19 October 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

High Turnout At Nimba District # 4 Election Re-run - Several detained for trying to vote twice, Source: Daily OBSERVER

There was high turnout at the Nimba County Electoral District #4 rerun election held on Tuesday in one of the precincts in the town of Beo Bongarplay near the border with Cote d’Ivoire. The voting was peaceful and held under tight security, with armed police officers patrolling the town to ensure law and order. The heavy security presence resulted from the disruption of the October 10 election by citizens who said the National Elections Commission (NEC) failed to open one of the four polling places in the precinct.

In an interview, Beo Bongarplay town chief, Jimmy Karnue, told the Daily Observer that the first poll was canceled because two of the eight ballot boxes were missing, for which a candidate for representative filed a protest to the NEC. “Only three of the four polling places’ materials were brought on the main Election Day and many people could not find their names on the voters roll. Moreover, telling people about their names not being on the roll led to noise and confusion among the voters,” Chief Karnue said. Read more

Korkoya Threatens to Banish Daily Observer Says newspaper “is against the NEC”, Source: Daily OBSERVER  

The chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Cllr. Jerome Korkoya, Wednesday avenged his apparent long withheld anger at the Daily Observer, threatening to ban the media outlet from attending NEC press conferences. “We know the Daily Observer is against the Commission,” Cllr. Korkoya said over the phone.

The NEC chairman made the statement via mobile phone when NEC communications director Henry Flomo called the paper to ascertain its source for a story which quoted him confirming a run-off election on November 7.

Although the NEC chairman did not explain why he believes the Daily Observer is against the commission, his outburst, however, was in reaction to a front page story the paper published in its Wednesday, October 18 edition under the caption: “Boakai, Weah Confirmed for Nov. 7 Run-off.”

Korkoya’s tirade came just days after the announcement of the preliminary results of 95.6 percent of the valid votes cast in the October 10 presidential and legislative elections, which many contenders claim was marred by frauds and inaccuracies. Read more

Montserrado District #3 Candidate Barshell in Hiding Says he is living in fear for his life, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Montserrado County Electoral District #3 Representative candidate, Ceebee Barshell, may be leading the race against his rival candidate Bill Twehway by 172 votes but he alleges that his lead has caused numerous threats to his life. Mr. Barshell said he has filed a complaint with the Liberia National Police (LNP).

In a telephone conversation from an undisclosed location, Barshell, who presently has accumulated 6,236 votes (24%), while his closest rival has 6,064 (23.4%), said since the National Elections Commission (NEC) announced its provisional results, he has received several threats from unknown persons.

Barshell said last Thursday some unidentified men visited his residence at about 2 a.m. and attempted to set his house on fire. He blamed incumbent Representative Bill Twehway, as the one behind the series of threats, but Representative Twehway has refuted the allegation. During the campaign, Barshell claimed that Twehway and his supporters physically attacked his supporters, and he believes that the incumbent lawmaker is behind the current threats against him. Read more

Allegations of Elections Foul Play to Trigger Run-Off Endorsement Delays, Sources: All Africa and FrontPage Africa

FrontPage Africa reports that the barrage of suspected electoral fraud and irregularities has made political parties who did not make it to the runoff elections hesitant to endorse any of the two parties contesting in the November runoff election.

While the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) are intensely lobbying to win over some of the major opposition political parties to complement their strength in the run-off election, most of the parties being relied upon are doubtful over who to support because they feel cheated in the elections.

Liberty Party (LP) for example, is calling for reelection on ground that the October 10 polls did not meet the minimum standards to be referred as free, fair, transparent elections. Read more

Liberia's Elections - Coalition for Democratic Change Raises Red Flag On Electoral Fraud, Sources: All Africa and FrontPage Africa

Despite being in the lead of the presidential race, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is alarming instances of their votes being reduced at the National Tally Center at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville. According to the CDC, their attention was Tuesday drawn to one of many fraudulent activities allegedly being perpetrated by the National Elections Commission (NEC) in the elections.

"Evidence of electoral fraud was discovered at the G.W. Gibson polling precinct, polling place number 04, voting precinct code 30409, Montserrado District #8. While conducting the counting at the National Tally Center located at the SKD Boulevard, our poll watchers noticed that the original tally sheet at the GW Gibson polling center, polling place #4, voting precinct code 30409, Montserrado county district #8, the CDC obtained a total of 180 votes while the Unity Party obtained 73 votes, but to the dismay of our poll watchers, NEC reduced CDC's vote to 10 from the initial 180 votes obtained, and increased Unity Party's votes from 73 votes obtained to 150,” the CDC said in a statement.

The CDC statement continued: "Upon discovering such egregious act carried on by staffs of the NEC, our polling agents quickly brought this to the attention of the NEC's officials at the National Tally center, and fortunately, NEC's chairman Jerome Korkoya happened to have been visiting the center at the time of the discovery and it was brought to his attention; at which time the changes were made in the system to reflect the actual votes of 180 obtained by the CDC and the 73 obtained by the UP." Read more

Liberia's Opposition Political Parties Youth Wings Rally For Victory, Source: FrontPage Africa

Over 12 political parties youth wings, under the banner, Association of Opposition Political Parties Youth League, has renewed assurance of supporting its kind in an imminent run-off election expected to take place in the country.

From the National Elections Commission (NEC) preliminary results, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of Senator George Weah is the only opposition political party in the group that is expected to show off for a possible run-off, which the body has promised their support. The commitment was in recognition of a resolution previously signed by the various political parties youth wings in September 2017, aimed at supporting a member that would go for a run-off to victory.

Political parties forming part of the association include the Liberty Party (LP), Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), Liberia Transformation Party (LTP), All Liberian Party (ALP), United People’s Party (UPP), Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), amongst others.

At a news conference held at the UPP headquarters in Monrovia on Wednesday, the association’s vice chairman for operation, Czar Mabutu Palay, said the move is geared toward redefining an understanding among them, in the face of a possible presidential runoff. “The Association wants to restate its objective to support opposition victory in the 2017 Presidential and Legislative Elections. On this day we want to reaffirm our position that opposition victory is a victory for prosperous Liberia,” Mr. Palay said. Read more

Opposition Youth Want Speedy Probe Into Election Complaints, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

The Association of Opposition Political Party Youth League has called on the National Elections Commission (NEC) to expeditiously probe electoral complaints raised by some political parties in the October 10 presidential and legislative elections. The League is a conglomeration of like-minded opposition political party national youth wings represented by their 12 national youth chairpersons.

It can be recalled that the opposition Liberty Party (LP) alleged that it had uncovered irregularities and fraud in the recent polls conducted by the NEC. The LP called on the NEC to abort the official announcement of results, noting that failure to do so will leave the party with no alternative but to file a lawsuit against the commission.

The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has also expressed dissatisfaction over the 87,071 invalid votes the NEC said it has tallied so far, something the Youth League is urging the NEC not to take lightly as the nation goes through the democratic process.   

The group at a news confab Wednesday said concerns coming from the LP and CDC, among others, relative to electoral irregularities “should be given ears.” Read more

Carter Center, Liberia Crusader For Peace Tackle Post-Election Violence, Source: FrontPage Africa

Liberia Crusader for Peace (LCP) with support from Carter Center says maintaining the peace in Liberia should be a priority of all political party leaders. LCP’s Ambassador Julie Endee says political parties should engage the legal process and stay away from demonstrations. She commended Liberians for a peaceful election, saying “We are excited with the peace in the country so far, but it has to be upheld and whoever wins must be respected by every Liberians.” Read more

Court Purges 3 Government Officials Of Contempt Charges, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

The Presiding Judge of the Civil Law Court at the Temple of Justice has removed the contempt charges against defense minister Brownie Samukai, solicitor general Betty Lamin Blamo, and county attorney Daku Mulbah.

Judge Boima Kontoe’s action to hold the officials in contempt was based on a complaint filed to the court that the ministry had refused to honor the court’s order to release the M/V DZINTARS seized by the Liberian coast guard recently.

However, the same complainant has filed another lawsuit to the Civil Law Court seeking Maritime Action for Damages for wrong which will be adjudicated after the court has heard and made a determination in the contempt proceedings against the Defense Ministry.

The three government officials were summoned by the Civil Law Court on 7 October to appear in court on 13 October but they failed. The Justice Ministry argued that the reason for the failure to appear and why the defense minister did not act on the communication is because it was received a day to the election at which time the minister was very busy.

Handing down said ruling Wednesday, Judge Kontoe took into consideration reasons given for the failure to appear and purged the contempt charges, rescheduling the case for hearing on a date to be announced. Read more

“Amendment of Rape Law Terrible” - Association of Female Lawyers, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) says amending the rape law is not in the interest of victims. AFELL president Vivian Neal said the association wasn’t consulted prior to the amendment something she said was done to affect rape victims and survivors.

In an interview with FrontPage Africa Atty. Neal said AFELL was surprised by the amendment because it has the proclivity toward increasing the number of rape cases, as the country currently battles the reduction and prosecuting of sexual cases.

The AFELL president said she expected the Senate to add the prosecutorial budget that will empower them to have rape kits and also have fast-tracked rape courts.

“We only have one court which the judges don’t sit in simultaneously and the court operates by term, I expected the Senate to have added the budgetary support of the Ministry and prosecutorial arms that will tackle the reduction of rape,” Atty. Neal said. Read more

Suspected Arson at Journalist’s House, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that a suspected arson attack was carried out on the residence of the station manager of OK FM, Smith Toby early Wednesday morning, 18 October in the Tower Hill community along the Robertsfield Highway, Margibi County. The fire was detected at an early stage by one of the young lads living there with Mr. Toby.

According to him, the suspected arson was committed by a group of unidentified men dressed in black outfits. In an interview with the Daily Observer at his home, Mr. Toby said that at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, the culprits wasted gasoline on the steel front door of his house and ignited the fire. While the fire was blazing at the front door, he explained, one of the boys sleeping at the time in the living room woke up and shouted to alert everyone in the house.

Toby further explained that he and others exited the house through the back door and brought back sand to extinguish the fire.  Thankfully, there was very minimal damage done to the property; the wooden door on the other side of the steel door sustained some burn effects, he said. Read more

PUL Calls On Police To Probe Arson At Journalist’s Home, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has called on authorities of the Liberia National Police to expeditiously investigate an arson attack on the home of journalist Smith Toby Wednesday. Toby’s home was attacked early Wednesday by unknown men on the Robertsfield highway leading to the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County. Toby is a broadcast journalist who runs a fairly balanced prime time radio talk show and manages Okay FM, the PUL said in a statement Wednesday.

His radio station received commendations from sections of the public for providing live coverage of campaign rallies for all front-runners in the 2017 presidential and legislative elections. Read more

LADA Commits USD2 million to Improve Food Security, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The deputy chief of party for programs at the Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity (LADA), Watchen Harris Bruce has disclosed that her institution has already committed over USD2 million from its USD3 million matching grant fund to help improve various agribusinesses in the country. Mrs. Bruce made the disclosure last Monday during a program commemorating this year’s World Food Day.

World Food Day is celebrated globally every year to highlight food security challenges facing the world. The theme of this year’s celebration was “Change the Future of Migration; Invest in Food Security and Rural Development.” It was celebrated in Liberia by the Ministry of Agriculture and several development partners.

The LADA deputy chief of party said the innovative approach will attract over USD9 million in total to increase private sector investment that would improve the income of many smallholder farmers. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Liberia: Contradictions emerging over election results and runoff date, Source: Africa Times

Liberian election officials are denying that they’ve set any date for an anticipated runoff between presidential candidates George Weah and Joseph Boakai – and in the process, threatened to ban the Daily Observer newspaper in Monrovia from their press conferences.

That’s according to the independent media outlet, in a story Thursday that recounts how multiple international news organizations ran the same story they did, in announcing a November 7 date set for a contest between the two leading candidates. They’re from among a field of 20 initially vying for the presidency.

Yet Jerome George Korkoya, chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), and Henry Flomo, National Elections Commission communications director, say they never spoke with any media outlet to confirm a date for the second-round runoff, the paper said.

Meanwhile, the Network of Electoral Commissions for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) based in Nigeria said final results of the October 10 contest will not be released until next Wednesday. ECOWAS representatives served among the election observers to member state Liberia’s election, and its umbrella group for electoral commissions said the runoff is almost a certainty but did not confirm a date. Read more

‘Don’t Give Visas To Liberians Creating Election Violence’ -NAYMOTE appeals to US, EU, African states, Source: New Public Trust

A leading Liberian youth group is appealing to the US government, the European Union and African countries not to give entry visas to any Liberian who will be involved in creating violence during the ongoing electoral process.

The group, National Movement for Transparent Elections (NAYMOTE) says in a statement to mark World Youth Day for Democracy on October 18 that, violence at this critical stage of Liberia’s history would ruin the post-war country.

“As we are cognizant of the fact that billions of United States Dollars and Euros have been spent to maintain and consolidate peace in Liberia, NAYMOTE calls on all young people to adhere to the rule of law and avoid getting into violent activities that would undermine democratic gains in Liberia,” the youth group says.

On Wednesday, NAYMOTE Partners for Democratic Development held a one-day citizen’s engagement event in Montserrado County to remind citizens on the benefits of democracy and celebrate young people contributions to sustaining democracy in Liberia.

The World Youth Day for Democracy is a global event held to celebrate young people contributions to democracy and their participation in civic and political processes on every year October 18. Read more

Liberia’s On Path To Return To Ruthlessness, Signs Of Taylor’s Influence, Source: Globe Afrique

Reports from Liberia point to a country on the verge of chaos, ‘jungle justice’ and misrule as political transition process gets underway with the pending election of a new president to replace outgoing president Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Tension is high among adherents of political fixtures idolized by mainly street gangs and semi-illiterate youth groups in various political parties, but more so in the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) party headed by former soccer star George Manneh “Oppong” Weah.

Both presidential and legislative elections were held on 10 October 2017. While the legislative election went largely peaceful, the presidential election has been chaotic with several, if not all, political parties are accusing the country’s National Election Commission (NEC) of fraudulent activities, vote rigging, data manipulation, and incompetence in the NEC’s leadership.

Critics are also accusing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of unnecessarily interfering in the country’s political and electoral process in hopes of influencing the choice of a successor that would shield her from possible prosecution from corruption and mismanagement during her reign. Others say the president’s interference is an attempt to secure a political footing for her son, Robert Sirleaf, and his associates in Liberian politics. Read more

Liberian Rebel Commander Living In Delco Guilty Of Immigration Fraud: Feds, Sources: Miami Herald and Springfield Patch

A former Liberian rebel commander living in Delaware County was found guilty of immigration fraud and perjury after it was discovered he lied on an asylum application about his activities in the first Liberian civil war, according to federal prosecutors. Those activities included cannibalism, sexually enslaving women, torture, conscripting child soldiers, and more, officials said.

Mohammed Jabbateh, also known as "Jungle Jabbah," 51, a citizen of Liberia who was living in East Lansdowne, was found guilty of two counts of fraud in immigration documents and two counts of perjury, Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge Marlon Miller announced Wednesday, Oct. 18.

According to officials, Jabbateh provided a false statement about his involvement in Liberia’s first civil war in December 1998 while seeking asylum in the United States. 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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