Civil Law Court ‘A’ orders granting of operational license to One Media Incorporated, owner of PUNCH FM and TV, following more than a year of revocation by government.
The verdict followed after the government revoked the license of the local media house, citing compliance failure.
Speaking to journalists minutes following the ruling, Punch FM Chief Executive Officer and founder Patrick Honnah, expressed gratitude to the court for granting him Justice.
Mr. Honnah said, he can only celebrate cautiously because of some Liberians, who were arrested during the January protest in Monrovia, who were advocating for the media organization to be granted the right to operate.
Meanwhile, the state lawyers have filed an appeal to the supreme court.
In a press statement Tuesday evening January 7, 2020, Punch FM Acting General Manager Christopher Sellee described the court decision as a victory that has come on the sweat and blood of those Liberians who he said were “brutalized” Monday January 6, 2020 protest by Police .
“Fellow Liberians, today, we join thousands of Liberians to celebrate, but cautiously, We salute your courage which sends a clear message that at no time should anyone be denied his/her rights simply on the basis of vendetta, personal hate, and reprisal.
The court has made the right decision to restore our right to operate a business in our own country”, he adds.
According to Mr. Sellee for too long government infringe on their rights to own and operate a business in their dear country for reason best known to it.
He mentioned that the refusal of government to lift its ban on the entity was not because they were not registered but was plainly due to deep centered hatred against the owners.
“With this ruling, we call on all media houses to see this as a victory not only for One Media Incorporated, owner of Punch FM/TV but all media practitioners in the quest for rule of law against the people in power”, the release stated.
“We like to thank the leaders and members of the Council of Patriots, fellow media colleagues, the International Community, political activists, the Liberia Council of Churches and other rights’ groups and all Liberians for standing firm against marginalization and tyranny in our society”, Punch FM release noted.
Punch FM/TV was amongst several new media institutions that were affected by the government of Liberia new regulation to stop issuing FM licenses as of January 30, 2018.
But the Management of Punch FM protested and to the government to court on grounds that it was granted operational license before January 2018.
