The Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform (CSO Platform) says its attention has been drawn to a broadcast on a local radio station in Monrovia attempting to politicize the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). “This action by the media institution is ill-intentioned, malicious and indented to put the army against the people of Liberia,” the CSO Platform noted in a press statement.
According to the press statement, “Sections 8.2 and 8.3 of the National Defense Act of 2008 outlines that ‘the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) shall at all times perform their duties in accordance with democratic values and human rights, non-partisan approach to duty and in ways that command citizens respect and confidence and contribute toward maintaining and promoting the rule of law; that the AFL shall remain politically neutral, shall not join, support or participate in the activities of any political party or similar organization.’
“In a recent broadcast on Freedom FM –Face the Issues with Abraham Godsent Wheon, the presenter and manager of the station in an inflammatory and inciteful manner drew the Armed Forces of Liberia Chief of Staff, Maj Gen. Prince C Johnson III, into the just-ended October 10, 2023 presidential and legislative elections as not supporting the President of the Republic of Liberia, George M. Weah, and dismissing commissioned officers who support the regime.”
The statement emphasized, “The CSO Platform/human rights community finds these comments made by Mr. Abraham Godsent Wheon very troubling since Freedom FM is owned by the Deputy NSA Director, Sam Siryon, a staunch supporter of the regime, which makes Wheon’s comments believable. This action goes far beyond the tenets of journalism, which seeks societal good, and violates the National Defense Act of 2008.
“The human rights community/CSO-Platform cautions all journalists and Liberians that the 20 years of peace Liberians celebrated in August must not be shortchanged for the selfish interest of few in the society.
“The human rights community, civil society further encourage the Armed Forces of Liberia AFL to remain a force for good at all times,” CSO Platform maintained.