(MFWA/IFEX) – Some members of Liberia’s lower house of Parliament, opposing the leadership of Speaker Edwin Snowe on 23 January 2007, threatened to bar two independent FM stations and a pro-government radio station from covering their sessions. Star Radio and Radio Veritas, two independent, Monrovia-based stations and Truth FM, a pro-government radio station, were accused […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – Some members of Liberia’s lower house of Parliament, opposing the leadership of Speaker Edwin Snowe on 23 January 2007, threatened to bar two independent FM stations and a pro-government radio station from covering their sessions.
Star Radio and Radio Veritas, two independent, Monrovia-based stations and Truth FM, a pro-government radio station, were accused of bias in the coverage of the ongoing leadership conflict in the country’s legislature.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) correspondent reported that the parliamentarians had refused to meet at a place in Central Monrovia designated by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf while the renovation of the legislative house was ongoing.
The correspondent added that the group’s action was contrary to Article 40 of the Liberian Constitution, which states that both houses of the Liberian legislature shall “meet in the same city.”
Following the group’s action, several independent media outlets described them as renegades, prompting a threat to bar the stations.
The group recently launched an unsuccessful bid to impeach the Speaker over various other allegations.
