Monrovia – In order to support the Press Union of Liberia led efforts of decriminalizing speech offenses in Liberia, the PUL is urging all its members, journalists, media development partners, the civil society, academics and the general public to show up at a public hearing on the proposed Abdullai Kamara Act for Freedom of the Press on Tuesday.Â
According to an invite from the Liberian Senate Committee on Broadcast, Cultural Affairs & Tourism served the PUL, the hearing will take place in the old chamber of the Liberian Senate at the Capitol Building on 22nd January 2019 at 2:30 prompt.
The Senate Committee indicated that the public hearing is intended to solicit acknowledging views on why should the Liberian Senate concur with the House in amending the Liberian Codes Revised, Panel Law of 1978 of the Republic of Liberia, Chapter 11 by repealing sections 11.11, 11.12 & 11.14 to be known as the Abdullai Kamara Act for Freedom of the Press.
President George Manneh Weah resubmitted to the National Legislature the modified bill on May 31, 2018 seeking to repeal some sections of the Penal Law of Liberia in an effort to decriminalize free speech and create what his administration has branded as an unfettered media environment in Liberia.
The Letter of transmitting bill quoted the President: “Honorable Speaker, Chapter III, Article 15 of the Constitution provides for Freedom of Speech and expression and a caveat of an abuse thereof. Additionally, Liberia is a signatory to the Table Mountain Declaration which demands that African countries abolish insult and criminal defamation law.”
President Weah rallied the lawmakers by referring them to the country’s passage of the Freedom of Information Law and the establishment of the Independent Information Commission as first serious step to reforming the legal operating environment of the media in Liberia.
Speech offenses are still prosecuted in criminal courts in Liberia and is mainly a tool for the powerful to intimidate and punish journalists and political opponents before a trial is even started. Press Union of Liberia: The repeal and effective downgrading of speech offenses to civil suits will signal the world that Liberia is ashamed of its past and ready to evolve speedily with a promise never to violate people for what they say and write.
The Bill is named after revered free expression activist and former President of the Press Union of Liberia, Abdullai Kamara in honor of the deceased journalist role in convincing national government to repeal provisions in the Penal Law of Liberia, which impede freedom of speech and independence of the press.
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