The Press Union of Liberia, at a mass meeting Last Friday resolved that its members will continue the use of their appropriate institutional and the Union’s identity cards at all times to carry out their duties.
A statement issued following the assembly rejected the action of the government through Deputy Information Minister Eugene Fahngon to restrict the movements of journalists as a clear attempt to undermine the role of media people in the war against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Union also sees the constraints being imposed by the government as running contrary to the warning of the United Nations Secretary General in his statement marking this year’s World Press Freedom Day.
The press union is warning that the government of Liberia will be held responsible for any harm and intimidation suffered by journalists and media workers during the discharge of their duties in the face of the current threats through the deputy minister of Information, Eugene Fahngon.
The Union sees as a complete violation of the MOU reached between its leadership and the government, Minister Fahngon’s decision to unilaterally accredit journalists to cover the COVID-19 pandemic in isolation of the PUL.
The Union says it, however, remains open to constructive engagements and discussions with the government in the interest of the mutual understanding that should be existing between the two sides and encourages its members to continue to use their official working and PUL accreditation cards to carry on their functions.