Liberia: Why Does Liberian President Sirleaf Hate the Press?

opinion

When President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's chief body guard, Mr. Daniel Othello Warwick few days ago threatened the Liberian free press in a barefaced and no mincing words, he put on display a raw braggadocio show of ignorance, never mind the struggles the media in Liberia witnessed and the attending abuses it suffered all these years from the very same government security: beating of journalists, burning down and arbitrarily closing down media houses. These indiscretions are still fresh in the minds of journalists and the Liberian people!

By calling the Liberian media "terrorists," Mr. Warrick went overboard in his confused state of mind by ignoring the unique role that journalists play in the Liberian society! He said further that the Liberian security apparatus, had guns and would come after the press... , with all this being considered, you would think by now Liberia's Nobel laureate president would ave done the obvious: called him aside quietly and advise him that such statements were adverse to Liberia's growth in a new era and asked him to apologize. Or to showing leadership, she would have publicly reprimanded him, given Liberia's history and the myriad abuses the press suffered these many years.

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