Thomas Yaya Nimely - War Was Revenge For Kinsmen's Death
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006290348.html
Seven years after the devastating war that forced former NPFL leader and President Charles Taylor into exile in 2003, his former enemies are coming out providing reasons what propelled them into pugnacity. Thomas Yaya Nimely, who led the defunct Movement of Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), one of the notorious armed factions that went against Taylor and his government and blamed for wanton human rights violations said the war was all about revenge for the thousands of his kinsmen gunned down, among them former President Samuel Kanyon Doe.
Nimely, a member of the Krahn ethnic group told dozens of students of the same ethnic group at one of local universities in town that they took arm against the former president not necessarily to free the Liberian people as they claimed, rather to revenge the death of thousands of sons and daughter of Grand Gedeh.
Most shockingly, the former MODEL strongman who served as Foreign Minister in the Gyude Bryant-led transitional government told the gathering that among other things, he was instrumental in ordering the killing of innocent Liberians to revenge the loss of lives of his kinsmen murdered and enslaved by former Taylor.
His latest revelation must not have been so shocking to the unsuspecting students who listened to their redeemer made those rather indicting statements, instead they might have been awash in the sea of double-crossing on the part of Nimely who failed to tell the Liberian nation the essence of what he did when he appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) last year, observers said.
Mr. Nimely told the nation nothing when he was provided the opportunity to say what he knew about the war, what he as a leader did to stop the wanton killings allegedly carried out by his fighters. Above all, he denied that his forces did not commit atrocities and that he did not order the killing of civilians.
He told group of students from his county that the war brought against the Taylor-led government was purely revenge against Taylor for leading a revolution that led to dethronement and subsequent death of former President Doe, who the people of Grand Gedeh, after 19 years of his demise, still regard as their myrtle.
Though many innocent lives were lost in the process of trying to bring about change of regime, he said the occasion was only alterative the krahn people could have used to return to the Executive Mansion.
Speaking on the main Campus of the AME University last Saturday, the former Foreign Affairs Minister furthered that the krahn people were enslaved and marginalized for a protracted period by exiled President Taylor.
He told the students that attaining justice is very expensive as it caused the lives of the very people who, at times, are desperate for it, and added: '"Our revolution should not seen other way, but a total comeback and good sign of nationalistic spirit of my people in defense of Grand Gedeh County."
Historicizing how he and other sons and daughters originated the idea to form a rebellious force against the then government of Mr. Taylor, he said the idea was berthed in September of 1998 when during a conference in the United States he decided to raise money to remove Taylor.
Following that historic pronouncement, he said he later came to Sierra Leone, Guinea and lastly Ivory Coast to begin the recruitment process, adding "interestingly many Liberians, especially people of Grand Gedeh County welcomed the idea."
According to the former MODEL leader, for what he and others have done to initiate a struggle against a dictator like Charles Taylor who caused the death of thousands of Liberians, especially citizens of Grand Gedeh, history stands to remember "us for the role we played in changing things for the better."
At the same, after igniting and inspiring the students with his wartime history, Mr. Nimely went to the core of the reason of the occasion by declaring that he would be a candidate for the post of Senator in the pending 2011 general and presidential elections.
He called on the people of Grand Gedeh to now elect people who according to him have good records and people who have put their lives on the line in defense of the county.
In the wisdom of Mr. Nimely, such people, as strategic they are to the county and citizens, should and need to be awarded with elected post so that they can continue protecting the interest of the Krahn people.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
'Prince Johnson Will Win 2011 General Election Out Rightly'
'Prince Johnson Will Win 2011 General Election Out Rightly'
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006291105.html
29 June 2010
The National Chairman of the proposed National Union for Democracy (LNUD) Emmanuel Lomax, has declared that the party’s standard bearer, Prince Johnson will out rightly and will win the country’s presidency come 2011 General and presidential Elections, ruling out the possibility of any second round.
Emmanuel Lomax, a Director General of the General Service Agency (GSA) in the despotic regime of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), is among several NNP Executives that cross over to the Nimba County Senior Senator proposed party.
The former NPP Executive now serving as close aid to senator Prince Johnson, who is also National Chairman of the proposed Liberia National Union for Democracy (LNUD) , appearing on a local radio station yesterday, June 28,2010, said his new boss, Prince Johnson, will win the nation’s highest seat, the presidency, and that there will be no way for any run off election as was done during the 2005 elections, contested between former soccer legend George Weah and now president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
According to Emmanuel Lomax, in the pending 2011 elections, a political party needs to win about 700,000 votes from the registered electoral voters to win the presidency and boasted that his new boss have that number to out rightly win the presidency, vowing that there will be no second round.
Speaking further, Mr. Lomax filibustered that his standard bearer is the most suitable choice for the Liberian people who is capable of providing political direction for the country, and claimed further that he is the alternative for the corrupt and failed regime of the ruling Unity Party.
The National Chairman of the National Union for Democracy disclosed that the proposed political party will shortly meet the requirements of becoming full fledge political party of Liberia, and revealed that the institution has nearly met all of the basic requirements of the Nation Elections Commission(NEC).
The former NPP Executive said his party when accredited by the electoral body ,will need not join or form collaboration with other political parties to remove the ruling Unity Party, promising that that was possible through the ballot box, and said the party has the numerical strengthen to unseat Madam Sirleaf.
“The Liberian people want Senator Prince Johnson to be president of the Republic of Liberia and we are only waiting for the 2011 General Elections for the electoral body to declare him president” he noted.
Narrating further, Emmanuel Lomax maintained that prince Johnson is the choice for the vast majority of the Liberian people across the country who he alleged, are dischanted with the failed and corrupt regime of Ellen and the Unity Party, stressing that they have unanimously decided to vote for the Nimba County senior senator as president of the Republic of Liberia, describing the senator as trustworthy and patriotic and a character who can deliver the country from the corrupt hand of President Sirleaf and the Unity Party.
Commenting on the presidential bid of Senator Prince Johnson, the National Chairman said under the presidency of his party, he said their administration will place the country under the Federal Government where power will be decentralized, resources of the country will be widely used, and that corruption will be number one of the Prince Johnson led government as opposed to the Unitary Government where power is not decentralized and that corruption was the order of the day.
Remarking on the credibility of Senator Prince Johnson to lead the country as the alternative to replacing Madam Sirleaf, Emmanuel Lomax revealed that during the war the Senator discovered the key to the vault of then National Bank of Liberia and when Amos Sawyer became Interim president, he said , Sawyer turned the key over with the amount of 7 Million United States Dollars, something according to him, was an empirical evidence that the senator is trustworthy, and is capable to providing political guidance to the Liberian people as opposed to any other individual wanting to become president of the country.
He commended President Sirleaf for the able leadership she has provided and continues to provide to war wearied Liberians, but called on her to give way to Senator Prince Johnson, stressing that Ellen is too old to lead the country, and if the president is intransigence to yield to the advice, the party has the strength politically to retire her from the presidency through the ballot box.
He said the Liberian people are tired with president Sirleaf and the Unity party who have failed them through bad governance with corruption toping the list, and that they were not prepared to vote for the Unity Party and Ellen for the second time, as doing so would suggest to beg for more suffering.
The chairman of the National Union for Democracy also averred that the proposed party draws its strength from the camp and community of the former fighters and the vast majority of the Liberian people who he said, were suffering across the country due to the poor policy of the UP Government, and that his political institution is the hope and aspiration of the new Liberia that has the road mat to prosperity, economic growth and development, justice and equality, and the rule of law regardless of race, sex and creed.
Due to the numerical strength of the proposed part, Emmanuel Lomax indicated that there will be no room for the party to form merger, coalition or collaboration with any other political groupings during the pending 2011 General elections, and added that the party is one hundred percent sure that political parties will want to join them to unseat the old lady from the Executive Mansion.
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006291105.html
29 June 2010
The National Chairman of the proposed National Union for Democracy (LNUD) Emmanuel Lomax, has declared that the party’s standard bearer, Prince Johnson will out rightly and will win the country’s presidency come 2011 General and presidential Elections, ruling out the possibility of any second round.
Emmanuel Lomax, a Director General of the General Service Agency (GSA) in the despotic regime of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), is among several NNP Executives that cross over to the Nimba County Senior Senator proposed party.
The former NPP Executive now serving as close aid to senator Prince Johnson, who is also National Chairman of the proposed Liberia National Union for Democracy (LNUD) , appearing on a local radio station yesterday, June 28,2010, said his new boss, Prince Johnson, will win the nation’s highest seat, the presidency, and that there will be no way for any run off election as was done during the 2005 elections, contested between former soccer legend George Weah and now president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
According to Emmanuel Lomax, in the pending 2011 elections, a political party needs to win about 700,000 votes from the registered electoral voters to win the presidency and boasted that his new boss have that number to out rightly win the presidency, vowing that there will be no second round.
Speaking further, Mr. Lomax filibustered that his standard bearer is the most suitable choice for the Liberian people who is capable of providing political direction for the country, and claimed further that he is the alternative for the corrupt and failed regime of the ruling Unity Party.
The National Chairman of the National Union for Democracy disclosed that the proposed political party will shortly meet the requirements of becoming full fledge political party of Liberia, and revealed that the institution has nearly met all of the basic requirements of the Nation Elections Commission(NEC).
The former NPP Executive said his party when accredited by the electoral body ,will need not join or form collaboration with other political parties to remove the ruling Unity Party, promising that that was possible through the ballot box, and said the party has the numerical strengthen to unseat Madam Sirleaf.
“The Liberian people want Senator Prince Johnson to be president of the Republic of Liberia and we are only waiting for the 2011 General Elections for the electoral body to declare him president” he noted.
Narrating further, Emmanuel Lomax maintained that prince Johnson is the choice for the vast majority of the Liberian people across the country who he alleged, are dischanted with the failed and corrupt regime of Ellen and the Unity Party, stressing that they have unanimously decided to vote for the Nimba County senior senator as president of the Republic of Liberia, describing the senator as trustworthy and patriotic and a character who can deliver the country from the corrupt hand of President Sirleaf and the Unity Party.
Commenting on the presidential bid of Senator Prince Johnson, the National Chairman said under the presidency of his party, he said their administration will place the country under the Federal Government where power will be decentralized, resources of the country will be widely used, and that corruption will be number one of the Prince Johnson led government as opposed to the Unitary Government where power is not decentralized and that corruption was the order of the day.
Remarking on the credibility of Senator Prince Johnson to lead the country as the alternative to replacing Madam Sirleaf, Emmanuel Lomax revealed that during the war the Senator discovered the key to the vault of then National Bank of Liberia and when Amos Sawyer became Interim president, he said , Sawyer turned the key over with the amount of 7 Million United States Dollars, something according to him, was an empirical evidence that the senator is trustworthy, and is capable to providing political guidance to the Liberian people as opposed to any other individual wanting to become president of the country.
He commended President Sirleaf for the able leadership she has provided and continues to provide to war wearied Liberians, but called on her to give way to Senator Prince Johnson, stressing that Ellen is too old to lead the country, and if the president is intransigence to yield to the advice, the party has the strength politically to retire her from the presidency through the ballot box.
He said the Liberian people are tired with president Sirleaf and the Unity party who have failed them through bad governance with corruption toping the list, and that they were not prepared to vote for the Unity Party and Ellen for the second time, as doing so would suggest to beg for more suffering.
The chairman of the National Union for Democracy also averred that the proposed party draws its strength from the camp and community of the former fighters and the vast majority of the Liberian people who he said, were suffering across the country due to the poor policy of the UP Government, and that his political institution is the hope and aspiration of the new Liberia that has the road mat to prosperity, economic growth and development, justice and equality, and the rule of law regardless of race, sex and creed.
Due to the numerical strength of the proposed part, Emmanuel Lomax indicated that there will be no room for the party to form merger, coalition or collaboration with any other political groupings during the pending 2011 General elections, and added that the party is one hundred percent sure that political parties will want to join them to unseat the old lady from the Executive Mansion.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
LEAD Liberia
LEAD Liberia
LEAD Organizing For Liberia
Abraham Hoff, Chief Community Organizer
077384990
leadliberia@yahoo.com
LEAD Organizing For Liberia is recruiting good men and women of Liberia in the 15 counties to form part of LEAD Liberia Community Organizing Team, with the aim of engaging, educating and empowering the people, while demanding respect, accountability and transparency from our elected officials. LEAD Organizing For Liberia is a non—partisan political group that sends one message to our elected officials across Liberia, which is “Do the right thing” and stop playing politics with our future and the national interest of our beloved country (Liberia). Our elected officials must listen to the people and champion the interest of all Liberians, regardless of their socioeconomic class, religious and traditional believe. Our leaders should abandon the politics of partisan division, personal greed and find creative solutions to promote the common good of Liberia so help us God.
Do You Have The Drive? Do You Have The Will? Do You Know Someone Who Has The Drive and The Will? Then be part of LEAD Liberia Community Organizing Team in your respective community---shown below is the break down. Do you know someone who is interested in community development and/or sustainability, please pass the information on because we are looking across Liberia for 66 good men and women of Liberia (20 high school graduates and 46 college graduates) who loved Liberia and are willing to sacrifice for the betterment of our beloved country. Please be informed that this is a paid position but all candidates for the positions of community organizers are required to do one year of volunteer service with LEAD Organizing For Liberia in their respective communities before becoming LEAD Liberia Organizers.
Liberians, the time for change has come, and we as Liberians must seize this moment. If you will stand with LEAD Organizing For Liberia, we will not only engage, educate and empower the people—but we will win citizen participation in government; we will win investment for our youth and seniors. We will win quality education for all Liberians—we will win investment for our children—we will create a ONE LIBERIA by uniting all citizens, regardless of socioeconomic class, religious and/or tribal believes--we will win investment for our failed infrastructure system—we will win investment for our teachers, while holding them to highest standards—we will win opportunity for small businesses and we will build a vibrant Liberia for future generation.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The land of rich natural resources and pride has lost its patience and confidence in elected officials who have failed to lead Liberia. Liberia can do better. It is time for empowerment. And the LEAD Organizing For Liberia through its open ended platform for engaging, educating and empowering the people today, is reaching out to all Liberians who hunger for a better future for our nation, children and ourselves. As a defining moment in our history, we as LEAD Organizing For Liberia resolve to engage, educate and empower the people. Over the past one hundred & sixty two years (162), our nation’s leaders have failed us and at time they invited calamity in the form of tribalism, nepotisms, corruption, and other times, when calamity arrived in the form of flood or storms devastation, they sat back and asked the Liberian’s people to wait, while doing too little too late, and too poorly.
Liberia will be a great nation and a better place to live not because of its perfection, but the belief that working in the interest of the masses and investing in our children and the youth; the belief that Liberians who love this country can change it. People who had the audacity to believe that Liberia could be a better place and the courage to work to make it so: therefore, today; we are reaching out to all Liberians who hunger for a better future for our children, nation and ourselves. Today, my fellow Liberians, we have a choice to work together and to make this works for all. We can choose to sit back and continue the past and failed system. Or we can choose a path that will build upon the best of who and what we are and the path that reflects our highest values as Liberians. We can continue more of the last 162 years policies and failed system, or we can demand respect, transparency and accountability from our elected officials. The list of failures of our elected leaders is historic. The Liberian’s State is at risk. Poverty is on the rise, and millions of our fellow citizens have no access to healthcare while families struggling to care for their children and aging parents. The cost of gaining higher education is unbearable for parents, students, university and graduate students. Our Teachers and professors do not receive good pay for good work. This is not the Liberia we dream off. Today, fail transportation system, underemployed and unemployment are hitting poor families and working families alike.
The broken politics of the past and our current elected officials have taken their toll on our country’s natural resources, economy, reputation and our security, while leaving ordinary Liberians with the residual side effects of poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment, illiteracy, challenges of health, crime and corruption that often define the lives of many of our people especially, disadvantaged families, underprivileged youth and young women. The past and current elected leaders said they would keep us safe, but they left rural Liberians struggling with crimes, insecurity and they failed to respond to the challenges that ordinary Liberians faced in their respective communities everyday. The past and elected leaders said they would listen to us went we call, but they failed to come to our rescue went we needed them. They neglected our seniors, young people, and disadvantaged families and denied access to healthcare and universal free K-12 education for our children and higher education opportunity to Liberia’s future, which is the youth. Now is the time for our elected officials to listen to us went we call, provide opportunity for higher education for all young people and help struggling families live a more fulfill life in rural Liberia. Pass the threshold bill!
The past and current elected leaders promised fiscal responsibility in government but instead they gave loopholes to corrupt government officials and themselves. Now they are asking we the people to put them in office again! But I got news for them! Not this time and not this year. There is a fierce urgency that we cannot ignore in this election as a nation where we are bounded together because of our collective challenges, collective ideas, collective history and collective hope for a better future for our nation, children and ourselves. These are not just broken politics. These are policy failures that reward their interests over the common interest and the short-term over the long-term. These are broken politics that often puts government at the service of the powerful and more corrupt individuals while leaving the people to fend for themselves and their children. These are policy failures and broken politics that often create a corrupt system for rewarding those individuals who are caught up in corruption scandals and shuts out the voice of the Liberian People.
Therefore, we have come together at a defining moment in the history of our beloved nation to replace these Elected Officials. We want elected officials who will listen to the people. We want elected officials who will declare our rice independence and invest in Liberia’s infrastructure. We want elected officials who will invest in Liberia’s future (the youth) by providing avenues to higher education. We want elected officials who will invest in rural Liberia and provide a K-12 universal free education for all Liberian’s children. We need to invest in green technology –so that our economy can generate the good, high-paying jobs of the future. We want elected officials who will provide access to affordable health care for all Liberians. We want elected officials who will strengthen longstanding diplomatic efforts around the world and launch new ones. We want elected officials who will work smart, build strong and Fair Trade Policies that will keep us safe, prosperous and free. My fellows Liberians, from the inception of this country—we the people have been asked to wait and act for ourselves, by ourselves and on our own. Therefore, we reject this insinuation for division and failure that have kept us down for 162 years.
The Liberian’s people do not want government to solve all our problems; we know that personal responsibility, character, imagination, diligence, hard work and faith ultimately determine individual achievement. The Liberian’s people also know that at every turning point in our nation’s history, we have demonstrated love for our country by uniting to overcome our collective challenges—whether through ending slavery, fighting for women voting rights and equality, matching for our civil liberty and/or building alliances with other nations for social economic development. Today, we must unit again to help Liberia most vulnerable citizens such as poor families, girls, young women, and disadvantaged youth get on their feet and to ensure the production of rice independence because the success of our nation economic development depends on the success of Liberia being rice independence. We all have the responsibility to put Liberia in a better position than how we met it. And we must act now by coming together for the common good.
We the people have been promised change by our past and current elected leaders, but we are yet to see the change. And we have been disappointed. The LEAD Organizing For Liberia believes we must change not just our policies, but our politics and the corrupt system that often runs our government. My fellow Liberians, we cannot keep electing the same old corrupt leaders into government and expect to get different results. That is why we have come together at a defining moment not only to prevent the same old politics that have kept us down as a people for one hundred & sixty--two years (162) but to send a strong message to all politicians that we will not tolerate the same old politics and corrupt system because change has come to Liberia.
As LEAD Organizing For Liberia, we will shine a light on our elected officials, government spending, Capitol Hill and the Executive Mansion lobbying system so that all Liberians would be empower to be a watchdog and a whistle blower. The LEAD Organizing For Liberia, a group of inclusion and one that respects differences of perspective and belief. When we disagree, we will work together for the common good and to move our beloved country in the right direction. This is the Liberia we dream off—we should not only say we love Liberia but we should show it in everything we do–by our deeds, our priorities, and the commitments we keep. My fellow Liberians, if we choose this path to change, just imagine what we can do.
Liberians, within a country, there is always a generation where we have to turn from a wrong path to a right path-and that generation is now. In addition, there is a fierce urgency that we cannot ignore in this election as a nation where we are bonded together because of our collective challenges, collective ideas, collective history and collective hope for a better future for our nation, children and ourselves. Today, our modern Liberian’s families are underemployed, unemployed, underpaid and deserve more respect from our elected officials, including the National Legislature. We as LEAD Organizing For Liberia believe that each succeeding generation should have the opportunity, through hard work, service and sacrifice, to enjoy a brighter future than the last but that is yet to happy in our beloved country.
In Liberia today, our elected officials don’t put the people and the country above personal agenda when making critical decisions that could affect the masses and the national interest of the country. They usually put partisan’s ideology and individual greed above the people and the national interest of the country. If Liberia is to flourish with development, peace, unity, security and prosperity; we must learn to put the people and the national interest of the country above partisan’s ideology and above individual greed. The challenges ahead are great; however the benefits are even greater. If these things are to be achieved in Liberia it required the cooperation and coordination of all Liberians regardless of religious and traditional believes, including partisan’s ideology.
Today, we have come together at a defining moment in the history of our beloved nation – the nation that led the founding of the Organizations of African Unity-commonly known as the African Union, the Mano River Union, one of the original signatories of the founding of the United Nations and the nation that led the declaration of Independence States in Africa. With that being said, LEAD Organizing For Liberia has a special commitment to engage, educate and empower the people in community sustainability, while demanding respect, transparency and accountability from all elected officials in our government.
We as LEAD Organizing For Liberia believe that all Liberians, whether by birth of either parents; free slaves, indigenous people and/or by way of naturalization and/or whatever their background or station in life, should live in safe surroundings, have the chance to get a good education, to work at a good job with good wages, to raise and provide for a family and to be respected as a human being via civil liberty and justice. In addition, we as LEAD Organizing For Liberia believe that access to quality education and affordable health care is a basic right for all. Therefore, today, we are at a crossroad that we cannot afford to ignore this moment and time by continuing to live in the past. Our message to all elected officials is “Do the right thing” and stop playing politics with our future and the national interest of our beloved country. This moment is about the past verse the future; it is about extending opportunity to the people verse extending opportunity to elected officials. It is about the national interest of the country verse personal greed. It is about building a new democratic republic that unites all its citizens by respecting their rights, dignity and allowing all citizens to participate in a democratic nation without fear of arrest, recognizing that individual rights must be bounded by social responsibilities verse continuing the same old politics that oppressed the rights, dignity, participation and sustainability of citizens in their government.
The choice is clear and the time is now. We are recruiting community organizers across Liberia to engage, educate and empower the people thereby expanding opportunity for every Liberian and renewing Liberia’s Promise of a great and respected nation in Africa and the world at-large. Renewing Liberia’s Promise means that we all have the responsibility to make sure that Liberia’s future (the youth) is given quality education and an avenue to peaceful resolution when dealing with others. Renewing Liberia’s Promise means that our elected officials have the responsibility to make sure that our families have the opportunity to raise their children without fear of crime and insecurity. Renewing Liberia’s Promise means that our elected officials have the responsibility to make sure that Liberia is not Montserrado County only, instead it consists of fifteen counties such as Bomi County, Bong County, Gbarpolu County, Grand Bassa County, Grand Cape Mount County, Grand Gedeh County, Grand Kru County, Lofa County, Margibi County, Maryland County, Montserrado County, Nimba County, River Cess County, River Gee County, and Sinoe County. We shouldn’t be afraid of our differences; instead we should learn to appreciate the diversity of Liberia. Today, we talk about free slaves that left the United States for Liberia. We talk about the indigenous people that were occupying the land but one thing we do not talk about is Liberia having a little bit of every country in the continent.
Thank you and May God bless the Republic of Liberia.
Abraham Hoff, Chief Community Organizer
Contact: LEAD Organizing For Liberia @ 077384990 and/or leadliberia@yahoo.com.
LEAD Organizing For Liberia
Abraham Hoff, Chief Community Organizer
077384990
leadliberia@yahoo.com
LEAD Organizing For Liberia is recruiting good men and women of Liberia in the 15 counties to form part of LEAD Liberia Community Organizing Team, with the aim of engaging, educating and empowering the people, while demanding respect, accountability and transparency from our elected officials. LEAD Organizing For Liberia is a non—partisan political group that sends one message to our elected officials across Liberia, which is “Do the right thing” and stop playing politics with our future and the national interest of our beloved country (Liberia). Our elected officials must listen to the people and champion the interest of all Liberians, regardless of their socioeconomic class, religious and traditional believe. Our leaders should abandon the politics of partisan division, personal greed and find creative solutions to promote the common good of Liberia so help us God.
Do You Have The Drive? Do You Have The Will? Do You Know Someone Who Has The Drive and The Will? Then be part of LEAD Liberia Community Organizing Team in your respective community---shown below is the break down. Do you know someone who is interested in community development and/or sustainability, please pass the information on because we are looking across Liberia for 66 good men and women of Liberia (20 high school graduates and 46 college graduates) who loved Liberia and are willing to sacrifice for the betterment of our beloved country. Please be informed that this is a paid position but all candidates for the positions of community organizers are required to do one year of volunteer service with LEAD Organizing For Liberia in their respective communities before becoming LEAD Liberia Organizers.
Liberians, the time for change has come, and we as Liberians must seize this moment. If you will stand with LEAD Organizing For Liberia, we will not only engage, educate and empower the people—but we will win citizen participation in government; we will win investment for our youth and seniors. We will win quality education for all Liberians—we will win investment for our children—we will create a ONE LIBERIA by uniting all citizens, regardless of socioeconomic class, religious and/or tribal believes--we will win investment for our failed infrastructure system—we will win investment for our teachers, while holding them to highest standards—we will win opportunity for small businesses and we will build a vibrant Liberia for future generation.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The land of rich natural resources and pride has lost its patience and confidence in elected officials who have failed to lead Liberia. Liberia can do better. It is time for empowerment. And the LEAD Organizing For Liberia through its open ended platform for engaging, educating and empowering the people today, is reaching out to all Liberians who hunger for a better future for our nation, children and ourselves. As a defining moment in our history, we as LEAD Organizing For Liberia resolve to engage, educate and empower the people. Over the past one hundred & sixty two years (162), our nation’s leaders have failed us and at time they invited calamity in the form of tribalism, nepotisms, corruption, and other times, when calamity arrived in the form of flood or storms devastation, they sat back and asked the Liberian’s people to wait, while doing too little too late, and too poorly.
Liberia will be a great nation and a better place to live not because of its perfection, but the belief that working in the interest of the masses and investing in our children and the youth; the belief that Liberians who love this country can change it. People who had the audacity to believe that Liberia could be a better place and the courage to work to make it so: therefore, today; we are reaching out to all Liberians who hunger for a better future for our children, nation and ourselves. Today, my fellow Liberians, we have a choice to work together and to make this works for all. We can choose to sit back and continue the past and failed system. Or we can choose a path that will build upon the best of who and what we are and the path that reflects our highest values as Liberians. We can continue more of the last 162 years policies and failed system, or we can demand respect, transparency and accountability from our elected officials. The list of failures of our elected leaders is historic. The Liberian’s State is at risk. Poverty is on the rise, and millions of our fellow citizens have no access to healthcare while families struggling to care for their children and aging parents. The cost of gaining higher education is unbearable for parents, students, university and graduate students. Our Teachers and professors do not receive good pay for good work. This is not the Liberia we dream off. Today, fail transportation system, underemployed and unemployment are hitting poor families and working families alike.
The broken politics of the past and our current elected officials have taken their toll on our country’s natural resources, economy, reputation and our security, while leaving ordinary Liberians with the residual side effects of poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment, illiteracy, challenges of health, crime and corruption that often define the lives of many of our people especially, disadvantaged families, underprivileged youth and young women. The past and current elected leaders said they would keep us safe, but they left rural Liberians struggling with crimes, insecurity and they failed to respond to the challenges that ordinary Liberians faced in their respective communities everyday. The past and elected leaders said they would listen to us went we call, but they failed to come to our rescue went we needed them. They neglected our seniors, young people, and disadvantaged families and denied access to healthcare and universal free K-12 education for our children and higher education opportunity to Liberia’s future, which is the youth. Now is the time for our elected officials to listen to us went we call, provide opportunity for higher education for all young people and help struggling families live a more fulfill life in rural Liberia. Pass the threshold bill!
The past and current elected leaders promised fiscal responsibility in government but instead they gave loopholes to corrupt government officials and themselves. Now they are asking we the people to put them in office again! But I got news for them! Not this time and not this year. There is a fierce urgency that we cannot ignore in this election as a nation where we are bounded together because of our collective challenges, collective ideas, collective history and collective hope for a better future for our nation, children and ourselves. These are not just broken politics. These are policy failures that reward their interests over the common interest and the short-term over the long-term. These are broken politics that often puts government at the service of the powerful and more corrupt individuals while leaving the people to fend for themselves and their children. These are policy failures and broken politics that often create a corrupt system for rewarding those individuals who are caught up in corruption scandals and shuts out the voice of the Liberian People.
Therefore, we have come together at a defining moment in the history of our beloved nation to replace these Elected Officials. We want elected officials who will listen to the people. We want elected officials who will declare our rice independence and invest in Liberia’s infrastructure. We want elected officials who will invest in Liberia’s future (the youth) by providing avenues to higher education. We want elected officials who will invest in rural Liberia and provide a K-12 universal free education for all Liberian’s children. We need to invest in green technology –so that our economy can generate the good, high-paying jobs of the future. We want elected officials who will provide access to affordable health care for all Liberians. We want elected officials who will strengthen longstanding diplomatic efforts around the world and launch new ones. We want elected officials who will work smart, build strong and Fair Trade Policies that will keep us safe, prosperous and free. My fellows Liberians, from the inception of this country—we the people have been asked to wait and act for ourselves, by ourselves and on our own. Therefore, we reject this insinuation for division and failure that have kept us down for 162 years.
The Liberian’s people do not want government to solve all our problems; we know that personal responsibility, character, imagination, diligence, hard work and faith ultimately determine individual achievement. The Liberian’s people also know that at every turning point in our nation’s history, we have demonstrated love for our country by uniting to overcome our collective challenges—whether through ending slavery, fighting for women voting rights and equality, matching for our civil liberty and/or building alliances with other nations for social economic development. Today, we must unit again to help Liberia most vulnerable citizens such as poor families, girls, young women, and disadvantaged youth get on their feet and to ensure the production of rice independence because the success of our nation economic development depends on the success of Liberia being rice independence. We all have the responsibility to put Liberia in a better position than how we met it. And we must act now by coming together for the common good.
We the people have been promised change by our past and current elected leaders, but we are yet to see the change. And we have been disappointed. The LEAD Organizing For Liberia believes we must change not just our policies, but our politics and the corrupt system that often runs our government. My fellow Liberians, we cannot keep electing the same old corrupt leaders into government and expect to get different results. That is why we have come together at a defining moment not only to prevent the same old politics that have kept us down as a people for one hundred & sixty--two years (162) but to send a strong message to all politicians that we will not tolerate the same old politics and corrupt system because change has come to Liberia.
As LEAD Organizing For Liberia, we will shine a light on our elected officials, government spending, Capitol Hill and the Executive Mansion lobbying system so that all Liberians would be empower to be a watchdog and a whistle blower. The LEAD Organizing For Liberia, a group of inclusion and one that respects differences of perspective and belief. When we disagree, we will work together for the common good and to move our beloved country in the right direction. This is the Liberia we dream off—we should not only say we love Liberia but we should show it in everything we do–by our deeds, our priorities, and the commitments we keep. My fellow Liberians, if we choose this path to change, just imagine what we can do.
Liberians, within a country, there is always a generation where we have to turn from a wrong path to a right path-and that generation is now. In addition, there is a fierce urgency that we cannot ignore in this election as a nation where we are bonded together because of our collective challenges, collective ideas, collective history and collective hope for a better future for our nation, children and ourselves. Today, our modern Liberian’s families are underemployed, unemployed, underpaid and deserve more respect from our elected officials, including the National Legislature. We as LEAD Organizing For Liberia believe that each succeeding generation should have the opportunity, through hard work, service and sacrifice, to enjoy a brighter future than the last but that is yet to happy in our beloved country.
In Liberia today, our elected officials don’t put the people and the country above personal agenda when making critical decisions that could affect the masses and the national interest of the country. They usually put partisan’s ideology and individual greed above the people and the national interest of the country. If Liberia is to flourish with development, peace, unity, security and prosperity; we must learn to put the people and the national interest of the country above partisan’s ideology and above individual greed. The challenges ahead are great; however the benefits are even greater. If these things are to be achieved in Liberia it required the cooperation and coordination of all Liberians regardless of religious and traditional believes, including partisan’s ideology.
Today, we have come together at a defining moment in the history of our beloved nation – the nation that led the founding of the Organizations of African Unity-commonly known as the African Union, the Mano River Union, one of the original signatories of the founding of the United Nations and the nation that led the declaration of Independence States in Africa. With that being said, LEAD Organizing For Liberia has a special commitment to engage, educate and empower the people in community sustainability, while demanding respect, transparency and accountability from all elected officials in our government.
We as LEAD Organizing For Liberia believe that all Liberians, whether by birth of either parents; free slaves, indigenous people and/or by way of naturalization and/or whatever their background or station in life, should live in safe surroundings, have the chance to get a good education, to work at a good job with good wages, to raise and provide for a family and to be respected as a human being via civil liberty and justice. In addition, we as LEAD Organizing For Liberia believe that access to quality education and affordable health care is a basic right for all. Therefore, today, we are at a crossroad that we cannot afford to ignore this moment and time by continuing to live in the past. Our message to all elected officials is “Do the right thing” and stop playing politics with our future and the national interest of our beloved country. This moment is about the past verse the future; it is about extending opportunity to the people verse extending opportunity to elected officials. It is about the national interest of the country verse personal greed. It is about building a new democratic republic that unites all its citizens by respecting their rights, dignity and allowing all citizens to participate in a democratic nation without fear of arrest, recognizing that individual rights must be bounded by social responsibilities verse continuing the same old politics that oppressed the rights, dignity, participation and sustainability of citizens in their government.
The choice is clear and the time is now. We are recruiting community organizers across Liberia to engage, educate and empower the people thereby expanding opportunity for every Liberian and renewing Liberia’s Promise of a great and respected nation in Africa and the world at-large. Renewing Liberia’s Promise means that we all have the responsibility to make sure that Liberia’s future (the youth) is given quality education and an avenue to peaceful resolution when dealing with others. Renewing Liberia’s Promise means that our elected officials have the responsibility to make sure that our families have the opportunity to raise their children without fear of crime and insecurity. Renewing Liberia’s Promise means that our elected officials have the responsibility to make sure that Liberia is not Montserrado County only, instead it consists of fifteen counties such as Bomi County, Bong County, Gbarpolu County, Grand Bassa County, Grand Cape Mount County, Grand Gedeh County, Grand Kru County, Lofa County, Margibi County, Maryland County, Montserrado County, Nimba County, River Cess County, River Gee County, and Sinoe County. We shouldn’t be afraid of our differences; instead we should learn to appreciate the diversity of Liberia. Today, we talk about free slaves that left the United States for Liberia. We talk about the indigenous people that were occupying the land but one thing we do not talk about is Liberia having a little bit of every country in the continent.
Thank you and May God bless the Republic of Liberia.
Abraham Hoff, Chief Community Organizer
Contact: LEAD Organizing For Liberia @ 077384990 and/or leadliberia@yahoo.com.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Men Steal More, President Sirleaf Tells International Media
Men Steal More, President Sirleaf Tells International Media
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006281408.html
New Democrat (Monrovia)
26 June 2010
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has given her verdict on gender and endemic corruption in the system, telling the New York Times in an exclusive interbiew that men are emphatically more corrupt than women.
"In every time and every place I've worked, wherever there has been a scandal, wherever there has been indication of impropriety, it's always been men," the President said.
The verdict comes as many women,top in the government, have been listed for alleged corruption.
The Minister of Gender and Development, Ms. Varbah Gayflor, has been accused by the Liberia Anticorruption Commission of theft, exploitation and abuse of power. The General Auditing Commission is currently auditing the Ministry, said to have received millions from donors.
The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, Ms. Ethel Davies, now re-deployed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was forced to resign following US1.117m dubious transaction. Amongst those charged in $7m case at the Central Bank of Liberia are several women who served as tellers.
A yet unreleased audit report lists a female legislator for allegedly receiving about US40,000 bribe to let a contract deal go.
The Monrovia City Mayor, Mrs. Ophelia Saytumah, according to a World Bank report, was engaged in conflict of interests, awarding contract to her company and could not account for thousands of dollars.
Amongst those briefly jailed for alleged corruption was the Superintendent of Mntserrado County, Beauty Barcon. Full story:
The Nation Full of Strong Women
When she pleaded for her life, as taunting rebel soldiers vowed to bury her alive, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, now the Liberian president, remembers defending herself with her most basic strength: "You can't do this. Think of your mother."
"Women have stronger commitment. They work harder. They're honest, and the experience justifies it," Mrs. Sirleaf, 71, said in an interview in the Foreign Ministry building where she maintains her office. "In every time and every place I've worked, wherever there has been a scandal, wherever there has been indication of impropriety, it's always been men."
As Mrs. Sirleaf prepares to run for re-election next year, she is not free from controversy. While the United Nations peacekeeping force in Liberia is winding down, she faces pressure from the nation's truth and reconciliation commission, which urged that she and dozens of others be banned for 30 years from holding public office for their roles in the war. She has conceded that she gave $10,000 while abroad in the late 1980s to a rebel group led by Charles Taylor, then a warlord, but for humanitarian services.
In Liberia, she contends, men are more tempted by corruption. "In an African context, men have too much of an extended family. They have too many obligations outside their families and homes, so the demands on them are harder and more intense."
At the outset of her election campaign in 2005, Mrs. Sirleaf took on corruption as "Public Enemy Number One." She has since had to confront cold reality in a nation of 3.5 million people who struggle with an 85 percent unemployment rate, where 60 percent of the population is under 25 years old.
Mrs. Sirleaf, a Harvard-trained economist, established a structure for combating graft with an anti-corruption commission and a code of conduct for public servants. The rules ended up snaring two government ministers, including her close relative, A.B. Johnson, who resigned last month as internal affairs minister in a scandal over spending of a community development fund.
She said she was personally betrayed by those former ministers but that Liberia was still overcoming the corruption of values through war and survival.
People sought "public positions because they could engage in extortion for small services rendered," she said. "What we have done is to expose it."
Mrs. Sirleaf says she is running for re-election to achieve ambitions that stalled with the global economic crisis. "I want to be sure I leave a legacy behind and I made a difference," she said.
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006281408.html
New Democrat (Monrovia)
26 June 2010
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has given her verdict on gender and endemic corruption in the system, telling the New York Times in an exclusive interbiew that men are emphatically more corrupt than women.
"In every time and every place I've worked, wherever there has been a scandal, wherever there has been indication of impropriety, it's always been men," the President said.
The verdict comes as many women,top in the government, have been listed for alleged corruption.
The Minister of Gender and Development, Ms. Varbah Gayflor, has been accused by the Liberia Anticorruption Commission of theft, exploitation and abuse of power. The General Auditing Commission is currently auditing the Ministry, said to have received millions from donors.
The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, Ms. Ethel Davies, now re-deployed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was forced to resign following US1.117m dubious transaction. Amongst those charged in $7m case at the Central Bank of Liberia are several women who served as tellers.
A yet unreleased audit report lists a female legislator for allegedly receiving about US40,000 bribe to let a contract deal go.
The Monrovia City Mayor, Mrs. Ophelia Saytumah, according to a World Bank report, was engaged in conflict of interests, awarding contract to her company and could not account for thousands of dollars.
Amongst those briefly jailed for alleged corruption was the Superintendent of Mntserrado County, Beauty Barcon. Full story:
The Nation Full of Strong Women
When she pleaded for her life, as taunting rebel soldiers vowed to bury her alive, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, now the Liberian president, remembers defending herself with her most basic strength: "You can't do this. Think of your mother."
"Women have stronger commitment. They work harder. They're honest, and the experience justifies it," Mrs. Sirleaf, 71, said in an interview in the Foreign Ministry building where she maintains her office. "In every time and every place I've worked, wherever there has been a scandal, wherever there has been indication of impropriety, it's always been men."
As Mrs. Sirleaf prepares to run for re-election next year, she is not free from controversy. While the United Nations peacekeeping force in Liberia is winding down, she faces pressure from the nation's truth and reconciliation commission, which urged that she and dozens of others be banned for 30 years from holding public office for their roles in the war. She has conceded that she gave $10,000 while abroad in the late 1980s to a rebel group led by Charles Taylor, then a warlord, but for humanitarian services.
In Liberia, she contends, men are more tempted by corruption. "In an African context, men have too much of an extended family. They have too many obligations outside their families and homes, so the demands on them are harder and more intense."
At the outset of her election campaign in 2005, Mrs. Sirleaf took on corruption as "Public Enemy Number One." She has since had to confront cold reality in a nation of 3.5 million people who struggle with an 85 percent unemployment rate, where 60 percent of the population is under 25 years old.
Mrs. Sirleaf, a Harvard-trained economist, established a structure for combating graft with an anti-corruption commission and a code of conduct for public servants. The rules ended up snaring two government ministers, including her close relative, A.B. Johnson, who resigned last month as internal affairs minister in a scandal over spending of a community development fund.
She said she was personally betrayed by those former ministers but that Liberia was still overcoming the corruption of values through war and survival.
People sought "public positions because they could engage in extortion for small services rendered," she said. "What we have done is to expose it."
Mrs. Sirleaf says she is running for re-election to achieve ambitions that stalled with the global economic crisis. "I want to be sure I leave a legacy behind and I made a difference," she said.
Joint Forces
Joint Forces
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006281510.html
New Democrat (Monrovia)
28 June 2010
George Weah's Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Alhaji Kromah's disqualified All Liberians Coalition Party (ALCOP), along with Winston Tubman's Liberia National Union (LINU} and the New Deal Movement, last week announced a merger in their bid to defeat the ruling Unity Party.
The National Elections Commission (NEC) has however barred ALCP because, it says, it has failed to meet the requirements for a functioning political party, amongst them having national offices.
At a ceremony held at the NPP's newly built Congo Town headquarters, leading members of the groups, many former executives of the NPP who crossed carpet to the CDC after their party disintegrated with the arrest and current trial of its founder and looming leader, Charles Taylor, they said their primary objective is to defeat President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a "united front".
LINU was established by late Vice President in the Samuel Doe regime, Dr. Harry Moniba, while the New Deal Movement was founded largely by disaffected political University of Liberia activists, amongst them Dr. George Clay Kieh, who lives in the US.
Cllr. TC Gould, NPP chair, speaking for the new "united front" parties, said they stand no chance of defeating the UP without mustering their forces together.
This is the second major merger of like-minded political parties in preparation for the 2011 elections. The first was when the UP merged with the Liberia Action Party and the Liberia Unification Party for a common stand in 2011. The third likely group is the planned Democratic Alliance, in which several members of the above two parties are present and in leadership positions.
Mr. Gould, a long-time NPP executive, said there are plans to link-up with other opposition parties for a grand alliance.
But Mr. Weah has made it emphatically clear that he is no position to concede the presidency to anyone because, he has said, he has the numbers. He said the people have chosen him as their leader and that he cannot disappoint them, although he did not say which people. His comments drew sharp rebuke from LINU's Tunman, who challenged the former football star's claims to numbers. "We all have our supporters", the former Liberia UN ambassador and Justice Minister declared.
Gould: "...We will be calling upon the Liberty Party (LP), New Deal. We will also be calling upon the leadership of the Democratic Alliance (DA) itself to ensure that we get together and prepare ourselves for a better future, for we believe if the opposition is fragmented, there is no possibility of winning any state power very soon.
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006281510.html
New Democrat (Monrovia)
28 June 2010
George Weah's Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Alhaji Kromah's disqualified All Liberians Coalition Party (ALCOP), along with Winston Tubman's Liberia National Union (LINU} and the New Deal Movement, last week announced a merger in their bid to defeat the ruling Unity Party.
The National Elections Commission (NEC) has however barred ALCP because, it says, it has failed to meet the requirements for a functioning political party, amongst them having national offices.
At a ceremony held at the NPP's newly built Congo Town headquarters, leading members of the groups, many former executives of the NPP who crossed carpet to the CDC after their party disintegrated with the arrest and current trial of its founder and looming leader, Charles Taylor, they said their primary objective is to defeat President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a "united front".
LINU was established by late Vice President in the Samuel Doe regime, Dr. Harry Moniba, while the New Deal Movement was founded largely by disaffected political University of Liberia activists, amongst them Dr. George Clay Kieh, who lives in the US.
Cllr. TC Gould, NPP chair, speaking for the new "united front" parties, said they stand no chance of defeating the UP without mustering their forces together.
This is the second major merger of like-minded political parties in preparation for the 2011 elections. The first was when the UP merged with the Liberia Action Party and the Liberia Unification Party for a common stand in 2011. The third likely group is the planned Democratic Alliance, in which several members of the above two parties are present and in leadership positions.
Mr. Gould, a long-time NPP executive, said there are plans to link-up with other opposition parties for a grand alliance.
But Mr. Weah has made it emphatically clear that he is no position to concede the presidency to anyone because, he has said, he has the numbers. He said the people have chosen him as their leader and that he cannot disappoint them, although he did not say which people. His comments drew sharp rebuke from LINU's Tunman, who challenged the former football star's claims to numbers. "We all have our supporters", the former Liberia UN ambassador and Justice Minister declared.
Gould: "...We will be calling upon the Liberty Party (LP), New Deal. We will also be calling upon the leadership of the Democratic Alliance (DA) itself to ensure that we get together and prepare ourselves for a better future, for we believe if the opposition is fragmented, there is no possibility of winning any state power very soon.
Old Anti-Corruption Soldiers, New Allies, New Scripts
Old Anti-Corruption Soldiers, New Allies, New Scripts
New Democrat (Monrovia)
By Tom Kamara
27 June 2010
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006281391.html
This is promising to be a fascinating and revealing era, one in which once former gallant soldiers in the war for reforms and against corruption are lining-up against the very reforms they fought for in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, many jailed for their actions.
The logic is that the actors on the stage have changed, so the scripts must change, too. Mistakes were made in the past that most now be corrected. It does not pay to be consistent, for the wise man changes. Fools keep believing in the same, old values.
Victims must be remembered and honoured in thoughts. When President William R. Tolbert entered the thorny stage after the death of strong-arm President William Tubman in the early 70s, under whose rule democratic demands were anathema let alone cries for accountability, the doors were flung open through which many who entered pressed demands, prime amongst them accountability in the use of public money. It was widely agreed that the True Whig Party, under the command of a few privileged men and women, and refusing to reform, was the cause supreme in obstructing reforms. It was accountable to no one. There were no institutions pressing for reforms. All who vied for a piece of the cake had to fall under its wings. Those who did not were pathetic fools. FOOLS DIE AND GO HUNGRY.
Within this period rose many activist organizations with reforms on the agenda. 'Monkey works, baboon draws', meaning those who worked the soil, were not reaping the benefits of their labour, became the enticing slogan earning believers. For President Tolbert, it was understandably a difficult period--yielding to reforms that would dismantle the entire state machine on which privileges were built. There were protests, and more protests, for change. For the first time, people could openly challenge the regime and declare their wish to be president without being arrested and jailed. Free at last, free at last, thank God, free at last! Nothing would ever be the same as things fell apart, for opening the doors partially led to the smashing of these doors. Incrementalism in political approach would not be accepted and possible. In the end, on April 12, 1980, 12 hardly literate soldiers, with absolutely no political or economic blueprint, seized power, but not until executing the President and 13 of his top officials. Their crime was 'rampant corruption', for which they were tried in a kangaroo court.
About 30 years after, many of those actors in this ghastly tragic comedy are still around, casting in another play but now with different scripts. The hardliners of yesteryears have mellowed beyond recognition, teaming up with individuals in what they call political parties that they would not have sat with at the time. The wise man changes. Fools don't.
This has to do with the declared war on the same corruption for which others were executed certainly without due process. What is baffling is that some once gallant actors and soldiers that circulated underground leaflets against the state and its functionaries are now demanding sealed lips on corruption, the same enemy they fought for in the 1980s, with many jailed, since the military junta of Samuel K. Doe was completely opposed to public discussion of corruption.
What is new is the new General Auditing Commission (GAC), new because international actors, mainly the European Union, placed its creation as a key pre-condition for economic engagement with the government. With this, one would have expected that despite problems, the old soldiers of the 1980s against corruption would be its allies, since its prime task is revealing corruption. But to the contrary, the old soldiers of the 1980s has greased its weapons, ready for war against the one institution that is making the use of public funds an issue of public debate ann.
This not strange. That some have remained consistent is because others remain consistent, too, with misuse of public funds in arrogance still the issue. Nothing has changed, only the actors.
What is expected, however, is that the war be fought on principles, not with innuendos and personal attacks and insults. Any fool, even a mentally insane person, has the mental capacity to insult. The difficulty is knowing the facts and reading them. A crazy person cannot.
Are soldiers of the old, now on the side, prepared to scrutinize the GAC audits and render them useless on the basis of the facts? If they can be convincing that contrary to GAC reports, the roads, schools, orphanages, clinics, amongst what the Government said it has built indeed exist, then there is reason to join their army on the basis of the facts and justice. But insisting that secrecy on corruption be the rule, these people have shown that all along, their enemy was not corruption. All they wanted was to join the gang. They are consistent in disguise.
Whatever one's perception of Mr. John Morlu, he has given a way out. He says if the Government, through an independent and professional auditing firm, armed with the same information he was provided, can prove him wrong on the audits, he will resign and refund all the money the EU has paid him. We need that money for villages. And this is a fine, easy way of getting rid of a 'troublesome' man.
New Democrat (Monrovia)
By Tom Kamara
27 June 2010
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006281391.html
This is promising to be a fascinating and revealing era, one in which once former gallant soldiers in the war for reforms and against corruption are lining-up against the very reforms they fought for in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, many jailed for their actions.
The logic is that the actors on the stage have changed, so the scripts must change, too. Mistakes were made in the past that most now be corrected. It does not pay to be consistent, for the wise man changes. Fools keep believing in the same, old values.
Victims must be remembered and honoured in thoughts. When President William R. Tolbert entered the thorny stage after the death of strong-arm President William Tubman in the early 70s, under whose rule democratic demands were anathema let alone cries for accountability, the doors were flung open through which many who entered pressed demands, prime amongst them accountability in the use of public money. It was widely agreed that the True Whig Party, under the command of a few privileged men and women, and refusing to reform, was the cause supreme in obstructing reforms. It was accountable to no one. There were no institutions pressing for reforms. All who vied for a piece of the cake had to fall under its wings. Those who did not were pathetic fools. FOOLS DIE AND GO HUNGRY.
Within this period rose many activist organizations with reforms on the agenda. 'Monkey works, baboon draws', meaning those who worked the soil, were not reaping the benefits of their labour, became the enticing slogan earning believers. For President Tolbert, it was understandably a difficult period--yielding to reforms that would dismantle the entire state machine on which privileges were built. There were protests, and more protests, for change. For the first time, people could openly challenge the regime and declare their wish to be president without being arrested and jailed. Free at last, free at last, thank God, free at last! Nothing would ever be the same as things fell apart, for opening the doors partially led to the smashing of these doors. Incrementalism in political approach would not be accepted and possible. In the end, on April 12, 1980, 12 hardly literate soldiers, with absolutely no political or economic blueprint, seized power, but not until executing the President and 13 of his top officials. Their crime was 'rampant corruption', for which they were tried in a kangaroo court.
About 30 years after, many of those actors in this ghastly tragic comedy are still around, casting in another play but now with different scripts. The hardliners of yesteryears have mellowed beyond recognition, teaming up with individuals in what they call political parties that they would not have sat with at the time. The wise man changes. Fools don't.
This has to do with the declared war on the same corruption for which others were executed certainly without due process. What is baffling is that some once gallant actors and soldiers that circulated underground leaflets against the state and its functionaries are now demanding sealed lips on corruption, the same enemy they fought for in the 1980s, with many jailed, since the military junta of Samuel K. Doe was completely opposed to public discussion of corruption.
What is new is the new General Auditing Commission (GAC), new because international actors, mainly the European Union, placed its creation as a key pre-condition for economic engagement with the government. With this, one would have expected that despite problems, the old soldiers of the 1980s against corruption would be its allies, since its prime task is revealing corruption. But to the contrary, the old soldiers of the 1980s has greased its weapons, ready for war against the one institution that is making the use of public funds an issue of public debate ann.
This not strange. That some have remained consistent is because others remain consistent, too, with misuse of public funds in arrogance still the issue. Nothing has changed, only the actors.
What is expected, however, is that the war be fought on principles, not with innuendos and personal attacks and insults. Any fool, even a mentally insane person, has the mental capacity to insult. The difficulty is knowing the facts and reading them. A crazy person cannot.
Are soldiers of the old, now on the side, prepared to scrutinize the GAC audits and render them useless on the basis of the facts? If they can be convincing that contrary to GAC reports, the roads, schools, orphanages, clinics, amongst what the Government said it has built indeed exist, then there is reason to join their army on the basis of the facts and justice. But insisting that secrecy on corruption be the rule, these people have shown that all along, their enemy was not corruption. All they wanted was to join the gang. They are consistent in disguise.
Whatever one's perception of Mr. John Morlu, he has given a way out. He says if the Government, through an independent and professional auditing firm, armed with the same information he was provided, can prove him wrong on the audits, he will resign and refund all the money the EU has paid him. We need that money for villages. And this is a fine, easy way of getting rid of a 'troublesome' man.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Progress but Unacceptable Levels of Insecurity
Progress but Unacceptable Levels of Insecurity
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006251120.html
New Democrat (Monrovia)
Tom Kamara
25 June 2010
At the emerging and modern University of Liberia Fendell campus, Chinese workers and contractors have reportedly thrown their hands in despair. The level of theft of materials is just too high by any standard. There is absolutely nothing they can do to curtail the spiralling theft with impunity at the campus. That is the responsibility of the government, and with so many security institutions on which taxpayers money along with public resources are dumped, there are opportunities to make a difference where there is the will.
Law books meant for students and research at the University, according to reports, have mostly disappeared in private homes. It is not certain if questions have been asked with the need for action. Accepting crime in any form is a dangerous option.
Current figures of armed robberies are not available, but if they are down, then the downward spiral is just a drop in the bucket. Insecurity is still a way of life, a phenomenon that the war ensured as an acceptable factor.
The attack on the Monrovia home of Nimba County Superintendent last week is another indicator of the pervasive levels of insecurity. More ominous is that this attack carries all the imprints of politically motivated crime with the use of ex-fighters, now readily available to anyone with the means of rewarding them financially. Political crimes that rocked this country as a bastion of evil are again propping up their ugly heads. If a high-ranking member of the government can be a target with impunity, then there should be no questions about the helplessness of many ordinary living with insecurity in their communities. No one is safe.
The argument is that there can be no appreciable levels in investment without improved security. The cost of hiring private security firms, some of them with key government security officials as owners, is becoming a prohibitive with a rising tax regime, particularly for small and medium-scale businesses. Earnings that could go into investment are passed on as protection fees, not security. This is not sustainable and it is certainly a far cry from ensuring a vibrant private sector proclaimed to be the engine of the economy.
Along with rising power costs resulting from expensive generator reliance, the signals of insecurity are not encouraging. There is a need for action, assertive action that gives hope.
That action has to be based on firmness not tears, within the confines of the law. Whatever the pitfalls within the judicial system, and there are certainly several, governments have at their disposal several avenues through which arresting insecurity is possible. But if political interest and consideration outweigh the need for tougher action in dealing with pervasive crime, the long-term dangers should be considered.
We believe that policymakers have the responsibility to use public resources for public safety, since one of the fundamental responsibilities of governments is protect all under their rule. Taxes are paid to ensure this.
But the levels of insecurity prevailing, and the accompanying impunity, should lead to creativity and imagination for improving public safety.
Both the UN and other international organizations have called for a security blueprint for post-UNMIL life. Such a blueprint, we believe, should go beyond flowery pronouncements to deal with the realities of a wounded society in which crime has been so handsomely rewarded, with pronounced criminals as political leaders and role models. This should be done before it is too late for all.
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006251120.html
New Democrat (Monrovia)
Tom Kamara
25 June 2010
At the emerging and modern University of Liberia Fendell campus, Chinese workers and contractors have reportedly thrown their hands in despair. The level of theft of materials is just too high by any standard. There is absolutely nothing they can do to curtail the spiralling theft with impunity at the campus. That is the responsibility of the government, and with so many security institutions on which taxpayers money along with public resources are dumped, there are opportunities to make a difference where there is the will.
Law books meant for students and research at the University, according to reports, have mostly disappeared in private homes. It is not certain if questions have been asked with the need for action. Accepting crime in any form is a dangerous option.
Current figures of armed robberies are not available, but if they are down, then the downward spiral is just a drop in the bucket. Insecurity is still a way of life, a phenomenon that the war ensured as an acceptable factor.
The attack on the Monrovia home of Nimba County Superintendent last week is another indicator of the pervasive levels of insecurity. More ominous is that this attack carries all the imprints of politically motivated crime with the use of ex-fighters, now readily available to anyone with the means of rewarding them financially. Political crimes that rocked this country as a bastion of evil are again propping up their ugly heads. If a high-ranking member of the government can be a target with impunity, then there should be no questions about the helplessness of many ordinary living with insecurity in their communities. No one is safe.
The argument is that there can be no appreciable levels in investment without improved security. The cost of hiring private security firms, some of them with key government security officials as owners, is becoming a prohibitive with a rising tax regime, particularly for small and medium-scale businesses. Earnings that could go into investment are passed on as protection fees, not security. This is not sustainable and it is certainly a far cry from ensuring a vibrant private sector proclaimed to be the engine of the economy.
Along with rising power costs resulting from expensive generator reliance, the signals of insecurity are not encouraging. There is a need for action, assertive action that gives hope.
That action has to be based on firmness not tears, within the confines of the law. Whatever the pitfalls within the judicial system, and there are certainly several, governments have at their disposal several avenues through which arresting insecurity is possible. But if political interest and consideration outweigh the need for tougher action in dealing with pervasive crime, the long-term dangers should be considered.
We believe that policymakers have the responsibility to use public resources for public safety, since one of the fundamental responsibilities of governments is protect all under their rule. Taxes are paid to ensure this.
But the levels of insecurity prevailing, and the accompanying impunity, should lead to creativity and imagination for improving public safety.
Both the UN and other international organizations have called for a security blueprint for post-UNMIL life. Such a blueprint, we believe, should go beyond flowery pronouncements to deal with the realities of a wounded society in which crime has been so handsomely rewarded, with pronounced criminals as political leaders and role models. This should be done before it is too late for all.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Carnie Johnson on the Hotseat: Prez Sirleaf’s Brother Defends AmLib Mining
Carnie Johnson on the Hotseat: Prez Sirleaf’s Brother Defends AmLib Mining
Source: http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=11036&z=37
06/23/2010 - Moses Varfee Kowo, mvkowo@FrontPageAfrica.com, 077-099-611
Monrovia – Amlib mineral company represented by the elderly brother of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Carnie Johnson has been facing a strong line of questioning over the role of the company in Kokoyah Bong County.
Lawmakers have been expressing concerns about reports that company has not started full scale operations since the agreement was in 2003. Johnson, a consultant to the company told a joint Legislative committee on Ways, Means and Finance and Committee on Public Procurement and Investment hearing that since the agreement was signed more than seven years ago; it has only discovered 700 thousand ounces of gold in the Kokoyah area.
But Johnson told the legislative hearing this week that in order for Amlib to go into full scale mining of Gold in the area it needed to first find at least 1 million ounces of Gold to secure the interest of all parties including the company’s shareholders. The president’s Elder brother said the company as part of its social responsibility to the society, has constructed wells and school for the people of Kokoyah district.
Said Johnson: “Our corporate social responsibility falls under four areas, one infrastructure, two education, three health AND LAST PUBLIC RELATIONS. WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR THE PERIOD July 2010 and we started providing funds in January but it does not cover the whole year. So far between the period January and June we have engaged the communities of Dolo town Dahn town and Saywah town. We have agreed to ASSIST IN THE CONSTRUCT OF two schools, we agreed to drill three wells in each of these towns and we agreed to construct latrine facilities which will be attached to the schools. We have spent 35 thousand united states dollars already to buildings these institutions, the one in Saywah town is about half way done, the one in Dahn town the foundation is finished.
Johnson explained that between June 2010 and June 2011, Amblib will spend $150 thousand United States dollars and hopes to extend what it has done to other parts of Kokoyah.
Amlib Action ‘Appalling’, lawmaker says
But lawmakers were concerned that the company has not been able to provide jobs for Liberians despite pressure from that group for lawmakers to pass a mineral development agreement signed with the executive when it had in mind that it has not reach the necessary threshold needed to go into mining.
One lawmaker, Emmanuel Nuquay of Margibi said the company’s action was appalling that it could not provide jobs even though the company had pressured members of the Legislature to ratify the MDA.
In response Mr. Johnson said Amlib had collected geological samples of a possible deposit of gold necessitating the need for a request for license or MDA.
It was established during the hearing that the company violated the mining law of the country by going more five years that is set for any company to do exploration in a particular area before going into mining. But the company leadership said it took eight years because of the civil conflict in 2002 and 2003.
Residents of the district have in recent months, complained that the company has failed to meet up with its social responsibility to the people of that district.
The Kokoyah district residents in a petition to the Legislature said the company was digging out the grave of their forefathers in search of Gold with no benefit to the people of the community.
A spokesman of Kokoyah citizens who spoke to FrontPageAfrica following the presentation by the president’s brother before a House committee said the company officials were lying and there has been no construction of school or engagement with the community.
Henry Yallah, said the company had promised that it has 75 thousand United States Dollars to help the community but said, that has not come to fruition. “My brother let me be very clear with you, all of that are wrong and misleading; they have not placed a single stone into the ground. In fact part of a meeting last month the people presented a statement to their representative that the company, has not done anything for the people of Kokoyah in Bong County besides digging. If you ask them they tell you we are drilling and they have been drilling for the past seven years nonstop. But Mr. Johnson told the joint committee of both the House and Senate that they could not go into drilling until they meet the threshold of a million ounces of gold.
Prior to Johnson’s appearance, AmLib Liberia faced accusations of carrying out illegal logging in Kokoya Bong County and was said to have used US$45,000 to allegedly bribe members of the House of Representatives to seal another mining agreement in two counties (Grand Gedeh and Rivercess).
At the time of the reports, the company also came under scrutiny for reportedly enjoying the best immunities in Liberia as several senior officials of government according to a FrontPageAfrica investigation benefited from the illegal mining of the company in Bong County.
In 2006, Liberian President Sirleaf issued Executive Order #1 which called for the renegotiation of all previous mining and concession agreements. Firestone and Mittal Steel are amongst some of the concessionaries that were affected by the Presidential executive Order. But AmLib faced accusations that it remained untouched by the order.
AmLib applied for exploration license in Kokoya in 2003 for a three year period, but has been carrying on what should have been done in three years, for the past seven years without applying for official mining license, or backing off, in case there is no sufficient gold in the area.
By Liberia mining regulations, when a company applies for exploration license, if during exploration it does not find the needed sample to apply for mining license, the company will have to reapply for additional time to further exploration, something that was not done in the case of AmLib, as there is no agreement showing the extension of AmLib exploration license.
Audit of the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy for fiscal period 2006/2007 by the General Auditing Commission of Liberia (GAC), showed Johnson as holder of four different mining licenses.
Within the audit report, Johnson is the representative of Bokon Jedeh Resources located Opposite the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (L.P.R.C), on the Bushrod Island and also representative of AmLib Liberia.
According to the audit report, Johnson was awarded four different mining licenses by the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy with the operations of the remaining two companies unknown.
Auditor General John S. Morlu, II in his observation stated that the mining laws of Liberia are being constantly violated and recommended that officials of the Ministry of Lands, mines and Energy revisit the granting of licenses and punish violations of the mining laws.
“I recommend that the MLME officials revisit the Minerals and Mining Laws by amending the section of the mining laws that will provide tougher actions against violators of the Mining Laws/KPCS in Liberia, so as to discourage would be violators”, the Auditor General noted.
The audit discovered inconsistencies in the report of mining activities in Liberia, indicating that some mining companies might not be registered, but are still operating illegally.
“I therefore recommend that the MLME Management provide justification on the inconsistencies noted in the various reports on mining and exploration companies operating in Liberia”, portion of the GAC audit reported indicated.
After conducting exploration in Kokoya for over seven years without applying for mining license, AmLib entered into agreement with the Liberian government for additional two mining areas in Grand Gedeh and Rivercess, while the citizens of Kokoya still crying foul over the operation of the company in their communities.
US$45,000 Sails AmLib Agreement
The company faced more scrutiny last year when members of the House of Representatives were accused of being paid US$45,000, to seal the ratification of mining agreement in Grand Gedeh and Rivercess counties. A FrontPageAfrica investigation uncovered in 2009 that the company made two separate payments to the House of Representatives, to ensure the speedy ratification of the mining contract before the lawmakers takeoff for their usual agricultural break early September.
AmLib, according to the investigation made an initial payment of US$30,000 to the joint House committee on Investment and Concessions and Contracts, Monopolies and Public Procurement and completed the payment with an additional US$15,000 after the ratification of the contract by the House of Representatives.
An insider at AmLib confided in FrontPageAfrica that Representatives Moses Kollie (Lofa County-and Liberia Action Party), head of the committee on Investment and Concessions, and Edwin M. Snowe (Independent, Montserrado County), head of the Contracts, Monopolies and Public Procurement were involved in the sharing of the money to fellow lawmakers. Snowe declined several inquiries for comment when contacted by FrontPageAfrica. Snowe did remark in passing, that he was never in favor of the deal, and was very vocal against the Amlib contract.
Further investigation indicates that Representatives Edward Forh (Montserrado County-Congress for Democratic Change), believed to be a brother to the head of AmLib, Roosevelt Forh was involved in the negotiation for the payment of the US$45,000 to the House of Representatives.
Roosevelt Forh when contacted told FrontPageAfrica that AmLib did not pay any money to the lawmakers. “We did not pay money to anybody, is it the lawmakers that told you we paid money to them? Forh quizzed FrontPageAfrica.
For Representative Kollie, he threatened court action against FrontPageAfrica for what he described as an attempt to blackmail him.
Threatened Court Action For ‘Blackmailing’
Rep. Kollie described the allegation as totally untrue and said, it is intended to blackmail and tarnish the reputation of reputable lawmakers. “Look, I think it’s about time that we start taking people to court for unprofessional behavior to destroy people. Why would people always blackmail others for their own selfish gains and when you ask them about where they gathered the information, they tell you that they can’t disclose their source”, said Rep. Kollie in an angry mood.
The Lofa County lawmaker threw out an open challenge to anyone who has evidence of his committee ever receiving bribe from anyone for the AmLib deal.
He also asserted, “This kind of blackmailing is doing the country no good”.
Two other lawmakers Edwin Snowe and Edward Forh failed to answer to their cell phones in an attempt to get their side of the story.
The AmLib agreement was debated for less than an hour before it was unanimously endorsed by the House of Representatives, and forwarded to the Senate for concurrence.
In 2009, the Chief Executive Officer of the company Jeff Eyre, based in the United Kingdom paid a short visit to Liberia to ascertain what is obtained with the operations of the company. Eyre, according to credible sources while in Liberia, expressed disappointment over the manner in which the company is being run, especially its involvement in alleged dubious activities.
The AmLib official according to the investigation, spent one day in Liberia and departed the following day, as it remains unclear if he was angry at the manner in which the company is being run, or brought along more money for lobbying with the Liberian Senate for concurrence on the agreement.
Franklin Siakor (Bong County Independent),was one of the senators who expressed opposition to the ratification of the AmLib agreement. Senator Siakor is contending that AmLib failed to perform in Kokoya, and should not be given additional mining areas.
“AmLib has been operating in Bong county since 2002, with no benefit to the community and people of that county. I have told my colleagues in the senate that before we can go into another agreement with AmLib for Grand Gedeh and Rivercess counties, which is now before us, we should make sure that AmLib is able to put back into the communities some of the resources it is taking out of these communities”, Senator Siakor stated.
Source: http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=11036&z=37
06/23/2010 - Moses Varfee Kowo, mvkowo@FrontPageAfrica.com, 077-099-611
Monrovia – Amlib mineral company represented by the elderly brother of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Carnie Johnson has been facing a strong line of questioning over the role of the company in Kokoyah Bong County.
Lawmakers have been expressing concerns about reports that company has not started full scale operations since the agreement was in 2003. Johnson, a consultant to the company told a joint Legislative committee on Ways, Means and Finance and Committee on Public Procurement and Investment hearing that since the agreement was signed more than seven years ago; it has only discovered 700 thousand ounces of gold in the Kokoyah area.
But Johnson told the legislative hearing this week that in order for Amlib to go into full scale mining of Gold in the area it needed to first find at least 1 million ounces of Gold to secure the interest of all parties including the company’s shareholders. The president’s Elder brother said the company as part of its social responsibility to the society, has constructed wells and school for the people of Kokoyah district.
Said Johnson: “Our corporate social responsibility falls under four areas, one infrastructure, two education, three health AND LAST PUBLIC RELATIONS. WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR THE PERIOD July 2010 and we started providing funds in January but it does not cover the whole year. So far between the period January and June we have engaged the communities of Dolo town Dahn town and Saywah town. We have agreed to ASSIST IN THE CONSTRUCT OF two schools, we agreed to drill three wells in each of these towns and we agreed to construct latrine facilities which will be attached to the schools. We have spent 35 thousand united states dollars already to buildings these institutions, the one in Saywah town is about half way done, the one in Dahn town the foundation is finished.
Johnson explained that between June 2010 and June 2011, Amblib will spend $150 thousand United States dollars and hopes to extend what it has done to other parts of Kokoyah.
Amlib Action ‘Appalling’, lawmaker says
But lawmakers were concerned that the company has not been able to provide jobs for Liberians despite pressure from that group for lawmakers to pass a mineral development agreement signed with the executive when it had in mind that it has not reach the necessary threshold needed to go into mining.
One lawmaker, Emmanuel Nuquay of Margibi said the company’s action was appalling that it could not provide jobs even though the company had pressured members of the Legislature to ratify the MDA.
In response Mr. Johnson said Amlib had collected geological samples of a possible deposit of gold necessitating the need for a request for license or MDA.
It was established during the hearing that the company violated the mining law of the country by going more five years that is set for any company to do exploration in a particular area before going into mining. But the company leadership said it took eight years because of the civil conflict in 2002 and 2003.
Residents of the district have in recent months, complained that the company has failed to meet up with its social responsibility to the people of that district.
The Kokoyah district residents in a petition to the Legislature said the company was digging out the grave of their forefathers in search of Gold with no benefit to the people of the community.
A spokesman of Kokoyah citizens who spoke to FrontPageAfrica following the presentation by the president’s brother before a House committee said the company officials were lying and there has been no construction of school or engagement with the community.
Henry Yallah, said the company had promised that it has 75 thousand United States Dollars to help the community but said, that has not come to fruition. “My brother let me be very clear with you, all of that are wrong and misleading; they have not placed a single stone into the ground. In fact part of a meeting last month the people presented a statement to their representative that the company, has not done anything for the people of Kokoyah in Bong County besides digging. If you ask them they tell you we are drilling and they have been drilling for the past seven years nonstop. But Mr. Johnson told the joint committee of both the House and Senate that they could not go into drilling until they meet the threshold of a million ounces of gold.
Prior to Johnson’s appearance, AmLib Liberia faced accusations of carrying out illegal logging in Kokoya Bong County and was said to have used US$45,000 to allegedly bribe members of the House of Representatives to seal another mining agreement in two counties (Grand Gedeh and Rivercess).
At the time of the reports, the company also came under scrutiny for reportedly enjoying the best immunities in Liberia as several senior officials of government according to a FrontPageAfrica investigation benefited from the illegal mining of the company in Bong County.
In 2006, Liberian President Sirleaf issued Executive Order #1 which called for the renegotiation of all previous mining and concession agreements. Firestone and Mittal Steel are amongst some of the concessionaries that were affected by the Presidential executive Order. But AmLib faced accusations that it remained untouched by the order.
AmLib applied for exploration license in Kokoya in 2003 for a three year period, but has been carrying on what should have been done in three years, for the past seven years without applying for official mining license, or backing off, in case there is no sufficient gold in the area.
By Liberia mining regulations, when a company applies for exploration license, if during exploration it does not find the needed sample to apply for mining license, the company will have to reapply for additional time to further exploration, something that was not done in the case of AmLib, as there is no agreement showing the extension of AmLib exploration license.
Audit of the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy for fiscal period 2006/2007 by the General Auditing Commission of Liberia (GAC), showed Johnson as holder of four different mining licenses.
Within the audit report, Johnson is the representative of Bokon Jedeh Resources located Opposite the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (L.P.R.C), on the Bushrod Island and also representative of AmLib Liberia.
According to the audit report, Johnson was awarded four different mining licenses by the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy with the operations of the remaining two companies unknown.
Auditor General John S. Morlu, II in his observation stated that the mining laws of Liberia are being constantly violated and recommended that officials of the Ministry of Lands, mines and Energy revisit the granting of licenses and punish violations of the mining laws.
“I recommend that the MLME officials revisit the Minerals and Mining Laws by amending the section of the mining laws that will provide tougher actions against violators of the Mining Laws/KPCS in Liberia, so as to discourage would be violators”, the Auditor General noted.
The audit discovered inconsistencies in the report of mining activities in Liberia, indicating that some mining companies might not be registered, but are still operating illegally.
“I therefore recommend that the MLME Management provide justification on the inconsistencies noted in the various reports on mining and exploration companies operating in Liberia”, portion of the GAC audit reported indicated.
After conducting exploration in Kokoya for over seven years without applying for mining license, AmLib entered into agreement with the Liberian government for additional two mining areas in Grand Gedeh and Rivercess, while the citizens of Kokoya still crying foul over the operation of the company in their communities.
US$45,000 Sails AmLib Agreement
The company faced more scrutiny last year when members of the House of Representatives were accused of being paid US$45,000, to seal the ratification of mining agreement in Grand Gedeh and Rivercess counties. A FrontPageAfrica investigation uncovered in 2009 that the company made two separate payments to the House of Representatives, to ensure the speedy ratification of the mining contract before the lawmakers takeoff for their usual agricultural break early September.
AmLib, according to the investigation made an initial payment of US$30,000 to the joint House committee on Investment and Concessions and Contracts, Monopolies and Public Procurement and completed the payment with an additional US$15,000 after the ratification of the contract by the House of Representatives.
An insider at AmLib confided in FrontPageAfrica that Representatives Moses Kollie (Lofa County-and Liberia Action Party), head of the committee on Investment and Concessions, and Edwin M. Snowe (Independent, Montserrado County), head of the Contracts, Monopolies and Public Procurement were involved in the sharing of the money to fellow lawmakers. Snowe declined several inquiries for comment when contacted by FrontPageAfrica. Snowe did remark in passing, that he was never in favor of the deal, and was very vocal against the Amlib contract.
Further investigation indicates that Representatives Edward Forh (Montserrado County-Congress for Democratic Change), believed to be a brother to the head of AmLib, Roosevelt Forh was involved in the negotiation for the payment of the US$45,000 to the House of Representatives.
Roosevelt Forh when contacted told FrontPageAfrica that AmLib did not pay any money to the lawmakers. “We did not pay money to anybody, is it the lawmakers that told you we paid money to them? Forh quizzed FrontPageAfrica.
For Representative Kollie, he threatened court action against FrontPageAfrica for what he described as an attempt to blackmail him.
Threatened Court Action For ‘Blackmailing’
Rep. Kollie described the allegation as totally untrue and said, it is intended to blackmail and tarnish the reputation of reputable lawmakers. “Look, I think it’s about time that we start taking people to court for unprofessional behavior to destroy people. Why would people always blackmail others for their own selfish gains and when you ask them about where they gathered the information, they tell you that they can’t disclose their source”, said Rep. Kollie in an angry mood.
The Lofa County lawmaker threw out an open challenge to anyone who has evidence of his committee ever receiving bribe from anyone for the AmLib deal.
He also asserted, “This kind of blackmailing is doing the country no good”.
Two other lawmakers Edwin Snowe and Edward Forh failed to answer to their cell phones in an attempt to get their side of the story.
The AmLib agreement was debated for less than an hour before it was unanimously endorsed by the House of Representatives, and forwarded to the Senate for concurrence.
In 2009, the Chief Executive Officer of the company Jeff Eyre, based in the United Kingdom paid a short visit to Liberia to ascertain what is obtained with the operations of the company. Eyre, according to credible sources while in Liberia, expressed disappointment over the manner in which the company is being run, especially its involvement in alleged dubious activities.
The AmLib official according to the investigation, spent one day in Liberia and departed the following day, as it remains unclear if he was angry at the manner in which the company is being run, or brought along more money for lobbying with the Liberian Senate for concurrence on the agreement.
Franklin Siakor (Bong County Independent),was one of the senators who expressed opposition to the ratification of the AmLib agreement. Senator Siakor is contending that AmLib failed to perform in Kokoya, and should not be given additional mining areas.
“AmLib has been operating in Bong county since 2002, with no benefit to the community and people of that county. I have told my colleagues in the senate that before we can go into another agreement with AmLib for Grand Gedeh and Rivercess counties, which is now before us, we should make sure that AmLib is able to put back into the communities some of the resources it is taking out of these communities”, Senator Siakor stated.
2011 elections will be held on time… - Jun 22, 2010
2011 elections will be held on time… - Jun 22, 2010
Source: http://www.liberiabroadcastingsystem.com/news/article_2010_06_22_4350.html
2011 elections will be held on time…
The Executive Mansion says negotiations are on-going for the passage of the controversial threshold Bill.
The Executive Mansion further says that Liberia is not heading for a trusteeship or and an interim government as a result of delay in the passage of the threshold bill which is currently before the Supreme Court of Liberia for final judgment.
Speaking Monday at his regular press briefing, Presidential Press Secretary, Cyrus Badio said President Sirleaf has re-echoed the importance of the passage of the bill, which is crucial for the holding of elections in 2011.
The Liberian leader has repeatedly said that the 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on time.
Meanwhile, the President on Monday dedicated the refurbished courts A and B of the Temple of Justice with renew calls for a concerted and sustain fight against corruption in the country.
Source: http://www.liberiabroadcastingsystem.com/news/article_2010_06_22_4350.html
2011 elections will be held on time…
The Executive Mansion says negotiations are on-going for the passage of the controversial threshold Bill.
The Executive Mansion further says that Liberia is not heading for a trusteeship or and an interim government as a result of delay in the passage of the threshold bill which is currently before the Supreme Court of Liberia for final judgment.
Speaking Monday at his regular press briefing, Presidential Press Secretary, Cyrus Badio said President Sirleaf has re-echoed the importance of the passage of the bill, which is crucial for the holding of elections in 2011.
The Liberian leader has repeatedly said that the 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on time.
Meanwhile, the President on Monday dedicated the refurbished courts A and B of the Temple of Justice with renew calls for a concerted and sustain fight against corruption in the country.
Friction Bends Family Bone in Liberia's Ruling Unity Party; Sherman Wants Fahnbulleh Out
Friction Bends Family Bone in Liberia's Ruling Unity Party; Sherman Wants Fahnbulleh Out
Source: http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=11021&z=37
06/18/2010
On the eve of the induction of the recently-elected leadership of the ruling Unity Party, Cllr. Varney Sherman, the party’s new chairman has put his induction set for Saturday, June 2010 on hold in the wake of an ongoing wrangle between the party’s hierarchy and the newly-elected Secretary General Henry Fahnbulleh.
Citing what he calls a strong family relationship between him and Fahnbulleh, Cllr. Sherman told a news conference at his Congotown residence Friday that he and Fahnbulleh are distant cousins and could not possibly serve the two key positions in the party’s hierarchy.
In 2009, the Unity Party officially endorsed its Articles of Merger document bringing together the UP, the Liberia Action Party (LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) at a convention held in Gbarnga, Bong County. The merger document was initially signed by UP leader, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and endorsed by the party’s National Executive Committee. The UP, LAP and LUP were established as political parties in Liberia in 1984 after the military regime of the late president Samuel K. Doe had lifted the ban on political activities. Distinguished revolutionaries such as Binyah Kessely of the UP, the late Jackson F. Doe of the LAP and the late William Gabriel Kpolleh of LUP organized political movements to canvass for political leadership for the 1985 elections, anticipating a democratic environment for free expression to exercise their suffrage.
After the 1985 elections, the idea of a coalition was proffered; and in 1986, it was established as the Grand Coalition and incorporated the UP, LAP and LUP. This was short-lived due to a decision by the Supreme Court of Liberia declaring its (the Coalition’s) activities illegal. It was subsequently banned and prohibited from participating in every public activity and denied the prerogative of a political party within the borders of Liberia. During the 2005 elections, LAP and LUP joined forces against the UP, who eventually emerged as the winner of the elections.
On Friday, Sherman said he made the decision two days ago that he will not serve as National Chairman of the Unity Party while Fahnbulleh, his cousin, serves as the National Secretary-General, as he would not and will not undermine a fundamental philosophical and ideological basis for the founding of the three constituent political parties and the recent merger as one political entity, nor would he participate in a political relationship that is abhorrent to deeply ingrained beliefs that are precious to him. “And on the basis of that, I informed several elected officers that both Henry Fahnbulleh and I will not be inducted into office on tomorrow, Saturday, 19, June, 2010.” If I will be inducted, then Henry Fabhbulleh, shall not be conducted if Henry Fahnbulleh will be inducted, then I refused to be inducted,” Sherman declared.
Sherman said his decision presented a crisis to the newly-elected officers, who, after a full day of deliberation and not having succeeded in resolving the crisis, opted for a postponement of the induction program. Notwithstanding that it is my decision which finally precipitated the crisis. “ I was delegated as the most senior elected officer, to disclose the postpone of the induction program and the reason for it.” I am confident that the Unity Party will manage the crisis successfully; and I assure each and every partisan that whatever solution is found, other than Henry Fahnbulleh and I serving in those two capacities at the same time, even if it means that I decline to serve as the National Chairman, I will humbly accept and continue to serve the Unity Party with the same vigor, commitment and loyalty that ha s characterized my service in every position I have heretofore held in politics.”
Said Sherman: “Now Henry Fahnbulleh, our National Secretary General-elect is from Grand Cape Mount County, a member of the Vai tribe, similarly, I, the National Chairman-elect, am from Grand Gedeh County, a member of the (now tribe. We are even closer than that; we are distant cousins. My putative paternal grandmother was a Fahnbulleh; my putative father paternal grandmother Momo Fahnbule Jones. For those of you who are old enough, you might know that that when that, the namesick of our Secretary General Secretary Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh(the namesick of our National Secretay General r to defend him, it was counselor Momo Fahnbulleh Jones(my putative father, given the family relationship, who took Ambassador Fahnbulle’s case.”
Cllr. Sherman noted that the treason trial merely illustrates the consanguinity between himself and Fahnbulleh.
Cllr. Sherman said on the basis of the relationship, he admonished voters at the recent party convention in Ganta, Nimba County that irrespective of a candidate’s competence and qualification for an elected office, they should vote in a way that would give Unity Party a leadership that reflects our national character, a leadership that is based on both geographic and ethnic balance. “With the tumultuous joy that followed my white-ballot election, I believe that many of the convention delegates did not hear my admonishment. Henry Fahnbulleh was elected Secretary General by a margin of 40 votes.
Cllr. Sherman further noted that as it is abhorrent to the philosophical foundations of the Unity Party that two persons from the same county, with the consanguinity described, hold two most senior and strategic positions within the party and considering that such a leadership, though elected, bothers on political nepotism, contrary to deeply ingrained personal belief, he engaged Fahnbulleh in a series of meetings prior to the May 8, 2010 convention in Ganta, urging Fahnbulleh to decline his(Sherman’s) election as National Chairman if he would not concede what he (Sherman) considers to be the politico-high ground. “All of my entreaties were rebuffed; but I was not perturbed. I enlisted the assistance of other elected officials, friends and associates, all of whom agreed with me that it was political the unpalatable for both Henry Fahnbulleh and himself to serve in the positions to which they were elected.”
Said Sherman: “In lieu of the position of National Secretary General we made various offers to Henry Fahnbulleh, including offers that would lead him to achieving what he confided n me to be the pinnacle of his career objective – Minister of Foreign Affairs. Henry Fahnbulleh rebuffed all these entreaties and insisted that he would not, in his words “subvert the will of the people.” In my mind, declining an election to a position because of the political necessities and exigencies described above is not a subversion of the will of the people; to the contrary, it is evidenced of magnanimity and sacrifice for the greater good and higher interest of the organization.
Cllr. Sherman said several partisans of the party assured him recently that they would continue to engage Fahnbulleh to see the wisdom, in the cardinal and supreme interest of our political party, to decline the election instead of him Sherman declining his election as party leader. “They determined, in their wisdom, that as between a chairman of the Unity Party, who was himself a presidential candidate at the 2005 elections, and a secretary general, who has not had such national exposure and relevance, the chairman, not the secretary general, should concede so that fundamental philosophical and ideological basis for the Unity Party are adhered to and maintained.”
Sherman said while he was disheartened that the induction of the program has been put off, history shows that those who will not stand for principles they sincerely believe in will wallow in their cowardice and often times damage their followers. “I will never compromise what I consider to be in the supreme interest of our political party even if it is inconvenient to me. It is only when our political decisions and works are matched to principles and reason can we comfort ourselves and assure our fellow Liberians that our political party is genuinely interested in their well-being and the future of our country.”
Source: http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=11021&z=37
06/18/2010
On the eve of the induction of the recently-elected leadership of the ruling Unity Party, Cllr. Varney Sherman, the party’s new chairman has put his induction set for Saturday, June 2010 on hold in the wake of an ongoing wrangle between the party’s hierarchy and the newly-elected Secretary General Henry Fahnbulleh.
Citing what he calls a strong family relationship between him and Fahnbulleh, Cllr. Sherman told a news conference at his Congotown residence Friday that he and Fahnbulleh are distant cousins and could not possibly serve the two key positions in the party’s hierarchy.
In 2009, the Unity Party officially endorsed its Articles of Merger document bringing together the UP, the Liberia Action Party (LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) at a convention held in Gbarnga, Bong County. The merger document was initially signed by UP leader, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and endorsed by the party’s National Executive Committee. The UP, LAP and LUP were established as political parties in Liberia in 1984 after the military regime of the late president Samuel K. Doe had lifted the ban on political activities. Distinguished revolutionaries such as Binyah Kessely of the UP, the late Jackson F. Doe of the LAP and the late William Gabriel Kpolleh of LUP organized political movements to canvass for political leadership for the 1985 elections, anticipating a democratic environment for free expression to exercise their suffrage.
After the 1985 elections, the idea of a coalition was proffered; and in 1986, it was established as the Grand Coalition and incorporated the UP, LAP and LUP. This was short-lived due to a decision by the Supreme Court of Liberia declaring its (the Coalition’s) activities illegal. It was subsequently banned and prohibited from participating in every public activity and denied the prerogative of a political party within the borders of Liberia. During the 2005 elections, LAP and LUP joined forces against the UP, who eventually emerged as the winner of the elections.
On Friday, Sherman said he made the decision two days ago that he will not serve as National Chairman of the Unity Party while Fahnbulleh, his cousin, serves as the National Secretary-General, as he would not and will not undermine a fundamental philosophical and ideological basis for the founding of the three constituent political parties and the recent merger as one political entity, nor would he participate in a political relationship that is abhorrent to deeply ingrained beliefs that are precious to him. “And on the basis of that, I informed several elected officers that both Henry Fahnbulleh and I will not be inducted into office on tomorrow, Saturday, 19, June, 2010.” If I will be inducted, then Henry Fabhbulleh, shall not be conducted if Henry Fahnbulleh will be inducted, then I refused to be inducted,” Sherman declared.
Sherman said his decision presented a crisis to the newly-elected officers, who, after a full day of deliberation and not having succeeded in resolving the crisis, opted for a postponement of the induction program. Notwithstanding that it is my decision which finally precipitated the crisis. “ I was delegated as the most senior elected officer, to disclose the postpone of the induction program and the reason for it.” I am confident that the Unity Party will manage the crisis successfully; and I assure each and every partisan that whatever solution is found, other than Henry Fahnbulleh and I serving in those two capacities at the same time, even if it means that I decline to serve as the National Chairman, I will humbly accept and continue to serve the Unity Party with the same vigor, commitment and loyalty that ha s characterized my service in every position I have heretofore held in politics.”
Said Sherman: “Now Henry Fahnbulleh, our National Secretary General-elect is from Grand Cape Mount County, a member of the Vai tribe, similarly, I, the National Chairman-elect, am from Grand Gedeh County, a member of the (now tribe. We are even closer than that; we are distant cousins. My putative paternal grandmother was a Fahnbulleh; my putative father paternal grandmother Momo Fahnbule Jones. For those of you who are old enough, you might know that that when that, the namesick of our Secretary General Secretary Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh(the namesick of our National Secretay General r to defend him, it was counselor Momo Fahnbulleh Jones(my putative father, given the family relationship, who took Ambassador Fahnbulle’s case.”
Cllr. Sherman noted that the treason trial merely illustrates the consanguinity between himself and Fahnbulleh.
Cllr. Sherman said on the basis of the relationship, he admonished voters at the recent party convention in Ganta, Nimba County that irrespective of a candidate’s competence and qualification for an elected office, they should vote in a way that would give Unity Party a leadership that reflects our national character, a leadership that is based on both geographic and ethnic balance. “With the tumultuous joy that followed my white-ballot election, I believe that many of the convention delegates did not hear my admonishment. Henry Fahnbulleh was elected Secretary General by a margin of 40 votes.
Cllr. Sherman further noted that as it is abhorrent to the philosophical foundations of the Unity Party that two persons from the same county, with the consanguinity described, hold two most senior and strategic positions within the party and considering that such a leadership, though elected, bothers on political nepotism, contrary to deeply ingrained personal belief, he engaged Fahnbulleh in a series of meetings prior to the May 8, 2010 convention in Ganta, urging Fahnbulleh to decline his(Sherman’s) election as National Chairman if he would not concede what he (Sherman) considers to be the politico-high ground. “All of my entreaties were rebuffed; but I was not perturbed. I enlisted the assistance of other elected officials, friends and associates, all of whom agreed with me that it was political the unpalatable for both Henry Fahnbulleh and himself to serve in the positions to which they were elected.”
Said Sherman: “In lieu of the position of National Secretary General we made various offers to Henry Fahnbulleh, including offers that would lead him to achieving what he confided n me to be the pinnacle of his career objective – Minister of Foreign Affairs. Henry Fahnbulleh rebuffed all these entreaties and insisted that he would not, in his words “subvert the will of the people.” In my mind, declining an election to a position because of the political necessities and exigencies described above is not a subversion of the will of the people; to the contrary, it is evidenced of magnanimity and sacrifice for the greater good and higher interest of the organization.
Cllr. Sherman said several partisans of the party assured him recently that they would continue to engage Fahnbulleh to see the wisdom, in the cardinal and supreme interest of our political party, to decline the election instead of him Sherman declining his election as party leader. “They determined, in their wisdom, that as between a chairman of the Unity Party, who was himself a presidential candidate at the 2005 elections, and a secretary general, who has not had such national exposure and relevance, the chairman, not the secretary general, should concede so that fundamental philosophical and ideological basis for the Unity Party are adhered to and maintained.”
Sherman said while he was disheartened that the induction of the program has been put off, history shows that those who will not stand for principles they sincerely believe in will wallow in their cowardice and often times damage their followers. “I will never compromise what I consider to be in the supreme interest of our political party even if it is inconvenient to me. It is only when our political decisions and works are matched to principles and reason can we comfort ourselves and assure our fellow Liberians that our political party is genuinely interested in their well-being and the future of our country.”
Response to GAC’s Allegations of Financial Strangulation
Source: http://www.liberianforum.com/Press-Releases/Response-to-GACs-Allegations-of-Financial-Strangulation.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+liberianforum%2FQQsQ+%28LiberianForum.Com%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail
Written by Ministry of Finance
Saturday, 19 June 2010
The Ministry of Finance strongly rejects as false and misleading media reports that the General Auditing Commission was being financially strangulated.
The report claims that the Ministry of Finance has taken US$432,000 from GAC’s FY2009/2010 appropriation.
The truth of the matter is that the Government’s financial position during the current fiscal year has been characterized by uncertainties in revenue flows. The FY2009/2010 Budget contained some inherent risks from the time the budget was approved in mid 2009. In August the assessed revenue risk was US$35.9 million or 9.6% of the US$371,9 million budget. In October the risk has escalated to US$58.5 million or 15.7% October. Consequently, an equal amount was frozen from the expenditure side. The risk profile as we go towards the end of the fiscal year has further deteriorated, necessitating further cuts across government.
While the overall expenditure cut contained in the budget risk management strategy concluded in October 2009 was 15.7%, some agencies were treated with special preferences compared to others. The GAC happened to be one of such agencies that were prioritized. At the onset, US$432,000 was frozen out of the GAC’s US$3.7 million, but US$200,000 was returned by way of budgetary transfers.
Thus the net amount frozen out of GAC’s budget was US$232,000 or 6.2%, which is far smaller compared to other Ministries and Agencies of Government. Ministry of Public Works’ budget was reduced by 18%, Ministry of Agriculture 17.1%, Ministry of Finance 15.3%, Governance Commission 13%, Judiciary 12.5%, Ministry of Defense 10% and Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission 6.3%.
It is therefore clear that even when the rest of Government was sharing the burden imposed by low revenue performance, the GAC was given the priority while others experienced more severe budgetary reductions. That the GAC authorities could attempt to mislead the public in the face of these glaring reality, which they are very much aware of, is disingenuous to say the least.
The Ministry of Finance therefore detests and considers as infantile the GAC’s continuing habit of provoking unnecessary controversies by constantly preferring to discuss financial management issues in the press just for the sake of creating controversies where they don’t exist. The only immediate gain for the perpetrators of such acts is to invoke undeserved sympathies and public favor. In spite of more stringent measures, other agencies of government are proceeding with the judicious management of their available resources and the GAC should do likewise for prudent financial management is the key deterrent to fraud, waste and abuse.
Nevertheless, the Ministry of Finance will not be drawn into unnecessary distractions as it has more urgent and pressing national priorities to deal with.
ISSUED BY
Media Services & Public Affairs Unit
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friction Bends Family Bone in Ruling Unity Party; Sherman Wants Fahnbulleh Out
Friction Bends Family Bone in Liberia's Ruling Unity Party; Sherman Wants Fahnbulleh Out
Source: http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=11021&z=37
06/18/2010
On the eve of the induction of the recently-elected leadership of the ruling Unity Party, Cllr. Varney Sherman, the party’s new chairman has put his induction set for Saturday, June 2010 on hold in the wake of an ongoing wrangle between the party’s hierarchy and the newly-elected Secretary General Henry Fahnbulleh.
Citing what he calls a strong family relationship between him and Fahnbulleh, Cllr. Sherman told a news conference at his Congotown residence Friday that he and Fahnbulleh are distant cousins and could not possibly serve the two key positions in the party’s hierarchy.
In 2009, the Unity Party officially endorsed its Articles of Merger document bringing together the UP, the Liberia Action Party (LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) at a convention held in Gbarnga, Bong County. The merger document was initially signed by UP leader, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and endorsed by the party’s National Executive Committee. The UP, LAP and LUP were established as political parties in Liberia in 1984 after the military regime of the late president Samuel K. Doe had lifted the ban on political activities. Distinguished revolutionaries such as Binyah Kessely of the UP, the late Jackson F. Doe of the LAP and the late William Gabriel Kpolleh of LUP organized political movements to canvass for political leadership for the 1985 elections, anticipating a democratic environment for free expression to exercise their suffrage.
After the 1985 elections, the idea of a coalition was proffered; and in 1986, it was established as the Grand Coalition and incorporated the UP, LAP and LUP. This was short-lived due to a decision by the Supreme Court of Liberia declaring its (the Coalition’s) activities illegal. It was subsequently banned and prohibited from participating in every public activity and denied the prerogative of a political party within the borders of Liberia. During the 2005 elections, LAP and LUP joined forces against the UP, who eventually emerged as the winner of the elections.
On Friday, Sherman said he made the decision two days ago that he will not serve as National Chairman of the Unity Party while Fahnbulleh, his cousin, serves as the National Secretary-General, as he would not and will not undermine a fundamental philosophical and ideological basis for the founding of the three constituent political parties and the recent merger as one political entity, nor would he participate in a political relationship that is abhorrent to deeply ingrained beliefs that are precious to him. “And on the basis of that, I informed several elected officers that both Henry Fahnbulleh and I will not be inducted into office on tomorrow, Saturday, 19, June, 2010.” If I will be inducted, then Henry Fabhbulleh, shall not be conducted if Henry Fahnbulleh will be inducted, then I refused to be inducted,” Sherman declared.
Sherman said his decision presented a crisis to the newly-elected officers, who, after a full day of deliberation and not having succeeded in resolving the crisis, opted for a postponement of the induction program. Notwithstanding that it is my decision which finally precipitated the crisis. “ I was delegated as the most senior elected officer, to disclose the postpone of the induction program and the reason for it.” I am confident that the Unity Party will manage the crisis successfully; and I assure each and every partisan that whatever solution is found, other than Henry Fahnbulleh and I serving in those two capacities at the same time, even if it means that I decline to serve as the National Chairman, I will humbly accept and continue to serve the Unity Party with the same vigor, commitment and loyalty that ha s characterized my service in every position I have heretofore held in politics.”
Said Sherman: “Now Henry Fahnbulleh, our National Secretary General-elect is from Grand Cape Mount County, a member of the Vai tribe, similarly, I, the National Chairman-elect, am from Grand Gedeh County, a member of the (now tribe. We are even closer than that; we are distant cousins. My putative paternal grandmother was a Fahnbulleh; my putative father paternal grandmother Momo Fahnbule Jones. For those of you who are old enough, you might know that that when that, the namesick of our Secretary General Secretary Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh(the namesick of our National Secretay General r to defend him, it was counselor Momo Fahnbulleh Jones(my putative father, given the family relationship, who took Ambassador Fahnbulle’s case.”
Cllr. Sherman noted that the treason trial merely illustrates the consanguinity between himself and Fahnbulleh.
Cllr. Sherman said on the basis of the relationship, he admonished voters at the recent party convention in Ganta, Nimba County that irrespective of a candidate’s competence and qualification for an elected office, they should vote in a way that would give Unity Party a leadership that reflects our national character, a leadership that is based on both geographic and ethnic balance. “With the tumultuous joy that followed my white-ballot election, I believe that many of the convention delegates did not hear my admonishment. Henry Fahnbulleh was elected Secretary General by a margin of 40 votes.
Cllr. Sherman further noted that as it is abhorrent to the philosophical foundations of the Unity Party that two persons from the same county, with the consanguinity described, hold two most senior and strategic positions within the party and considering that such a leadership, though elected, bothers on political nepotism, contrary to deeply ingrained personal belief, he engaged Fahnbulleh in a series of meetings prior to the May 8, 2010 convention in Ganta, urging Fahnbulleh to decline his(Sherman’s) election as National Chairman if he would not concede what he (Sherman) considers to be the politico-high ground. “All of my entreaties were rebuffed; but I was not perturbed. I enlisted the assistance of other elected officials, friends and associates, all of whom agreed with me that it was political the unpalatable for both Henry Fahnbulleh and himself to serve in the positions to which they were elected.”
Said Sherman: “In lieu of the position of National Secretary General we made various offers to Henry Fahnbulleh, including offers that would lead him to achieving what he confided n me to be the pinnacle of his career objective – Minister of Foreign Affairs. Henry Fahnbulleh rebuffed all these entreaties and insisted that he would not, in his words “subvert the will of the people.” In my mind, declining an election to a position because of the political necessities and exigencies described above is not a subversion of the will of the people; to the contrary, it is evidenced of magnanimity and sacrifice for the greater good and higher interest of the organization.
Cllr. Sherman said several partisans of the party assured him recently that they would continue to engage Fahnbulleh to see the wisdom, in the cardinal and supreme interest of our political party, to decline the election instead of him Sherman declining his election as party leader. “They determined, in their wisdom, that as between a chairman of the Unity Party, who was himself a presidential candidate at the 2005 elections, and a secretary general, who has not had such national exposure and relevance, the chairman, not the secretary general, should concede so that fundamental philosophical and ideological basis for the Unity Party are adhered to and maintained.”
Sherman said while he was disheartened that the induction of the program has been put off, history shows that those who will not stand for principles they sincerely believe in will wallow in their cowardice and often times damage their followers. “I will never compromise what I consider to be in the supreme interest of our political party even if it is inconvenient to me. It is only when our political decisions and works are matched to principles and reason can we comfort ourselves and assure our fellow Liberians that our political party is genuinely interested in their well-being and the future of our country.”
Source: http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=11021&z=37
06/18/2010
On the eve of the induction of the recently-elected leadership of the ruling Unity Party, Cllr. Varney Sherman, the party’s new chairman has put his induction set for Saturday, June 2010 on hold in the wake of an ongoing wrangle between the party’s hierarchy and the newly-elected Secretary General Henry Fahnbulleh.
Citing what he calls a strong family relationship between him and Fahnbulleh, Cllr. Sherman told a news conference at his Congotown residence Friday that he and Fahnbulleh are distant cousins and could not possibly serve the two key positions in the party’s hierarchy.
In 2009, the Unity Party officially endorsed its Articles of Merger document bringing together the UP, the Liberia Action Party (LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) at a convention held in Gbarnga, Bong County. The merger document was initially signed by UP leader, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and endorsed by the party’s National Executive Committee. The UP, LAP and LUP were established as political parties in Liberia in 1984 after the military regime of the late president Samuel K. Doe had lifted the ban on political activities. Distinguished revolutionaries such as Binyah Kessely of the UP, the late Jackson F. Doe of the LAP and the late William Gabriel Kpolleh of LUP organized political movements to canvass for political leadership for the 1985 elections, anticipating a democratic environment for free expression to exercise their suffrage.
After the 1985 elections, the idea of a coalition was proffered; and in 1986, it was established as the Grand Coalition and incorporated the UP, LAP and LUP. This was short-lived due to a decision by the Supreme Court of Liberia declaring its (the Coalition’s) activities illegal. It was subsequently banned and prohibited from participating in every public activity and denied the prerogative of a political party within the borders of Liberia. During the 2005 elections, LAP and LUP joined forces against the UP, who eventually emerged as the winner of the elections.
On Friday, Sherman said he made the decision two days ago that he will not serve as National Chairman of the Unity Party while Fahnbulleh, his cousin, serves as the National Secretary-General, as he would not and will not undermine a fundamental philosophical and ideological basis for the founding of the three constituent political parties and the recent merger as one political entity, nor would he participate in a political relationship that is abhorrent to deeply ingrained beliefs that are precious to him. “And on the basis of that, I informed several elected officers that both Henry Fahnbulleh and I will not be inducted into office on tomorrow, Saturday, 19, June, 2010.” If I will be inducted, then Henry Fabhbulleh, shall not be conducted if Henry Fahnbulleh will be inducted, then I refused to be inducted,” Sherman declared.
Sherman said his decision presented a crisis to the newly-elected officers, who, after a full day of deliberation and not having succeeded in resolving the crisis, opted for a postponement of the induction program. Notwithstanding that it is my decision which finally precipitated the crisis. “ I was delegated as the most senior elected officer, to disclose the postpone of the induction program and the reason for it.” I am confident that the Unity Party will manage the crisis successfully; and I assure each and every partisan that whatever solution is found, other than Henry Fahnbulleh and I serving in those two capacities at the same time, even if it means that I decline to serve as the National Chairman, I will humbly accept and continue to serve the Unity Party with the same vigor, commitment and loyalty that ha s characterized my service in every position I have heretofore held in politics.”
Said Sherman: “Now Henry Fahnbulleh, our National Secretary General-elect is from Grand Cape Mount County, a member of the Vai tribe, similarly, I, the National Chairman-elect, am from Grand Gedeh County, a member of the (now tribe. We are even closer than that; we are distant cousins. My putative paternal grandmother was a Fahnbulleh; my putative father paternal grandmother Momo Fahnbule Jones. For those of you who are old enough, you might know that that when that, the namesick of our Secretary General Secretary Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh(the namesick of our National Secretay General r to defend him, it was counselor Momo Fahnbulleh Jones(my putative father, given the family relationship, who took Ambassador Fahnbulle’s case.”
Cllr. Sherman noted that the treason trial merely illustrates the consanguinity between himself and Fahnbulleh.
Cllr. Sherman said on the basis of the relationship, he admonished voters at the recent party convention in Ganta, Nimba County that irrespective of a candidate’s competence and qualification for an elected office, they should vote in a way that would give Unity Party a leadership that reflects our national character, a leadership that is based on both geographic and ethnic balance. “With the tumultuous joy that followed my white-ballot election, I believe that many of the convention delegates did not hear my admonishment. Henry Fahnbulleh was elected Secretary General by a margin of 40 votes.
Cllr. Sherman further noted that as it is abhorrent to the philosophical foundations of the Unity Party that two persons from the same county, with the consanguinity described, hold two most senior and strategic positions within the party and considering that such a leadership, though elected, bothers on political nepotism, contrary to deeply ingrained personal belief, he engaged Fahnbulleh in a series of meetings prior to the May 8, 2010 convention in Ganta, urging Fahnbulleh to decline his(Sherman’s) election as National Chairman if he would not concede what he (Sherman) considers to be the politico-high ground. “All of my entreaties were rebuffed; but I was not perturbed. I enlisted the assistance of other elected officials, friends and associates, all of whom agreed with me that it was political the unpalatable for both Henry Fahnbulleh and himself to serve in the positions to which they were elected.”
Said Sherman: “In lieu of the position of National Secretary General we made various offers to Henry Fahnbulleh, including offers that would lead him to achieving what he confided n me to be the pinnacle of his career objective – Minister of Foreign Affairs. Henry Fahnbulleh rebuffed all these entreaties and insisted that he would not, in his words “subvert the will of the people.” In my mind, declining an election to a position because of the political necessities and exigencies described above is not a subversion of the will of the people; to the contrary, it is evidenced of magnanimity and sacrifice for the greater good and higher interest of the organization.
Cllr. Sherman said several partisans of the party assured him recently that they would continue to engage Fahnbulleh to see the wisdom, in the cardinal and supreme interest of our political party, to decline the election instead of him Sherman declining his election as party leader. “They determined, in their wisdom, that as between a chairman of the Unity Party, who was himself a presidential candidate at the 2005 elections, and a secretary general, who has not had such national exposure and relevance, the chairman, not the secretary general, should concede so that fundamental philosophical and ideological basis for the Unity Party are adhered to and maintained.”
Sherman said while he was disheartened that the induction of the program has been put off, history shows that those who will not stand for principles they sincerely believe in will wallow in their cowardice and often times damage their followers. “I will never compromise what I consider to be in the supreme interest of our political party even if it is inconvenient to me. It is only when our political decisions and works are matched to principles and reason can we comfort ourselves and assure our fellow Liberians that our political party is genuinely interested in their well-being and the future of our country.”
Liberia's Threshold Blows
Source: http://www.newdemocratnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67:threshold-blows&catid=47:national&Itemid=70
Threshold Blows
Written by Boimah J.V. Boimah
Friday, 18 June 2010
House Explodes In Riot
The House of Representatives exploded into fistfights Thursday over the stalled population threshold bill required for 2011 elections, with members hauling and pulling one another in acrimonious exchanges and invective on the passing of the bill now held for over 2 years.
Several Representatives from more populated Counties who stand to gain from the new census figures, frustrated over what they claim are orchestrated attempts from colleagues from less populated Counties to thwart the bill, have been threatening violence if the bill is not discussed and voted upon.
They accused certain House leaders of manipulations to ensure that the bill remains in coma.
The riot erupted when Deputy Speaker Tolkpa Mulbah adjourned session, citing lack of quorum. But Representatives from less populated Counties, including some Unity Party lawmakers, objective to the Deputy Speaker’s decision and immediately installed Rep. Bhofa Chambers and Kettehkumueh Murray as presiding and co presiding officer with the mandate to reconvene session.
Chambers and Murray assumed office to effect their assigned duty but their colleagues resisted their action and ordered the men to drop the gavel and leave the chambers. “You, what are you doing here? The Deputy Speaker said he adjourned the session and your refuse to leave? So lets go out. Go…” one said Following tension and tussles amongst the lawmakers who have tagged themselves as “Super Reps” and “Small Reps,” Rep. Chambers and Murray who fall within the “small Reps” category clarified that they were not presiding but rather holding “consultative” meeting on the action of Deputy Speaker Mulbah.
But Rep Nelson Weh Bah advised that they should discontinue the meeting because the “Super Reps” had the numerical strength to beat them physically.
“The Deputy Speaker had adjourned the meeting. Let’s leave because these men have strength and I don’t want for my face to be on TV”, Rep Bah said and the drama ended.
Threshold Blows
Written by Boimah J.V. Boimah
Friday, 18 June 2010
House Explodes In Riot
The House of Representatives exploded into fistfights Thursday over the stalled population threshold bill required for 2011 elections, with members hauling and pulling one another in acrimonious exchanges and invective on the passing of the bill now held for over 2 years.
Several Representatives from more populated Counties who stand to gain from the new census figures, frustrated over what they claim are orchestrated attempts from colleagues from less populated Counties to thwart the bill, have been threatening violence if the bill is not discussed and voted upon.
They accused certain House leaders of manipulations to ensure that the bill remains in coma.
The riot erupted when Deputy Speaker Tolkpa Mulbah adjourned session, citing lack of quorum. But Representatives from less populated Counties, including some Unity Party lawmakers, objective to the Deputy Speaker’s decision and immediately installed Rep. Bhofa Chambers and Kettehkumueh Murray as presiding and co presiding officer with the mandate to reconvene session.
Chambers and Murray assumed office to effect their assigned duty but their colleagues resisted their action and ordered the men to drop the gavel and leave the chambers. “You, what are you doing here? The Deputy Speaker said he adjourned the session and your refuse to leave? So lets go out. Go…” one said Following tension and tussles amongst the lawmakers who have tagged themselves as “Super Reps” and “Small Reps,” Rep. Chambers and Murray who fall within the “small Reps” category clarified that they were not presiding but rather holding “consultative” meeting on the action of Deputy Speaker Mulbah.
But Rep Nelson Weh Bah advised that they should discontinue the meeting because the “Super Reps” had the numerical strength to beat them physically.
“The Deputy Speaker had adjourned the meeting. Let’s leave because these men have strength and I don’t want for my face to be on TV”, Rep Bah said and the drama ended.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Cancellation Hangs Over Delinquent Concesssion Firms; House Probing
Cancellation Hangs Over Delinquent Concesssion Firms; House Probing
07/11/2010
Source: http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=10997&z=3
Monrovia - Following persistent concerns in the public and of late a recent letter under the signature of a ranking member of the House of Representatives Bhofal Chambers to the full plenary of the House of Representatives that some concessions agreements ratified are not living up to the terms of the agreements, the House Committee on Concession and Investment says it will start inviting heads of various concessions that are deemed to be delinquent in living up to the agreements signed with the Liberian government.
House Committee Chairman on Concession and Investment Lofa county Lawmaker Moses Kollie told journalists that the body wants to exercise its role of having oversight on agreements that are signed with various companies in the country.
Kollie warned that the Legislature has multiple options available to it if it observed that the concessionaires concern are showing signs that they lack the capacity to live up to the terms of the agreement.
“We have a lot of concessions that we signed, the president approved and some printed into handbill but we have observed that most of these concessions have actually not been monitored and in some instances have not been committed because every concession agreement is a law. Gentlemen let me make this clear that we are going to be robust as part of our oversight.
As a matter of fact we have serious concern with ADA (African Development Aid). As chairman on concession and Investment, ADA is an embarrassment to this country because we have made some follow-ups and we have seen nothing besides makeshift structures and you also see people squatting in these areas, and so we are going to invite the head of ADA Mr. McIntosh and absolutely we are not going to accept any proxy because normally if you invite him, he will normally sent someone else,” The Lofa County Lawmaker told journalists on capitol Hill Thursday.
Few weeks ago a group of rural forest owners stormed the Capitol Building demanding that the Legislature revisit concessions mainly in the forest sector it signed with these companies. The rural dwellers complained that the companies in question have reneged on the various agreements it signed with the Liberian government by failing to implement various social agreement it said it would do in these communities.
Early this year the man Representing Foyah District in the National Legislature, Eugene Fallah Kparkar complained that the African Development Aid, operating a 30million dollar agreement to produce rice in the northern part of country has neglected the people and was failing on the terms of the agreement.
But the House Committee Chair have said if companies concerns failed on the terms of the agreement, a process of cancellations will start on Capitol Hill.
“We are not going to be embarrassed by anyone. If it is proven that these companies do not have the capacity, we will begin the process of cancellation here because this is a legal process and we are very serious and the Chief Clerk is now preparing the communications for Mr. McIntosh and other including the BRE and Alpha Logging and in fact Alpha Logging has been an embarrassment to this country. We have done an official complain to the FDA because we were in the position of reconditioning the feeder road in Salayeah but they assured the government that they could do that but unfortunately they have failed,” Representative Kollie maintained.
During the last hearing on the ratification of four forest management contracts, Civil Society Activist Silas Saikor told the hearing that nearly all the forest management contracts signed by the government of Liberia with various companies were standing on shaky grounds and warned that it would be dangerous for the government to sign new ones again.
07/11/2010
Source: http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=10997&z=3
Monrovia - Following persistent concerns in the public and of late a recent letter under the signature of a ranking member of the House of Representatives Bhofal Chambers to the full plenary of the House of Representatives that some concessions agreements ratified are not living up to the terms of the agreements, the House Committee on Concession and Investment says it will start inviting heads of various concessions that are deemed to be delinquent in living up to the agreements signed with the Liberian government.
House Committee Chairman on Concession and Investment Lofa county Lawmaker Moses Kollie told journalists that the body wants to exercise its role of having oversight on agreements that are signed with various companies in the country.
Kollie warned that the Legislature has multiple options available to it if it observed that the concessionaires concern are showing signs that they lack the capacity to live up to the terms of the agreement.
“We have a lot of concessions that we signed, the president approved and some printed into handbill but we have observed that most of these concessions have actually not been monitored and in some instances have not been committed because every concession agreement is a law. Gentlemen let me make this clear that we are going to be robust as part of our oversight.
As a matter of fact we have serious concern with ADA (African Development Aid). As chairman on concession and Investment, ADA is an embarrassment to this country because we have made some follow-ups and we have seen nothing besides makeshift structures and you also see people squatting in these areas, and so we are going to invite the head of ADA Mr. McIntosh and absolutely we are not going to accept any proxy because normally if you invite him, he will normally sent someone else,” The Lofa County Lawmaker told journalists on capitol Hill Thursday.
Few weeks ago a group of rural forest owners stormed the Capitol Building demanding that the Legislature revisit concessions mainly in the forest sector it signed with these companies. The rural dwellers complained that the companies in question have reneged on the various agreements it signed with the Liberian government by failing to implement various social agreement it said it would do in these communities.
Early this year the man Representing Foyah District in the National Legislature, Eugene Fallah Kparkar complained that the African Development Aid, operating a 30million dollar agreement to produce rice in the northern part of country has neglected the people and was failing on the terms of the agreement.
But the House Committee Chair have said if companies concerns failed on the terms of the agreement, a process of cancellations will start on Capitol Hill.
“We are not going to be embarrassed by anyone. If it is proven that these companies do not have the capacity, we will begin the process of cancellation here because this is a legal process and we are very serious and the Chief Clerk is now preparing the communications for Mr. McIntosh and other including the BRE and Alpha Logging and in fact Alpha Logging has been an embarrassment to this country. We have done an official complain to the FDA because we were in the position of reconditioning the feeder road in Salayeah but they assured the government that they could do that but unfortunately they have failed,” Representative Kollie maintained.
During the last hearing on the ratification of four forest management contracts, Civil Society Activist Silas Saikor told the hearing that nearly all the forest management contracts signed by the government of Liberia with various companies were standing on shaky grounds and warned that it would be dangerous for the government to sign new ones again.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Suspect in World Vision $1M Theft Case Battling Extradition from Liberia
Suspect in World Vision $1M Theft Case Battling Extradition from Liberia
06/07/2010
Source: http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=10994&z=3
Monrovia - The fate of a Liberian citizen Thomas Momo Parker, who allegedly committed a crime in the United States of America (USA) and fled to Liberia, is expected to be decided this week by the presiding magistrate Nelson B. Chineh of the Monrovia City Court at the Tempe of Justice.
Accused Parker was arrested and forwarded to the court based on a request from the American Embassy in Monrovia though the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).
Testifying on Wednesday as the prosecution’s first witness, Emmanuel B. Harvey, told the court while he was at his Ashmun Street offices at the Ministry of Justice, he received some documents from the US Embassy in Monrovia.
Atty. Harvey who is also Administrative Assistant to Liberia’s Solicitor-General Cllr. M. Wilkins Wright further testified that he cannot remembered the exact time and date of the documents, but added that the papers requested the Government of Liberia to turn over defendant Parker and others not named to be extradited to the USA and face criminal trial.
Witness Harvey said upon receiving the documents from the USA, state securities including the Liberian National Police, National Security Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation were instructed by MOJ to identify and arrest the alleged suspect Parker.
The state witness who did not explain to the court what crime the Liberian citizen committed in the USA, further told the court after vigorous search by the securities, Parker was arrested and forwarded to the court.
Parker, a former employee of World Vision was reportedly arrested in Monrovia recently. The judge at the Magisterial Court in Monrovia postponed ruling on the extradition request but he is expected to hand down his ruling this week. Judge Nelson Chineh of the Monrovia City Court will today decide whether a former World Vision Liberia employee Thomas Momo Parker will be extradited to the United States as requested by the US to face charges of fraud and Thief of Property.
Mr. Parker and several other former senior World Vision officials in Liberia and two other workers were charged last year for alleged fraud. They were accused of stealing and selling donated food in local markets and keeping the profits. They were also alleged to have used construction materials to build themselves multiple homes using labour provided by US-funded aid workers. Joe Bondo, one of the Liberians involve and also who was a manager on the project, has been in a Washington jail since his arrest on 20 May.
The US-based international Christian relief organization at the time said, it believes more than 90% of its aid to Liberia went missing in a massive fraud scam. World Vision’s Vice-President George Ward said the losses came to more than $1m and pledged to make “every effort” to avoid a repeat.
06/07/2010
Source: http://www.frontpageafrica.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=10994&z=3
Monrovia - The fate of a Liberian citizen Thomas Momo Parker, who allegedly committed a crime in the United States of America (USA) and fled to Liberia, is expected to be decided this week by the presiding magistrate Nelson B. Chineh of the Monrovia City Court at the Tempe of Justice.
Accused Parker was arrested and forwarded to the court based on a request from the American Embassy in Monrovia though the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).
Testifying on Wednesday as the prosecution’s first witness, Emmanuel B. Harvey, told the court while he was at his Ashmun Street offices at the Ministry of Justice, he received some documents from the US Embassy in Monrovia.
Atty. Harvey who is also Administrative Assistant to Liberia’s Solicitor-General Cllr. M. Wilkins Wright further testified that he cannot remembered the exact time and date of the documents, but added that the papers requested the Government of Liberia to turn over defendant Parker and others not named to be extradited to the USA and face criminal trial.
Witness Harvey said upon receiving the documents from the USA, state securities including the Liberian National Police, National Security Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation were instructed by MOJ to identify and arrest the alleged suspect Parker.
The state witness who did not explain to the court what crime the Liberian citizen committed in the USA, further told the court after vigorous search by the securities, Parker was arrested and forwarded to the court.
Parker, a former employee of World Vision was reportedly arrested in Monrovia recently. The judge at the Magisterial Court in Monrovia postponed ruling on the extradition request but he is expected to hand down his ruling this week. Judge Nelson Chineh of the Monrovia City Court will today decide whether a former World Vision Liberia employee Thomas Momo Parker will be extradited to the United States as requested by the US to face charges of fraud and Thief of Property.
Mr. Parker and several other former senior World Vision officials in Liberia and two other workers were charged last year for alleged fraud. They were accused of stealing and selling donated food in local markets and keeping the profits. They were also alleged to have used construction materials to build themselves multiple homes using labour provided by US-funded aid workers. Joe Bondo, one of the Liberians involve and also who was a manager on the project, has been in a Washington jail since his arrest on 20 May.
The US-based international Christian relief organization at the time said, it believes more than 90% of its aid to Liberia went missing in a massive fraud scam. World Vision’s Vice-President George Ward said the losses came to more than $1m and pledged to make “every effort” to avoid a repeat.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The War Crime Controversy in Post-War Liberia
The War Crime Controversy in Post-War Liberia
Written by Arthur B. Dennis
Wednesday, 02 June 2010
Source: http://www.liberianforum.com/Articles/The-War-Crime-Controversy-in-Post-War-Liberia.html?ac=0
This article seeks to address the war crime controversy in Post-War Liberia. It is dedicated to those who are searching for credible answers to the controversial war crime agenda at home.
Definition of War Crime
The term “war crime” broadly refers to prohibited acts committed in time of war against a person or property protected under the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Under international law, war crimes are grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions known today as “International Humanitarian Law.”
The 1949 Geneva Conventions consist of Protocol I and Protocol II. The minimum rules of conduct adopted under Protocol I apply to international armed conflict between states; whereas the minimum rules of conduct adopted under Protocol II apply to internal armed conflict or civil war between local citizen groups. In olden- day armed conflicts, states were accountable for war crimes, not individuals. In today’s armed conflicts, military and civilians are individually accountable for war crimes, not states.
International Criminal Court (ICC)
War crime has been an international crime for over a century. Yet, in the years before the 21st century, there were no permanent international criminal court to prosecute cases of war crime. The way of dealing with war crime was to set up Ad Hoc War Crime Tribunals under the UN System. For example, 1945 Nuremberg War Crime Tribunal, 1946 Tokyo War Crime Tribunal, 1994 Rwanda War Crime tribunal, etc. The international Court of Justice was created in October 1945, but its role is to settle disputes between UN member states. However, on July 1, 2002, a Permanent International Criminal Court (ICC), established July 17, 1998, came into force. It is based in The Hague, Netherland.
The ICC prosecutes military and civilians, age 18 or older without regard to status in government or society. It exercises jurisdiction over the most serious crimes of concern to the whole international community, committed after July 1, 2002. The most serious crimes in question are defined under Articles 5, 6, 7, & 8 of Rome Statute. Under international law, the term “most serious crimes” refer to gross abuses of fundamental human rights in wartime as well as in peacetime. The legal term used for such crimes is international crimes or crimes which threaten world peace and security.
These crimes include crime of genocide (willful killing of one or more members with intent to eliminate a group); crimes against humanity (willful killing of unarmed civilians, individually and collectively); and war crimes (crimes against humanity; genocide, etc). Under ICC statute, if a crime of genocide or crime against humanity is committed in peacetime, it is a gross violation of International Human Rights Law, and the ICC will be there to ensure justice. For example, the 2009 anti-junta demonstration in Guinea where over 100 civilians were killed by soldiers was a crime against humanity committed in peacetime. However, if a crime of genocide or crime against humanity is committed in an armed conflict, it is a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law, and the ICC will also be there to ensure justice. The primary goal is to end the culture of impunity in peacetime as well as in wartime.
The ICC operates under the principle of complementarity. Under this principle, the role of the ICC is to complement or serve as a back-up jurisdiction for ICC state courts in dealing with international crimes. The role of ICC states is to serve as first responders to international crimes committed on their territories. The ICC will step in only if the ICC state local court is unable or unwilling to play its role. The term “unable’ applies only if the ICC state has collapsed into anarchy; whereas the term “unwilling” is determined if the ICC state is shielding the perpetrator.
In either case, the ICC state is required under Article 14 to refer the case to ICC for adjudication. Or surrender the accused upon the prosecutor requests. If the ICC state fails to do either one, the Rome Statute confers proprio motu (discretionary) powers on ICC prosecutor to take initiative and bring the accused to justice. Family members of victims of international crimes can also ask the ICC to intervene if an ICC state tries to shield a perpetrator. ICC states are those that signed the ICC Treaty.
The War Crime Controversy in Post-War Liberia
Liberia signed the ICC treaty on July 17, 1998. On September 22, 2004, the Liberian Legislature ratified the ICC treaty without enacting an exclusive war crime legislation. However, Article 24 of Rome Statute expressly provides that no crime committed before July 1, 2002 will be prosecuted under ICC jurisdiction. Based on this statute of limitation, only former war actors under the 2003 Akosombo Agreement are duly eligible to face trial under ICC jurisdiction. The other former war actors, who were on stage way back before July 1, 2002, are not eligible to face trial under ICC jurisdiction.
However, there are two available options that can be used to deal with alleged war crimes committed between December 1989 and June 2002. The first option is to invoke the principle of territorial jurisdiction. Under this principle, every sovereign state is duty-bound under international law to exercise jurisdiction over international crime committed on its territory. Under international law, Liberia is duty-bound to probe the alleged war crimes committed on its territory during the civil war. The second option is to ask the United Nations for a Special Court similar to one in Sierra Leone.
Charles Taylor War Crime Trial
Charles Taylor’s trial in The Hague absolutely has nothing to do with any situation Liberia. He is being tried under the auspices of the Special Court for Sierra Leone established January 26, 2002 based on the Agreement reached between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone. Taylor is facing 11 counts of war crime indictment for supporting the RUF insurgency in Sierra Leone. President Ellen-Sirleaf handed Taylor over for trial because Liberia is an ICC state and owes a duty under Article 89 of Rome Statute to surrender any of its citizen accused of war crime.
Chucky Taylor Trial
Chucky Taylor is a U. S. born citizen. He was indicted and tried under U. S. Criminal Code 18USC Section 2340A which prohibits U. S. national from engaging in torture against any person inside and outside of the United States. We understand some Liberians in the U. S. filed a complaint in Florida Court against his war record in Liberia. He was tried and found guilty, serving 97-year jail sentence.Dr. George Boley’s Detention
It is rumored that Dr. Boley is being detained for war crime. If Dr. Boley is a U. S. citizen, then the rumor could be true. Because the 1996 U. S War Crime Act applies to U. S. nationals; and Dr. Boley was the leader of LPC whose faction was recently accused by a U. S Journalist of recruiting underage children in the Liberian civil war. Underage children recruitment is also a crime under the U. S. Child Soldier Accountability Act of 2008. However, this Act has 10-year statute of limitation. Boley could be free.
A War Crime Court for Liberia
If the ICC sets up a War Crime Court for Liberia, only war crimes committed after July 1, 2002 will be probed. And the following groups may be indicted to face their accusers.
The first group to appear will consist of faction leaders. They will be indicted under the law of command responsibility as stipulated under Article 28 of Rome Statute. The term command responsibility refers to the failure of leaders and commanders to supervise the activities of their fighters, resulting in gross human rights abuses in the war. Those who will appear under command responsibility include the faction leaders; military war cabinet; field commanders; and civilian cabinet, including civilians appointed in government by warring factions. They will be indicted under the law of complicity, associating to facilitate the war efforts as stipulated under Article 25 (d).
The second group to appear will consist of accused fighters. They will be indicted under the law of individual responsibility under Article 25 of ICC Statute. The law of individual responsibility is designed to individually punish those who pulled the triggers as well as those who ordered the triggers pulled, and those who financed the triggers to be pulled. Under Article 26, accused fighters who were under age 18 at the time of the alleged crimes will be exonerated and treated like victims of child soldier rather than perpetrators. The third group to appear will consist of war financiers and logistic suppliers. They will be indicted under the law of complicity, aiding and abetting as provided under Article 25(c).
However, because people to be indicted will include former faction leaders and a large number of trained former fighters, some security incidents may develop in the indictment process. That is, some people may put up resistance against their indictment and could be supported by certain former fighters in order to create an incident exactly like the Camp Johnson Road incident in September 1998 when the government ordered the arrest of General Roosevelt Johnson.
Concluding Comments
There are four major roadblocks, standing in the way of war crime indictment in Post-War Liberia. First, as we noted, only former war actors under the Akosombo Accords are eligible to face trial under ICC jurisdiction, not former war actors who were on stage before July 1, 2002. In this case, it would be grossly unfair to prosecute one group of war actors, and allow one group of war actors to go free.
Second, Liberia is a founding member of ICC. Therefore, it needs an exclusive war crime legislation exactly like the U. S. 1996 War Crime Act to prosecute war crimes. Without this legislation, war crime trial in Liberia will be a mockery of justice.
Third, from the day the ICC came into force on July 1, 2002, marked the end of the age-old tradition of setting up an Ad Hoc Tribunal under the UN System to prosecute war crimes. Therefore, the United Nations may not consider Liberia’s request for a Special Court to probe former war actors, who were on stage between December 1989 and June 30 2002. Largely, because the UN policymakers may not want to be viewed as delegating or sharing the jurisdiction of the ICC with an Ad Hoc Tribunal.
Fourth, there are absolutely no indications that Liberia will (anytime soon) probe war crimes committed on its territory as required under the principle of territorial jurisdiction. It appears that government policymakers who have the powers to initiate this process fear that “If they Haul Ropes, the Ropes will Haul Bush.” They also seem to fear the possible security fallouts that will follow in case certain veteran warlords, who are still enjoying the support of their fighters, are indicted. The only available option is to treat the war crime noise with conspiracy of silence. This is where we are in the war crime controversy. However, my next article will advance proposals to end this controversy.
__________________
Author's Note: In case of comments, Arthur B. Dennis can be contacted at korso2006@msn.com
Written by Arthur B. Dennis
Wednesday, 02 June 2010
Source: http://www.liberianforum.com/Articles/The-War-Crime-Controversy-in-Post-War-Liberia.html?ac=0
This article seeks to address the war crime controversy in Post-War Liberia. It is dedicated to those who are searching for credible answers to the controversial war crime agenda at home.
Definition of War Crime
The term “war crime” broadly refers to prohibited acts committed in time of war against a person or property protected under the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Under international law, war crimes are grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions known today as “International Humanitarian Law.”
The 1949 Geneva Conventions consist of Protocol I and Protocol II. The minimum rules of conduct adopted under Protocol I apply to international armed conflict between states; whereas the minimum rules of conduct adopted under Protocol II apply to internal armed conflict or civil war between local citizen groups. In olden- day armed conflicts, states were accountable for war crimes, not individuals. In today’s armed conflicts, military and civilians are individually accountable for war crimes, not states.
International Criminal Court (ICC)
War crime has been an international crime for over a century. Yet, in the years before the 21st century, there were no permanent international criminal court to prosecute cases of war crime. The way of dealing with war crime was to set up Ad Hoc War Crime Tribunals under the UN System. For example, 1945 Nuremberg War Crime Tribunal, 1946 Tokyo War Crime Tribunal, 1994 Rwanda War Crime tribunal, etc. The international Court of Justice was created in October 1945, but its role is to settle disputes between UN member states. However, on July 1, 2002, a Permanent International Criminal Court (ICC), established July 17, 1998, came into force. It is based in The Hague, Netherland.
The ICC prosecutes military and civilians, age 18 or older without regard to status in government or society. It exercises jurisdiction over the most serious crimes of concern to the whole international community, committed after July 1, 2002. The most serious crimes in question are defined under Articles 5, 6, 7, & 8 of Rome Statute. Under international law, the term “most serious crimes” refer to gross abuses of fundamental human rights in wartime as well as in peacetime. The legal term used for such crimes is international crimes or crimes which threaten world peace and security.
These crimes include crime of genocide (willful killing of one or more members with intent to eliminate a group); crimes against humanity (willful killing of unarmed civilians, individually and collectively); and war crimes (crimes against humanity; genocide, etc). Under ICC statute, if a crime of genocide or crime against humanity is committed in peacetime, it is a gross violation of International Human Rights Law, and the ICC will be there to ensure justice. For example, the 2009 anti-junta demonstration in Guinea where over 100 civilians were killed by soldiers was a crime against humanity committed in peacetime. However, if a crime of genocide or crime against humanity is committed in an armed conflict, it is a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law, and the ICC will also be there to ensure justice. The primary goal is to end the culture of impunity in peacetime as well as in wartime.
The ICC operates under the principle of complementarity. Under this principle, the role of the ICC is to complement or serve as a back-up jurisdiction for ICC state courts in dealing with international crimes. The role of ICC states is to serve as first responders to international crimes committed on their territories. The ICC will step in only if the ICC state local court is unable or unwilling to play its role. The term “unable’ applies only if the ICC state has collapsed into anarchy; whereas the term “unwilling” is determined if the ICC state is shielding the perpetrator.
In either case, the ICC state is required under Article 14 to refer the case to ICC for adjudication. Or surrender the accused upon the prosecutor requests. If the ICC state fails to do either one, the Rome Statute confers proprio motu (discretionary) powers on ICC prosecutor to take initiative and bring the accused to justice. Family members of victims of international crimes can also ask the ICC to intervene if an ICC state tries to shield a perpetrator. ICC states are those that signed the ICC Treaty.
The War Crime Controversy in Post-War Liberia
Liberia signed the ICC treaty on July 17, 1998. On September 22, 2004, the Liberian Legislature ratified the ICC treaty without enacting an exclusive war crime legislation. However, Article 24 of Rome Statute expressly provides that no crime committed before July 1, 2002 will be prosecuted under ICC jurisdiction. Based on this statute of limitation, only former war actors under the 2003 Akosombo Agreement are duly eligible to face trial under ICC jurisdiction. The other former war actors, who were on stage way back before July 1, 2002, are not eligible to face trial under ICC jurisdiction.
However, there are two available options that can be used to deal with alleged war crimes committed between December 1989 and June 2002. The first option is to invoke the principle of territorial jurisdiction. Under this principle, every sovereign state is duty-bound under international law to exercise jurisdiction over international crime committed on its territory. Under international law, Liberia is duty-bound to probe the alleged war crimes committed on its territory during the civil war. The second option is to ask the United Nations for a Special Court similar to one in Sierra Leone.
Charles Taylor’s trial in The Hague absolutely has nothing to do with any situation Liberia. He is being tried under the auspices of the Special Court for Sierra Leone established January 26, 2002 based on the Agreement reached between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone. Taylor is facing 11 counts of war crime indictment for supporting the RUF insurgency in Sierra Leone. President Ellen-Sirleaf handed Taylor over for trial because Liberia is an ICC state and owes a duty under Article 89 of Rome Statute to surrender any of its citizen accused of war crime.
Chucky Taylor Trial
Chucky Taylor is a U. S. born citizen. He was indicted and tried under U. S. Criminal Code 18USC Section 2340A which prohibits U. S. national from engaging in torture against any person inside and outside of the United States. We understand some Liberians in the U. S. filed a complaint in Florida Court against his war record in Liberia. He was tried and found guilty, serving 97-year jail sentence.Dr. George Boley’s Detention
It is rumored that Dr. Boley is being detained for war crime. If Dr. Boley is a U. S. citizen, then the rumor could be true. Because the 1996 U. S War Crime Act applies to U. S. nationals; and Dr. Boley was the leader of LPC whose faction was recently accused by a U. S Journalist of recruiting underage children in the Liberian civil war. Underage children recruitment is also a crime under the U. S. Child Soldier Accountability Act of 2008. However, this Act has 10-year statute of limitation. Boley could be free.
A War Crime Court for Liberia
If the ICC sets up a War Crime Court for Liberia, only war crimes committed after July 1, 2002 will be probed. And the following groups may be indicted to face their accusers.
The first group to appear will consist of faction leaders. They will be indicted under the law of command responsibility as stipulated under Article 28 of Rome Statute. The term command responsibility refers to the failure of leaders and commanders to supervise the activities of their fighters, resulting in gross human rights abuses in the war. Those who will appear under command responsibility include the faction leaders; military war cabinet; field commanders; and civilian cabinet, including civilians appointed in government by warring factions. They will be indicted under the law of complicity, associating to facilitate the war efforts as stipulated under Article 25 (d).
The second group to appear will consist of accused fighters. They will be indicted under the law of individual responsibility under Article 25 of ICC Statute. The law of individual responsibility is designed to individually punish those who pulled the triggers as well as those who ordered the triggers pulled, and those who financed the triggers to be pulled. Under Article 26, accused fighters who were under age 18 at the time of the alleged crimes will be exonerated and treated like victims of child soldier rather than perpetrators. The third group to appear will consist of war financiers and logistic suppliers. They will be indicted under the law of complicity, aiding and abetting as provided under Article 25(c).
However, because people to be indicted will include former faction leaders and a large number of trained former fighters, some security incidents may develop in the indictment process. That is, some people may put up resistance against their indictment and could be supported by certain former fighters in order to create an incident exactly like the Camp Johnson Road incident in September 1998 when the government ordered the arrest of General Roosevelt Johnson.
Concluding Comments
There are four major roadblocks, standing in the way of war crime indictment in Post-War Liberia. First, as we noted, only former war actors under the Akosombo Accords are eligible to face trial under ICC jurisdiction, not former war actors who were on stage before July 1, 2002. In this case, it would be grossly unfair to prosecute one group of war actors, and allow one group of war actors to go free.
Second, Liberia is a founding member of ICC. Therefore, it needs an exclusive war crime legislation exactly like the U. S. 1996 War Crime Act to prosecute war crimes. Without this legislation, war crime trial in Liberia will be a mockery of justice.
Third, from the day the ICC came into force on July 1, 2002, marked the end of the age-old tradition of setting up an Ad Hoc Tribunal under the UN System to prosecute war crimes. Therefore, the United Nations may not consider Liberia’s request for a Special Court to probe former war actors, who were on stage between December 1989 and June 30 2002. Largely, because the UN policymakers may not want to be viewed as delegating or sharing the jurisdiction of the ICC with an Ad Hoc Tribunal.
Fourth, there are absolutely no indications that Liberia will (anytime soon) probe war crimes committed on its territory as required under the principle of territorial jurisdiction. It appears that government policymakers who have the powers to initiate this process fear that “If they Haul Ropes, the Ropes will Haul Bush.” They also seem to fear the possible security fallouts that will follow in case certain veteran warlords, who are still enjoying the support of their fighters, are indicted. The only available option is to treat the war crime noise with conspiracy of silence. This is where we are in the war crime controversy. However, my next article will advance proposals to end this controversy.
__________________
Author's Note: In case of comments, Arthur B. Dennis can be contacted at korso2006@msn.com
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