• Prince Johnson Endorses Weah for Liberia’s Second Round Run-off Elections, Source: FrontPage Africa
• After Jabbah Conviction other War Victim Demand Justice: Massacre Survivors Want New Lawmaker Prosecuted, Source: FrontPage Africa
• CDC Is Threat to Free Speech, Source: New DEMOCRAT
• President Sirleaf Appoints Interim President for Bong County Technical College, Source: The Bush Chicken

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Prince Johnson Endorses Weah for Liberia’s Second Round Run-off Elections, Source: FrontPage Africa

Senator Prince Johnson, standard bearer of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) today Thursday endorsed the candidacy of Senator George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), dealing a major blow to the standard bearer of the ruling Unity Party (UP), Vice President Joseph Boakai’s bid to succeed President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Addressing a news conference, Senator Johnson proclaimed: “I, therefore, call on all members and supporters, sympathizers and well-wishers of the MDR and all signatories of the Ganta Declaration and opposition political party leaders, to join me in endorsing and supporting Senator George Manneh Weah for the Presidency of the Republic of Liberia.”

After Jabbah Conviction other War Victim Demand Justice: Massacre Survivors Want New Lawmaker Prosecuted, Source: FrontPage Africa

Some residents of Samay Village in Bong County including elder Alansa Kumahn, youth leader Exodus Klemee Jr., among many others have called for the setting up of a war crimes court for Liberia to prosecute former Liberian warlords including George Boley of the erstwhile rebel group the Liberia Peace Council (LPC) for allegedly massacring 27 of the over 3,000 residents of Samay Village in 1994 when the LPC invaded the village during the heat of the Liberian civil war.

For many of the residents of Samay Village, it is hard to believe or accept that Mr. Boley, a former warlord of the LPC, recently won the representative seat for Electoral District #2 in Grand Gedeh County. Boley was deported from the US after having lied on his US immigration documents claiming he had not partaken in war crimes. Unlike Mohammed Jabateh, alias Jungle Jabbah of the former ULIMO-K rebel movement, who was last week convicted in a federal court of the same offense and faces 30 years in a US prison, Boley was simply deported.

His victims here say they would rather Boley faced justice in the US and was not left to walk free in Liberia, and now to obtain an elected office. “Samay Village will be very happy if George Boley was to have his day in court and be prosecuted as Jungle Jabbah was,” says Alanso Kumahn, an elder of Samay. “What his group LPC did to the people of Samay, still leaves sad memories with us.”

CDC Is Threat to Free Speech, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The New Democrat reports following the National Elections Commission (NEC) pronouncement of a runoff presidential election after the 10 October polls, Liberians have expressed that the principle of civil liberty would not be guaranteed under a Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government. “Our civil liberty is threatened under a CDC government, Augustine Blackie, a political science student at the United Methodist University told the New Democrat. “I am voting for Vice President Joseph Boakai of his integrity, tolerance, commitment and he is the best suited to reconcile this country. Yesterday we saw what happened to Henry Costa after he disagreed to support Senator Weah in the runoff,” Blackie said. He continued: “We need a leader is tolerant and will accept the views of others even if they disagree.”

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

President Sirleaf Appoints Interim President for Bong County Technical College, Source: The Bush Chicken

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has appointed Charles Mulbah as acting president of the Bong County Technical College. His appointment takes immediate effect. Mulbah is a former dean of the College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development at Cuttington University. In his appointment letter dated 8 October 2017, President Sirleaf requests Mr. Mulbah to work with the Board of Directors of the college and the Bong County Legislative Caucus to reopen the college.

“As you are aware, we have appointed a search committee for the recruitment of the president for the college on a permanent basis,” the letter read. “However, as the college is at a critical stage in its development, we cannot afford to leave the position vacant for an extended period.” Mulbah will serve as head of the college on an interim basis pending the conclusion of the recruitment process for a president, according to the letter.  Read more