9 Saturday 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Convicted Arms and Conflict Timber Trafficker Guus Kouwenhoven Arrested for Role in Liberia’s Civil War, Source: FrontPage Africa

This paper reports that notorious Dutch timber trader and gunrunner Guus Kouwenhoven was on Friday, 8 December 2017 arrested in South Africa. The arrest follows the April conviction of Kouwenhoven in a Dutch court for aiding and abetting war crimes and illegally trading arms during the height of Liberia’s civil war, which claimed over 250,000 lives. Dutch authorities are now seeking Kouwenhoven’s extradition to the Netherlands.

Global Witness Director Patrick Alley said: “The arrest of Guus Kouwenhoven marks a banner day for the people of Liberia and those around the world who suffer at the hands of companies that trade in conflict timber and minerals. The message to those that trade guns for resources and profit from international crimes is that the rules of the game are changing. You will be found and you will go to jail.”

Kouwenhoven was head of the Oriental Timber Corporation (OTC) during Liberia’s civil war, which lasted from 1989 to 2003. The war was funded largely through the sale of diamonds and timber plundered from Liberia’s rainforests. OTC was the dominant logging company in Liberia during this time. The Dutch courts have found Kouwenhoven guilty of delivering weapons to the regime of then-President of Liberia Charles Taylor, in return for special treatment for his timber company.

Patrick Alley said: “Years of dogged work by the Dutch authorities, and now their South African counterparts, are paying off and are finally bringing an infamous criminal to justice. Global Witness applauds their efforts. Charles Taylor has already been sentenced and imprisoned. Kouwenhoven now faces a similar fate.”

The Burst of Women Leadership in Africa Cannot be Stopped - Says President Sirleaf, Source: FrontPage Africa

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says that the burst of women leadership in Africa cannot be stopped, and she called upon women to work towards the fulfillment of whatever goals they set for themselves. According to a dispatch from Washington, D.C., President Sirleaf was speaking Tuesday, 5 December 2017, at a program in “Celebration of African Women Leaders,” honoring her and former Malawian President Joyce Banda. The well-attended event, held at the African Union (AU) Mission in Washington, D.C., was hosted by Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, Permanent Representative of the AU to the United States.

Amid spontaneous applauds and standing ovations from the predominantly female audience, including African women ambassadors accredited to the United States, President Sirleaf said African women have made great strides in political participation at virtually all levels of government. The Liberian leader, however, cautioned that while major strides have been made, there was still more work to be done regarding the empowerment of African women. “We don’t yet have the equality we seek as women,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, former Malawian President Joyce Banda said Africa will be fully development when women are empowered to play their roles in the political and development processes. Lauding President Sirleaf for being a strong supporter and mentor when she took over the Presidency of Malawi, President Banda said women must be each other’s keepers because it is through unity of purpose that African women will be able to overcome hurdles they face.

In welcome remarks earlier, AU Permanent Representative, Dr. Chihombori-Quao, said the occasion was intended to celebrate women who have dared to succeed by overcoming whatever challenges they have faced.

JIC Holds 2nd Technical Meeting on Gaps Mitigation Strategies in Forestry Sector, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Joint Implementation Committee (JIC), a technical support group established by the government of Liberia and European (EU) to monitor and supervise the activities of the Liberian forest sector on Monday, 4 December 2017 held its 2nd technical meeting to address crucial forest related matters including gaps mitigation strategies.  In their earlier separate opening remarks, JIC co-chairs Darlington S, Tuagben, FDA managing director and Alberto Menghini, head of sector, EU delegation welcomed the participants for their resilience in turning the wheel of the sector turning. They thanked the participants for their individual contributions to the forest sector thereby making the work of the JIC possible. 

The meeting held at the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) offices brought together key stakeholders in the forest sector aimed at reviewing progress made thus far in the sector. It is customary that after every three months JIC meets to measure the level of progress in the sector in order to provide essential technical advice where necessary for the growth and development in the sector.

Among other crucial issues discussed by several discussants included: Forest Management and Harvesting Obligation, Labor obligation, Regulatory Framework Completion/cross cutting issues, Non-Compliance and Annual Operation Plan. Others were Social obligation, the current structure of VPA Secretariat, Financial sustainability, Transport and Traceability and the submerging of VPA and LVD secretariats under the administration of the FDA. 

At the close of the one day meeting, the technical body unanimously resolved to work concertedly in line with its mandate to ensure an effective supervisory role in the forest sector as expected by both the EU and the government of Liberia as far as internationally acceptable forest governance is concerned.  The FDA management and the EU delegation reiterated their calls on the technical team to put in place gaps mitigation strategies to ensure that all is well in the sector.  

Conflict Mitigation and Management Program Launched in Nimba County, Source: FrontPage Africa

The media reports that the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), an international humanitarian relief and development organization, and its partners the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) and the Mano River Women’s Peace Network (MARWOPNET) formally launched Connect for Peace (C4P) project on 6 December 2017 in Sanniquellie City, Nimba County. Connect for Peace is a 36-month initiative that is implemented by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Liberia, with support from USAID Conflict Mitigation and Management program.

According to the CRS, the C4P is designed to strengthen vertical and horizontal social cohesion between and among citizens, civil society organizations and public officials, with the broader aim of contributing to peace writ large in Liberia. The CRS says the project will support the establishment of trust between citizens and state, and will reinforce Indigenous Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms so that all members of civil society (including women and youth), public sector institutions, and traditional authorities embrace diversity, resolve differences constructively, and establish conditions for positive peace in Liberia.

The project was officially launched by Nimba County Secretary to the Office of the Superintendent, Paul K. Karnu, together with USAID Mission Director, Dr. Anthony Chan and CRS’ Regional Director, Jennifer Overton. The Peace Ambassador, Rev. William R. Tolbert,  Officials from Liberia Peacebuilding Office, Civil Society Organizations and the traditional council were also represented. 

Dr Chan stated that “Liberians are extremely proud of the peace they have built and sustained in the past 14 years. The people clearly recognized the inherent importance of this peace for continued development of the county – a development inclusive of all Liberians”. He added that “CRS’ approach seeks to strengthen existing local conflict mitigation and management processes and structures, providing both community members and local authorities with the tools to better handle their localized problems, while building social cohesion”.

Local Authorities expressed appreciation to CRS for selecting Nimba County as the main targeted location for project activities, highlighting that work in peacebuilding continues to address an important need as a result of more than a decade of civil war and unrest. Read More

Liberia National Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross Close EVD Recovery Project in Bomi; Hands over Health and School Facilities, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Liberia National Red Cross(LNRC) says, it is committed in supporting humanitarian activities in Bomi County amidst the clamp down of Ebola crisis in the country. LNRC Secretary General Saybah Tamba said though the Ebola has gone but its impact remains challenging for some citizens across the country. She told a cross section of citizens, including health workers, teachers and county authority Thursday that Bomi was amongst counties affected by the virus, a situation that has created strange health conditions for citizens in the area, this paper reports.

Mrs. Tamba wants the people of Bomi County appreciate the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) and the government of Canada for coming to the aid of their citizens at a time when most partners went away due to management of operational fund at the entity. The project, she maintained was overseen by the Canadian Red Cross and supported 32 communities in Bomi County, which was being turned over on Thursday, 7 December 2017.

She expressed hope that citizens and the county authority would continue to maintain the facilities in ensuring that health, sanitation and education are at their best in Bomi County saying, “the latrines, the schools and water pumps, we hope that the government will support community members to maintain these facilties because we are good at having facilities but very poor at maintaining them.

During the dedicatory ceremony, Canadian Red Cross Project Delegate, Pierre Lacerte who has been working with the EVD Recovery project in Bomi for the last two years said the program was his entity’s own way of helping Liberians affected by Ebola. “We saw the need we saw a lot of people affected by Ebola and we wanted to continue to assist them. I’m very appeased to see the result of the project,” Lacerte said.

According to him, the objective of the project was meant for communities in Bomi County to be better prepared if there is another outbreak in Liberia and that assessment result on the project shows that more than 87% of the population in Dewoin would be better prepared. He further lauded those who have been working with him in ensuring that the project was successful.

In April 2016, the CRC came in to respond to EVD Crisis in Bomi thus initiating several projects at health centers, schools and in major communities. During the project, electricity was provided for 12 rural health facilities, 12 hand pumps were rehabilitated, four latrine facilities were constructed at both schools and health centers in Dewoin, Bomi County while at the same time, training and provision of hygiene promotion materials were provided citizens.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

ECOWAS Investigations: NEC’s Voter Roll Credible, No Voter Was Disenfranchised, Source: News Public Trust

Findings from a two-week investigations by an ECOWAS Technical team of elections experts show that Liberia’s National Elections Commission, NEC’s “existing voter roll, though it is not perfect, can be used for a credible election.” The report just released by the sub-regional body says the investigation was conducted from 26 November to 6 December  2017 and the experts had a task to “make a critical assessment” of the voter register used in the 10 October 2017 presidential and legislative elections.

The results of the polls were rejected by the opposition Liberty Party (LP) of Charles Brumskine and the ruling United Party (UP) of Vice President Joseph Boakai, who pursued court action. LP, UP and their collaborating parties—Benoni Urey’s ALP and Alexander Cummings’s ANC claim that the elections were marred by massive fraud and gross irregularities citing disenfranchisement of voters and lack of credible voter roll.

But in their findings, the ECOWAS investigations team led by the renowned former head of Ghana’s Independent Elections Commission, Dr. Kwadwa Afari-Gyan who signed the report said: “From the interrogation of the registration database, there is no indication that any voter was disenfranchised by not having his/her name on the voter roll.” It said all the data of persons scanned into the system though the OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) forms are clearly evident in NEC’s database. According to the experts’ findings, since Liberia’s electoral body published the registered voters last September, “there has been no addition on the roll, the data stamp on all records of the database were verified.”

The report however noted that there were lapses by late procurement of equipment and with sub-contracting of printing of some OMR forms, which the findings noted was the foundation of most of the issues which sparked confusion. It said OMR forms were also “poorly designed”. But the report said, “it was confirmed to the team that information on damaged OMR forms were processed through the use of attachment forms at the data center.” In addition, it said, “the lack of sequential distribution of forms caused the reported chaos” with queue control at various precincts.

One of the flaws pointed out in the 10 October elections by the ECOWAS assessment team was poor civic and voter education and low stakeholders engagement, which they said contributed to the tension and confusion.

The report then made a number of recommendations for future elections in Liberia such as early procurement of equipment and other election related materials and the halting of the SMS voter verification system. In future, the investigations team recommended that NEC “should ensure that before voter roll is exhibited, data process must have been completed and register duplicated so that those on the display roll would be sure they are valid voters.”

It is also recommended that NEC should improve voter and civic education and stakeholder engagement to help reduce tensions amongst voters in the country. “From all indications, voter enlightenment, publicity and stakeholder engagement appear to be low, as many Liberians are not aware of the workings of NEC,” the ECOWAS election experts recommended.

They also recommended in their report the introduction of a biometric register, which the experts say is “a lasting solution to the frequent voter enrollment exercises,” among other things. Amidst the claims of the existence of a fraudulent Final Registration Roll (FRR), NEC

Heed Court’s Ruling: PUL Urges Parties and The Supporters – Union hails Supreme Court’s ruling, Source: New Public Trust

The Press Union of Liberia hails the ruling of the Supreme Court as a pragmatic solution to a long lasting challenge of the outcome of the 10 October 2017 Polls. The Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, ordered a runoff and a thorough cleanup of the voter roll which has been a source of fraud and irregularities accusations. The PUL insists that all political parties and supporters must conduct their activities in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict, a press release from the umbrella group for Journalist said on Thursday.

International and bilateral organizations and friendly states to Liberia should earnestly support Liberia’s fast growing democracy while realistically supporting the independence of the judiciary, the Union indicates.

According to the PUL  signed by its Secretary General Daniel Nyankonah, diversity of opinions of justices was satisfying in Thursday’s ruling of the Supreme Court. The Union is terming it as a revolutionary precedence aimed at invigorating confidence in the judiciary. “This signals the dawn of a new era for Liberians and the firm discovery of an alternative to violence during national disputes”, PUL President Charles B. Coffey, Jr., stressed.

Meanwhile, the Press Union of Liberia is urging the Sirleaf Administration to make interventions in the economy so as to relieve it of the stress pronounced by the President in her recent address to the nation. The Union indicates that Governments’ profits are the maximization of the welfare of its people and not the offering of commentaries on existing problems confronting the state in the absence of prescribing an antidote. The cost of living throughout the country is worsening by the day as prices of basic commodities continue to increase against the already low purchasing power of the ordinary Liberian.

Liberia Foreign Minister Calls for Free, Open and Safe Cyberspace, Source: News Public Trust

Liberia has joined other nations in calling for a free, open and safe cyberspace that will allow digital trade and other activities, which enhances sustainable economic development and growth, a Foreign Ministry release said on Friday. Foreign Minister Marjoin Kamara made the call when she address the 4th Internet Conference in China.

“The development of cyberspace continues to have phenomenal impact on virtually every aspect of our human life. In fact, cyberspace now is a major contributor to the GDP of many countries around the world. Internet remains one of the major catalysts for economic growth and development and provides greater opportunity for delivering education, healthcare and environmental service,” Foreign Minister Kamara said.

A Foreign Ministry press release said she stressed that cyberspace makes governments more effective and responsive to citizens needs and enables free exchanges of data and information. “Areas like big data analytics, artificial intelligence, robotics, and cloud computing are bringing significant changes in the global economy. As such, the need for openness, safety and digital literacy cannot be overemphasized,” the Liberian Foreign Minister indicated.

The 4th World Internet Conference (Wuzhen Summit), co-hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China and the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, was held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, China from 3-5 December  2017. Under the theme: “Developing Digital Economy for Openness and Shared Benefits – Building a Community of Common Future in Cyberspace,” this year’s conference further facilitated discussion and dialogue on digital economy, cutting-edge technologies, internet and society, cyberspace governance, and exchanges and cooperation. The Conference provided the platform for building a community of common future in cyberspace, promoting worldwide respect for diversity, focusing on mutual development, forging consensus and boosting innovation. 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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