Barely two weeks following the closure of Spoon Network, members of the international community in Liberia have urged stakeholders here to respect the exercise of press freedom.
In a joint statement issue by the European Union and its Member States represented in Liberia (Germany, Ireland, France, and Sweden) and the Embassy of the United States of America, the partners noted that they welcome the positive trajectory of increased press freedom over the past five years, as demonstrated by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index.
But called on all citizens and stakeholders to respect the exercise of press freedom.
“At the same time, we call on all citizens and stakeholders to respect the exercise of press freedom and to exert proportionality in, and refraining from, measures that could indirectly prevent media stakeholders from carrying out their work,” partners said in their joint statement.
“We trust that Liberia will carry out the electoral process without any incidents against media stakeholders, thereby reaffirming and strengthening its reputation as the oldest liberal democracy and free society in Africa. All citizens and stakeholders do have a responsibility in this regard,” they added.
It could be recalled that the Spoon Network was recently closed on the orders of the Liberia Civil Law Court. The Network owns a television and couple of radio stations and was shut down on July 14, 2023.
The Court orders were predicated on a defamation lawsuit filed by the former acting Director General of the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Service (LISGIS), Mr. Wilmot Smith, against Spoon Network and its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stanton Witherspoon.
On June 20, 22, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) accused and forwarded to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) for prosecution several local vendors and senior officials of the Liberian government including Mr. Smith for alleged acts of corruption. In November 2022, President Weah dismissed Mr. Smith for administrative reason.
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Why is western colonization resurfacing in Africa through a gradual replacement subculture ?
Shamelessly, western supremacy is dominating Africa, woefully, gay rights and abortion rights are being imposed and Africans are coerced into acceptance although they differ with African beliefs and practices!
I read the other day the shocking diplomatic etiquette violations of the Swedish Ambassador admittance to his government financing abortion rights in Liberia contrary to Liberian laws and now this nonsense of another foreigner involvement in the Spoon saga!
No African diplomat would dare involve in propagating polygamy in Sweden against the laws of the land yet a white faced Swedish Ambassador would involve on Liberian soil!
Similarly, America has had an ambassador here who has been more of a Governor- General and often threatening a sovereign nation and its government!
I believe Africa must return to the Mao Mao as was in Kenya!
What is the so called press freedom that should be respected?
This is a nonsensical internal interference!
Spoon violated an individual Liberian citizen right, does he has no right to litigation and should the courts operate by western dictates?
Spoon was shut down on the orders of the courts, how is that a violation of press freedom?
Liberian laws must be respected and this unnecessary interference must be stopped!