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Liberia: Lawmakers Assure Passage of Media Laws
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The NEWS (Monrovia)
18 April 2008
Posted to the web 18 April 2008
Benjamin B. Sworh
Monrovia
Members of the National Legislature Thursday assured the Press Union of Liberia that it would ensure the passage of the three draft media reform laws presented to them.
Senator Gbenzongar Findley, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and telecommunications and Representative Vinicious Hodges, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Broadcasting gave the assurance when members of the PUL and civil society organizations presented three draft media reform laws and petitioned the Legislators to enact them into laws at the Capitol.
The two lawmakers, in a separate statements lauded members of the Press Union of Liberia for submitting the draft Acts and promised to lobby with their colleagues to pass the bills into law.
Senator Findley and Representative Hodges described the presentation of the draft media laws as a "historic and glorious day for Liberia" because Journalists were denied public information for a very long time.
They said the draft Acts would be submitted to plenary for deliberations.
"We are happy to see a civil society group to draft a bill that is in the interest of the people; we will study it and make sure that it is passed," the Lawmakers added.
Earlier, the Secretary-General of the PUL Peter Quaqua who read the petition on behalf of the group called on the lawmakers to enact the bills.
He pointed out that the petition was in further manifestation of "our freedom to associate for the common good, also guaranteed by the Liberian Constitution; we are also doing this to ensure that the government will heed our petition and pass these laws."
Flanked by hundreds of Journalists, Mr. Quaqua informed the Lawmakers that the draft acts were prompted by the limitations of people to freely express themselves on matters that affect their personal and national wellbeing; and the limitation of opportunities for people to seek information for their professional, educational and political growth.
He also noted that at the close of the warfare in 2003, there was a general call for the reconstruction of Liberia which, among other things, required that the PUL take measures to ensure that the circumstances which caused the war is curtained and prevented from reoccurring.
"We therefore come to you today with three draft Acts that have the propensity to promote individual freedom in Liberia, curb corruption and promote peace in Liberia. At the Passage of these laws, any Liberian, irrespective of being journalist or otherwise, would have the opportunity of seeking whatever information he/she wants without fear of being rejected," Quaqua added.
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He further maintained that the transformation of the Liberia Broadcasting System into a public Service Broadcaster would ensure that all tax payers, regardless they agree with the government or not, would have easy access to the station being supported by their taxes.
Earlier, hundreds of journalists paraded from PUL headquarters and proceeded to the Capitol where the acts were presented to the lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Media Law Reform Working Group, Mr. Malcolm Joseph presented copies of the draft Acts to members of both Houses during the ceremony.
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