09 November 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Korkoya: ‘Frauds, Irregularities Claims Politically Motivated’, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and FrontPage Africa

The media reports that amid growing concerns of alleged irregularities and fraud emanating from the October 10 polls, the chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Cllr. Jerome Korkoya says the allegations are “politically motivated.” Cllr. Korkoya told a news confab Wednesday that the NEC should in no way be blamed for the delay in the conduct of the runoff election because some political parties and actors are responsible for the delay.

“One thing they all should know by now is that the NEC is not a political party situated to be counter-reacting all of the time to allegations as they may want us to do. We are not delaying the process, neither are we failing to dispose of pieces of evidence depicting frauds that we may have gotten from the field if any by the way,” the NEC chairman said.

Korkoya continued: “We have repeatedly informed the public that the October 10 representative and presidential elections were faced with some irregularities but let our message not be construed as saying that there were frauds, particularly intended to favor a candidate in the process.” Read more

NEC Hearing Officer Grants UP-LP Subpoena Request, Source: FrontPage Africa

The hearing officer of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Cllr. Muana Ville has granted with amendment, a request to subpoena NEC to provide several electoral documents. The legal request was made by lawyers representing the opposition Liberty Party (LP) and ruling Unity Party (UP).

Cllr. Ville in his ruling said with exception to these documents—report on police investigation of a polling staff in Nimba County allegedly caught in electoral fraud and report on the investigation involving a staff from the office of the President who was alleged to have being in possession of voting cards and printing materials and all polling records—as requested by the UP and LP legal team, other records requested have been granted. Read more

CDC Warns against ‘Unanticipated Consequences’ of Election Delays, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and its collaborating political parties say the National Elections Commission (NEC) and stakeholders should act timely in setting back on course the electoral process in order to avert unanticipated consequences that could attend the failure to do so. Speaking at a press conference Wednesday at the party’s headquarters in Monrovia, Prof. D. Ansu Sonii, a spokesperson for the CDC, said the coalition’s appeal is a matter of national urgency.

Prof. Sonii said it is the opinion of the CDC that if the runoff election is not held to permit transition of power as required by the Constitution, the attending situation could ultimately draw the nation into an unnecessary crisis. “The CDC and its collaborating political parties will accept nothing less than a timely return to these democratic electoral processes, as indicated,” he stated, warning that the Constitution of Liberia should not be compromised. Read more

‘CDC Will Accept Nothing Less Than Timely Return to Democratic Electoral Process’, Source: FrontPage Africa

The main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) along with its collaborating political parties will accept nothing less than a timely return to the democratic electoral processes, the opposition political party said in a statement Wednesday. According to Prof. D. Ansu Sonii, CDC campaign spokesperson, they believe that if the runoff election is not held to permit a smooth transition of power as required by the Constitution, the attending situation could ultimately draw the nation into an unnecessary crisis. “CDC and its collaborating political parties maintain that the Constitution of Liberia should not be compromised,” Prof. Sonii emphasized.

He continued: “The Coalition remains committed to a smooth democratic constitutional transition. Any attempt to hijack this process through political artifice, scheming and filibustering, will be rejected by this Coalition of opposition parties in no uncertain terms.”

The CDC campaign official further stated that while they await the timely fulfillment of the mandate of the Supreme Court to the National Elections Commission (NEC), they called on their partisans, supporters, and allies to remain peacefully engaged, law-abiding, and ignore all provocations. “The victory of the CDC can only be delayed, but cannot be denied,” Prof. Sonii said. Read more

Mediation talks expected in Liberia, Sources: FrontPage Africa and The New Dawn

The National Traditional Council of Liberia (NTCL), Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), and other groups say they will hold mediation talks with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Supreme Court justices, and aggrieved political parties regarding the stalled presidential runoff.

Speaking Wednesday at a news conference in Monrovia, NTCL chairman Chief Zanzar Karwor said it is time that the traditional leaders come together and work to solve the political problem that has emerged between the National Elections Commission (NEC) and opposition Liberty Party (LP).

Chief Karwor says the NTCL is taking the lead in mediating because he sees a problem, noting that when there is a problem it is the chiefs, elders, and the poor people that suffer. Read more

We will not tolerate violence, Source: The New Dawn

Justice Minister Frederick Cherue says the government will not tolerate any form of violence from individuals or group wanting to cause confusion. Speaking Tuesday on a local radio talk show in Paynesville, Cllr. Cherue said: “This government will not tolerate any violence from citizens across this country”, in reference to the current political uncertainty in Liberia as a result of a Supreme Court preemptory prohibition to the runoff presidential election which should have been conducted on Tuesday, 7 November.

The justice minister explains that the laws are clear and if any citizen or resident is disenchanted or dissatisfy over a particular situation, the only option is to go to the court to seek redress. “But if you refuse to abide by the law and want to cause violence then we will not tolerate it”, Cherue emphasizes. His warning followed recent reported attacks by unknown persons on the residence of Associate Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh. Read more

NAYMOTE Wants Travel Ban on Politicians, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that amidst the political impasse on the runoff presidential election, a pro-democracy civil society group has called on the international community to impose a travel ban on all political actors and their immediate family members until the impasse is resolved.

According to the National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections (NAYMOTE), the masses are usually the most victimized or bear the greatest brunt of any conflict as was the case during the 14-year civil crisis, while the affluent and powerful politicians who are mostly the instigators and their families usually flee when things get worse.

“We want to strongly recommend that foreign governments deny visas to political leaders, their family members, and supporters that would undermine the peace, and hold them accountable for any human rights violations that may occur as a result of their actions,” NAYMOTE program director, Aaron Weah-Weah, III said at a press conference Wednesday. Read more

‘Uphold Values of Nationhood and Patriotism’ -Peace Ambassador Tolbert, III, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The national peace ambassador, Rev. William R. Tolbert III has called on Liberians, especially politicians to maintain the country’s peace in the wake of the pending runoff election. Rev. Tolbert told politicians to uphold the values of nationhood and patriotism, which are some of the most important factors to the country’s stability.

The national peace ambassador further challenged politicians and stakeholders to be proactive and robust in the implementation of the national peacebuilding roadmap. “We all have to support the ongoing peacebuilding and reconciliation initiative the government and the international community advanced,” Rev. Tolbert told his audience recently in Gbarnga, Bong County at a two-day consultative forum to review the strategic roadmap for national  peacebuilding, healing, and reconciliation jointly organized by the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) and the Peace Building Office with support from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Quick Impact Project. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Ex-Soccer Star’s Party Fears Crisis in Liberia Over Election Delay, Sources: Bloomberg News and Daily Mail Online

The Liberian party of the 1995 world soccer player of the year, George Weah, said it’s concerned that a political crisis could ensue if the Supreme Court decides to annul the outcome of the first round of the presidential election that left the country facing a runoff.

Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change raised the matter after the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a runoff may not go ahead until a charge over alleged irregularities in the October 10 vote is heard. The second round was scheduled for Tuesday and would’ve been contested between Weah and Vice President Joseph Boakai, of the ruling Unity Party because neither candidate secured the majority needed for an outright victory to succeed President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

“We are concerned about attempts by certain members of the Supreme Court’s bench to mis- or wrongfully interpret our constitution, with the view of now creating a constitutional crisis,” CDC chairman Nathaniel McGill said by phone. “The election should proceed, that’s what we hope for.” Read more

Liberian-American candidate becomes first black mayor in Montana history, Sources: Daily News, Share Blue Media, Slate, and US News & World Report

A former refugee who came to Montana more than 20 years ago was elected to lead its capital city, Helena, becoming the first black person to become mayor in the state’s history. Wilmot Collins ousted four-term Jim Smith in Tuesday night’s mayoral race, capping off a night of historic firsts throughout the country.

“After last night's historic firsts for many leaders across the country, Wilmot is confident that the future of this country favors a union of people from all different walks of life,” a campaign spokesperson told the Daily News in a statement. “Most importantly, Wilmot is honored to be granted the opportunity to go to work for the hardworking and inspiring citizens of Helena!” Read more

Disclaimer
 

This media summary consists of selected local media articles for the information of UN personnel. The public distribution of this media summary is a courtesy service extended by UNMIL on the understanding that the choice of articles included is exclusive, and the contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership. The inclusion of articles in this summary does not imply endorsement by UNMIL.

 

 

 

 

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