PHOTO: Cllr. Findley Karnga
By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- PUNCH FM owned by former Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) official during the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government, Mr. Patrick Honnah has won the case against the Liberian government for denying the entity the right to get broadcast license.
A ruling by the Civil Law Court was handed down at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, but state Lawyers have taken exception to the ruling and they have taken an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Removing the lid from the registration of PUNCH FM was one of the demands of the Council of Patriots (COP) who stage an anti-government protest in Monrovia on Monday, January 6, 2020. Details will follow later.
In his ruling, Resident Judge Peter W. Gbeneweleh said there was no evidence the government could produce that PUNCH FM had not met the legal requirements to be issued a radio licence to operate in the country.
At the same time, the lawyer representing the legal interest of the Council of Patriots have on Tuesday been trying to secure the release of 28 people who were arrested during Monday’s protest.
The Lawyer has accused the police of gross human rights violations in its handling of the Monday, January 6, 2020 protest staged by the Council of Patriots or COP.
Cllr. Findley Karngar says to use both tear gas and hot water to disperse thousands of supporters simply because they lit fire to feed themselves, is indefensible.
He pointed out that it is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and not the police that determines where or where not to cook, “because they know what is dangerous or hazardous”.