The closure of Roots FM, a local radio station critical of the George Weah regime has been condemned by many in the country with some describing it as ‘unconstitutional’.
The local radio station was on Thursday October 10, 2019 forcefully closed on order of the Ministry of Justice triggered by the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) who complained of illegal operation by the station.
Broadcast equipment belonging to the station was also dismantled and bagged by authorities of the Justice Ministry few minutes after its breakfast show “The Costa Show” on Thursday prompting the station CEO Henry Costa who is based the US to call for rescue.
Many Liberians who went to the scene to prevent the police from taking away Roots FM equipment did little as police and court workers broke into the station’s building and packed all broadcast equipment belonging to the station.
‘Unconstitutional closure’
A Supreme Court lawyer described as unconstitutional the Thursday, October 10, 2019, action by authorities of the Ministry of Justice, to order the closure of Roots FM radio station in Monrovia.
However, the senior lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said that the current practice of closing media houses down, because of an allegedly expired license, is “unconstitutional and unlawful.”
“Any such provision in the Liberia Communications Authority Act of 2007 is unconstitutional and illegal,” the lawyer told Daily Observer
He said the LTA should have filed their complaint against the radio station, either to the Tax Court for (maybe) tax evasion or the Civil Law Court for an injunction, and should not have used the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
“Tax evasion is not a criminal matter for the LTA to have taken it before the MoJ, because tax evasion does not amount to any criminality in this case; and so, the ministry’s action is illegal and unconstitutional,” the lawyer repeatedly said.
Article 15 of the 1986 Constitution states that “Freedom and independence of the media are hereby guaranteed.”
In the LTA’s complaint, dated October 8, 2019, and signed by Ivan G. Brown, chairperson of the Board of Directors of the LTA, a copy obtained by local media reads: “The Board of Commissioners of the LTA informed you that some individuals/entities are operating radio stations in the country without a valid license and authorization from the LTA in contravention of Section 15 of the Telecommunications Act of 2007.”
ANC Condemns
The Alternative National Congress (ANC) of Mr. Alexander Cummings, said it strongly condemns the invasion, break-in, illegal confiscation of the equipment, and arbitrary closure of Roots FM.
He added:“ANC emphasizes that the illegal confiscation of Roots FM equipment and its closure violate Article 20 of the Liberian Constitution which says that “no person shall be deprived of …property …except as the outcome of a hearing judgment consistent with…and in accordance with due process of law…”
The party said it is evidenced by video footage placing a court sheriff on the scene of the incident, that the station was not accorded due process of law in a court of competent jurisdiction, prior to government’s action.
ANC further contends that even if the action of the government was predicated on government’s argument that Roots FM is operating without a valid license, Roots FM is entitled to due process of law; that is, to be cited and heard by court before any punishment is meted against Roots FM.
NDC Party
At the same time, National Democratic Coalition (NDC) condemned in the strongest terms the attack on Roots FM and free speech in Liberia and therefore calls on all progressive social democrats in Liberia and abroad to step up the campaign for the democratization of Liberia.
“The Weah government is incapable of sustaining the democratic culture in our homeland”, it added.
The party added: “Having fought for decades to see genuine change in our country, this is not what we want to see, this is not what we hope for. However, as unfortunate as it is, what do we see in Liberia today? Thus, no other choice have we but to MOBILIZE against the excesses of this government of the past…a government that has crumbled under its own weight, such that an earlier prediction of the social democratic community has so suddenly come to pass like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Alaric Tokpa.”
Unity party
The former ruling party says private stations are one of the media through which ordinary citizens and members of the oppositions freely express themselves as the station (ELBC) sponsored through tax payers’ money is a no-go zone for oppositions and critical voices.
It added:”The closure of Roots FM by the government through the use of force by heavily armed police officers shows how serious the George Weah led government is in clamping down on free speech and freedom of the press.”
UP believes ahead of the 2020 Senatorial election, the Weah-led government has designed a strategy to ensure that the voices of the poor suffering masses and the opposition community are silenced.
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