On Thursday, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) finalized its commitment with the presentation of three draft bills to the National Legislature. Throng of Liberian journalists, civil society groups as well as students, marched to the Capitol Building for the purpose of presenting the three draft bills which are intended to shape the media landscape of the country.

	• Press Union of Liberia

Thursday’s program is historic, according to some journalists because it set the stage for bringing about new direction in journalism in the country.

The parade was spearheaded by PUL Secretary General, Peter Quaqua, Media executive Malcolm Joseph, Inquirer’s Managing Editor, Philip Wesseh, BBC Correspondent Jonathan Payelayleh amongst other journalists.

Journalists gabbed in sparkling white T-Shirts with blue and red inscriptions as well as blue jeans as a symbol of togetherness and determination.

At the Capitol Building, they group was received by Senator Gbezongar Findley followed by the reading of the petition by Secretary General, Peter Quaqua.

He read: “The three draft bills include the Freedom of Information Act, an Act to Establish the Independent Broadcasting Regulatory, and an Act establishing the Liberia Broadcasting Service to replace the Liberia Broadcasting System.

Mr. Quaqua said from the media environments, the concerns remain the limitation of people to freely express themselves on matters that affect their personal and national well-being and the limitation of opportunities for the people to seek information for their professional, educational and political growth.

According to him, these restraints have limited not only journalists, but also students, commercials and ordinary citizens in the full enjoyment of their rights.

He noted that at the passage of these laws, any Liberian, irrespective of being journalist or otherwise, would have the opportunity of seeking whatever information she wants with out the fear of been rejected.

Receiving the bills on behalf of the Senate, Grand Bassa County Senior Senator, Gbezongar Findley said that the three draft bills are the first of its kind since their seating to receive from the citizens.

Also Grand Kru County Senator Cletus Wotorson said he was happy that media practitioners could petition the House for the passage of the bill.

Public Relations Officers Respond To Minister Bropleh

In response to recent utterance of the Minister of Information, Dr. Lawrence K. Bropleh, the National Association of Public Relations Officers in a press release issued Thursday clarified that the Ministry of Information is not the employer of Public Information Officers of Government Ministries and Agencies.

NAPRO in the statement under the signature of its Acting National Secretary General said, “NAPRO wants to remind Minister Bropleh that the Civil Service Agency remains the only legitimate statutory body responsible to scrutinize and validate the credentials of all civil servants throughout the country; including Public Information Officers of Government Ministries and Agencies.”

	• Dr. Lawrence Bropleh

The release furthered, “NAPRO is therefore encouraging Minister Bropleh to take his vain aggression of credentials misconception to the Civil Service Agency; since such an unfortunate misconception has far reaching civil service implications which he does not understand”.

NAPRO release among other things called on Minister Bropleh to “stop diverting the public attention from the crucial issue of relocating the suffering students of Kendeja and face the Honorable House of Representatives to answer to inquires of alleged impropriety that has hampered the image of government in the last few weeks”.

“It is important to note that Minister Bropleh has been unsuccessfully drumming up a failed campaign at the level of Cabinet to colonize all public information officers under the guise of centralizing and strengthening public information dissemination with vicious motive to replace them with his political cronies from the Diaspora,” the NPRA statement concluded.

Weah, Sackie Not On Par

The office of the Acting National Chairman of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has congratulated all party members for remaining steadfast and patient while the recent disagreement amongst National Executive Committee (NEC) members was being resolved.

	• Amb. George Weah -CDC

A statement issued yesterday quoted Mr. Joshua Sackie, Acting National Chairman of the party as acknowledging and appreciating the “enormous patience of all its members.”

He has accordingly reaffirmed his commitment to the growth and multicultural democratization f the CDC, consistent with best political practice.

Sackie’s office has also reassured members of the CDC as well as members of the NEC that it remains unequivocally committed to respecting the bye-law and constitution of the CDC. He said he will at all times uphold said document as the sole basis for the determination of any policy matter within the orb of the party.

At the same time, Sackie also has informed partisans that, the National Election Commission of Liberia has summoned all parties to the conflict, and conducted an official hearing into the matter on 15 April 2008.

The statement said the NEC has reaffirmed Mr. Sackie as the recognized Acting National Chairman of the CDC.

“The National Election Commission (NEC) being reasonably persuaded that Mrs. Geraldine Doe-Sheriff’s chairmanship claims cannot be sufficiently justified in light of the details provided, has officially communicated a letter to all parties, acknowledging Mr. Joshua Sackie’s leadership consistent with the constitution of the CDC”.

According to the statement, this reaffirmation by the National Election Commission is a victory for all CDCeans and should be viewed as a new impetus that ought to bring back together all in common political folds for the continuous rebuilding of our party and nation-state.

In other news, the Acting National Chairman said his attention is drawn to what he called “ill informed utterance” allegedly attributed to Mr. George M. Weah, first partisan of the CDC that he supports Mrs. Doe-Sheriff as the new Acting Chairman of the CDC.”

He was quoted as claiming that Mr. Sackie informed him of his resignation and is surprised to hear he (Sackie) has rescinded his decision.

The press statement however quoted the office of Sackie as stating that the statements said to be made by Mr. Weah, that Mr. Sackie informed him of his resignation, are farfetched, fabricated, and derived from the figment of the imagination.

According to the statement, Acting Chairman Sackie he has neither phoned, nor has he been phoned by Mr. Weah as is being claimed for the last one year.

On the issue that Mr. Weah expresses support for the candidacy of Geraldine Doe-Sheriff, the statement said this is not a new development because he (Weah) has always wanted to dominate the party’s leadership with politically-blind loyalists who would be used as stooges for his personal pursuits.

According to the statement, It is troubling that he (Mr. Weah) is blatantly disregarding the decisions of the National Election Commission of Liberia, which was reached after scrutinizing the arguments presented by both parties. Many are baffled by the fact CDC has recognized the authority of the NEC whose decisions it went against during the general and presidential elections.

“Henceforth, the office of the National Chairman believes that Mr. Weah’s statements portray him as one who is out of touch with actual happenings of the party, thereby leaving him reliant on informants who have largely misled him into making counter-productive statements to the detriment of the party,” the CDC statement quoted Sackie as saying.

His office reminds Mr. Weah of his responsibility to play a constructive role in the CDC, and not indulge in politically unhygienic utterances as such insinuations are intolerable in a party that must be governed by laws. He warned to refrain from making informed utterances that will divide the CDC and reduce it into a laughing stock amongst Liberians.

Though Weah could not be reached up to press time, political analysts say the once two political bedfellows are not on par and that this is likely to dampen the party’s potential of putting a formidable fight in future elections.