Liberia: Chronicle Publisher Brown Says Police Barred Him From Traveling

Monrovia — The Publisher of the National Chronicle Newspaper whose paper was shut down from publication by the Government of Liberia on Thursday, August 14 says he has been prevented from leaving the country by Police Director Chris Massaquoi.

Mr. Brown's newspaper office was recently stormed recently by Police as he was invited to the Police headquarters and accompanied by some officials of the Press Union of Liberia he was accordingly told that he will be called upon anytime for further questioning.

But Brown in a text message to Police Director Massaquoi, a copy of which is in the possession of FrontPageAfrica informed the Police chief that he is preparing to leave the country to attend an Olympic meeting in Washington, D.C., the United States of America and was on his way to purchase an air ticket for his travel.

Stated Brown in the text to the Police Chief "I have an Olympic meeting in Washington, DC by Monday, so I will be leaving the country via SN Brussels by Friday. I intend to return to the country by the following Friday (one week stay). I am on my way to purchase my ticket since the Police have no further used for me".

No travel, Police chief says

In response to the communication from Brown, the Police Director in a letter dated September 8 acknowledged receipt of the message from the Chronicle publisher before informing him not to travel out of the country.

Under the caption JLNP/CCM/DoP/220/09/'14/RL, the Police Director confirmed receipt of Brown's communication "We acknowledge receipt of your text message dated September 8, 2014 addressed to the Director of Police informing of an Olympic meeting to be held in Washington, D.C., the USA, on Monday, September 15, 2014, and further informing that you will be leaving the country via SN Brussels by Friday, September 12, 2014 to attend said meeting, with the intent to return to the country the following Friday. You further indicated that you are on your way to purchase your ticket for the trip on grounds that - "the Police has no further use for you".

The letter, signed by Director Massaquoi insisted that the Police is still carrying out an investigation into the publication by the Chronicle Publisher and therefore his presence is needed as the investigation continues into the matter.

Philipbert Brown, who also doubles as head of the Liberia National Olympic Committee says he has an Olympic Meeting in Washington, But Police Director Chris Massaquoi says he cannot travel.

"May we inform you that contrary to your assertion that "the Police has no further use for you", the investigation is inconclusive and is ongoing, considering that in the Chronicle's publication you name a number of individuals, both in and out of government, who are alleged to be members of the said "interim government" formally named and styled "Liberia Leadership Forum (LLF), now referred to as Liberia Diaspora Development Rescue Committee (LDDRC)", which the Police are in the process of contacting as a continuance of the investigation, and as such, your presence as Publisher of the National Chronicle Newspaper is vital to the conclusion of this investigation", stated the Police Director letter.

Brown was advised by the Police Director not to leave the country: "In consideration of the above, you are advised not to leave the bailiwick of the Republic of Liberia in order to assist in concluding the investigation". The National Chronicle Newspaper was shut down following the publication of a story in which it was reported that some Liberians outside the country are forming an interim government to remove the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from power.

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