Free Rodney Sieh

The owner and publisher of FrontPageAfrica, Mr Rodney Sieh, has been in jail for almost two weeks now. His crime: He is unable to pay $1.5 Million to the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Chris Toe, for publishing the results of an audit report that showed that Minister Toe could not give account or show documents for monies under his management. The Daily Observer Newspaper thinks that Mr Sieh should apologize to Dr Toe so that the case may be withdrawn. Here is a part of the Daily Observer suggestion: "The purpose of this editorial is to make it clear to the public and to the international community that this is not at all apolitical case, and that those arguing that it is are doing Sieh a major disservice. The only victims here are the people whose hard-earned reputations have been tarnished.We hope that upon leaving prison, Mr. Sieh will change the way he practices journalism and bring honor to the profession as all journalists are required to do."

With the audit reports clearly pointing to Minister Toe, it is amazing that Mr Sieh is being sued for publishing and exposing what had already been reported. I had to have my take in this one:

I think the editorial staff of the Daily Observer has seriously erred here. The constant and forever-business of apologizing for exposing the evil of society resolves nothing and is sickening.

If the government of Liberia and Chris Toe think that both of them are absolutely clear in conscience and mind, then they should allow Rodney Sieh to rot in jail.

If all the audit reports conducted in Liberia are now considered not credible and a farce, then Rodney Sieh will have to remain in jail; for it is clear that he does not have the $1.5 Million.

The more things change in Liberia(if that is really the case}, the more they remain the same old, same old!


Kweme