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Liberia’s independent media have decided to boycott government functions until Friday in protest at the closure of two independent radio stations, a media source in Monrovia told IRIN.
“No news from the president’s office and from government ministries will be reported,” the source told IRIN. “The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) will review the situation at the weekend.”
On Monday, the privately-owned ‘Inquirer’, ‘News’ and ‘Democrat’ newspapers were off the newstands while a third independent radio station, DC 101.1 FM, was off the air.
“The pro-government ‘Patriot’ and ‘New Liberia’ were the only newspapers to be published yesterday,” the media source said.
These actions were coordinated by the PUL following the closure of Star radio and the suspension of Radio Veritas last week. PUL President Suah Deddeh was arrested by the police on Friday but released on Saturday without charge.
“My imprisonment has only served to strengthen my resolve to stand for justice and the rule of law,” PANA quoted Deddeh as telling journalists at a weekend meeting.
The media and human rights groups contend that the government’s closure of the two radio stations was done “outside the due process of law” because the authority to close down legally established institutions lies with the judiciary.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions