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Monrovia – Scores of Liberians have taken to social media, casting blame on the George Weah-led government, accusing the administration of being the mastermind behind what many claim is a vehicle-ramming attack against Liberia’s famous blackboard news outlet Daily Talk, and not just a motor vehicle accident.
The blackboard news outlet’s ceiling panelled structure was on Tuesday evening crushed by an unknown vehicle, leaving it severely damaged to the point that Daily Talk has been off the newsstand for the second day running.
Daily Talk Managing Editor Alfred Sirleaf told Punch online service Wednesday, “the guys don’t want us to talk, but we will continue to talk,” although he fell short of stating definitively who would want to destroy Daily Talk by ramming a vehicle through its plywood board structure.
“This was done intentionally I’m not fighting government, I’m just informing and educating the Liberian people,” said Sirleaf, who insists that the car-ramming incident that damaged Daily Talk’s newsstand was the handiwork of someone who do not like the work they are doing at the blackboard news outlet.
“I don’t think it was an accident. The guy came from Congo Town, avoided the steel pillars and came to the front and hit the board, I want to believe this act was deliberate,” Afraid narrated circumstances surrounding the action of the driver who carried out the car-ramming against Daily Talk.
Of late, Daily Talk has been critical of the Weah-led government in several publications of the blackboard media institution.
Sirleaf’s assertion that he is not fighting government, seems not to be just what he alone thinks, as several Liberians have also taken to social media with the same mindset, with many expressing the belief that the Government of Liberia is behind the Daily Talk incident.
Vocal student activist and a fierce critic of the Weah’s administration, Martin K.N. Kollie, on Wednesday, wrote on his official Facebook page: “DAILY TALK is down to the ground: A war against free speech and press freedom – The reemergence of totalitarianism and kakistocracy.”
Martin continued: “Former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf served our Country for 12 years and this booth of public information (Daily Talk) was never broken down or destroyed one day regardless of its critical stance and publications on national issues.
After just 2 critical publications of DAILY TALK under President George Weah, this booth has been damaged in just 8 months. What a sad day for our democracy.”
“DAILY TALK has fallen to the ground. But it MUST rise up again. We will do all we can to ensure it rises up tall once more,” Martin said, adding, “Liberians deserve to know THE HARD TRUTHS and DAILY TALK has been an honest platform and patriotic channel of information for decades now. You cannot muzzle free speech and press freedom. Access to information is a fundamental right.”
He added: “It is often said in Latin “Press libertas est jus. Quod non potest esse ora clausisset” which means in English “Press freedom is a right. It must not be muzzled.”
Mahmoud A. Dukuly, another Liberian, agrees with Martin, when he wrote under the thread of the student activist’s post: “Sad day for our nation.”
“Wow! So bad,” S Melvin Toteh Panton wrote, while Martin received commendation from another poster, Theophilus Kpalleh Tnx (thanks) Cmd (comrade) MKNK for that high level of bravery as it relates to this informative platform that was destroy. It will be fixed
Due to such occurrence, Tarnue Townowner for his part, wonders where the country is headed, as he wrote: “Liberians where are we going ? So sad !!!!”
Grace Renelle Guar wrote: “The world.is watching. Weah government is doomed. Trust that.”
Serjla Serjla – “It is those sycophants in the CDC broke it down because they can not handled the truth spoken….”
Levi Faith Armstrong – “Since This CDC lead _ led government took power, Liberia have move a hundred steps backwards. No vision.”
Godson Daniel Gayflor wrote: “The civility of our democracy is under attack!” He added that “The famous Daily Talk that survived even the brutal Taylor’s era, and enjoyed the protection of the much criticized Ellen’s regime, has been reduced to debris just within days of running these usual headlines.”
Godson insinuated that agents of the regime who allegedly perpetrated that car-ramming attack against Daily Talk made it to seem as a motor vehicle accident, but he said it was not.
“They tried to make it appear like an accident of coincidence, but no, it’s not. It was a planned hit on Mr. Alfred Sirleaf’s daily news billboard. Who knows if he himself is not even on the hit list as well,” Godson said.
“Sad times for our country folks, our ugly dark past is on the horizon, PRAYERS!” He concluded.
In reaction to Godson’s post, Lawrence Dekontee Sayway wrote: “Our democracy is under attack. And a dictatorial regime is settling in. #Sad times…”
Robert G. Kamara – “Hmmm! Hayaka We Inside kpang kpang lol.. it’s very Shameful and unbelievable Mhen!!!”
Steve Sanyen said, “The country is getting scaring by the day.If this famous daily talk could survive during the repressive regime of mr.taylor ,and through out the various wars, that took place in the country,but just within 9 months this regime came to power and the board has been destroyed under it’s watch ,this country is leading into something else.”
Claude Dionysius Christinme Edwin said, “Nar the free speech yah so…the Country Giant promise us…let me wait n see what our Giant will say about this incident.”
“Wow this country giant will kill us ooh,” Gai Sambollah wrote.
Yassah G Karmofallah wrote: “This will not help them, because God Almighty Himself is in control.”
Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe did not respond immediately to a request for response sent by Punch online service, regarding the claims made against the government.
