(December 18, 2020, Monrovia)- The Press Union of Liberia has released the fifth of its weekly alert on the activities of Journalists for the special Senatorial elections.
The report covers the period between October and December 2020. It is the fifth in a series of alert reports to be published for the period under review. 
The Media Alert Report is characterized by death, threats, attack and intimidation of Liberian journalists by State Actors, supporters of Politicians and unknown men.
The Alert Reports also highlight other major issues, including critical analysis of the trend being taken by Liberia’s media environment, taking into consideration the nature of space being offered by state actors for the media to function.
The current Alert Report of the Press Union of Liberia/Media Alert Office shares light on a death, death threat, attack, hate speeches and intimidation of the media by individuals in the public and private sectors, Attacks against Journalists in Montserrado and Grand Kru Counties as well as threats against Journalists and NEC workers in Montserrado and Margibi Counties.
This fifths Report contains 7 attacks and 4 threats allegedly by supporters of Political Parties, The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency and a National Elections Commission (NEC) Supervisor in Montserrado County, one hate Speech and one declaration of false results. 
The Report includes the preaching of hate speeches including the Congo, Native divide by Sekou Sheriff of Freedom FM.
The Alert Office was set up in 2017 by the PUL, in collaboration with Internews/USIAD, as part of the Media Development Program.
The Press Union of Liberia is calling on the journalism community to help publicize these Alert reports as these publications hold a lot to the future of the Media in Liberia, relative to exposing any unfavorable cloud that may be hanging over all of us as journalists.

Report 
The reports have been focusing on threats/attacks on journalists and media institutions in Liberia, including issues of free speech. 
The PUL are also tracking the deportment of Journalists covering the Special Senatorial Elections.

The Methodology: 
The methodology, as usual, entails the collection of local dailies and going through them, monitoring of some radio stations (news and talk shows) and the receiving of direct reports. 
Verification: 
Figures gathered are normally verified by going on the troubled spots, getting in touch with independent sources on the ground, as well as making contacts with civil society actors. At the same time, the Media Alert Office makes contacts with the Press Union’s Coordinators in the various counties, as part of its tracking process. 
The Media Report Covering the Period of November 23 – 30, 2020 
Attack: 
1. PUL says: On Monday, December 7, 2020, Journalist Mustapha Dakota, a reporter of Radio Hard Work in Grand Cape Mount County was attacked and injured in the political violence in Porkpar, Grand Cape Mount County between supporters of the CDC candidate Victor Watson and the Candidate of the CPP.
Journalist Dakota was in the area as a Journalist covering the electoral process when the violence broke out leaving him with injury and was taken to the nearby clinic for medication.
The Political violence in question led to the injury of several others with two cars belonging to the CPP candidate set ablaze.

2. On Tuesday,Dec 8, 2020, Journalist Shammah Dorbor of United Methodist Radio (ELUM 98.7 FM) located on the Compound of the United Methodist Church on 12th Street, was allegedly attacked by Lee Johnson of National Elections Commission Poll worker, a Supervisor of District # 9, Prescient Code # 30404 Polling Place #4. 
Supervisor Johnson reportedly ordered his men to brutalize Journalist Dorbor leaving him with severe pains in the neck and head with his camera taken away. According to our investigation, Journalist Dorbor was on his reportorial duties when he bombs into the confusion between the NEC Supervisor Johnson and a Voter on the usage of the noise mask. 
Journalist Dorbor decided to intervene by appealing and asking Supervisor Johnson to allow the individual to vote; indicating that “NEC had said that people would vote with or without noise masks”. Information provided by Journalist Dorbor made Superior Johnson angry and instructed his men to brutalize him, the Liberia National Police had to swiftly intervene. 
3. On Tuesday Dec, 8, 2020, Journalist Edwin Genoway of FrontPage Africa Newspaper was attacked by some unknown men in District # 9 Montserrado County at the God of Mercy polling center. According to Journalist Genoway, the men were in an unidentified white pickup and chased him from the polling center for going on social media.
4. On Wednesday December 9, 2020, Journalist Eric Opa Doue, ELBC RiverCess County Correspondence was allegedly slapped by one LDEA Officer and took away his phone when he was going live on Grain Coast TV where some joint Security Officers returning from their elections duties made stop in the Commercial City of Yarpah Town in River Cess and collected some goods including Gasoline, Cigarette and other items from traders in the area.
The goods were put in their truck headed for Monrovia. The business people then trooped to the Yarpah Town Police Station to have Commander Fasu informed about the situation.
Journalist Doue was beaten while covering the attempt by the traders to prevent illegal seizure of the goods through the police commander in the area.
5. On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, Journalist Christopher Sellee of Truth FM on his show Elections Day broadcast allowed a Poll Watcher to call on the radio crying indicating that they had been attacked by people. The incident occurred on the SD Cooper Road in Paynesville.
6. On Sunday, December 13, 2020, Journalist James Making Suah of Voice of Grand Kru 98.1 FM was allegedly attacked by supporters of Hon. Nathaniel N. Bahway and Nimene H.T. Bartekwa. He was severely flogged upon the instruction of the two political leaders.
7. Journalist Suah during his reportorial duty providing live coverage on Grand Kru TV Online of their supporter’s demonstration. In the wake of the incident the Journalist lost Cell phone that cost US$450.
8. On Sunday, December 13, 2020, Journalists Christopher Kumeh and Emmanuel Koffa of Radio Anteehna and Voice of Grand Kru were allegedly flogged and equipment damaged by angry supporters of Candidates Alfred T. Segbe, Nimene Batekwa and Nathaniel Zoe Baway.
The Journalists were covering their protest at the Election Magistrate office in Baclayville, Grand Kru County on allegation of election fraud.
The Two Journalists are presently seeking medical care at the Grand Kru Health Center

Threat 
1. On Monday, December 7, 2020, Journalist Obediah Johnson of FrontPage Africa was threatened and chased in Brewerville, Montserrado County while covering the Trucking of voters from Montserrado to Bomi County to vote at night.
2. On Friday, December 11, 2020, Journalist Henscin Dehgar posted on his Facebook Page that he had been Publicly threaten by one Jeddiah Flahn Jr. because of his stands on Sekou Sheriffe recent broadcast on facebook and on Freedom FM which he was seem as misinforming the public that Thomas Fallah has won the Montserrado County election.

3. The National Election Commission (NEC) of Margibi County Magistrate Ernest K. MCcay, had received threat on his life base on a report of CLASSIC FM” worker, who informed its audience that staffers at the Kakata NEC were conducting secret elections, intended to overturn the Dec 8, 20 20 elections result to underserved candidates in Margibi. MCcay, alleged that the report information attracted residents of Kakata City to troop at the NEC Kakata headquarters with LNP prompt intervention to abort the mounting pressure… MCcay further that his life was allegedly threatened by a man he- MCcay identified as O.J. Morris ..Unity Party Margibi secretary general and supporter of the People Unification Party Senatorial Candidate James Emmanuel Nuquay.
MCcay furthered that Classic FM Manager Emmanuel Degleh was invited by LNP officer to the NEC Kakata headquarters and later assured that he-Degleh was returning to his Classic FM and informed the public that the information was false and misleading. Meanwhile, Classic FM Station Manager Emmanuel Degleh had apologized to Magistrate MCcay for the unethical and unprofessional practice by the Journalist of Classic FM.

4. Journalist Rita Jlogbe, a reporter at LUX FM complained of being threatened on Social Media (FACEBOOK) on the coverage of the Special Senatorial Election. Eric Weah commented on her preliminary result of the NEC on her Facebook account “Stop the fake news! Or you shall bear the consequence of your action”. He continues “your results are fake! You are not a Journalist.” “Be professional and factual “. A hint to a wise, he concluded

Hate Speech 
On Monday, December 7, 2020, Freedom FM Journalist Sekou Sherriff was on his station preaching hate including the Congo and Native divide while encouraging Liberians to vote for the ruling party candidate Thomas Fallah in the Senatorial election.
The hate speeches by Journalist Sheriff of Freedom FM amounted to incitement which has the ability to return Liberia into chaos and confusion in the wake of tension in the electoral process. 
“This election is about the Congo and Native, don’t vote them, the Congo people put themselves together to defeat us the native people” the Congo people don’t want the native people to succeed, so they are bringing someone to destroy the development of your native president” said Sheriff on Freedom FM.
Over Two Hundred Thousand Liberians died from the country’s fourteen years civil war which was triggered by the long standing Congo and Native divide.
False declaration 
1. On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, Journalist Sekou Sheriffe of Freedom FM broadcast announcing and declaring Thomas Fallah as the winner of the 2020 Special Senatorial Election in Montserrado County.
2. He also urged partisans of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change to assemble at the Headquarters of the party in Congo Town.
Background appropriately that the station is owned by the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), Sam Sayor. A former spokesman of the Government, Eugene Nagbe once declared the radio the best in the country.