24 October 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Brumskine Alleges ‘Constitutional Breaches’ In October 10 Polls, Sources: FAAPA, FrontPage Africa, GNN Liberia, and LINA

Liberty Party (LP) leader Charles Brumskine has said that the constitutional rights of several Liberians were violated because they were deprived of exercising their democratic franchise during the October 10 elections. “They went to polling places only to be told that it was not where they were supposed to vote,” Cllr. Brumskine said, alleging that at some polling places around the country elections observers of the LP were brutalized because they refused to compromise votes of the party.

Terming the elections as a “scheme,” the LP leader alleged that there were massive fraud and that initial intimidation and harassment of LP partisans in Nimba County and the refusal of the police to release findings from an investigation conducted, signaled that the elections could not have been a free, fair, and transparent one.

Cllr. Brumskine made the comments Monday when he addressed a press conference at the headquarters of the LP in Monrovia. The comments from the LP standard bearer follows earlier statements emanating from the party that it uncovered several acts of malpractices in the October 10 polls conducted by the National Election Commission (NEC). Read more

Liberty Party Expresses Disappointment in Liberian National Police, Source: FrontPage Africa

The opposition Liberty Party (LP) has expressed disappointment in the Liberia National Police (LNP) for what the party calls its refusal to address crucial security issues during the ongoing electoral process. The LP vice chair for political affairs, Mr. Abraham Darius Dillon, said the LNP under the watch of Inspector General Gregory Coleman has created some missteps in providing security for its partisans.

On a local radio talk show in Monrovia Monday, Mr. Dillon said it was unfortunate that the LNP will be frightening its partisans against the LP's move to challenge the October 10 elections result.

According to him, the party’s challenge of the result has nothing to do with threatening Liberia’s peace but the LNP had begun instituting measures to frighten the party from taking stands against the results, while it is yet to produce a report on an incident involving LP partisans on Ganta, Nimba County. Read more

Vice President Boakai Vows to Consolidate Liberia’s Democratic Culture, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

The standard bearer of the ruling Unity Party (UP), Vice President Joseph Boakai has rallied Liberians of all walks of life to elect him as the country’s next leader, vowing that he intends to consolidate the nation’s democracy and instill a culture of openness. Vice President Boakai said when elected come November 7, his government will continue to cultivate a democratic space where political differences are resolved not through the force of arms but through the will of the people.

The UP standard bearer believes that as Liberia positions itself to experience a transition from one constitutionally-elected administration to another, the mandate coming out of the electoral exercise must truly reflect the collective free will of the Liberian people. He made the statement Monday, when he addressed a press conference at his residence in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.

“For nearly twelve years we have strongly supported and worked to put our country on the path of development and progress, we have helped to maintain the peace, and stability which are fundamental to the achievement of our national development objectives,” Boakai noted. Read more

Candidate Boakai Urges Speedy Probe Into Parties’ Qualms, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, FAAPA, FrontPage Africa, and LINA

The standard bearer of the ruling Unity Party (UP), Vice President Joseph Boakai has called on authorities of the National Elections Commission (NEC) and other stakeholders in the electoral process to expeditiously review the complaints filed by some political parties following the October 10 polls.

Vice President Boakai is also urging the NEC not to only look into the parties’ concerns but to also take appropriate actions to protect the integrity and sanctity of the country’s electoral system.

Speaking at a press conference Monday in Paynesville City, the UP standard bearer called on the electoral commission to clean up and publish the final Voters Registration Roll (VRR) to enable the voters to ascertain the inclusion of their names on the Final Voter Roll in order to reduce the confusion and tension experienced by them on October 10.

“The Unity Party stands in solidarity with the Liberty Party (LP), Alternative National Congress (ANC), the All Liberian Party (ALP) and all other political parties and stakeholders who have raised concerns about acts of irregularities and frauds at some polling places and want their issues addressed expeditiously,” Boakai said. Read more

MOVEE Questions Sources of Campaign Financing, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) has raised serious concerns on what it calls questionable sources of campaign financing and the misuse of public resources, which it said created an uneven playing field in the first round of the presidential and legislative elections.

In a statement Monday, MOVEE said this situation raises the question of the fairness of the electoral process and called on the NEC to provide a definitive report on financing and spending by political parties. MOVEE said the introduction of the ‘controversial’ Code of Conduct (CoC) by the Unity Party-led government was not in the spirit of inclusiveness and fairness.

“The entire process was disruptive, targeted and tantamount to abuse of power and done to the extent of skirting around the spirit and intent of the Constitution of the Republic,” the party said. MOVEE noted that the CoC harmed the electoral process and, in particular, created an uneven playing field for MOVEE, whose standard bearer, Dr. Joseph Mills Jones was its reported principal target. Read more

Nimba District #8 May Boycott Presidential Run-off, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that citizens of Nimba County Electoral District #8 may likely boycott the November 7 presidential runoff due to a delay by the National Elections Commission (NEC) to announce the result of the October 10 representative poll that was challenged by the district’s Unity Party (UP) incumbent lawmaker Larry Younquoi.

Mr. Younquoi challenged the result of the district election since October 16, outlining numerous irregularities during the exercise, a complaint that up to the present the NEC is yet to set a date for the hearing.

The protest result put candidate Saye Miane in the lead by 19 votes ahead of Younquoi, a result that it is believed to be far from the absolute majority of at least 50 votes for a candidate to seal a representative seat by the NEC. Supporters of both Miane and Younquoi who have been in Monrovia for almost a week are running out of patience about the NEC’s attitude. Read more

Sheikh Khalid Ysain Calls on Muslims, Christians In Liberia to Unite, Source: FrontPage Africa

Visiting American Muslim scholar Sheikh Khalid Ysain is calling on both Christians and Muslims in Liberia to unite for the development of their country. Speaking Sunday at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium to thousands of Muslims and non-Muslims, Sheikh Ysain urged Liberians to avoid religious conflict if they are to see their country becomes corruption and violence free.

“Citizens of Liberia whether you are a Muslim or a Christian, we are all one people because we all call the name of God Almighty in our different ways of praying, so Liberians Muslims and Christians get to come together and work as one people because that is the only way this country of yours is going to be developed just like any other civilized nation in the 21st Century,” the American Muslim scholar noted. Read more

President Sirleaf Reappoints 4 Former Officials, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, FAAPA, and LINA

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reappointed four former officials of her government after they resigned their posts to contest in the October 10 elections.

The four officials resigned their various positions to contest for representative seats in their respective districts in keeping with section 12.4 of the Code of Conduct, which mandates appointed government officials with the intent to run for an elected public office to resign prior to the holding of an election.

Making the disclosure on a local radio in Monrovia on Monday, presidential press secretary Jerolimick Piah named the four former officials as Julia Duncan Cassell, Selena Mappy, Augustus Zayzay, and Varney Sirleaf.

According to Mr. Piah, Madam Cassell was reappointed gender minister; while Mr. Sirleaf was reappointed deputy internal affairs minister. The presidential aide also noted that Mr. Zayzay and Ms. Mappy retained their previous positions as deputy internal affairs minister for planning and research and Bong County superintendent respectively. Piah explained that the four officials will be acting in their positions until the president’s tenure elapses. Read more

President Sirleaf Declares October 24 United Nations Day A ‘Working Holiday’, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by proclamation declared today Tuesday, October 24, as “United Nations Day”, and is to be observed throughout the country as a Working Holiday. The Proclamation calls upon all Government ministries and agencies, international organizations, United Nations Agencies near the Capital, schools and other institutions of learning, and citizens, in general, to cooperate with the Ministry of Education in organizing appropriate programs befitting the occasion.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, Liberia will join other member States to celebrate the 72nd Anniversary of United Nations Day under the theme: “Potential in Diversities,” in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the United Nations.

On 13 October 1957, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution declaring October 24 of each year, the anniversary of the charter of the United Nations, to be observed as United Nations Day and called on Member States to cooperate with the United Nations in the observance of the Day. Read more

Jabbateh Sentencing Date Set - Liberians Applaud End to Impunity, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Philadelphia federal court which convicted the ex-Liberian militia warlord last week on perjury charges announced Monday that the sentencing hearing will open on 18 January 2018. Judge Paul Diamond will sentence Mohammed Jabateh, known as Jungle Jabbah, after the former warlord, now 51 was found guilty on all four counts of federal immigration and perjury charges by a 12-member jury. He faces up to 30 years in prison, and he will not be deported for this case. The conviction marks the first closure for many Liberian villagers, mostly from the northwestern former stronghold of ULIMO-K, the rebel faction Jabbah led as a commander. Read more

“Executive Order 89 Is Timely,” Says Piah, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

Presidential press secretary Jerolimik Piah has said the issuance of Executive Order No. 89 recently by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was timely and not late as has been claimed by some Liberians.

“Policies put into place by the government, especially the issuance of Executive Orders whether at the beginning or the close of its tenure is for the betterment of the country and its people and as such it can and should not be looked at by Liberians as been too early or too late,” Mr. Piah emphasized. 

Making the clarification on a local radio in Monrovia on Monday, the press secretary noted that Executive Order No. 89 is geared towards relieving small and medium business and keeping them afloat as well as making stable the prices of basic commodities on the Liberian market. Read more

Police Begin Search for Murder Suspect in Bong, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

Police in Bong County have launched a manhunt for one Abalayah Tokpah, 33, who allegedly shot and killed his wife with a single barrel gun. Tokpah allegedly killed Kortu Mulbah early Sunday morning in Bawoquelleh, Suakoko District.

The head of the Crime Services Department of the Bong County Police Detachment, John Kelenso Flomo told the Liberia News Agency that Tokpah escaped into to the bush with the gun after committing the crime. The actual cause of his alleged action has not been established. Kelenso explained that more than 200 men have been mobilized and are currently in the bush to search for the alleged murderer.

Inspector Flomo said the body of the woman has been turned over to her family for burial.

Man, 48, Detained For Allegedly Raping Foster Daughter, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

A 48-year-old man, identified as Mohammed S. B. Kamara, has been detained by the Monrovia City Court for allegedly raping his 15-year-old foster daughter. Defendant Kamara, a resident of the Clara Town Community in Monrovia was on October 17 arrested by police based on a complaint filed by the victim’s mother who alleged that her daughter was sexually abused by Kamara whilst she was on a business trip out of town.

Following his arrest, Kamara was on Monday arraigned before the court to answer to the charges of statutory rape levied against him. Read more

NAYMOTE Takes Reconciliation Confab To Bong, Margibi, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

NAYMOTE-Partners for Democratic Development with support from the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has begun a series of dialogues to reconcile differences among stakeholders in Margibi and Bong counties.  NAYMOTE executive director Eddie Jarwolo said the reconciliation dialogues became necessary because of stakeholders’ troubled pasts coupled with misunderstanding among the residents resulting from the electoral processes.

The reconciliation dialogue launched in Weala, Margibi County is part of a series of engagements aimed at creating inclusive and participatory civil spaces for reconciliation in the country, particularly during and after the elections. The dialogue provided stakeholders with a broad knowledge about the essence of reconciliation and the benefits of reconciling citizens on their differences. The first dialogue model will be adopted and replicated simultaneously across the two counties to complete eight planned dialogues of four per county. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

‘Doing Away With Young People A Recipe for Disaster’-UNMIL Advisor, Source: News Public Trust

At celebrations marking Africa Human Rights Day, an official of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has called for the inclusion of young people at every stage in promoting and protecting human rights.

“When you don’t get young people involved, it is a recipe for disaster in any giving situation in society, therefore, do not leave out young people they are very important in society and the fight against human rights violation,‘’ said UNMIL rule of law advisor and political team leader for human rights and protection service, Sonny Onyegbula.

Onyebula was serving as keynote speaker on Saturday at an official ceremony in Monrovia, when Liberia joined other countries in Africa to celebrate Africa Human Rights Day.

The day’s celebration in Monrovia took place at the William V.S Tubman High School in Sinkor. It was held under the theme, Enhancing Youth Contribution Towards Effective Implementation of the Action Plan for the Human and People’s Rights Decade Africa.

The UNMIL official called on young people on the continent of Africa to take the center stage in addressing issues affecting them, especially on human rights violations. Read more

Liberia party submits complaint over alleged vote fraud, Source: Reuters

The Liberty Party that placed third in the first round of Liberia’s presidential elections on Monday submitted a complaint to the elections commission (NEC), calling for it to annul the result won by former soccer star George Weah, the document showed.

If the contents of the Liberty Party (LP) complaint, which was seen by Reuters, are deemed valid, it could force a re-run of what is expected to be the West African country’s first democratic transfer of power since 1944. Its candidate lawyer Charles Brumskine placed third after Weah placed first and the ruling party’s Joseph Boakai second.

The complaint was filed by the presidential and vice-presidential candidates as well as all representative candidates of the Liberty Party.

International observers, including The Carter Center and the National Democratic Institute, said they did not see any major problems with the vote. Read more

Liberia’s run-off election: Is Alexander Cummings playing games?, Source: The Patriotic Vanguard

Liberia is really a free and sweet country. Free and sweet in that a person of Negro descent or a Liberian born who is a naturalized citizen of another country can come to Liberia and seek the presidency and that behavior would be acceptable. In other words, a person can violate our constitution and make demands on us and we would allow it.

FrontPage Africa recent article, entitled “Alexander Cummings Conditions before Endorsing Boakai or Weah”, which was published in the paper’s October 19 edition, is not only disgusting but is also somewhat laughable. FrontPage Africa is a leading newspaper in Liberia. Alexander Cummings (photo), the ANC political leader who dismally lost the recently completed first round election, expressed conditions or concerns, which he said must be met or shared before he would endorse a candidate in the Liberian runoff election. I just do not get it. Although in this second round election, every vote counts, how can a candidate who took 5th place with a single digit make such unreasonable and hard demands?

To get his support, Cummings sets three conditions that each final candidate must meet: the candidate must ensure that peace and stability in Liberia will be maintained; that corruption will be fought and government waste will be reduced; and that Liberian businesses will be supported and empowered. 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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