• IFES CEO Hails ‘the Respect Liberians Showed for Each Other’ during Elections, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• Elections Aftermath …Liberty Party’s Campaign Cars, 100 Bikes ‘Looted’, Source: New DEMOCRAT
• EPA Provides Updates on MNG Gold Mine Incident, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• Decomposed Body Discovered in Kakata, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• Liberian Women Continue Peaceful Protest Against Amendment of Rape Law, Source: The Bush Chicken

IFES CEO Hails ‘the Respect Liberians Showed for Each Other’ during Elections, Source: Daily OBSERVER

During the October 10 presidential and legislative voting process, mainly in polling centers across Bushrod Island in Monrovia, the lines were long; people would stand in them for hours on end, only to realize they were at the wrong lines.

Through it all, one thing was observed that didn’t get missed by international observers which were the fact that no one complained of the elders, pregnant women, baby mothers or physically challenged being marginalized on Election Day. This was because they were accommodated and ushered to the front of the lines by other voters, in their attempt to help them.

“The respect Liberians showed for each other while standing in lines for a long time is a statement on how people treated each other,” stated the president and CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Bill Sweeney. Read more

Elections Aftermath …Liberty Party’s Campaign Cars, 100 Bikes ‘Looted’, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The New Democrat says there is massive looting taking place within the Liberty Party (LP) with the disappearance of about 100 motorbikes and four vehicles from the party. The reported stealing comes days after the conduct of Tuesday’s presidential and legislative elections. The vehicles and bikes were part of the LP’s presidential campaign logistics.

Although LP’s vice chairman for political affairs, Darius Dillon has publically denied the report, the Liberia National Police has been informed about the alleged criminal act that took place recently within the party and has launched an investigation, a police source said Tuesday.

EPA Provides Updates on MNG Gold Mine Incident, Source: Daily OBSERVER

A Crisis Management Team (CMT) set up by the government to investigate the recent chemical spill incident that affected 34 persons at the MNG Gold Mines in Kokoya, Bong County, is making efforts not just to unveil what might have gone wrong, but also institute stringent measures that would ensure that such an unfortunate incident doesn’t happen again.

It may be recalled that there was a chemical spill when a section of the geo-membrane of the Tailing Storage Facility (TSF) ruptured at the MNG Gold facility, affecting the victims who were taken to Phebe Hospital in Suakoko for immediate medical examination. The situation has since been greeted with angry reactions across the country—and the government, through the CMT, has since taken steps to remedy it.

The rupture resulted in an uncontrolled discharge of ‘slurry’ containing a high concentration of cyanide into the Sein Creek and the surrounding environment.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the CMT, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), availed its findings by technicians who visited the site from 5-7 October. EPA deputy executive director, Urias Goll, who addressed the press conference, said: “No free cyanide (a deadly chemical used to extract gold) was detected in the nearby Sein Creek which had a concentration level of 0.310ppm during the first trip.” Read more

Decomposed Body Discovered in Kakata, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Less than a week after the 2017 presidential and legislative elections, mysterious death has been reported in Kakata, Margibi County. According to eyewitnesses, the body was discovered on Monday in the Doe Palace Community. Local media reports say the decomposed body, believed to be missing some body parts, is beyond facial recognition. The body is said to be that of a male wearing a pair of blue denim jeans. The body was discovered and reported by an unknown female, who was out searching for herb in an unfinished building in Doe Palace Community. Read More

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Liberian Women Continue Peaceful Protest Against Amendment of Rape Law, Source: The Bush Chicken

Women representing different organizations in Liberia continue to register their displeasure with the recent amendment to the rape law by the Senate. The Liberian Senate recently voted to amend the Rape Law, making rape bailable for all offenses and granting parole to convicted rapists.

Since then, women have staged a peaceful march from Paynesville to the grounds of the Capitol Building through the streets of Monrovia, displaying posters and chanting slogans against rape. The walk ended at the entrance of the home of the National Legislature where they had gathered to raise their concerns with the lawmakers.

In their position statement, the women said the two major amendments defeat the purpose of having a law that would deter perpetrators, especially in the midst of the high rate of the crime. Although there is a court in Monrovia responsible for trying cases involving sexual violence, the women are calling for more efforts in that direction. Read more