-Writes Open Letter to PUL
By Our Reporter
Mr. Jonathan Pay-Layleh, a renowned Liberian international Journalist is urging the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) to stay actively engaged with the ongoing issue between the Liberian government and vocal talk show host Henry Costa’s Roots FM radio.
He wants the current case to reach its logical legal conclusion.
In an Open Letter addressed to PUL President Charles Coffey on Thursday, October 17, 2019, Mr. Pay-Layleh said:
“I believe the engagement of the Press Union leadership should not end with the issuance of a press statement following the closure. The world is watching and watching keenly.”
Acting on orders of a warrant from the Monrovia City Court last week, Liberian police closed down the station and took away equipment and documents, because the government said the station was operating illegally and was engaging in broadcasting hate messages and profanity.
But Mr. Costa has since disputed the claim that he was operating illegally.
BELOW IS FULL TEXT OF Journalist Pay-Layleh’s Open Letter:
New Georgia Township
Monrovia, Liberia
October 17, 2019
Mr. Charles B. Coffey, Jr
President
Press Union of Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia
Dear President Coffey
As a member and former official of the Press Union of Liberia, I write to urge you and the leadership of the Union to remain engaged with developments surrounding and following the closure of Roots FM until the case is brought to a logical conclusion. This means taking interest in and fully following any court processes that may be going on since the abrupt and violent closure of the station.
I believe the engagement of the Press Union leadership should not end with the issuance of a press statement following the closure. The world is watching and watching keenly.
The Press Union of Liberia has always taken interest in court cases involving the works of media institutions and people whether or not they are members of the Union which, in my opinion, is a good thing to do.
I believe if the main reason for which Roots FM was shut down, as stated in the Liberia Telecommunications Authority’s letter to Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean, is because the station was operating without a valid license, the Union can work with the station’s management to ensure that this important requirement is met. I am confining my plea to this aspect of the reasons for which the station was shut down because to the best of my understanding, the LTA communication to the justice minister did not mention any other reason than the station’s existence without a valid license.
I urge you to engage the National Media Council and old minds and hands in the media community and the PUL legal people to join your leadership in getting involved in whatever effort that would lead to the resolution of this aspect of the reasons for which Roots FM was closed.
My plea comes against the background that whatever the reasons are for the action taken against Roots FM, this is not the kind of news the Press Union of Liberia wants to hear go out of Liberia, especially as the Union marks its 55th anniversary this year.
Like we did in the past, for example the case of FrontPage Africa’s Rodney Sieh, we should take interest in the case involving Root FM until the case is disposed of.
Just as the Press Union of Liberia should not encourage impunity and unprofessionalism, it should also not allow and support the targeting of institutions and individuals for what they believe in.
I really hope, Mr. President, that we, the media community, will in the coming weeks get some very clear understanding from you about what has happened to the court case involving Roots FM.
All the best and thanks for being on top of the situation from the initial stage.
Sincerely yours
Jonathan Paye-Layleh
Member, Press Union of Liberia, Former Chairman, Press Club, Press Union of Liberia, former Chairman, Grievance and Ethics Committee, Press Union of Liberia