13 November 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Political Impasse Worries Bilateral Partners –AU, ECOWAS, UNMIL Express Fears, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, FAAPA, LINA, The New Dawn, and The NEWS

Liberia international partners are becoming weary that the ongoing political stalemate in the country, if not resolved soon, will affect the much anticipated smooth transition process that should be the first in over seven decades.

In a joint statement issued in Monrovia Friday, the African Union Liaison Office (AULOL), and Office of the ECOWAS Commission as well as the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), called for calm, while at the same time urging for the rule of law to be upheld. The partners are also calling for the expeditious adjudication of the on-going election disputes.

"We are aware of the grievances and concerns of some political parties regarding the 10 October elections and their complaints to seek either a rerun, or amends towards improving the National Elections Commission’s performance in the areas of concern before holding a run-off election. But we express concern over the prospects of a significant delay in bringing the litigations to their closure, thereby thwarting completion of the election process before the constitutionally-mandated date of government transition in January 2018,” the statement said. Read more

Liberian Government Slams ‘Baseless' Alan White Claims of Support to Weah, CDC, Sources: FrontPage Africa and The NEWS

The Liberian government has issued a stinging rebuke of Mr. Alan White, the former chief of investigations for the United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone, linking the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-led government to support to the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).

Mr. White, in an interview with the VOA, said he had information of the plan being mapped out for Robert Sirleaf, son of the president to replace Senator George Weah once the CDC’s standard bearer ascends to the presidency. Mr. White said he has been informed by an unnamed individual who has spoken directly to one of the president’s sons that a deal had been sealed with Senator Weah in which he will never go after the Sirleaf administration for any political corruption or graft.

“Second of all, there will be no war crimes tribunal. As you all know in the TRC there is a reference. I know all too well what her involvement was and what it wasn’t, but that is not what I am here to talk about today. But thirdly, which is a very important issue, is that her son Robert has run for office before and was defeated soundly by Weah. So, Weah had promised, so I’m told, and I talked to people and confirmed to the extent that I believe there is some validity to it.”

But information minister Eugene Nagbe, responding to a FrontPage Africa inquiry Saturday, said the government was gravely disappointed in Mr. White’s claims.  "The Government of Liberia is disappointed over recent comments on the Voice of America Straight Talk Africa program by Mr. Alan White who made several baseless, untrue, and unfounded comments against President Sirleaf. Mr. White's regurgitation of politically motivated hearsay is quite unfortunate. We hereby categorically deny again that Madam President has entered into any political deal to give any support to the CDC as is being claimed.”

The statement said the government remains focused on ensuring that President Sirleaf culminates her exceptional leadership tenure with a transition in which the people of Liberia will freely, fairly, and transparently chose their leader at the ballot box within the constitutionally prescribed time-frame. Read more

No Deal: CDC, Robert Sirleaf Debunk Montserrado County Senatorial Promised Plot, Source: FrontPage Africa

Mr. Robert Sirleaf, a son of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has strongly dismissed assertions by the former chief of investigations for the United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone, Alan White that there is a deal on the table for the President’s son to replace Senator George Weah if wins the Liberian presidency. “There is no deal whatsoever between the Standard Bearer of the CDC for the potential vacancy of his Senatorial seat - None whatsoever. Anyone expressing this is simply a liar,” Mr. Robert Sirleaf said.

Mr. White told the VOA that he has been informed by an unnamed individual who has spoken directly to one of the president’s sons that a deal had been sealed with Senator Weah in which he will never go after the Sirleaf administration for any political corruption or graft. Read more

‘UP Discovered, Acknowledged, Participated in Wrongs’ –Cllr. Dean asserts, as UP chairman Paye admits voting, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that as the ongoing Unity Party’s (UP) intervention hearing case has begun producing witnesses and pieces of evidence, the party’s national chairman, Wilmot Paye, admitted that he voted on October 10 even though he knew that the National Elections Commission (NEC) was wrong by making an addendum as part of the electoral process.

Paye, who took the witness stand over the weekend to testify against the NEC, said his name was not found on the Final Register Roll (FRR) at his voting center in Nimba County Electoral District #4, but was persuaded by the NEC staff to accept the placement of his name on the addendum list so he could vote.

He said the October 10 polls were marred by irregularities and frauds only because the FRR was not credible. Read more

LP Snubs Mediation Talks -Says chiefs and religious leaders are “living in Pres. Sirleaf’s purse”, Source: Daily OBSERVER

An official of the opposition Liberty Party (LP) says the party will not have time to sit with any group of negotiators including members of the National Traditional Council of Liberia (NTCL) as being suggested by the head of the council, Chief Zanzan Kawor to reconcile with authorities of the National Elections Commission (NEC) ahead of the ongoing legal formalities before NEC hearing officer.

Daniel Sando, the LP assistant secretary for press and publicity, told a local radio talk show last Friday that framers of the mediation have already compromised their neutrality, and should dare not invite the LP to any planned negotiation because they (Traditional Council) are already living in “President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s purse.”

Mr. Sando said the LP will not cooperate with any group of negotiators, neither compromise its claims of electoral irregularities and frauds, but rather stay the course by pursuing the case to a logical conclusion. Read more

CDC Raises Alarm Over ‘Disorderly Conduct’ Scheme, Source: FrontPage Africa

The main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) says it has received credible information that its opponents have designed a scheme to paint the party black by putting individuals in CDC T-Shirts in a bid to exhibit disorderly conduct. Mr. Janga Kowo, the party’s secretary-general told FrontPage Africa at the weekend that as part of the scheme, officers of the Liberia National Police will be called to intervene and arrest people dressed as members of the CDC and labeled as troublemakers.

“It is a Grand Plan, which we have uncovered which has the propensity to degenerate into crisis,” said Mr. Kowo. His assertions come in the wake of a wave of recent incidents blamed on the CDC.

Last week, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gregory Coleman, was forced to offer clarification after confirming an attack at the home of Associate Justice Sie-A-Nyene Youh, which was initially reported as an attack carried out by members of the opposition party. But the IGP said, there was no political motivation behind the attack. Read more

ECC Reaffirms Calls For Adherence To Rule Of Law, Sources: FAAPA, FrontPage Africa, and LINA

The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) has renewed calls for Liberians to remain focused and adherent to the rule of law in resolving electoral disputes arising from the October 10 General and Presidential Elections. ECC chairman Oscar Bloh said the ECC is aware that the slow pace of the legal process is creating uncertainty among Liberians regarding the holding of the runoff election which was announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC).

Mr. Bloh said the ECC is of the opinion that while Liberians are anxious to know when the runoff election will be held, speculations of an interim government are being circulated in the public. Terming such assertions as “premature,” Bloh indicated that the nation has reached a political crisis point and as such all Liberians should allow the rule of law to take its course so that electoral disputes can be logically concluded. Read more

Bong Peace Council Appeals To Political Leaders, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

The Bong County Peace Council (BCPC) has released a statement appealing to the four political parties pursuing alleged election fraud at the National Elections Commission (NEC) to disengage their quest for the “sake of peace” in the country.

The Bong Peace Council, which comprises over 300 chiefs and elders from across the county, is appealing to Liberty Party’s (LP) Charles Brumskine,  Unity Party’s (UP) Joseph Boakai, Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), and All Liberian Party’s (ALP) Benoni Urey to drop their complaints before the NEC in order to allow the presidential runoff election to go ahead.

“The election issues taken to court by the Liberty Party are legally understood but we think the current political stalemate in the country is not conducive for our young democracy and the peace process. The support of other political parties in the Liberty complaint is seen to escalate and bring untold issues which we think may cause ordinary Liberians to suffer more. We are aware of the goodwill of these three political parties in lifting our country to its peak of development, but we are appealing to them to listen to us,” the council said in the statement issued Friday. Read more

Liberia’s UN Envoy Calls on Compatriots to Remain Positive, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Lewis Brown, has urged Liberians to remain positive even at this defining moment in the nation’s democratic journey, which is being overwhelmed with negativities.

Ambassador Brown pointed out that despite the “myriad differences and the challenges we look to face, Liberians travel together on the country’s post-conflict journey of nation-building is proving to be successful.” Speaking at a press conference at the Monrovia City Hall recently, Brown cautioned Liberians that the world is watching the elections with a vested interest in the peace, and growing concerns over our commitments to strengthen our young democracy.

The Liberian diplomat added that the world understands that consolidating the peace and democracy is really a decision that only Liberians can make; stressing “They trust us to make that decision for ourselves, and I know we are capable, as we have proven time and again, to hold it within our own hands to shape the future of our country for the better.” Read more

Envoy Brown Lauds President Sirleaf For Exemplary Leadership, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations says President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf stands out among Liberians who deserve the collective respect and commendation of Liberians. ”President Sirleaf is one person I have had the duty to criticize and the honor to work alongside, who bore me no ill-will, and treated my invitation into her cabinet with the openness of a leader dedicated to work with all for a better society,” Ambassador Lewis Brown emphasized when he addressed a press conference at the Monrovia City Hall recently.

Ambassador Brown pointed out that President Sirleaf is one whose leadership attracted the needed international attention and mobilized the required support when our country needed it most. According to him, the president is one whose decided restraints in upholding the rule of law and the decisions of the courts, even in obvious disagreements, have now catalyzed the return of the courts to an increasing place of public respect and confidence. Read more

“We Want Every Security Matter Left with LNP” –IGP Coleman, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gregory Coleman says the National Security Task Force is a representative of various security agencies, with the Liberia National Police (LNP) being the lead actor in providing security services that are required during the electoral process. IGP  Coleman in a telephone conversation on Friday said that the role of the LNP and other security agencies in these elections remains critical to sustaining the peace and security of the country.

Making reference to recent reports of some individuals attached to the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) as private security, the IGP said it is only the LNP that provides security protection to all parties during elections. ‘‘We have spoken to the standard bearer of the CDC on it and he is currently cooperating with the LNP, and we hope that it continues. We want every security matter left with the LNP,’’ Coleman said. Read more

6 Contenders for Speaker, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Six names have emerged as candidates expressing their intentions to contest for Speaker of the House of Representatives. They include Hans Barchue (Independent); Prince Moye (Unity Party), and Cllr. Fonati Koffa (Liberty Party). Others are Edwin Snowe (Unity Party); Dr. Bhofal Chambers (Coalition for Democratic Change); and Thomas Fallah (Coalition for Democratic Change).

According to sources among the six persons, there would be fierce competition among four candidates, namely Representatives Barchue, Moye, Snowe and Representative-elect Koffa.

The elections of Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other officers (including the Chief Clerk, Deputy Chief Clerk, and Sergeant-at-Arms) are in consonance with the Liberian Constitution and the Rules and Regulations of the House of Representative. Read more

‘Peace Remains Our Hero’ –Rock Hill Youth Founder, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The founder of the Rock Hill Community Youth Initiative says that despite the current state of the electoral process, Liberians should not forget that peace remains our hero. Patricia Sonah said in spite of the Supreme Court’s stay order on electoral activities young people should understand that peace serves as a bell to ring in everyone’s ears.

Speaking recently at a one-day forum in the Rock Hill Community on GSA Road in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, Ms. Sonah stressed that Liberia is now at a crossroad. “The young people need to be careful with politicians and should not be fooled to do anything that will bring a setback. Let us remain calm and look up to the Supreme Court and the National Elections Commission (NEC) as the major players in the game,’’ Sonah admonished.

The forum held under the theme ”Peace Is Our Hero” brought together students from various high schools, community leaders, and youths from the various political parties in Montserrado County Electoral District #6. Read more

“Traditional Elections More Transparent Than Western” –Chief Zanzan Kawor, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The head of the National Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders, Zanzan Kawor believes that the old “traditional” form of elections conducted to determine paramount, clan and zone chiefs in Liberia was more transparent than the system of elections practiced today, which the Westerners have introduced.

Speaking through an interpreter recently at the headquarters of the council, Chief Karwor said during the traditional era, they understood each other and carried on their elections that were transparent and peaceful. But since the arrival of the Westerners, the entire process has become characterized by commotion and violence, he noted.

“When we used to have our elections like in the days of President Tubman, if six persons were contesting, we announced the voting time to everybody in the town and everybody wear their gown and stands before the crowd, the voters would go behind the person they want, and we would do the counting. If someone has 50 and the other 100, the persons with the highest numbers automatically win. That was what we called transparency,” Chief Karwor indicated. Read more

FeJAL To Train Over 70 Journalists In Gender Reporting, Sources: FAAPA, LINA, and The NEWS

The Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) with support from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is expected to commence a nationwide gender sensitive capacity-building training for journalists in the country. The training will begin with a formal launch in Monrovia on Monday, 13 November under the theme: “Increasing Journalists Capacity in Gender Sensitive Reporting and Fairer Portrayal of Women in the Media.”

The three-month exercise is aimed at impacting more than 70 journalists including editors and managers from across the country. Divided into four regions, the training is strategically scheduled to be held in Montserrado, Bong, Lofa, and Grand Gedeh counties.

The training is geared towards strengthening journalists’ capacity to become more gender sensitive and focus their reportage on issues affecting particularly women in a non-bias manner. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Was Charles Brumskine Truthful in His Interview with BBC?, Source: The Bush Chicken

Liberty Party’s standard bearer Charles Brumskine recently granted an interview to the BBC where he defended his claims that the October 10 presidential and representative elections were marked by “fraud and gross irregularities.”

Brumskine, who took a distant third place in the elections, is questioning the results, claiming that his party possesses evidence to prove that the election is “not valid” because the process did not pass the minimum standards required for free, fair, and transparent elections.

His party has since filed a complaint to the National Elections Commission and petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of Prohibition against a runoff election that was earlier scheduled for Tuesday, November 7. The two candidates who took the first and second place, George Weah of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change and Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party, were qualified to participate in the runoff.

The Supreme Court has granted the writ of prohibition, putting a halt to the runoff election until NEC investigates Liberty Party’s complaint. Read more

How women bring about peace and change in Liberia, Source: The Conversation

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first woman to lead an African country. Her two terms in office ended with elections last month since, like the United States, presidents in Liberia are barred from serving more than two terms.

Affectionately known as “Ma Ellen,” Sirleaf took office at the end of a 14-year civil war in which an estimated 200,000 Liberians were killed.

Sickened and fatigued by war, thousands of Liberian women, through mass action, brought about an end to the conflict in 2003.

These same women took great risks to elect Sirleaf on her promise to sustain peace and make gender equality central to her administration’s agenda. Some women hid their sons’ voter ID cards to prevent them from voting for Sirleaf’s opponent; others tricked the young men into exchanging their cards for beer; still others managed market stalls while their female owners went to register to vote and watched babies so that mothers could vote on Election Day. Read more

Liberian President, Sirleaf partners Rochas Foundation College of Africa on 2030 vision, Source: The Guardian

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed joy in partnering the authorities of the Rochas Foundation College of Africa in driving vision 2030, aimed at developing African continent via qualitative education.

According to her, the target of the institution and other similar institutions in the continent to eradicate illiteracy and poverty by extension, through ensuring that at least one million children are taken away from the streets and being educated, would achieve desired growth, indicating that she would ensure partnership to actualize the vision.

Sirleaf stated this at the weekend while interacting with the students of the college in Owerri, during her two-day visit to Imo State and principally on the invitation of the institution said education is an instrument to promote continental unity among others. She maintained that education was a vehicle to attain heights in politics and other ventures of life, urging Africans to take the vocation serious. 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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