Liberia: Police Harassment of Daily Observer Journalists Threatens Press Freedom and Investment Climate

In a troubling development for press freedom in Liberia, the Liberia National Police (LNP) has been accused of harassing and intimidating journalists from the Daily Observer, following their reporting on the death of Anwar Futloo, the General Manager of the Boulevard Palace Hotel in Monrovia. The incident, which has drawn international condemnation, raises serious concerns about the investment climate for media outlets in Liberia and the broader implications for press freedom and democratic values.

On January 6, 2025, Managing Director Bai S.G. Best and reporter David A. Yates were summoned to the LNP headquarters by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Simeon Frank, ostensibly to discuss their online report on Futloo's death. However, the encounter quickly escalated into an egregious abuse of authority, with Frank threatening the journalists and dismissing their right to pursue an independent inquiry into the death, which they suspect could be a homicide.

Best and Yates were subjected to hours of detention and coercion under DIG Frank's directive. They were held in the office of Investigator Varney Samah, where Yates was required to fill out a form labeling him as a "person of interest" and to write a statement without legal counsel present. The journalists were only allowed to leave after Best was coerced into signing a release note guaranteeing Yates' return for further questioning. Upon their return on January 9, Yates' designation was changed from "person of interest" to "suspect" without explanation, raising serious concerns about entrapment.

The Daily Observer team's ordeal exemplifies a worrying trend of state harassment of journalists in Liberia, with the LNP's actions undermining the role of the press as a watchdog in society. The lack of accountability from the LNP leadership, despite a formal complaint to Inspector General Gregory Coleman, has sparked outrage among media professionals and civil society advocates, who see the incident as a blatant abuse of power.

The broader implications of this incident are dire for Liberia's democratic credentials and the investment climate for media outlets. If the state can target journalists with impunity, the public's right to information is gravely endangered. The silence from the Inspector General's office only deepens the sense of injustice and sends a clear message to potential investors that their journalists may face similar treatment, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.

International media organizations have condemned the LNP's actions, with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) stating that the grilling interrogations and detention of journalists Bai Best and David Yates were an act of intimidation designed to curb independent journalism and discredit their work. The incident has drawn international attention, with the potential to negatively impact Liberia's reputation on the global stage, particularly in relation to its commitment to press freedom and democratic values.

In conclusion, the LNP's harassment of Daily Observer journalists threatens the investment climate for media outlets in Liberia, undermines press freedom, and raises serious concerns about the country's commitment to democratic values. The international community is watching, and the Liberian government must take immediate action to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that such incidents do not recur.