11 May 2009

Reporters refuse to cover senate news after president assaults colleague


(CEMESP/IFEX) - Journalists under the banner of the Legislative Reporters
Association of Liberia have announced a boycott of media coverage of the
office of the President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate, Cletus
Wotorson, for "assaulting" one of their colleagues, Solomon Ware.

On May 5th 2009, Ware, of Truth FM (a local radio station in Monrovia), was
reportedly assaulted by the President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate
while attempting to interview Wotorson following the premature adjournment
of the senate's plenary session.

The Legislative Reporters, in a strongly worded statement issued in
Monrovia on May 7th, said they would remain unwavering on their stance
until Wotorson apologizes for his actions.

The attack on Ware, the statement noted, came at the time journalists the
world over were celebrating World Press Freedom Day. "We have unanimously
decided as of the date of the issuance of this statement that the offices
of Pro-tempore Wotorson will not receive media coverage in any form or
manner from legislative reporters until he apologizes for his action," the
statement said.

Meanwhile, the journalists have called on the umbrella organization of
journalists in Liberia, the Press Union of Liberia, to institute measures
to protect the journalists providing media coverage at the National
Legislature of Liberia.