IPNews-Monrovia-Liberia-Friday 8 February 2019: Journalist and Media workers across Liberia are jubilating to yesterday’s concurrence by the Honorable Liberian Senate with the House of Representatives in the passage of the ‘The Kamara Abdullah Kamara (KAK) Act of Press Freedom’.
The passage which according to our Legislative reporter, was a unanimous vote cast now awaits the signing into law by President George Manneh Weah into handbill.
It may be recalled, President Weah in his recent annual message called on the National Legislature to ensure a speedy passage to the “The Kamara Abdullah Kamara (KAK) Act of Press Freedom,” which is significant to the protection of a free Press and Freedom of speech as a major objective of the CDC led government.
The “Kamara Abdullah Kamara (KAK) Act of Press Freedom,” was one of the first bills submitted by President George Weah upon taking office in 2018.
“The Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act of Press Freedom,” is in memory of the late former president of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), and amends the Liberian Codes Revised, Penal Law of 1978 of Liberia, Chapter 11 by repealing three sections.
It may also be recalled that in June 2018, President Weah, in a letter sent to the Legislature, and in consonance with Chapter 11, Article 15 of the Liberian Constitution, which provides for ‘freedom of speech and expression and a caveat of abuse thereof’; and in consideration of Liberia being a signatory to the ‘Table Mountain Declaration’, requiring all African countries abolish inflammatory and other related media laws’, stated that Liberia in anticipation of adhering to such legal instruments which enacted the Freedom of Information Law and established the Freedom of Information Commission.
The Liberian leader in that communication to that august body in 2018, sighted that in full implementation of these Acts for the Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press needed to amend Section 11.11, Criminal Libel; against the President; Section 11.12, Sedition and 11.14, Criminal Malevolence of the Penal Laws of Liberia, which tend to impede freedom of speech and expression and acts committed thereof are considered to be criminal.
In the spirit of President Weah submission of the Bill, acknowledged the pivotal roles played by former PUL President Kamara A. Kamara, along with other media practitioners, in the process to repeal those provisions of the penal law of Liberia, which impede freedom of speech and independence of the press.
“Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to repeal these sections of the penal laws that have the tendency of making Liberia non-compliant. In view of the above and in government’s commitment to uphold the Constitution, the declaration of Table Mountain and other international treaties related to the press and press-related activities, we request that you pass into law this legislation which will repeal these sections of our penal law that has the tendency to impede freedom of speech and expression that we have vowed to protect. ..,” President Weah’s letter read.
At yesterday’s plenary session, the Senate Committee on Information, Broadcasting, Culture, and Tourism, recommended the passage of the Act in line with all the recommendations therein from the Honorable House of Representatives. The Bill was sponsored by senators J. Milton Teahjay of Sinoe County and Francis Paye of River Cess County.
In a related development, the Senate con yesterday began further deliberations on the highly debated ‘Act Prohibiting the Tenure of Public Officials within the Executive Branch of Government.
However, due to much inputs from members of the Senate the decision was taken to further discuss the matter at Tuesday, February 12, 2019.