By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
It is now known that “Open threats” from some elements in recent days prompted respected Liberian Jonathan Paye-Layleh, who reports from Monrovia for the BBC and the Associated Press (AP) to hastily leave the country for the United States.
Mr. Paye-layleh told www.newspublictrust.com Wednesday evening from the US: “I had hoped that the explanation we all were seeking to the president’s open allegations against me would come to put the matter to rest; but as you are aware, the more I sought clarity, the worse the situation became with people resorting to issuing open threats to me.”
He did not however name those who have lately been threatening him openly.
On Thursday, March 22, 2018 at a live news conference with visiting United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Madam Amina Mohammed, President George Weah accused Journalist Paye-Layleh of being against him when he was fighting for human rights in Liberia.
That prompted the Liberian international Journalist to request the Presidency to explain how he (Paye-Layleh) was against President Weah.
But in reaction to his call for explanation, President Weah’s office issued a press release few days later saying that, “during the fourteen years civil conflict, he (Paye-Layleh) and others were bent on undermining his efforts by depicting a positive image of the carnage.”
The BBC Correspondent in Monrovia for some three decades could not say how long he plans to permanently stay in the US or whether he’ll be coming soon, but he says he’s studying the situation closely.
“I am doing some consultations here and back at home; I have not made any definite plan yet; but what is clear is I am fighting for my life and I will keep all of you posted,” Journalist Paye-layleh told this news outlet.
The frightened Liberian Journalist added:
“So please let our colleagues including colleague Jacob Parley know I am in a state of decision-making to save my life. I am at the same time monitoring most of the radio talk shows there to try to keep abreast of happenings back home. Pray for me. JP,” the one-time Daily Observer newspaper Reported concluded.
In Monrovia earlier on Wednesday, the new Deputy Minister of Information for Public Affairs, Mr. Eugene Farhgon told the local OK FM live talk show defended President Weah’s attack on the BBC Journalist.
Farhgon dismissed the Journalist’s fears about his security, in the wake of the utterances from the Presidency and claimed that what Mr. Paye-layleh did in the past during the Liberian conflict that President Weah was referring to ‘was haunting him’.
Many including the Liberian media have called on President Weah to clarify what he meant by saying that Journalist Paye-layleh has always been against him, when he (Weah) was promoting the cause of human rights during the Liberian civil war.
Last week, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) published an Open letter to President Weah saying:
“…Eevery second which passes without you providing a clarity on your accusation against the BBC Correspondent leaves us more worried for his personal safety,” the PUL said.
Earlier, Journalist Paye-Layleh himself wrote an Open Letter to President Weah’s wife and First Lady Clar Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor:
“President Weah’s unexplained outburst against me in the full glare of international dignitaries at an event that was meant to talk peace as the United Nations Mission departs Liberia has inflicted the heaviest wounds to my person, character and professional standing; and his press statement that follows has even injured me more. I still don’t understand why the president feels I deserve this. I need an explanation.Monrovia – The British Broadcasting Corporation’s correspondent in Liberia, Jonathan Paye-Layleh has left the country fearing reprisals from President George Weah’s followers,” said Journalist Paye-layleh’s Open Letter to First Lady Clar Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor.
Meanwhile, the Leadership of the Press Union of Liberia will on Thursday hold an emergency meeting of editors/heads of media institutions at the Headquarters of the Union headquarters in the Liberian capital, Monrovvia.
An announcement from the PUL said “this meeting is very urgent and must claim the attention of all
executives of the media.”
It’s widely believed that one issue that will feature high on the agenda will be the ongoing saga between the Executive Mansion and Journalist Paye-Layleh.