By Bill W. Cooper
United States Ambassador to Liberia, Michael A. McCarthy has expressed his disappointment over some Liberians residing in the U.S. who he accused of bent on using the media to instigate violence in Liberia ahead of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
The U.S. Diplomat stressed that these Liberians in the U.S. are motivated by disruption and desire to break down trust in Liberian institutions without caring what damage they cause, noting that when questioned by law enforcement, they do not have evidence to back up their claims.
“While responsible critical observation from the Liberian diaspora can be healthy, some cowardly media personalities and political personalities have intentionally disseminated rumors or misinformation into Liberia’s political environment from the safety of their studios and offices in the U.S,” he stated on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 during a press conference at his U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.
However, Envoy McCarthy’s statement days after the former chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Cllr. Jerome Verdier accused Monrovia Mayor, Jefferson Koijee of masterminding the attack on the home of former Chief Justice, Gloria Musu-Scott which led to the death of her daughter, Charloe Musu in Brewerville.
It can be recalled that days after the attack on the home of former Chief Justice Scott, Cllr. Verdier, appearing on local radio (Spoon FM), accused Mayor Koijee of sending Varlee Talleh, an employee of the Monrovia City Police to commit the alleged crime though he did not provide reason behind Mayor Koijee’s decision.
According to Ambassador McCarthy, “These Liberians’ decision is also intended to take advantage of America’s first amendment rights to spread rumors and stir up trouble in Liberia, which he described as “Despicable Behavior.”
He added, “While in both our U.S. funded media training and our messaging to the press, we spend a lot of time emphasizing responsible journalism; that with freedom of expression comes an obligation to verify facts, and not to inflame passions without first doing due diligence, and today, I am ashamed to tell you that the most irresponsible controversies to emerge in Liberia’s media over the past month have originated from the United States.”
Meanwhile, the US Diplomat has at the same time strictly condemned the bloody riot that occurred on the University of Liberia’s Capitol Hill Campus on Monday, March 13, 2023, though details of the investigation are still emerging.
“I will first take this opportunity to unconditionally condemn the violence that occurred yesterday at the University of Liberia Capitol Hill campus. Though details are still emerging, but I am speaking directly at politicians, student groups, and citizens across the country when I say that violence of any kind has no place in a democratic society,” the Diplomat noted.
“Violence does nothing but undercuts your own credibility and will only take this country backwards. Disagreements and competing visions for the country should be solved through peaceful debate and at the ballot box, not on the street,” he warned.
