Cry Freetown: “CNN's Cry Freetown condemned as biased”

“Cry Freetown” What the Papers Say
“CNN'S CRY FREEDOM CONDEMNED AS BIASED” OSMAN BENK SANKOH CONCORD TIMES, 05/02/00 Most Sierra Leoneans have roundly condemned the CNN documentary, CRY FREETOWN, and see in it a conspiracy to play up inter-personal animosity and discount the successes of Ecomog. All these, according to a spectrum of people interviewed, stem from the West's reluctance to give credit where it is due. Cry Freetown was shown on CNN late Thursday night. A 75-year old Reverend he maintained that the documentary itself was untimely. "That should have been shown at a later date possibly ten year's from now. How can they think we can get out of our traumatic experience while they continue to screen these nightmarish scenes" the Rev. stated. Mike Johnson, a teacher said: "What CNN wants to do is to echo the feeling of much of the hipocritical world and portray Africans as barbaric and incapable of solving their problems." He added that "they want to ensure that a once praised force is discredited in the eyes of the world." The documentary which was done by a Sierra Leonean - Sorious Samura, showed some horrific scenes of executions. Somura recorded the scenes from this side and wasn't brave enough to go beyond rebel lines. "He has merely presented a very biased picture," commented a diplomat.

“Cry Freetown”

What the Papers Say

“CNN'S CRY FREEDOM CONDEMNED AS BIASED”
OSMAN BENK SANKOH

CONCORD TIMES, 05/02/00

Most Sierra Leoneans have roundly condemned the CNN documentary, CRY FREETOWN, and see in it a conspiracy to play up inter-personal animosity and discount the successes of Ecomog.

All these, according to a spectrum of people interviewed, stem from the West's reluctance to give credit where it is due.

Cry Freetown was shown on CNN late Thursday night. A 75-year old Reverend he maintained that the documentary itself was untimely. "That should have been shown at a later date possibly ten year's from now. How can they think we can get out of our traumatic experience while they continue to screen these nightmarish scenes" the Rev. stated.

Mike Johnson, a teacher said: "What CNN wants to do is to echo the feeling of much of the hipocritical world and portray Africans as barbaric and incapable of solving their problems."

He added that "they want to ensure that a once praised force is discredited in the eyes of the world."

The documentary which was done by a Sierra Leonean - Sorious Samura, showed some horrific scenes of executions.

Somura recorded the scenes from this side and wasn't brave enough to go beyond rebel lines. "He has merely presented a very biased picture," commented a diplomat.