• President Weah Singles Out BBC Stringer …Brands Jonathan Paye-Layleh as ‘one of those that were against me’, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and News Public Trust
• President Weah Shows Uncertainties Over Implementing TRC Recommendations, Source: FrontPage Africa
• ‘Liberia Has Great Potentials’ -Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed says as UNMIL draws curtain on a ‘Successful Mission’, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• PUL: Tolerance of Media Volatile Under George Weah Government, Sources: FrontPage Africa and News Public Trust
• Veil Threat From President Weah Against Journalist Jonathan Paye-Layleh  –Seeks explanation from the Presidency, Source: News Public Trust
• Former Police Director Takes Over Bureau of Concessions, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• UNMIL, BFF Certificate 45 Youths as Catalyst for Promoting Human Rights, Democracy, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• IREDD Suggests Financial Autonomy For Liberia’s Elections Commission, Source: FrontPage Africa
• LP Urges President Trump Administration to Avert Mass Deportation of Liberians, Source: FrontPage Africa
• Liberians Appeal for 18 months DED Extension for Liberians in America, Source: Daily OBSERVER

President Weah Singles Out BBC Stringer …Brands Jonathan Paye-Layleh as ‘one of those that were against me’, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and News Public Trust

President George Weah, at a joint press conference on Thursday with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, evoked fears and memories of the 1985 brutal killing of journalist Charles Gbenyon when he openly described local journalist and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) stringer Jonathan Paye-Layleh as one person that has been against him even in his (Weah’s) advocacy over the years.

Many see this as a veiled threat against not only Mr. Paye-Layleh, but against the media and free speech as well. Journalist Paye-Layleh is now reported to be living in fear for his life. He has, meanwhile, appealed to his colleagues in the media to seek clarification from the president on the true import of his statement accusing him (Paye-Layleh) as being against him.

“I have asked the Press Union of Liberia and the entire media community to seek an explanation from Mr. President, because I have never had any confrontation with him even before he became president; we all have instead given promotion to all that he has done, as footballer, former footballer and as a politician; he was never in any human rights work as far as I know and even if he was in any human rights struggle, I could never have been against him for working for human rights in Liberia,” Paye-Layleh said.

Going back into history, it can be recalled that following the failed Thomas Quiwonkpa coup attempt in 1985, Journalist Charles Gbenyon was arrested by state security forces and taken to the Executive Mansion. According to sources, he was taken to the Executive Mansion to meet President Samuel Doe, who was reportedly angry about the journalist’s coverage of the events of that fateful day of 12 November 1985. Read more

President Weah Shows Uncertainties Over Implementing TRC Recommendations, Source: FrontPage Africa

FrontPage Africa reports that President George Weah does not seem very clear about implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) recommendations, which should serve as a conduit of prosecuting individuals bearing the most burdens of atrocities committed during Liberia’s war days. Liberia endured two back-to-back civil wars between 1989 to 1997 and 1999 to 2003, and sources estimate up to 250,000 were killed, and more than half the country was forcibly displaced during those periods. 

Calls by victims, human rights groups, and now a senior diplomat of the UN have intensified for President Weah to tackle the ghost of the past by truly reconciling his compatriots through the implementation of the TRC report.

In June 2009, the TRC found all sides responsible for serious violations of domestic and international law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, widespread and systematic rape and sexual slavery, torture, use and recruitment of child soldiers, and mass executions of civilians. The report also recommends the establishment of an Extraordinary Criminal Tribunal to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of serious violations of international criminal and humanitarian law; the only prosecutions to date have been outside of Liberia. Read more

‘Liberia Has Great Potentials’ -Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed says as UNMIL draws curtain on a ‘Successful Mission’, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that despite the precarious economic condition that the country currently faces as a result of a poor economy, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed Thursday said that Liberia is brimming with potentials that would help put away its ugly past and make it emerge as a success story in the sub-region. Madam Mohammed at a press stakeout with President George Weah at the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia said although UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is leaving behind a country that has a great potential to achieve lasting stability, the country has deepened its democracy and improved the livelihood of its people.

Madam Mohammed said that the security and stability that UNMIL has provided have not only brought back peace and tranquility, but has enabled thousands of refugees and displaced persons to return to places they call home. “We are glad that over the past couple of years the state has been rebuilt and hundreds of thousands of ex-combatants reintegrated within their communities. We know that justice and security institutions have been restored,” the UN Deputy Secretary-General said. Read more

PUL: Tolerance of Media Volatile Under George Weah Government, Sources: FrontPage Africa and News Public Trust

President George Weah’s outburst against BBC Liberia correspondent Jonathan Paye-Layleh, accusing him of undercutting his (President Weah’s) struggle for human rights in Liberia undermines his promise to protect freedom of the press and expression. On Thursday during a press stakeout with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, President Weah accused journalist Paye-Layleh of being against him and his work for human rights in Liberia. The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) sees President Weah’s comments as one that endangers the life of journalist Paye-Layleh considering Weah’s popularity. Read more

Veil Threat From President Weah Against Journalist Jonathan Paye-Layleh  –Seeks explanation from the Presidency, Source: News Public Trust

Respected Liberian Journalist Jonathan Paye-Layleh has been compelled to constantly look over his shoulders and be unusually extra keen on his personal security in the last 48 hours since President George Weah publically accused him of being against him. “The president accused me in a live broadcast that when he was working for human rights in Liberia before becoming president,  I was one person against him,” says Paye-Layleh who has for decades been reporting for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Associated Press (AP).

On Thursday at a joint news conference with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, President Weah in response to a question posed by journalist Paye-Layleh about Human Rights Watch’s call on him to address justice for war crimes during Liberia’s civil war, said in a serious tone: “When I was working for human rights in Liberia, you were one person that has been against me.”

Although President Weah did not elaborate, Paye-Layleh told local radio stations at the weekend that it was the fourth time the Liberian leader has attacked him for allegedly being against him. This, the one-time Daily Observer reporter says has claimed his serious concern, prompting him to request details from the presidency outlining the acts and instances where he has demonstrated dislike or hatred for President Weah over the years.

“All that I am asking the media community to do is to seek some explanation from the office of the president; such a statement from a populist and popular president has far-reaching impacts; you can never tell what this would mean to Mr. President’s tens of thousands of supporters some of whom are too young to be able to analyse issues.  I have asked the Press Union of Liberia and the entire media community to seek an explanation from Mr. President,” Journalist Paye-Layleh says in a press release issued Saturday. Read more

Former Police Director Takes Over Bureau of Concessions, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The former Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Gregory Coleman has formally taken over the National Bureau of Concession (NBC) as the new director-general. In takeover remarks, Mr. Coleman set his first priority as cleaning-up the system to ensure that concession companies are in compliance with government’s policy. He said his administration will first want to understand why concession companies are not in compliance with government’s policies before he institutes an action, emphasizing that the reason for concession is to create jobs for the citizens. “Though I came from a security background, I can assure the President and the public that I will work hard to ensure that the pro-poor agenda of the government is accomplished,” he said. Read more

UNMIL, BFF Certificate 45 Youths as Catalyst for Promoting Human Rights, Democracy, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Chief of Human Rights and Protection Section, and Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Liberia has called on Liberian youths to at all times strive for increased knowledge to serve as agents and catalysts to promote human rights, democracy and adherence to the rule of law for the greater good of society, a release has said. According to the release, Mr. Marcel Akpovo also encouraged young people in Liberia to have confidence in themselves, and subscribe to hard work, dedication, sincerity, among other virtues that would enable them to reach their full potentials.

Akpovo, who served as a keynote speaker at a closing program of a two-day youth camp organized by Youth Beyond Barriers (YBB), a subsidiary youth leadership and development program of Better Future Foundation (BFF) in Paynesville, also cautioned young Liberians not to look down upon themselves. He said young Liberians need to have three basic things including faith, belief and hard work to shape their own destiny for the better in the society. Read more

IREDD Suggests Financial Autonomy For Liberia’s Elections Commission, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD) is recommending that the National Elections Commission (NEC) be provided financial autonomy in order to “stem the tide of political influence”. IREDD says this would ensure adequate long-term civic education and decentralization of recruitment across the country. The organization is also calling on the government to prioritize the establishment of an independent elections complaint body separate from the administrative aspect of the NEC. IREDD’s recommendation comes in the wake of disagreement between the electoral commission and the Finance Ministry over a proposed budget for the conduct of two pending senatorial by-elections in Bong and Montserrado Counties. Read more

LP Urges President Trump Administration to Avert Mass Deportation of Liberians, Source: FrontPage Africa

Liberia’s opposition Liberty Party (LP) has added its voice to the many calling for US President Donald Trump to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Liberians living in the US while calling on Washington to “create a pathway” that will keep affected families together. “We join the distinguished Senators from Minnesota and Rhode Island (Senators Amy Klobuchar, Jack Reed, and Senator Sheldon White House, respectively), and other US Senators and Congress Persons, advocates and Liberians, the world over, in asking President Trump to spare our citizens deportation,” the LP said in a statement issued Sunday. In the statement, the Liberian opposition political party recalled the long-standing ties between Liberia and the US, which dates back to the foundation of the West African nation and the strides Liberia has made to support the United States interest.  Read more

Liberians Appeal for 18 months DED Extension for Liberians in America, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The National Council of Churches of the United States of America (NCCUSA) has written the US government to extend the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberian immigrants residing in the US by at least additional 18 months. NCCUSA’s appeal came in the wake of a letter from the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) three months ago urging the NCCUSA to join efforts to persuade US authorities to reconsider the stance on Liberians whose residence in the US has expired. The religious group at a press conference held in Monrovia said since the 1950s, the NCCUSA has served as a leading voice of witness to the living Christ; as such it is important to get them involved. Read more