15 September 2008

Newspaper managing editor and reporter receive death threats; football club
president threatens to have sports journalist flogged


(CEMESP/IFEX) - Moses Sonkarley, the managing editor of Liberia's newest
newspaper "The Renaissance", and Nathaniel McClin, a reporter for the
paper, have complained of threats against their lives following the
publication of a front page story in the 10 September 2008 edition of the
paper about an alleged coup plot against the government.

Sonkarley told CEMESP that at about 1:00 a.m. (local time) on 11 September,
he received an anonymous call on his mobile phone warning him of dire
consequences for having published the story.

According to Sonkarley, the anonymous caller accused "The Renaissance"'s
management of being paid to publish the story against what the caller
described as "prominent sons of the land". The caller later said, "You will
feel the weight of your action."

Sonkarley said he received three anonymous threatening calls. The managing
editor's family has expressed concern for his safety.

McClin told CEMESP that at about 5:00 p.m. on 10 September, he also
received an anonymous call from an individual who said, "This is your
second time writing such (a) story on sensitive issues and you must be
prepared for anything."

According to an investigation conducted by CEMESP, George Dweh, former
transitional government speaker and a former member of the disbanded rebel
group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), had
complained to "The Renaissance"'s management about the fact that Sonkarley
and McClin had linked him to the alleged coup plot in the article.

CEMESP categorically condemns the alleged threats on the lives of the two
journalists by the unidentified callers. The organisation calls on whoever
feels aggrieved by the publication to channel their grievances through the
Ethics and Grievance Committee of the Press Union of Liberia.

In a separate development, sports reporter Roland Mulbah, of "Sportsmax"
newspaper, has complained of death threats issued by Tugbeh Chien Tugbeh,
president of the Liberia Football Association's (LFA) second division club
side 72nd FC.

In a letter of complaint to the Sports Writers Association of Liberia
(SWAL), a copy of which was sent to CEMESP, Mulbah said he is convinced
that the threats are linked to his recent reports on the boycott of the
on-going LFA 2008 national league by some aggrieved members of the LFA
family. Tugbeh is the spokesperson for the LFA members who are boycotting
the league.

Mulbah told CEMESP that "Sportsmax" has been using Tugbeh's photograph each
time the paper reports on the league boycott, simply because Tugbeh is the
group's spokesperson, not because of any malice.

The SWAL has acknowledged receipt of Mulbah's complaint. SWAL President
Numinee Williams informed CEMESP that initial contact with Tugbeh, aimed at
resolving the issue, has proven futile.

According to Williams, Tugbeh told the SWAL leadership that he will not
relent in his efforts to have Mulbah flogged for constantly publishing his
photograph in the newspaper.

SWAL says it is studying the matter and will issue a position statement
shortly.

CEMESP has described the alleged threat on Mulbah's life as a calculated
attempt by Tugbeh to frighten the journalist and subsequently silence the
Liberian sports press. In an interview with the press, CEMESP Executive
Director Malcolm Joseph condemned the attack on the reporter and called on
Tugbeh to refrain from making such barbaric statements as, "paying thugs to
beat the journalist to death if he does not refrain from publishing his
photograph in his newspaper."

Joseph then advised Tugbeh to follow due process if he feels offended by
the publication of his photograph in connection with the boycott story.

_________________________________________________________________
For further information contact CEMESP, Benson & Buchanan Streets, P.O. Box
3480, Monrovia, Liberia, tel: +231 651 4357, e-mail:
centerforpeacebuilding@yahoo.com, Internet: http://www.cemesp-liberia.org/

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of
CEMESP. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
CEMESP.

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