Two dailies back on newsstands

Two Liberian daily newspapers that were shut down by the authorities more than a week ago have returned to newsstands, diplomatic sources in the capital Monrovia told IRIN on Tuesday. The papers, The News and the pro-state Monrovia Guardian, were closed on 20 November by the government over tax arrears. "They are back in operation and are on the streets," the source said. The PanAfrican News Agency (PANA) reported The News as saying it was back after negotiating settlement of its arrears with the government. It, however, called on the government to "apply the same vigour" with which it is pursuing tax arrears from the paper to other businesses in the country. The Monrovia Guardian remained silent on its reopening. The pro-state Radio Liberia International (RLI) quoted Assistant Finance Minister for Revenue, George Howe, as saying last Tuesday that the decision to close the papers was taken due to the failure of the two media houses to settle their tax obligations. He had said the two papers would remain closed pending the full settlement of their tax arrears. The Press Union of Liberia had condemned the closure of the two dailies saying it was "high-handed and outside the purview of the finance ministry", PANA reported. It said the country's tax law provided for defaulters to be sent to court for settlement of arrears and not for the finance ministry to shut down a business. The press watchdog, Reporters sans frontieres, also condemned the closure. RSF defended the papers by saying that they "are trying to survive and they cannot their taxes to the government". Policemen entered the premises of the private daily The News on Tuesday, 20 November. Wilson Tarpeh, chairman of the board of directors of the newspaper, was arrested but he was released several days later.