MONROVIA, October 25 -- The Management of the Liberia Micro Media, Inc., publisher of The FORUM Newspaper is taken aback at the press statement issued by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), under the signature of the Union's Secretary General, P. Alphonso Zeon regarding the newspaper's publication on October 18 under the banner headline: “SECRET HANDS BEHIND WEAH'S PRESIDENCY.”

It is surprising to note that the Union, which is supposed to be the bastion of press freedom and the umbrella of media institutions, would choose at this time to serve as a spokesman for a political institution regarding news story.

What we want to tell the Union and the general public is that we are equally mindful of our social responsibility when it comes to doing our job as watchdogs of society. No one should think that he/she is more concerned about the reconciliation of this country than we are. We have been doing our job professionally and ethically. The particular story in question, which the Union is angrily reacting to, was written professionally, as the individuals involved were contacted before publication.

It is regrettable that the PUL secretary general would use the Union as his cover-up to lambaste media institutions at this time for doing their work, only because certain kinsmen of his were mentioned in the story. It is preposterous for anyone to think that the publication has the tendency to cause inflammation, knowing fully well that Liberians are craving to come out of the ashes of war.

It is no wonder that the PUL's hasty press statement has already put the lives of the staff of The FORUM Newspaper in danger, as threats from people believed to be elements or sympathizers of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) continue to come in. We will forever remain firm in our reportorial duty, as we consider the sanctity of the state to be our common denominator rather than an individual interest.

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