A senator has told close door Senate hearing on the Ivorian conflict that one of former President Charles Taylor’s feared enforcers, Benjamin Yeaten, is active in the current war in Ivory Coast, according to senate and security sources.
The disclosure was made when senate met with several security chiefs Tuesday.
The Minister of Justice, Tah the foreign Minister, Christiana Tah, Immigration Chief Chris Massaquoi, along with senior police and defence officials, briefed the senate on the unfolding crisis in Ivory Coast with consequences for Liberia.
A recommendation for the reconstitution of a consultative committee between Liberia and Ghana has been approved by Government, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has announced.
The group was initially set up nearly two years ago following disturbances at the Buduburam Resettlement Center in Ghana. The team will meet to discuss issues relating to the well-being of Liberian refugees in Ghana, who number a little over 11,000. The Joint Liberia-Ghana Committee is expected to meet in Accra later this month to reach an understanding on the Liberian refugee issue.
The trial of Liberian ex-president Charles Taylor closed on Friday, with prosecutors urging a guilty verdict for "horrific crimes". Taylor is accused of arming Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (RUF), who allegedly paid him in illegally mined diamonds.
Liberia is mired in a plethora of problems resulting from 14 years of self-demolition, devastation, and the senseless destruction of lives. Corruption is endemic, thus inhibiting progress in every segment of the society. Also, the alarming illiteracy rate, unimaginable poverty, sky rocketing inflation and unsustainable unemployment, coupled with deteriorating economic conditions and poor social services have made it impossible to determine who is ethical and who not.
BY LEE FERRAN AND ANNA SCHECTER The defense for Liberian warlord Charles Taylor said today the war crimes trial was politically motivated "neocolonialism" and asked why Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi does not face a similar court.
After nearly three-and-a-half years, Trial Chamber II at the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) has heard evidence from the Prosecution and Defense about whether Taylor bears the greatest responsibility for the crimes committed during Sierra Leone's eleven year conflict. After much anticipation, the Defense finally presented its closing arguments today, marking the beginning of the end of the trial of Charles Taylor.
Lawyers for former Liberian President Charles Taylor are presenting their closing arguments at his war crimes trial in the Hague on Wednesday and Thursday. Taylor is accused of arming Sierra Leone rebels in exchange for blood diamonds.
The closing arguments will be followed by a last chance on Friday for the defence and prosecution to make final statements.
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – The government of the democratically elected president of Ivory Coast confirmed Monday that rebels allied with their leader had seized control of a nearly 30-mile corridor along the country's border with Liberia following an intense weekend battle.
AP – Libyan rebels who are part of the forces against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi celebrate their victory …
By MAGGIE MICHAEL and PAUL SCHEMM, Associated Press Maggie Michael And Paul Schemm, Associated Press
Source: Yahoo News
TRIPOLI, Libya – Moammar Gadhafi loyalists broke through rebel lines at an opposition-held city that is closest to the Libyan capital on Saturday, while anti-government forces celebrated the capture of a key oil port from the regime on the eastern coast.
The contrasting fortunes of the two warring sides suggest that the conflict in Libya is veering toward a lengthy civil war, with the government fighting fiercely to maintain its hold in Tripoli and surrounding areas and the rebels pushing their front westward from their eastern stronghold.
SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY LIVE – A NEW LEADERSHIP PARADIGM
In keeping with his message of CHANGE, TQ Harris, Jr. has decided to contest the 2011 Presidential Election as an Independent Candidate rather than contribute to the corrupt practice of paying party leaders in order to become standard bearer of a political party. And he has also refused to add yet another political party to the more than 20 currently in existence.
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama dropped the careful condemnation, threats of consequences and the reminders to Moammar Gadhafi's regime about its responsibility to avoid violence. In their place he delivered a more forceful message to the Libyan leader: Leave.
UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. Security Council moved Saturday to halt Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's deadly crackdown on protesters, slapping sanctions on him, his five children and 10 top associates.
Voting unanimously after daylong discussions interrupted with breaks to consult with capitals back home, the council imposed an asset freeze on Gadhafi, his four sons and one daughter and a travel ban on the whole family along with 10 other close associates. The council also backed an arms embargo.
Bernard Gbayee Goah-
President Operation We Care for Liberia
Operation We Care for Liberia is deeply concerned about humanitarian consignments shipped from Libya to Liberia on January 14, 2011 under the banner “food and Agriculture supplies for Ivorian refugees in Liberia”.
Our concern stems from the fact that a few weeks after the arrival of the consignments in Liberia, Ivoirians refugees were crying for the lack of food supplies. This leaves us with the questions of whether the Libyan consignments were actually only food and Agriculture supplies.
We ask the Liberian government, the United Nations, and Interpol to investigate all consignments from Libya to Liberia. Keeping funds or other valuable items belonging to Gadhafi will be considered illegal because his government is no longer considered legitimate on earth.
Mr. Bernard Gbayee Goah - President, Operation We Care for Liberia
Operation We Care for Liberia condemns the use of force on peaceful protestors by the Libyan military under the leadership of a notoriously unpredictable man, Moammar Gadhafi.
We disagree with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s lack of commentary on the current human rights violations in Libya. We are mostly concerned about the lives of innocent Liberians living in Libya at this time. We ask the government of Liberia to evacuate its citizens from Libya to Liberia.
Information reaching us has revealed that there are mercenaries from other African countries fighting alone side Gadhafi’s forces. We call on all Liberians to abstain from traveling to Libya due to the security situation in that country. We ask that the Liberian government discourage its citizens from fighting alongside Libya’s military forces. Doing so would jeopardize the little peace Liberia is experiencing. Aiding Gadhafi in any way would not be in the best interest of Liberia and West Africa.
In order to bring about credibility to the Africa Union, AU member countries, including Liberia must demand Gadhafi’s resignation! Gadhafi’s sanctioned attacks on peaceful protestors have also compromised Libya’s membership status in the AU. These actions are unacceptable, undemocratic, inexcusable, and not in the interest of peace in Africa. We believe that any delay in Gadhafi stepping down will result in an increase of violence and death.
We have learned that 700 or more protestors were killed by Moammar Gadhafi’s military forces in Libya. The voice of the people of Libya must be respected and we believe it is the responsibility of the government of Libya to yield to its citizen’s demands. We ask the United States, the United Kingdom, and France to hold responsible, the current Libyan regime for vehemently refusing to respect the rights of innocent civilians.
Lastly, Given Liberia’s relationship with Libya, President Ellen Sirleaf of Liberia must publically condemn the current violence in Libya. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf must publically state that the government of Libya is responsible for the death of its own citizens, and Liberia will not support the current regime and its actions. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s government must act swiftly and safely evacuate all Liberians from Libya.
Bernard Gbayee Goah
President, Operation We Care for Liberia
The need for post-war justice is a step toward lasting peace, stability and prosperity for Liberia, West Africa. Liberia needs a war crimes tribunal or some credible legal forum that is capable of dealing with atrocities perpetrated against defenseless men, women and children during the country's brutal war. Without justice, peace shall remain elusive and investment in Liberia will not produce the intended results.
Amidst conflicting reports over the death of some Liberians and the arrest of dozens of others in Ghana, Members of the House of Representatives have summoned Acting Foreign Minister, Toga Gayewea-McIntosh to provide details on the situation Thursday.
The move to summon the acting minister comes amidst conflicting reports, especially one provided by Liberian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Rudolf Von Ballmoos and the Ministry of Information in Monrovia concerning the situation.
Mr. Bernard Gbayee Goah
President,
Operation We Care for Liberia
Statement on Liberian Refugee situation in Ghana According to http://www.modernghana.com, 5 (five) Liberian refugees have reportedly been shot dead by Ghanaian police at the Buduburam Refugee Settlement outside Accra during a riot over leadership.
According to the report, the incident occurred Sunday February 6th when a group of Liberian refugees attempted to install a new leadership, despite calls from the refugee board to halt the process. Deputy Information Minister for Information Services, Jerelimink Piah, has confirmed the incident.
Operation We Care for Liberia is deeply concerned about the manner in which Liberian Refugees are treated in Ghana and the potential consequences it may cause, not only for Liberians living in that country but for the West African sub region. Much has been witnessed as well as written about with regard to the disproportionate use of force by police and army forces and the violation of Liberian refugee’s integrity and rights in their host country Ghana.
Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. – A Einstein
Drawing the line in Liberia
Crimes sponsored, committed, or masterminded by handful of individuals cannot be blamed upon an entire nationality. In this case, Liberians! The need for post-war justice is a step toward lasting peace, stability and prosperity for Liberia. Liberia needs a war crimes tribunal or some credible legal forum that is capable of dealing with atrocities perpetrated against defenseless men, women and children during the country's brutal war. Without justice, peace shall remain elusive and investment in Liberia will not produce the intended results. - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Men with unhealthy characters should not champion any noble cause
They pretend to advocate the cause of the people when their deeds in the dark mirror nothing else but EVIL!! When evil and corrupt men try to champion a cause that is so noble … such cause, how noble it may be, becomes meaningless in the eyes of the people - Bernard Gbayee Goah.
If Liberia must move forward ...
If Liberia must move forward in order to claim its place as a civilized nation amongst world community of nations, come 2017 elections, Liberians must critically review the events of the past with honesty and objectivity. They must make a new commitment to seek lasting solutions. The track records of those who are presenting themselves as candidates for the position of "President of the Republic of Liberia" must be well examined. Liberians must be fair to themselves because results from the 2011 elections will determine the future of Liberia’s unborn generations to come - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia's greatest problem!
While it is true that an individual may be held responsible for corruption and mismanagement of funds in government, the lack of proper system to work with may as well impede the process of ethical, managerial, and financial accountability - Bernard Gbayee Goah
What do I think should be done?
The situation in Liberia is Compound Complex and cannot be fixed unless the entire system of government is reinvented. Liberia needs a workable but uncompromising system that will make the country an asylum free from abuse, and other forms of corruption.
Any attempt to institute the system mentioned above in the absence of rule of law is meaningless, and more detrimental to Liberia as a whole - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia's Natural Resources Besides land water and few other resources, most of Liberia’s dependable natural resources are not infinite, they are finite and therefore can be depleted. Liberia’s gold, diamond, and other natural resources will not always be an available source of revenue generation for its people and its government. The need to invent a system in government that focuses on an alternative income generation method cannot be over emphasized at this point - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia needs a proper system If Liberians refuse to erect a proper system in place that promotes the minimization of corruption and mismanagement of public funds by government institutions, and individuals, there will come a time when the value of the entire country will be seen as a large valueless land suited on the west coast of Africa with some polluted bodies of waters and nothing else. To have no system in place in any country is to have no respect for rule of law. To have no respect for rule of law is to believe in lawlessness. And where there is lawlessness, there is always corruption - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Solving problems in the absence of war talks
As political instability continues to increase in Africa, it has become abundantly clear that military intervention as a primary remedy to peace is not a durable solution. Such intervention only increases insecurity and massive economic hardship. An existing example which could be a valuable lesson for Liberia is Great Britain, and the US war on terror for the purpose of global security. The use of arms whether in peace keeping, occupation, or invasion as a primary means of solving problem has yield only little results. Military intervention by any country as the only solution to problem solving will result into massive military spending, economic hardship, more fear, and animosity as well as increase insecurity. The alternative is learning how to solve problems in the absence of war talks. The objective of such alternative must be to provide real sustainable human security which cannot be achieved through military arm intervention, or aggression. In order to achieve results that will make the peaceful coexistence of all mankind possible, there must be a common ground for the stories of all sides to be heard. I believe there are always three sides to every story: Their side of the story, Our side of the story, and The truth – Bernard Gbayee Goah
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