Boima J. Boima is facing repercussions for an article in the "New Democrat" newspaper in which he commented on the absence of most lawmakers from the legislature.
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 11 January 2011, the Public Affairs Officer of the Lower House of the Liberian legislature prevented Boima J. Boima, a parliamentary reporter for the privately-owned “New Democrat” newspaper, from covering the legislature for writing a story that was deemed unsatisfactory.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent in Liberia reported that Boima has been instructed to justify his publication or risk a ban from the house.
On 11 January, the “New Democrat” carried an article on its front-page with the headline: “Empty Chambers, Several Lawmakers skip Session”. The article noted that most of the lawmakers were absent from the house after a three-month long recess.
The article by Boima was accompanied by a photograph with less then 10 out of 64 legislators present.
