The NEWS (Monrovia)
5 May 2008
Monrovia — The three media laws submitted to the National Legislature by a coalition of media and civil society organizations have been introduced in the house's plenary.
A release issued said the draft laws were introduced at last Tuesday's session.
The three draft laws, an Act to Transform the Liberia Broadcasting System into a Public Service Broadcaster; an Act to Establish an Independent Broadcast Media Regulatory Commission and a Freedom of Information Act were presented to the House and Senate on April 17, 2008.
The laws, produced under the banner of the Liberia Media Law and Policy Reform Group, an outgrowth of the internationally sanctioned Partnership for Media Development and Conflict Prevention in West Africa, have been four years in the making, during which there were series of consultations involving various shades of civil society, media, government and the international community.
After Tuesday's reading in the House of Representatives, the bills were referred to the House's Committee on Information and Broadcasting for review, and are expected to be returned to the House Floor within two weeks.
Mr. Malcolm Joseph, Coordinator of the Media Law and Policy Reform Working Group, said he sees this development as "very positive" and it shows that the legislature is determined to ensure that Liberians benefit from this basic freedom.
Mr. Joseph noted that the action of the House could not be a better gift for the media community on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, which was observed on Saturday, May 3, 2008.
He renewed calls to members of the House and Senate, civil society and media groups, to remain committed to the cause of media reform in Liberia, and ensure that these laws are enacted at an early date.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP), says it welcomes the introduction in plenary of the three draft laws presented to that body on April 17.
CEMESP said it sees the development as the eighth pillar of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, which proposes the creation of a global partnership for development; engrained in the increasing globalization of one world, whereby issues like the basic freedoms and democracy have become all embracing," Mr. Joseph pointed out.
"In the case of Liberia, we are all believers that being a part of the global partnership is an important component of growth, development and progress, and this can be better replicated within the freedom of expression and media sphere, the release said.
A partnership for media development therefore behooves upon Liberians the right and opportunity to amplify benefits from the nationally empowering and universally sanctioned freedom of expression, as espoused by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This is in alignment with the increasingly significant freedom to access information, which finds solace in Article 15 c of the constitution of Liberia: " there shall be no limitation on the public right to be informed about the government and its functionaries "
This law accepts that it is evermore important to allow popular access to government and its resources to serve as a means through which the Liberian people can participate in the governance of the state, furthering this in line with universal principles that equally believe that this includes all other public bodies, including NGOs, religious bodies, intergovernmental organizations, among others .
The legislature must see this action as making the Liberian democracy a living instrument, where the people will petition their representatives to move on issues bearing on our domestic and international relations, in a forum guided by ideals and consensus, and free of fear, the release added.
He release noted that such actions will not only bolster the media reform in Liberia, but will also show that Liberian government is responsive to the aspirations of the people, and working in their interests.
At this stage of the reform process, all media and civil society need to buckle up and pursue their lawmakers to support the prompt passage of the law, CEMESP added.
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