Liberia: Political Parties Condemn Shutdown After Government Clamps Down on Roots FM
Monrovia — Opposition political parties are taking the George Weah-led government to task following Thursday’s search, seizure and shutdown of Roots FM radio station.
Report by Alline Dunbar, [email protected] & Augustine T. Tweh, [email protected]
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 judgement consistent with…and in accordance with due process of law…”
– Alternative National Congress
Judge Ernest F. Bana, Stipendiary Magistrate of the Monrovia City Magisterial Court issued a search warrant upon request of the Ministry of Justice to undertake search and seizure operation on the premises of the station which hosts the Henry Costa Morning Show, the government says have been spitting hate messages on the airwaves and operating without a license.
In its petition, the MoJ maintain that Roots FM, in order to perpetuate what it described as criminal acts against the Republic of Liberia, willfully and illegally elected and decided to criminally use their broadcast equipment name supra for the commission of the following crimes against the republic and the peace loving people of Liberia by inciting rioting & violence, broadcasting hate messages against the government, public nuisance, disorderly conduct, aiding consumption of crime, advocating armed insurrection, criminal attempt, criminal facilitation, criminal conspiracy and other criminal acts intended to instigate subversion against the government of Liberia.
Court Orders Seizure of Equipment
The station was taken by surprise, in the early morning hours Thursday when officers of the court arrived to act on the warrant.
Judge Bana order reads: “You are hereby commanded to search in the premises of the Management of Roots FM (102.5), 102.1 and those acting under its control located in Monrovia. The purpose of this request is for the discovery and seizure of transmitters, keyboard and mixers, microphones, headphones, computers, stabilizers, cables antennas (One bay-four bay amplifiers, generators etc. which are believed to be in these premises.”
The Search Warrant continues: “You are hereby commanded that upon the discovery of these items, bring them before this Honorable Court (Monrovia City Court) in keeping with law and make your official returns endorsed at the back of this writ as to form the form and manner of service thereof.”
The writ was carried out based on an application filed to the court by the Ministry of Justice.
The station is owned and operated by one of Liberia’s famous Talk show Host Henry P. Costa.
Mr. Costa is one of the critics of President Weah’s administration.
According the application, Roots FM and other radio stations have been illegally operating in the country in violation of Section 15 of the Telecommunication Act of 2007. It provides that “No person shall own or operate a telecommunication network use to provide a telecommunication service to the public for direct or indirect compensation, except under and in accordance with a license or an exemption order issued by the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA).”
The petition maintains that the failure of the respondent to obtain a valid license and to pay for their radio frequency authorization fee through the LTA is denying the Government of Liberia of its required revenue.
In response to the development, the Press of Union of Liberia wrote in a statement Thursday said it is probing the court’s action against the Roots FM Radio in Monrovia. “PUL says it is in discussion with staff of the Roots FM and relevant State’s actor to find a way out in accordance with the rule. The union maintains that the rule of law is the best recipe for good governance in sustaining Liberia’s democracy.”
Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus, addressing the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism’s weekly press briefing Thursday, said the station was shut down based on a complaint from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) that the radio station has been operating illegally at the same time using other frequencies.
“By the use of the frequency facilities by FM 102.7, FM 102.5, FM 102.1, and others not named here and based on that, a formal application for a writ of search and seizure was filed,” Cephus said.
The Solicitor General stressed that apart from the above listed frequencies operating illegally, they were also engaged in the conduct of inciting, sparking riots and violence.
“FM 102.7 was engaged in broadcasting specifically hate messages at peaceful Liberian citizens and other forms of extortion and blackmail.” He added.
He disclosed that the government of Liberia saw the actions of Root FM as something that they could no longer condone.
The National Democratic Coalition (NDC) condemns 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. So, we have no other choice but to defend, protect, and uphold the image of our great land of liberty.
– National Democratic Coalition
Station ‘Not Licensed’, Solicitor General Says
“A radio station that is not licensed, that is operating illegally- to create or become an enterprise for extortion and blackmail violates our laws”
Cllr. Cephus added: “These radio stations specifically FM 102.7, has engaged in violation of section 12.5 and 11.4 of the penal code. This morning the sheriff accompanied by the police went to the premises of FM 102.7.”
However, he cautioned other radio stations to desist from preaching hate messages or face being shut down as well.
“Wherever they go, whichever radio station that they used to propagate such hate messages; we will go after them,” He cautioned.
The government’s action is being greeted with condemnation from across Liberia and the political hemisphere.
ANC Slams ‘Illegal Confiscation’
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.
“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 judgement 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 argues that, assuming without admitting, that the government’s action was sanctioned by a court of law, based on the presence of a court officer at the premises of Roots FM, the manner and form employed by the government was lawless and provocative. For example, loud sound was heard of a forceful break-in and pounding of the iron gate of Roots FM.”
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.
‘Mobilize for Change’, NDC Says
For its part, the 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. So, we have no other choice but to defend, protect, and uphold the image of our great land of liberty. Yet, this is not the time to agonize; this is not the time to get sad; indeed, this not the time for sorrow. This is the time to MOBILIZE for progressive social change.”
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.”
The former ruling Unity Party the closure of a privately-owned radio station tramples on Press Freedom and Freedom of Speech which are fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Liberia and any infringement on such right is a gross violation of the constitution.
Silencing Voices Ahead of 2020, UP Says
The Unity Party condemns the closure of a privately owned radio station, Roots FM, by the government of Liberia. Press Freedom and Freedom of Speech are fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Liberia and any infringement on such right is a gross violation of the constitution.
Unity Party
Said the party: “Even in the unlikely event were a writ was served by a court of competent jurisdiction for the closure of Roots FM, there is no law anywhere in Liberia that calls for the vandalism of any station or property. Sadly, what we witnessed this morning was a state-sponsored act of vandalism carried out by heavily armed police force that has been turned into a partisan police force and an institution that is now being used to clamp down on press freedom and freedom of speech.”
The party said 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. “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.”
Ahead of the 2020 Senatorial election, the party feared that the Weah-led government has designed a grand plan to ensure that the voices of the poor suffering masses and the opposition community are silenced. “Not only that the government intends to silence the voices of the people but also to put ordinary Liberians out of job in an economy that is worsening on a daily basis due to poor leadership, unprecedented high level of corruption and the ineptness of the economic management team.”