14 January 2008:

CEMESP is appalled by repeated threats by the Minister of

Information, Rev. Laurence Bropleh, to shut down legitimately

registered media houses on account of their non payment of taxes and the type of

music they play.

This development is reminiscent of the so called dictatorial regime of

Charles Taylor and must be challenged and stopped.

At a recent press conference, Bropleh reported that some 23 media

houses are delinquent in the payment of taxes and regulatory fees for 2007,

for which he will order their closure. He made similar threats in 2007.

At the same meeting, Bropleh also threatened "tough actions" against

radio stations that play what he referred to as "vulgar music," arguing that

such music is not good for Liberian society.

In early 2007, Bropleh shut down the "Independent" newspaper in

contravention of a court order (see IFEX alerts of 4 June, 4 April, 28,

21 and 8 March, 28 and 22 February 2007), even though Article 20 of the

Liberian Constitution dictates that "no person shall be deprived of . ..

privilege or any other right except as the outcome of a hearing

judgment consistent with the provisions laid down in this Constitution 

and in accordance with due process of law."

CEMESP notes that these threats are unlawful and undermine the health

of Liberian democracy. Bropleh must accept that other Liberians have a

fundamental freedom of choice, which includes the right to disagree, or

to think otherwise in determining what is good for them to say or to

listen to.

CEMESP agrees absolutely that individuals and business entities must

pay taxes on the income that they earn. The non payment of taxes violates

the law, and those culpable must face the consequences. CEMESP notes,

however,that the Finance Ministry has clear procedures, grounded in law, for

the collection of delinquent taxes, and any attempt by Bropleh to enter

this jurisdiction would be illegal and overzealous; his threats to shut

media outlets down would simply deprive the media of their constitutionally

guaranteed right to freely express themselves.

CEMESP is concerned that Bropleh's decision to single out media

organisations in his "tax payment vendetta" manifests his frustration

with and incapacity to handle government media relations. It is also a

blatant reminder of the "hut tax" regime of the past, through which poor,

underrepresented citizens, upon whose dispossession the "rich property

owners" in Monrovia and elsewhere lived, were targeted for humiliation

in the name of tax collection.

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.