Folks from the Unity Party (UP) have threatened to beat up the Publisher of the Hot Pepper newspaper, Philipbert S. Browne, for allegedly support the re-election bid of President George Manneh Weah and not Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai.
In a letter to the Minister of Justice, Browne revealed that on Tuesday, September 5, while stuck in a traffic jam around the Inter-Ministerial Complex vicinity, Congo Town, due to the Unity Party campaign trail, he was greeted by Arthur Massaquoi (his esteemed brother), who approached his vehicle. He said Massaquoi informed him that he (Massaquoi) was sitting with Cllr. Buchi Ben Kiata, and so he opted to speak to him.
“After pleasantries, the Unity Party (UP) folks complained about the CDC supplement on the back-page of my newspaper (Hot Pepper) and some of my headlines. They concluded that I was supporting President George M. Weah when I should have been neutral,” Browne stated.
“In my own defense, I simply said that I was a businessman and, if the Unity Party wanted to advertise, they were welcome to do so. As for me being neutral or not, I told the Unity Party folks that the same rights they have to support the Unity Party were the same rights that I have to decide whom I support.
“During this friendly exchange between friends, a well-dressed gentleman, supposedly from the Unity Party, in the midst of Cllr. Kieta and Hon. Massaquoi said that they should beat me up,” Browne explained.
“Even though sharply rebuked by the Unity Party folks, I, for obvious reasons, is of the opinion that it is the mindset and predominant views of the Unity Party higher-ups to beat me up,” he observed.
However, Browne warned that his letter to Minister Dean was not a complaint; instead, for the record as in case of any eventuality, he is capable of protecting himself.
“Mr. Minister, this is not a letter of complaint, I am capable of self-protection, and am in no way requesting protection from the Government of Liberia (GOL). I am simply stating for the record in case of any eventuality,” Browne’s letter maintained.
Copies of the letter was also sent to the President of the Republic, H.E. Geroge M. Weah; Minister of National Defense, Daniel Ziankahn; Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Maj/Gen. Prince C. Johnson; Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Patrick Sudue; Director of the National Security Agency, Henric Pearson; and the Director of the Executive Protection Service (EPS), Trokon Roberts.