PHOTO: Moses Kollie, LAA boss
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
VOINJAMA, Liberia- A senior official of the CDC government of President George Weah has accused Journalists and the media of portraying negative image about the country, while boasting that the government has no opposition politician in jail.
The Director General of the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), Moses Kollie claimed that some Journalists only report “negative” stories about Liberia, which is giving the country’s bad image internationally.
Serving as keynote speaker at the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) 57th anniversary here on Thursday, September 30, 2021, the Liberian official said, “now is the time that the Liberian media break away from the past and embark on a new era in which its reportage will be de-politicized. Yes, the time has reached for media practitioners to stop assassinating people’s hard earned character.”
Partial view of the audience
He claimed that this is done “because of reasons that border on differences in political ideology or simply because of hatred or personal aggrandizement.”
“We want you report the facts and nothing more or less. Let us stop putting the image of our country in the mud up there—as doing so in the name of journalism will only impede our progress as a nation and a people. Please do not continue to allow us as politicians to use you against the interest of the state,” Mr. Kollie said.
His statement comes some 24 hours after the Inspector General of Police, Patrick Sudue said in Monrovia that there were “paid” agents who were reporting that there is an increasing wave of insecurity in the country, including mysterious disappearances, mysterious deaths and ritualistic killings.
Mr. Kollie warned Journalists: “Remember that besides your ethics, you must have patriotism at the apex of your profession. There are some of your colleagues who do not see anything good about Liberia through their media lenses. Everything they report is negative about their own country.”
The LCAA Director General spoke of “a vivid reality” that supports the Weah government’s determination in protecting freedom of speech.
He claimed that “since January 22, 2018 to date, no opposition politician or journalist is behind bars on account of being critical of the government.”
Contrary to Mr. Kollie’s assertion, three critics of president Weah have been jailed for freely expressing themselves since he took power nearly four years ago.
Several politicians or political activist have been jailed since.
Mohammed Ali, Secretary General of the former ruling Unity Party was in March of this year jailed after he posted on his official Facebook page in which he said: “Dear National Elections Commissions we understand your Plot: But try it and you will see what gonna be the end result.”
That led to Ali’s arrest and detention at the national police headquarters after the NEC was attacked.
Also in May 2020, Menipakei Dumoe, a Liberty Party politician and a political commentator was jailed for posting on his Facebook page that Liberian don’t need rice but they need AK-47 after which his home was been searched on a search and seizure warrant.
Many weeks ago, another political activist, Emmanuel Gonquoi, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFFL) was recently arrested and imprisoned at the Monrovia Central Prison.
He got a court warrant after he and his supporters locked the Capitol Building’s main entrance on grounds that Legislators are playing delay tactics to sign a law for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court.
According to the LCAA boss, a free pluralistic media environment is important for such dialogue
Impact of COVID-19
The LAA boss Kollie was invited to speak on the theme: “Enhancing the Voices of Citizens and the Government for Sustainable Development.”
He said there could have been no better time for coining such a theme than now; when the world is confronted with a deadly pandemic that has claimed the precious lives of thousands of people from every race, continent, region, country, religion and tribe.
“Indeed, this is the time for the voices of the citizens and the government to be harmonized for the holistic growth and development of Liberia—and the media is that conduit that must be used to actualize this process for the overall good of the nation-state,” Mr. Kollie said.
He said the raging COVID-19 pandemic has not only sent many to their early graves, but has also negatively impacted the global economy.