Former Rebel Leader Charles Taylor confidante appointed, Gbarpolu Supt. fired

WHAT DOES IREX WANT? U.S. Taxpayers Money Must Impact Liberian Media

- FPA EDITORIAL Source: FrontPage Africa

Ahead of the 2011 elections in post-war Liberia, the local media is in dire straits in need of tools, practical training and resources in preparations for election coverage. With $US11 million in hand, what does the International Research and Exchanges Board(IREX)has in store to impact the local media? Same old workshops and training? We Have Had Enough!!!

Former NPFL ‘General Octopus’ Heralds Latest Appointments in UP Govt.

- FPA STAFF REPORT
Source:  FrontPage Africa
Monrovia -

John T. Richardson, the head of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia’s ill-fated Operation Octupus blamed for the deaths of five American Catholic nuns with the Catholic Church in Liberia has become the latest former NPFL senior commanders to land a job in the Liberian government.

WE DON’T NEED A NATIONAL REFERENDUM

T. Q. Harris, Jr.

T. Q. Harris, Jr.
Surely complacency has set in, trapping Liberia, yet again, in the debilitating claws of stagnation. This is clearly evident in the behavior of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and those currently ruling the country. They act as though all is well, when nothing could be farther from the truth.

From Abuja to Washington, DC, many are concerned about Liberia’s current fragility and hoping in 2011 there will be a significant breakthrough. Arguably, lack of leadership is the central issue.

Rather than prioritize healing and reconciliation in the aftermath of a devastating war, those leading the country have focused their attention on negotiating commercial contracts, filling their pockets, prolonging their stay in office, and lately, amending the Constitution to make changes such as extending the tenure of Supreme Court Justices. If Liberia was ever in need of wise leaders, the time is now!!!

Liberia: Names in Deal to Bankrupt Country

Source: allAfrica.com

When the news first leaked, it said top-level Liberian officials had joined a deal that, if carried out, would have economically bled this country to bankruptcy. The deal was with a British firm in the business of carbon harvesting. London got involved in the investigation and now those said to have been behind the big money deal have been named in a report by a presidential Committee headed by Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner.

George Weah not VP candidate to Cllr. Brumskine

Written by Vivian Gartyn
Source: Star Radio Liberia

CDC Secretary General Eugene Nagbe has clarified that ambassador George Weah has not consented to run as Vice Presidential candidate to Cllr. Charles Brumskine.

In an interview from the US, Mr. Nagbe told Star Radio, Ambassador Weah only issued a statement agreeing to work with Cllr. Brumskine.

He said the agreement is intended to field a single slate of candidates for the 2011 elections.

Mr. Nagbe said the option remains open for a united opposition ticket.

In the statement, Mr. Weah said while he believes a CDC government under his leadership is the best course for the country, a united opposition could do more.

Mr. Weah says his decision is part of the stride to defeat the ruling party and reverse what he calls the dangerous path Liberia is treading.

He believes such a task can be achieved when opposition leaders sacrifice their personal ambitions to achieve a single slate of candidates for the 2011 elections.

It is not yet clear if the two parties are forming a merger or a coalition.

Meanwhile, George Weah has authorized a CDC exploratory committee to hold discussions with the Liberty Party on how to unite the opposition.

KEEPING CIIr. CHARLES BRUMSKINE HONEST

Written by Abraham Hoff Chief Community Organizer of LEAD Liberia

AN OPEN LETTER TO CIIr. CHARLES BRUMSKINE

Why would Charles Brumskine think he should not be brought to justice?

George Weah left, Charles Brumskine right

Charles Brumskine served as a leader in the Liberian Senate during former rebel leader Charles Taylor regime.

While serving as Senate leader, Brumskine argued that President Charles Taylor government had respect for human rights. Brumskine demanded that a “Status of Forces Agreement” be signed between Charles Taylor government and the West African peace Keepers.

Dead bodies were alleged to be found constantly in parts of the country under President Charles Taylor. Brumskine believed that other option the Peace Keepers may consider was leaving Liberia if they refuse to sign such agreement. Charles Taylor NPFL Rebels were enlisted in both the military and paramilitary without been demobilized and de-traumatized.

While serving as Senate leader under President Charles Taylor, Brumskine believed the security of Liberia should be in the hands of the Charles Taylor led government.


Read below:Source: Charles Taylortrial.org
On June 5, 2007 at 1:11 pm, Nii Darku said:

Liberia’s current woes began when the Association for Constitutional Democracy in Liberia (ACDL), then a Washington, DC-based pressure movement, was used as a launching pad to oust President Samuel Doe from power.

The war was said to have been planned, executed, supported and defended by Amos Sawyer, Ellen Sirleaf, Tom Woewiyu, Cyril Allen, Charles Brumskine, Romeo Horton, Chu Chu Horton, Taylor E. Major and their flunkeys. On December 24, 1989, the rebel National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) entered Liberia through Butuo, Nimba County. Peace has since continued to elude Liberia.

Am a Ghanaian but I have been following the every event as it happened in Liberia. Charles Taylor deciding to leave government willingly as an elected President of LIBERIA to Nigeria and his arrest just minutes at the border to Cameroon when Obasnajo was about to meet that George W. BUSH man of the united States of America, I say so because he could have decided to have fought the LAUD REBELS founded and supported by the United States Government. While I do not support the crimes done by Charles Taylor its my opinion that every single person who was involved in the WAR in Liberia like current president of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Amos Sawyer, Tom Woewiyu, Cyril Allen, Charles Brumskine, Romeo Horton, Chu Horton, Taylor E. Major and many more should not be left out of this Trial.

Let me ask a few question here who gave out the first trench of money to found the war? Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. How much time has Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf tried to overthrow the government of President Samuel Doe? Twice and Charles Taylor succeeded the third time. What happened when Charles Taylor was about to enter Monrovia? She wanted to lead the Rebels into Monrovia. How did two commanders of Charles Taylor form their rebel group? Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf did to defeat Charles Taylor. Its a shame! What did Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf say on BBC Focus on Africa? “Level Monrovia and we will rebuild it”

And this is to all those who claim to be human rights activist, there will be NO JUSTICE UNTIL ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE WAR ARE BROUGHT TO BOOK AND NOT ONLY Charles Taylor

Nii Darku

niidarku@gmail.com

Accra, Ghana

DREAM TICKET? Weah, Brumskine Join Forces to ‘Defeat’ Ellen, Ruling Unity Party

10/15/2010 - Rodney D. Sieh  




Source: FrontPage Africa

George Weah and Charles Brumskine

A pairing which could dramatically shakeup the dynamics of the 2011 presidential elections in Liberia was signed, sealed and delivered in New York, late Thursday night landing football legend George Manneh Weah of the grassroots Congress for Democratic Change and Charles Brumskine of the opposition Liberty Party on a potential “Dream Ticket” looking to challenge a self-proclaimed “formidable” incumbent President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

PUL Former Boss Massaley: “Liberian Legislature is Weak and Ineffective”

By: Jeffrey Johnson

Source: The Liberian Journal


Mr. Abraham G. Massaley

Abraham G. Massaley

October 12, 2010: Former Press Union of Liberia (PUL) President, Mr. Abraham G. Massaley has said that the current legislature is weak and ineffective and President Sirleaf has become too powerful. He said the 52nd legislature has turned out to be a rubber stamp, seconding almost everything from President Sirleaf, including contracts for ratification, many of which are not in the long term interest of Liberia but ratified at lightning speed. He said the judiciary too has not demonstrated independence, noting that we still have a judiciary that is not insulated from political control. Mr. Massaley however warned that the more powerful a president becomes, the fewer restraints others can put on him/her, noting that this has shown to be a recipe for build-up of conflict and political turmoil in Liberia.

The Wish Center: The Liberian Government Must Implement TRC Report

The Wish Center

Source: The Liberian Journal

The Wish Center

Socrates (469-399 BC) is an enigma who is largely credited for the founding of Western philosophy (Kofman, 1998). Classical Greek mythology also credited him for the development of ethics. If one takes a closer look at what is obtaining in Liberia today, it has some semblance to the Socratic era. Instead of holding the status quo and accepting the immorality and corruption of his time, Socrates posited himself as the gadfly of the political establishment. This is a sort a sting fly, if you will. Justice for him was more important than serving in cabinet or ministerial position in the government of his time. He was wealthy in ideas, yet financially poor. But this man never crawled or sought after political power from the corrupt government of his time.

Ban Names New Force Commander for UN Peacekeeping Mission

Source: allAfrica.com
A Pakistani general with previous experience serving with United Nations operations in Cambodia has been named the world body's new force commander in Liberia, succeeding a fellow-countryman at the head of the nearly 10,000-strong uniformed component of the peacekeeping mission there.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Major General Muhammad Khalid as Force Commander of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to replace Lieutenant General Sikander Afzal, whose tour of duty ends on 28 November.

Maj-Gen. Khalid served with the UN Transitional Administration in Cambodia (UNTAC) as a Military Observer in 1992-1993. He has had a distinguished military career since joining the Pakistani military in 1979, including significant command positions. Since December he has served as Commander of the Logistics Area in Quetta, Pakistan.

UNMIL, set up by the Security Council in 2003, played a major role in restoring stability and a democratic government after decade and a half of civil war.

Liberia’s Deputy Police Chief ordered arrested

Written by Bruce Boweh
Source: Star Radio Liberia

Criminal Court A has ordered the arrest of Deputy Police Director for Operations Al Karlay.

The court's action was sparked by Col. Karlay's refusal to honor several of its precepts served on him.

Since October four, the court has been citing Mr. Karlay to appear to answer to a complaint against him.

The complaint regards Mr. Karlay’s alleged refusal to release a truck reportedly involved in a dubious cement deal.

According to court documents, Col. Karlay was cited to only give reasons why the truck was still being held.

His disrespect to the court's summons sparked a series of contempt charges which are currently pending against him.

Our judicial correspondent says it is not yet clear whether the court wants Mr. Karlay detained upon his arrest.

Bassa lawmaker orders police to leave District-Three

Written by Gabriel Paul
Source: Star Radio Liberia

Grand Bassa County District Three Representative Baron Brown has called on government to withdraw officers of the Police Support Unit assigned in the district.

Representative Brown said since the PSU officers took up assignment in the district, numerous complaints continue to be filed against them.

Representative Brown told Star Radio the citizens have complained of ill-treatment against them by the PSU officers.

Lawmaker Brown said the citizens also complained of the shooting in the leg of a motorcyclist in the FDA Junction area of the district.

Representative Brown said the PSU officers are in the constant habit of setting road blocks under the pretext of conducting inspection.

According to him, instead of conducting inspection they harass and intimidate the citizens and extort money from them.

Representative Brown said the action by the PSU officers in the district does not represent the peace and democracy government is striving to maintain.

VARNEY SHERMAN A “POLITICAL BAT”: INPFL Former Field Marshal Prince Y. Johnson Declares on Liberia Return

- Steve Jarvis, FPA STAFF WRITER
Source: FrontPage Africa


Monrovia -

INPFL Former Field Marshal/CIC
("COMBAT READY" Prince Y. Johnson)
now Senator

The presidential aspirant of the National Union for Democratic Progress (NULP), Sen. Prince Yormie Jonson says when it comes to politics, Cllr. Varney Sherman is not a man of his calibre, “he is a political bat”.

Aspirant Johnson who is also senior senator of Nimba County, pointed out, “I love Cllr. Sherman because he married a woman from Nimba, but, politically, he doesn’t know what he wants, he is a failure and I am a success”.

Sen. Johnson recalled that during the run-off process of the 2005 elections which witnessed a tense political battle between the Unity Party and the Congress For Democratic Change, he and Cllr. Sherman declared their support for George Weah’s CDC, adding, “I am surprised today that Varney has gone the other way but, we are still going to defeat him”.

SHUT OUT: Water Swallows up Cece Beach; GOL Insensitive to Plight, Residents Say

Wade Williams

Source: FrontPage Africa

Cece Beach, Banjol, Lower Virginia -

A normal routine for the residents of CeCe Beach Community in Banjol, lower Virginia is to take off their shoes, roll up their pants or whatever they have on any given day and walk through the water. There are no roads leading to the area, so residents have to settle for less.

Winston Tubman’s 2011 Headache: LINU Gives Ambassador Ultimatum To Resign

Source: FrontPage Africa

Nat Nyuan Bayjay,

Monrovia -

For the second time in his political life, Ambassador Winston Tubman finds himself on the brink of a feud that might either leave his presidential ambition in limbo or make him to become an unattached political party presidential candidate for next year’s elections. Following a previous parting with the National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL) immediately after he and 21 other candidates were defeated by the Unity Party five years ago, loss of confidence in Tubman from the Executive Committee of the Liberian National Union (LINU) seems to be landing the former United Nations Ambassador in another parting saga.

2005 - Jucontee Thomas Woewiyu open letter to Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

Source: The Liberiandialogue


An open letter to Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

Thursday, September 15, 2005

By Jucontee Thomas Woewiyu

Dear Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf:

The Rest of Your Apologies

I write this letter to first compliment you for finally mustering the courage to apologize to the Liberian people for the callous and deadly statement you made on the BBC in 1990 while prosecuting the second and Taylor led version of NPFL wars. You said "Level Monrovia, we will rebuild it," and not "Level the Executive Mansion" as contained in your statement of apology. As you said, you regret making what you now term as a "stupid comment." If you truly regret making a statement that resulted in the death of thousands of your fellow countrymen and women, why replace it now with a false one?

Sirleaf Pushes for More Arab Partnerships

Source: All Africa News
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Sunday October 10, joined more than sixty African and Arab leaders and Heads of Government attending the second Afro-Arab summit, at the official opening session of the Summit in Sirte, Libya, said a presidential dispatch from Sirte, Libya.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who was the chair of the first Arab-African summit held in Cairo in 1977, called on Arab and African countries to place as a top priority mutual cooperation, within the framework of Arab League (AL) and African Union (AU).

Save Liberia Now or Never

Source: allAfrica.com
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF the National Elections Commission (NEC) that it would be holding a referendum to put a citizen’s stamp on four constitutional provisions that the National Legislature had passed into law in August this year has once again brought the significance of the generosity of spirit in Liberian politics to the fore. The referendum grew out of the intense desire by Liberia’s political elites to change some provisions of the 1986 Constitutions in order to address controversial political questions. Key amongst the questions are the residency clause; the absolute majority requirement for elective office, which invariably leads to cost-intensive runoffs because it of involves more than half dozen candidates; and the national elections timetable and political campaigns, viewed in proximity to the annual rainy season that ends in October.