MONROVIA – The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) says it is shocked at the haste at which threats against journalists are swelling aimed at undercutting gains made on the Safety and Freedom of the Press in Liberia.
In the Union press release, the Union said On Friday, March 3, 2023, Liberia’s top broadcaster OK FM informed the PUL of the threat issued on the life of one of its reporters Varney Dukuly by an unknown individual. The identity of the caller was hidden.
According to OK FM, the release narrated that the incident occurred at about 1:40 am on Friday, March 2, 2023.
Journalist Dukuly has been closely following and reporting on the recent incident that took place at the home of former Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott which led to the death of one of her daughters, the PUL release noted.
Accordingly, the PUL further indicated that OK FM narrated in its complaint to the PUL that the unknown caller asked Journalist Dukuly “are you Varney Dukuly”? When Varney replied in the affirmative, the caller responded “…. you will pay for the story you wrote against the government”. The caller hang up the phone after Varney asked who you are.
The release noted that Varney reports for OK FM, the Independent Newspaper, and is also a New Narrative fellow who has followed and reported on the ongoing trial of Gibril Massaquoi in Liberia.
This latest threat according to the PUL press release brings the number to four journalists whose lives have been threatened since the inception of this year by some known and unknown men which include: Journalist Yawah Jaivey of FrontPage Africa, Sekou V. Sheriff of Voice of Liberia, Lisa Diasey of Women TV-Liberia and now Varney Dukuly.
Meanwhile, the Press Union is calling on the Liberian Government, local and international partners to take a keen interest in the escalating threats against journalists ahead of the ensuing general election in Liberia. Journalists, the Union insisted, must be accorded all the courtesies and protection in the buildup to the election.
Journalists reporting evolving issues, the PUL indicated must at all times be guarded by the Liberia National Police and all other state security apparatus while avoiding intimidation…
