spot_imgspot_img
Wednesday, December 11, 2024

LIBERIA: CSO PLATFORM TERMS FREEDOM FM BROADCAST “MALICIOUS”  

Date:

MONROVIA – The Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia (CSO Platform) has condemned Freedom FM broadcast for attempting to politicize the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL); and that the broadcast was ill-intentioned, malicious and intended to put the army against the people of Liberia.

Freedom FM is owned by the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), Mr. Sam Siryon.

Last week, the pro-government Freedom FM controversial broadcast implicated the Army Chief of Staff as an operative of opposition Unity Party standard bearer, Joseph Boakai.

  • Save
Mr. Adama K. Dempster, Secretary General, Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia

During the talk show, Mr. Abraham Godsent Wheon, manager of Freedom FM insinuated that members of the Armed Forces did not vote for Pres. George Weah in the October 10 presidential elections due to the ill-treatment they had been getting from the Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Prince C. Johnson, III.

  • Save
Maj.-Gen. Charles Johnson III

According to Wheon, he has a stockpile of information on activities happening in the barracks including the decommissioning of over 20 officers by Maj. Gen. Johnson, adding that he was also aware that the army chief is a supporter of Mr. Joseph Boakai.

Following the broadcast, Mr. Sam Siryon was taken into custody by the Armed Forces of Liberia on Thursday for the controversial broadcast on his FM station, which implicated the Army Chief of Staff as an operative of opposition leader Joseph Boakai.

  • Save
Journalist Abraham Godsent Wheon of Freedom FM

However, the CSO Platform in a statement issued today through its National Secretary General, Adama K. Dempster pointed out that Sections 8.2 and 8.3 of the National Defense Act of 2008 outlines that the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) shall at all times perform their duties in accordance with democratic values and human rights, non-partisan approach to duty and in ways that command citizens respect and confidence and contribute toward maintaining and promoting the rule of law; that the AFL shall remain politically neutral, shall not join, support or participate in the activities of any political party or similar organization.

The CSO further stated that Mr. Wheon’s comments were inflammatory and inciteful and that Wheon’s comments very troubling since Freedom FM is owned by the Deputy NSA Director Sam Siryon, who the CSO Platform said a staunch supporter of President Weah’s ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) which makes the comments of Mr. Wheon believable.

“This action goes far beyond the tenets of journalism which seeks societal good and violates the National Defense Act of 2008,” the statement stated.

The CSO Platform’s statement continued that, “The human rights community / CSO-Platform cautions all journalists and Liberians that the 20 years of peace Liberians celebrated in August must not be shortchanged for the selfish interest of few in the society.”

“The human rights community, civil society further encourage the Armed Forces of Liberia AFL to remain a force good at all times,” the statement concluded

smartnews
Smart News Liberia is an online news outlet and a product of Smart Media Group Inc. Our website, smartnewsliberia.com, covers a broad spectrum of news content. For inquiries or information, you can reach us at 0777425285 or 0886946925, or email us at smartnewsliberia@gmail.com or info@smartnewsliberia.com.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

CLASHES AT CAPITOL HILL HIGHLIGHT POWER STRUGGLES AND THREATS TO LIBERIA’S DEMOCRACY

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – Tensions boiled over at the...

‘WHERE IS OUR PRESIDENT?’ SENATOR KONNEH CALLS FOR STRONGER LEADERSHIP FROM BOAKAI

LIBERIA – Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Mohammed Konneh, who...

DR. NYAN ISSUES URGENT HEALTH WARNING AS NPHIL ENHANCES SURVEILLANCE AGAINST VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, the Director-General...

BOAKAI SIDESTEPS SPEAKER KOFFA: LOGICALITY OR PRECEDENT-SETTING BREACH?

President Joseph Boakai's decision to submit the 2025 draft...

A MILESTONE FOR LIBERIA’S HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN

The launch of Liberia’s first doctoral programs at the...

BOAKAI’S MISPLACED AMBITIONS AS LIBERIA BLEEDS AND THE PRESIDENT COURTS GLOBAL VANITY

Eight months into his presidency, Joseph Boakai’s administration is...

COMMENTARY

THE LASTING LEGACY OF PRINCE JOHNSON’S DEATH AND THE PATH FORWARD FOR LIBERIA

By Lyndon J. Ponnie, Sr. The passing of former Liberian...

PRES. BOAKAI’S LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND LIBERIA’S POLITICAL CRISIS

-A Commentary Joseph Boakai's failure to lead has once again...

THE MASS DISMISSAL OF LIBERIAN PUBLIC SERVANTS: A TROUBLING TREND UNDER THE BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION

A Commentary by Wondah L. Jah Since assuming the presidency,...

SECURITY RISKS: IS PRESIDENT BOAKAI UNKNOWINGLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR EARLY COUP D’ÉTAT?

In his commentary, Liberian political analyst Vandalerk R. Patricks...

LATEST NEWS

KEY FIGURES AGAINST EACH OTHER IN UNITY PARTY – JOHN MORLU VS AMARA KONNEH

In the aftermath of the pronouncement by the National...

BREAKING NEWS: TRAGIC FUEL TANKER EXPLOSION IN LIBERIA

In a devastating incident that echoes the recent disaster...

ANOTHER DRUG BUST IN LIBERIA – SAME TRH LEBANESE MERCHANTS LINKED

Liberians have been awakened by news of another drug...

Share post:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

OPINION

LIBERIANS ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UP AND CDC

  An Opinion By Grace RK Guar Every six...

AMERICA’S NEGLECT OF LIBERIA: A CALL FOR CHANGE

An Opinion By Bishop Dr. Rudolph Q. Kwanue, Sr A...

AMID AN UNENDING WAR AGAINST POVERTY, INJUSTICES – HAS THE PROGRESSIVE STRUGGLE BECOME LOST IN TRANSLATION?

A Patriot's Diary With Ekena Wesley What manner of Liberian progressives...

HAS PRESIDENT BOAKAI’S GOVERNMENT BEGUN BEARING GOOD FRUITS? (PART1)

By Jacob N.B. Parley Following a careful reflection, I have...

ELEVATING THE AG BIBLE COLLEGE TO A UNIVERSITY: A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT

By Jacob N.B. Parley After many years of successful preaching...

THE GALLERY

spot_imgspot_img

MORE ARTICLES

spot_imgspot_img

MORE NEWS

LATEST DEVELOPMENT NEWS

LATEST CRIME NEWS

Share via
Copy link