The Foya Violence Story In Context–Reflecting The Mood
By Our Staff Writer
The editorial team of the News Public Trust, www.newspublictrust.com emphatically states that by its track record on the Liberian media landscape, this news outlet will be the last to whip up tension that could lead to violent conflict.
This is why NPT has been following with keen interest reactions to an October 4, 2023 news report written by our Judiciary and criminal justice Reporter who was visiting Voinjama, Lofa County regarding ongoing investigation into the political violence that earlier took place in Foya (from where she earlier had to flee).
In the report of this Journalist, who was present (as participant observer) during interactions between the international election observers and the Liberia National Police (LNP) officers at the local police headquarters in Voinjama, held long conversations with some observers and got a feel of the mood and utterances. The report neither name any observer or say there was an official statement to that effect. But as a news reporter, she got a clear sense of the level of disappointment over how the case was being handled, thus summarizing the mood at the time, like reporter anywhere around the world would do in her lead that was written:
“International observers comprising European Union, ECOWAS and Electoral institute for sustainable democracy of Africa (EISA) have expressed disappointment in the Liberia National Police (LNP) investigators for only transferring partisans of the main opposition Unity Party, when both UP and the ruling CDC parties were engaged in the bloody clashes in Foya, Lofa County at the weekend.”
Further narrations in the story would provide the backdrop and context for the story in question. In Foya Violence: Election Observers Disappointed In Police Investigators – News Public Trust
With utmost surprise that first drew what this news outlet sees as a brazen defamatory comment contained in a press statement released by our respected sub-regional grouping, ECOWAS dated October 5, 2023:
“ECOWAS wishes to state emphatically that this report is a palpable fabrication without any factual basis. ECOWAS demands the withdrawal of the fictitious report and insists on a written apology.
ECOWAS will continue to appeal to the media in Liberia to continue to abide by the ethics and principles of the profession and refrain from acts that have the tendency to cause dissatisfaction, and mistrust, and lead to conflict.”
In a society like Liberia where the culture of violence and impunity are deeply rooted, the mood in Foya and Voinjama characterizing the investigation of alleged culprits linked to the September 29, 2023 Foya political violence, News Public Trust thought it was its professional responsibility to report about that issue.
Therefore, our Reporter covering the progress of the investigation herself was left with disappointment in reactions from the leaderships of the international elections observations missions based here in the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
On the back of the reactions, Reporter Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com said this through her Facebook Messenger platform:
“It so disappointing that EU, ECOWAS and EISA authorities will be issuing statements against my report I did. Here is what happened. ECOWAS and EU observers along with me, were all at the same Guest House in Voinjama City, Lofa. Late Tuesday evening a minutes after 5pm, I told by a source from the EU delegation to follow them immediately at the Voinjama police station, where there is a situation ongoing that police authorities have sent the Unity Party supporters in Gbarnga leaving the CDC supporters out.
They even provided me a vehicle where I rode with the ECOWAS observer and we later picked up the two observers at the NASSCORP guest house and we all went at the police station. When we got at the police station, those observers compromising for over one hours questioned the police authorities and they even provided more information to do a story but how come their bosses in town issuing statements against my report as if I look in the air and took story from there.
To date, my election observer sources are still sending me information. One of the observers from EISA even asked me to send her Journalists from Gbarnga phone numbers, so that they can be following up on the case from Gbarnga.
In fact, some of my observer sources called me while in route to Monrovia on Wednesday, October 5, 2023 that my story was ok, but that their ‘bosses would have problem with the caption’.”
“ECOWAS EOM, EISA IEOM and EU EOM would like to jointly assure the public that they have issued no such public statements expressing disappointment with investigations and processes by the Liberia National Police relating to the Foyah City incidents,” said a joint statement from the international elections observers.
The joint statement dated October 6, 2023 was much more measured than the first statement by ECOWAS, says www.newspublictrust.com Managing Editor, Frank Sainworla, Jr.
And the information contained in the joint statement is not only information for this outlet, but it informs the public about what international election observers should be doing and saying.
“International Observers are bound by the laws and regulations of their host country. ECOWAS EOM, EISAIEOM and EU EOM reaffirm their commitment to respecting and abiding at all times by the rule of law and the sovereignty of Liberian state institutions as mandated under the Constitution and laws of Liberia. ECOWAS EOM, EISA-IEOM and EU EOM are observing campaign and electoral preparations across Liberia and that includes investigations by the LNP on electoral offences,” the joint statement added.
Tone of ECOWAS’ statement defamatory
At the same time, News Public Trust has strongly rejected insinuation by ECOWAS that this media outlet is an unprofessional institution tainted with unethical and inflammatory reporting.
This characterization is totally wrong, because ever since this online news outlet kicked off in 2017 till current, it has stood up against inflammatory reporting and instead, playing up the need to promote violence free elections.
Managing Editor Sainworla says, ”the ECOWAS statement amounts to defaming our news outlet and bringing our institution into public disrupt, thus we deserve an apology.”
The News Public Trust boss added: “Having covered the various dark years in Liberian history—from the armed conflict, to disarmament and demobilization; to the first post war election won by former NPFL rebel leader and now ex-President Charles Taylor, to the LURD rebel war in the 2000s; the second post-war elections in 2005; to present—this news team will be the last to fuel conflict in Liberia.”
Finally, this news outlet makes it categorically clear that as an independent and responsible news entity, it has not and will never be bootlicker to any national or international power, institution or newsmaker or to fulfill political correctness.