FOR CRITICISING ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF ON HIS RADIO STATION
Monrovia, Liberia – The Deputy Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), who also owns the pro-government radio station Freedom 87.9 FM in Monrovia Sam Siryon, was taken into custody by the Armed Forces of Liberia on Thursday, October 19, 2023. This action followed a divisive FM radio broadcast in which the Army Chief of Staff was named as an agent of opposition leader Joseph Boakai.
Abraham Godsent Wheon of Freedom FM said on his regular talk show that the reason why military personnel did not support President George Weah in the October 10, 2023, presidential election was because of the mistreatment they were receiving from Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Prince C. Johnson, III.
Wheon claimed to have a wealth of information on goings-on in the barracks, including Maj. Gen. Johnson’s decommissioning of more than twenty officers. Wheon went on to say that he was also aware that the army chief was a supporter of Mr. Joseph Boakai, the opposition Unity Party’s flag bearer.
A report from FrontPageAfrica Confirmed the arrest of NSA Deputy Director Sam Siryon, who told the news outlet that he was humiliated by the soldiers.
“I was arrested and humiliated by the Armed Forces of Liberia. I was taken to a room where the Minister of Justice was seated and made to listen to a recording of a Freedom FM broadcast in which Abraham Wheon allegedly made some comments against the army. I was told to have the station retract the broadcast, but I refused on the grounds that I was disrespected and humiliated. I was stripped of my clothes and shoes and told them I could not act under duress. I feel so humiliated and disturbed,” Siryon said.
According to Frontpage Africa, the Chief Justice of Liberia confirmed the arrest of the Freedom FM owner.When contacted, Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musa Dean told FrontPageAfrica Siryon was invited by the AFL for questioning surrounding his link with Freedom FM and if he had provided the station any information to broadcast.
It is reported that the presenter of the show mentioned that his boss was not the one who usd his secrity connection to feed him with information from the secrity sector. He however apologized for his action.
FPA REPORT – “I wish to address the growing concerns surrounding my recent broadcast concerning the Chief of Staff of the AFL, Gen. Prince C. Johnson III. In that broadcast, I made certain claims based on circumstantial incidents, including an audio recording where the COS criticized the government’s tuition-free initiative, suggested that people had advised him to consider a military takeover due to the President’s prolonged absence from the country, and a recent post by Eugene Fagohn indicating that the COS had walked out of a joint security meeting. I now retract these statements and offer my sincere apologies for any embarrassment they may have caused to the reputation of the COS and the military. I also acknowledge and respect the Press Statement released by the Press Union of Liberia on this matter.”
In a related development, the Management of the radio station on Friday, October 20, 2023, suspends all political shows and news related programs on Freedom 87.9 FM
