28 February 2007

Alert

Newspaper's licence revoked, premises sealed


Incident details

newspaper(s)

closed
(CEMESP/IFEX) - On 27 February 2007, the government of Liberia revoked the operational license of "The Independent" newspaper in Monrovia for one year.

The decision was announced at a press conference in Monrovia by acting Information Minister Laurence Bropleh. Minister Bropleh said the decision was in response to "The Independent"'s publication of a photograph showing former Presidential Affairs Minister Willis Knuckles in a sex scene with two ladies.

Knuckles resigned on 26 February 2007.

At the press conference, Minister Bropleh also summoned the owners of printing presses in Monrovia and ordered them not to print "The Independent".

Police were also reported to have sealed the premises of "The Independent" and other nearby organizations. Local news reported that more than 20 police officers moved on the premises of "The Independent" and chained the gates.

The actions have since been protested by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) and the Liberia Media Center (LMC).

All the groups believe that the decisions act against freedom of expression and were taken outside of due process.



Source

Media Foundation for West Africa
PO Box LG 730
30 Duade Street, Kokomlemle
Legon, Accra
Ghana
alerts (@) mediafound.org
Phone: +233 21 242470
Fax: +233 21 221084
 

More on this case

Ban lifted on newspaper that published sex photograph of ex-official 4 June 2007 Government maintains ban on newspaper, instructs printing houses not to print 4 April 2007 Court nullifies ban on newspaper for allegedly publishing pornography 28 March 2007 Publisher in hiding seeks assistance following raid on his home 21 March 2007 Editor receives death threats 8 March 2007 Publisher wanted by police over publication of sensitive photographs 22 February 2007

Liberia

Journalist released on bail after spending two nights in prison 11 March 2010 Journalists barred from covering Tony Blair's meeting with vice president 1 March 2010 Newspaper and its staff face libel lawsuit 1 March 2010 Security agency instructs printing press not to print newspaper 24 February 2010 Newspaper fined US$900,000 for libel 19 February 2010


 
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