10 November 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

UP accused of deliberate attempt to subvert democracy, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The transfer of power after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf tenure ends in January 2018 may have a problem if technicalities are put in the way of solving the electoral fraud allegation, the Daily Observer has said. It said the fraud cases now before the National Elections Commission (NEC) are overburdening the commission and the Supreme Court because of what many see as too many demands the NEC may not be able to contain. Reports say the ruling Unity Party (UP) which accused the commission of fraudulent election is asking the electoral commission to produce all documents of wrongdoing connected to the 10 October elections. UP lawyer, Varney Sherman called for the evidence before the case can proceed any further.

UP, LP oppose intervention, Sources: New DEMOCRAT and The New Dawn

The ruling Unity Party (UP) and opposition Liberty Party (LP) are voicing disagreement against an expected intervention by the National Traditional Council and Church Council on the ongoing political crisis that has stalled a presidential runoff that should have taken place on 7 November between the ruling party and the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).

"I think what they are trying to do is to arm bush the process," UP chairman for mobilization and recruitment Representative Edwin Snowe, says Thursday on a local radio talk show. Snowe's assertion against the announced mediation effort from chiefs and the Church Council was backed by LP's Darius Dillion, saying he thinks intervention is done where there is a conflict that hinges on the stability of the peace. Read more

UP wants to tie NEC hands –Lawyers claim, Source: The New Dawn

Two lawyers representing the National Elections Commission (NEC) say the decision of the ruling Unity Party (UP) to intervene for a compulsory joinder of various political parties in the ongoing Liberty Party (LP) case of alleged elections fraud and irregularities is an attempt to tie the hands of the Commission to not carry out its mandate.

During a hearing Thursday at the NEC Headquarters in the Monrovia suburb of Sinkor, NEC lawyer Cllr. Alexander Zoe argues that the ruling party did not get written document from various political parties to intervene on their behalf. “This motion by the Unity Party is intended to delay the smooth transition of power from one government to the other,” Cllr. Zoe charges.

His colleague, Cllr. Musa Dean says there is no authorization from various political parties for whom the UP is claiming to intervene, adding that UP has no evidence of fraud and irregularities from the 10 October elections. Read more

Jewel Taylor calls for speedy probe of LP fraud claims, Source: INSIGHT

Senator Jewel Howard Taylor, also vice standard bearer of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has called for a speedy investigation of the Liberty Party’s (LP) allegation of electoral fraud in the 10 October presidential and legislative elections.  Senator Taylor told the BBC this week that the CDC is making the call so that constitutional deadline for the swearing in of the next president of Liberia is not violated while expressing the coalition’s commitment to the peace and the democratic process including the runoff election.

Security conference call to order, Source: INSIGHT

There are reports of a national security conference expected to kick off today Friday in Monrovia to discuss security issues in the country, amid the current crisis surrounding the presidential election. The chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense, Security, and Intelligence, Steve Zargo is quoted as making the disclosure Thursday in Monrovia. The meeting, he said will take place at the Ministry of National Defense and also meant to extend the functions of the National Security Council to the 15 counties.

Stop warmongering – LUPD tells Liberian, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Liberians United for Peace and Democracy (LUPD) has spoken against what it calls orchestrated attempts by some individuals to subvert the peace the country now enjoys and what President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has achieved by threatening war. In a release Thursday, the LUPD blames individuals it says are calling themselves defenders of the people by spreading rumor that a war will erupt without a Unity Party (UP) victory in the election and has warned people spreading the lies to desist.

Let's maintain the peace –Peace Ambassador, Source: The New Dawn

Liberian Peace Ambassador, Rev. William Tolbert III has called on Liberians to stay away from violence and remain calm. Speaking at the Information Ministry’s regular press briefing on Thursday, Rev. Tolbert lauds political parties for their level of participation so far in the democratic process. He says every Liberian has a critical role in maintaining peace, noting that after elections, Liberia will remain and everyone will be friends and families thereafter. Read more

Traditional Council Ready to Intervene in Election Impasse, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The National Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders, in collaboration with the National Christian and Muslim Council, has finally decided to intervene in the ongoing electoral impasse to ensure a peaceful and smooth transition of power in the country in January 2018. The Council brought together chiefs from the 15 counties and 16 tribes to Monrovia, ready to meet with political stakeholders.

Speaking Thursday at a news conference in Monrovia, Chief Zanzan Karwor said there is an urgent need for the Council to intervene in the election crisis in order to maintain the peace in the country. Chief Karwor said the Council does not want to miss the chance for a smooth transfer of power and noted that Liberians must listen to the chiefs because they are their fathers.

The traditional leader said Liberia is now shaking and needs the timely effort of the Council to stop the conflict for the betterment of the society. Read more

PAYOWI calls for calm, Source: The New Dawn

The Paramount Young Women Initiative (PAYOWI) has called on young people especially girls to remain calm as the legal proceedings into the October 10 electoral disputes take its course at the National Elections Commission (NEC). The group of mainly young women described the current electoral process as a testimony of democracy being at work.

“Our country Liberia is undergoing a historic democratic transition that will mark the first time in decades for a democratically elected president to hand over power to the other. This is a milestone we can’t afford to miss. Following the October 10 polls, no candidate won the presidential race with the 50% plus one vote, as required by our Constitution, thus mandating a runoff election to determine the winner,” the PAYOWI said in a statement Thursday. PAYOWI is a local CSO that promotes the education and empowerment of women and girls. Read more

Women group protests in Grand Gedeh, Source: The New Dawn

Reports from Grand Gedeh County say a women group is protesting in the county after a man said to be a witch doctor allegedly stripped female suspects naked in public. According to the report, police arrested and detained the accused but he asked to go urinate in the bush and subsequently escaped.

The protestors said the witch doctor had no right to strip the three women publicly naked for whatever reason. They want him rearrested and prosecuted for bringing dishonor and humiliation to womanhood.

The Justice Ministry had since illegalized trial by ordeal or ‘Sassy Wood’ in the country but the age-old traditional means of investigating suspected witchcraft activities is still being practiced in some parts of the country. Read more

FIND Set to Update Peace Building Road Map, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The executive director of the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) has disclosed the organization’s plan to undertake a nationwide consultation on a peacebuilding roadmap across the country. Mr. Roosevelt Woods made the disclosure last Tuesday in Monrovia. He said the planned nationwide consultation on peacebuilding roadmap is a follow up of the previous ones held in April.

Woods said FIND in collaboration with other partners convened a meeting in Gbarnga, Bong County where about 100 persons worked on the revised version of the peacebuilding roadmap.

Today, they are expected to bring five peacebuilding principles that they will review after consultations in order to come out with a new version that the incoming government will have to use to foster national peace and reconciliation, FIND executive director said. Read more

APM Terminals invests USD108M in Liberia, Source: The New Dawn

The managing director of APM Terminals says the company has infused USD108 million into the economy of Liberia since it signed a concession agreement with the government in 2011. Mr. George Adjei says the company has invested the amount in infrastructure projects that are related to the port industry, followed by education and health.

Mr. Adjei spoke to reporters on Thursday when he paid a visit to a team of American doctors that is currently in the country to treat sick Liberians in one of the communities near the Freeport of Monrovia, the company’s operation areas. Read more

Doctors contradict claims that pollution led to sicknesses in Bong, Source: INSIGHT

Medical reports from the Phebe Hospital, John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital, and MNG gold run clinic confirmed that there was no direct correlation of cyanide to the illnesses reported by the people of Sayewheh Town in Bong County, the deputy executive director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Urias Goll has disclosed at a press conference on Thursday. It was reported months ago that a chemical has spilled from the company’s facilities and affected people and water sources.  But Mr. Goll said the 34 people that reportedly came in contact with the contaminated water were treated and cleared of infection. He added that efforts have been made to restore the livelihood of the people of the town where the company operates.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Nigeria played major role in Liberia’s peace –Sirleaf, Source: The Nation

President Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf yesterday said that Nigeria played a significant role in the restoration of peace to the war-torn country. She said that Liberians will continue to show Nigeria gratitude for staying with the country throughout the trying moment.

According to President Sirleaf who spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital, “I bring you a message of gratitude from the people of Liberia because of what you did for us to have the peace we enjoy today. Nigeria contributed a whole lot, you prayed with us, cried with us and died for us.  So Nigeria is a part of what we are today”.

Earlier, the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers honored her with a Chieftaincy title of “ADA DI OHA NMA”. The Chairman of the Council, Eze Samuel Ohiri, who presided over the colorful ceremony at the Eze Imo Palace, said the decision to confer the title on the visiting President was in consideration her outstanding contributions to the restoration of peace in her country and the African sub-region. Read more

ALJA Lauds Liberia’s Supreme Court for Upholding Rule of Law, Source: Modern Ghana

The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) says it supports the Supreme Court of Liberia’s recent injunction which refrained the National Elections Commission (NEC) from conducting the November 7, 2017, runoff election between the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) amidst the Liberty Party’s petition which alleges irregularities and frauds arising from the conduct of the October 10, 2017, general and presidential elections. The Supreme Court’s prohibition was issued on November 6, 2017.

ALJA said the Supreme Court’s prohibition on the run-off election until the electoral irregularities and frauds claims filed by the Liberty Party (LP) are urgently and expeditiously investigated and disposed of by the NEC, is plausible and it sets a good precedent for compliance with the rule of Law in Liberia. The Association in a press release issued on Thursday described the Supreme Court’s ruling as a pivotal step taken in Liberia’s quest for the dispensation of justice to all Liberians regardless of social, tribal, racial, and political connections. 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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