The National Executive Director of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC), Cllr. Augustine Toe has added his voice to many voices concerning the arrest and detention of the Publisher of the Plain Truth News Paper, Cyrenius Cephas as well as Manager of the Searmaco Printing Press, Michael Mankine.

They were arrest last week in connection with the publication of an article in which the paper alleged that the government is providing arms and ammunition to the Junta in Guinea.

Speaking to team of journalists over the week end in Monrovia, the JPC boss said the Plain Truth's story "is irresponsible and lacks basic and convenient attributions."

It may be recalled that The Plain Truth Newspaper on December 9, 2009 published a story under the banner "government Supplying Arms to Dissidents in Guinea to Unseat Junta? Junta Alleges

"The Liberian government took exception to, and through the National Security invited the paper's Managing Editor and publisher Cyrenius Cephas and Mr. Mankine for interrogation.

According to Cllr. Augustine Toe, whether the story is false or true, the Plain Truth has a duty and responsibility to Liberia and that its publication should not undermine and threaten the security of the state and create unwholesome relations with other countries in the sub- region.

The JPC boss said the story was irresponsible because it has the propensity to cause trouble for thousands of Liberians residing in Guinea at the hands of the junta. Like many other Liberians, he used the medium to criticize the publication of the Plain Truth Newspaper.

The arrest and detention of the two has been greeted with strong condemnation from some human rights institutions including the Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy (FORHD) of Aloysius Toe who said the arrest and detention of the two individuals was a clever attempt to muzzle the Liberian press and undermine free press in the country.

Cllr. Toe said the arrest and detention of Cephas and Mankine by the Liberian government does not suggest an attempt to underpin the free press and muzzle the Liberian people as being insinuated by his human colleagues.

Speaking further, the JPC boss added that free press around the globe must execute their duty with serious responsibility, noting "therefore, no Liberians including the human community and the media are not above the law. There is a need for the law to take its course when there is a miscarriage."

In a related development, the Liberian government over the weekend released from further detention the two individuals on a Criminal Appearance Bond after they were slammed with multiple charges.