Liberian government urged to improve relations with media

Monrovia – The Centre for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP) has called upon the government of Liberia to make greater efforts towards respecting the rights of journalists to freely report in line with their conscience.

In a statement issued in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, CEMESP said now ought to be the best time for the people of Liberia to benefit from the fullest extent of freedom of the press, considering the democratic mandate upon which the current government came to power.

The organisation, which is the only Liberian member of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX), regretted that the latest monitoring of press freedom around the world shows a declining standard in Liberia in respect for press freedom and free expression.

More threats, more assaults

It also noted that since the last press freedom day, there have been more than 20 attacks on the press through various means, including an increasing number of threats of lawsuits by public officials, censorship and suspensions at the state-owned Liberia Broadcasting System and numerous assaults on journalists. Also reported over the year were cases of illegal detention and harassment, threats of exclusion from public functions, death threats from anonymous sources and the now controversial closure of the Independent Newspaper.

CEMESP says these attacks were made against the press by several groups, especially government functionaries, ruling party supporters, opposition politicians, security personnel, as well as sports personalities and student protesters, and regards all of these vices as a betrayal of the Liberian people's quest for democracy, which must necessarily be corrected.

The organisation has challenged the government to stand up for its belief in freedom of expression, and to take appropriate actions against officials who have been found culpable of threatening, abusing and assaulting journalists in the line of duty.

Article by courtesy CEMESP