service was held for him at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Heerlen.[12] The Tom Kamara Foundation was founded in his memory in June 2013.[13] In 2021, the foundation published a selection of Kamara’s articles titled “This, Too, Is Liberia”.[3][14]

    References[edit]

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Slats, Marjolein (13 June 2012). "In Memoriam Tom Kamara (1949–2012)". Villamedia. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
    2. ↑ Nyanseor, Siahyonkron (22 June 2012). "A Tribute to Thomas "Tom" Saah Kamara: Comrade in the Liberian People's Struggle for Rice & Rights". The Liberian Dialogue. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kamara, Tom (2021). This, too, is Liberia : selected writings of the renowned Liberian Tom Kamara. Patria. [Place of publication not identified]. ISBN 978-94-6123-132-1. OCLC 1246544364.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
    4. ↑ Kamara, Tom (3 April 2001). "Ordeals & Pretenses". www.theperspective.org. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
    5. ↑ de Wit, Ruud (2012-06-18). "Bij de dood van de Liberiaanse journalist Tom Kamara (1949-2012)". visieopvastgoed (in Nederlands). Retrieved 2022-10-31.
    6. ↑ "Sneldrukkerij pasklaar 25 jaar Pasklaar". www.drukkerijpasklaar.nl. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
    7. ↑ "WAN-IFRA Condemns Libel Judgment in Liberia | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
    8. ↑ "WAN-IFRA Condemns Libel Judgment in Liberia". www.scoop.co.nz. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
    9. ↑ "Liberia: Tom Kamara Asks to Be Removed From NPA Board". The New Democrat. 5 March 2012.
    10. ↑ "New Democrat Tom Kamara in Critical Condition". The New Dawn Liberia. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
    11. ↑ Nyan, Leroy S. (13 June 2012). "Liberia: Reasons Why New Democrat Was Born". All Africa. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
    12. ↑ Sannah, T. K. (11 June 2012). "Liberia: Tom Remembered in Holland". All Africa.
    13. ↑ Parker, Prince (23 May 2013). "Liberia: Tom Kamara Foundation to Be Established". The News. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
    14. ↑ Koinyeneh, Gerald (14 July 2021). "Liberia: 'This, Too, Is Liberia' - the Legendary Tom Kamara's Writing Collection Officially Launched". All Africa. Retrieved 31 October 2022.

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