The Nimba Community Radio Association (NICORA) said its attention has been drawn to Monday, November 4 edition, VOL. 20 NO. 46 of the Nation Times Newspaper captioned “After Killing President Samuel K. Doe, INPFL’s KOGAR SURFACES AS REBEL LAWMAKERS’ LEADER.” NICORA, in the strongest term has condemned this publication and called on the publisher to retract the story and apologize to the Liberian people in general and Representative Samuel Gongben Kogar and the people of Nimba County in particular. NICORA said bringing happening of civil crisis into the political fight among lawmakers which has nothing to do with the civil war is antidemocratic especially when it is published in newspaper owned and operated by a former Press Union of Liberia (PUL) Vice President, Octave Tongar Williams. “While it is true that Media coverage can shape public perception of a conflict and influence opinions about the parties involved, justifications for actions, and potential resolutions, the media needs to be objective in its reportage and therefore using the media to spread misinformation or serve as a tool for propaganda is wrong. This act of distorting facts to serve particular interests or agendas for personal gain is unacceptable as it has the propensity to erode the trust the public has in the Liberian media. The media should be acting as both a mirror and a catalyst in conflict situations, shaping narratives and influencing the behavior of individuals, governments, and organizations instead of spreading diluted pieces of information,” the Association noted in a press release.
The Association continued: “While establishing that we are in no way associated with the Media Team of Representative Samuel G. Kogar, we wish to bring to the attention of the Publisher of the Nation Times Newspaper that throughout the stages of the well documented Liberian Civil Conflict, Hon. Kogar was not associated with the INPFL as a faction or in no way involved with the gruesome killing of Former President Samuel K. Doe. Providing a fake narrative of our history to please your sponsors and endanger public peace is not only an ethical transgression but a deliberate act of misinforming the current and future generations of Liberians considering the longevity of newspaper publications and its importance in research and scholarly works.”
The Association also noted the ongoing leadership debacle at the Honourable House of Representatives is concerning to all Liberians and as it unfolds; the Media should play a key role. “The issue is not a tribal or regional conflict as people from all tribes and regions are seen on both sides of the divide. It’s unimaginable that a Newspaper will endeavor in its publication to give the conflict a tribal or regional flavor by aligning the people of Nimba. Let it be known that Nimba County is not a party to the leadership crisis at the HOR as the publication of the Nation Times Newspaper want to hint,” the release said. The Association indicated that the Nation Times Newspaper should be reminded that Representatives from all of the Fifteen Counties are part of the Majority block demonstrating a deep internal crisis at the House of Representatives which can only be handled by the members and not through sentimental headlines, propaganda and blackmail for selfish gain. NICORA therefore called on the Publishers Association of Liberia, the Press Union of Liberia and other media groups to take keen note of this publication of the Nation Times Newspaper and provide necessary safeguards to help prevent the recurrence of such acts that present a negative picture of the media community in Liberia; adding, “Media executives should serve as role models for the younger generation of journalists and conduct themselves in manners that reflect a positive image of the profession.” As the situation unfolds, NICORA called on members of the Honourable House of Representatives to put the interest of the Liberian people and the electorates first by amicably resolving the leadership crisis and moving the country forward.