-CDC Government’s closure of three Radio Stations
By William Selmah,wselmah@gmail.com
The Liberian Government, acting through the Monrovia City Court shut down three FM stations (Roots FM 102.7, Love FM 102.5 and Shaktar FM 105.1) for alleged illegal operation in the country and for violating provisions in the Criminal Procedure Law and the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) Act on the operation of radio stations in the country. That was on Thursday, October 10, 2019.
In fact one of the stations singled out by government 102.1 (Vision FM) is a Christian station, which is exclusively involved in broadcasting Gospel content from New Georgia outside Monrovia.
Besides, some of the affected radio stations had been accused of distasteful broadcast, including using hate speech and profanity, that are often laden with invectives and inciting contents.
Of late, Roots FM has particularly been on the radar of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), with the union in no uncertain terms distancing itself from the station’s style of broadcast saying it does more harm than good to public interest, contrary to what an ideal broadcast entity should be standing up for. That position is still shared in silence by many in the media community, because the media as societal conscience should at all times have that tenacity and reasonable judgment to navigate through good times, turbulence and tidal waves above reproach.
It is hoped the Government’s case against Roots FM, Love FM and Shaktar FM is proven otherwise, because they cannot be seen as shooting themselves in the leg. Media institutions must never become accustomed to preaching the “do what I say but not what I do” kind of message. He that says let’s go, should certainly position himself to lead the way.
While lack of decorum and lawlessness on the part of media institutions remains unacceptable, using the law to exercise heavy handiness on individuals and institutions is equally preposterous, seems of which appears to be showing its head in this case.
Seizing the equipment of the institutions such as mixers, keyboards and transmitters in our view is near unprecedented; especially after shutting them down already.
Should the contents of a store be confiscated simply because its owner failed to regularize the business’ status? Laws must be exercised reasonably.
While we insist that media institutions and personnel do nothing less than the right, honorable thing, we equally caution those in authority against any act that amounts to using the law to clamp down on dissent.
The law should be used as a shepherd would use the rod: not for only smacking a straying sheep back into the fold, but for protecting the very sheep as well. No wonder why the Psalmist would admit: “Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”