01 November 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Rerun or Runoff? Supreme Court Decides LP’s Complaint Today, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The NEWS

The media says it is now confirmed that all the five justices of the Supreme Court are in the country and are set to decide today the fate of Liberty Party’s (LP) claim of gross irregularities during the October 10 elections. The case, which was to have been decided Tuesday, October 31, had to be rescheduled because four of the justices were reportedly out of the country but returned late Tuesday to the courtroom.

On Tuesday, Justice-in-Chamber Kabineh Ja’neh, who is the chamber justice, heard argument on the matter and assured authorities of the National Elections Commission (NEC) and LP that he was going to inform the parties of the outcome of his decision, which he could not reach because four members of the justices were reportedly not in the country.

Now that they are all present, judicial sources told the Daily Observer that the case will be heard at about 9 a.m. today and the full bench will decide whether the November 7 scheduled runoff will go on or whether the LP’s plea for a rerun of the October 10 elections.

It may be recalled that LP on Friday, October 27, asked the Supreme Court to place a stay order on all electoral activities including the runoff presidential, pending the outcome of its complaint that is before the NEC for determination. Read more

Liberia Votes: Supreme Court Issues Writ of Prohibition on November 7 Runoff Election, Source: FrontPage Africa

FrontPage Africa reports that the Supreme Court has ordered the National Elections Commission (NEC) to stay any and all actions in the pending runoff election scheduled for November 7 in line with the Writ of Prohibition prayed for by the Liberty Party (LP). The LP requested the Writ of Prohibition and a rerun of the October 10 presidential and legislative elections, citing mass irregularities and fraud.

The ruling Unity Party (UP), the All Liberian Party (ALP), and the Alternative National Congress (ANC) have all joined the LP’s pursuit for a rerun of the October 10 polls.

Senator George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling party are poised to contest the runoff election next Tuesday.

The Chief Justice and his associates were tight-lipped Tuesday evening after their deliberation but communications director Ambrose Nmah told reporters that the high court bench had not come out with any decision yet. “No decision has been reached yet; as you are aware some of the justices were not in the country, they only arrived today and came here straight from the airport to receive a briefing on the case,” Mr. Nmah said.

However, a high placed source confided in FrontPage Africa that the high court late Tuesday evening issued the writ of prohibition prayed for by the LP which effectively puts a halt to the runoff election scheduled for next Tuesday until the party’s case and any appeal are exhausted. Read more

Cummings, ANC Backs Liberty Party Complaint against Elections Commission, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Alternative National Congress (ANC) has finally joined the Liberty Party (LP), All Liberian Party (ALP), and the ruling Unity Party (UP) in backing a complaint against the National Elections Commission (NEC) alleging massive election irregularities during the first round of the presidential and legislative elections in October. In a statement Tuesday, ANC chairman Lafayette Gould urged its partisans to remain calm as the legal options are being explored.

Mr. Gould said following the results of the October polls, ANC standard bearer Alexander Cummings, informed the public of the ANC intention to explore challenging the integrity and subsequent validity of the recent election outcomes. “To this end, we engaged expert assistance and conducted a detailed review of our findings,” Gould said.

Although the final findings do reveal gross and widespread improprieties, the ANC chairman said, they came after the deadline for filing complaints with the NEC. Read more

“Sierra Leone ‘Will Never Interfere’ in Sister Country Liberia Politics”, Source: FrontPage Africa

A statement attributed to Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma suggesting that “Liberia is a Disgrace to the Mano River Union”, is being strongly debunked by the President’s office. Responding to a FrontPage Africa inquiry Tuesday, presidential spokesman Abdulai Bayraytay described the post making the round on Facebook as being “not only spurious but a rather futile attempt by whosoever to throw spanners in the already ongoing excellent bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and Liberia as well as the solid existing cooperation at various multilateral levels including the MRU, ECOWAS the UN et al.”

 “President Koroma and the government of Sierra Leone will never interfere in the politics of a sister country since it is the sovereign right of Liberians, just as Sierra Leoneans would do on March 2018, to determine who should govern them. To this end, let me seize the opportunity to wish you a peaceful electioneering process,” Mr. Bayraytay added.

The statement attributed to President Koroma was allegedly made after the president is said to have addressed the nation last Friday, and was made after Friday prayers. But a spokesperson for the Sierra Leonean government told FrontPage Africa that the post is“fake news”. Read more

Simeon Freeman Foresees ‘Constitutional Crisis’, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, FrontPage Africa, and The NEWS

The standard bearer of the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC) Tuesday urged the Liberty Party (LP) to abandon its legal quest for a rerun of the October 10 elections in the interest of the state and its people. A rerun would place additional financial burdens on the government that is already financially overwhelmed, said Mr. Simeon Freeman.

At the MPC headquarters in Monrovia Tuesday, Mr. Freeman told his supporters that the government is broke and therefore cannot underwrite the cost of a new round of elections. He instead wants LP officials to consider the greater good and understand that Liberia is bigger than anyone’s personal ego. Read more

“No Sufficient Evidence For Rerun” – CDC Chairman Nat McGill, Source: FrontPage Africa

The main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has told political parties that have taken the National Elections Commission (NEC) to court to stop crying foul. CDC chairman Nathaniel McGill told those complaining that they don't have sufficient pieces of evidence to justify their plead for a rerun of the 10 October Presidential and Legislative Elections.

Mr. McGill said despite some irregularities on the part of election workers, they do not amount to fraud that could call for a rerun of the process. “We recognize the fact that there were challenges, there were some irregularities, the people intentionally cheated some people but there is no reason why there should be a rerun. We don’t think the pieces of evidence amount to a rerun of the election,” he emphasized.

But the CDC chairman who spoke Tuesday when he appeared on a local radio talk show wants these claims to be established to prove the involvement of elections commissioners in the irregularities. Read more

‘Shocked’: Benoni Urey Running Mate Duopu Abandons ALP For CDC, Source: FrontPage Africa

The vice standard bearer of the All Liberian People’s Party (ALP) has broken ranks with the ALP to support the candidacy of Senator George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). Mr.  Alexander Duopu declared his support for Senator Weah three days after the ALP joined the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the Liberty Party (LP) to challenge the results of the October 10 elections.

Mr. Duopu said he is shocked that the ALP standard bearer, Benoni Urey would support  the ruling party after he described Vice President Joseph Boakai, the standard bearer of Unity Party, as an “old folk who can barely be awakened.’’

“I am not going to follow the decision of my standard bearer because he preached against the Unity Party during the campaign,” Duopu said. He continued: “This was the same Unity Party he urged Liberians to vote against.” Read more

UPP Pledges Support To CDC, Sources: FAAPA and LINA

The United People’s Party (UPP) has officially pledged support to the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in the impending November 7 runoff against the ruling Unity Party (UP). According to the UPP standard bearer, MacDonald Wento, the decision is based on the Ganta Declaration of opposition political parties to stop a third term bid of the ruling party in the 2017 elections.

Wento made the statement Tuesday during a press conference at the party’s headquarters in the Monrovia suburb of Sinkor. He stated that all political parties should accept the results of the October 10 elections, adding that presidential candidates who are rejecting the results should reconsider their decision in the name of peace and national security. Read more

Defeated Candidates Back CDC …In Bong, Source: The NEWS

Eighteen defeated representative candidates in Bong County have endorsed the presidential bid of Senator George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). The endorsement which was done in the absence of Senator Weah was attended by Augustus Flomo, a senior member of the Coalition and a former defeated senatorial candidate of Bong.

Reading the resolution of support to the CDC, Mr. James Dorbor Sao said they have resolved to support the CDC based on consultations with their respective campaign teams, cross-section of their supporters, and stakeholders. He said their decision to support the Coalition is being satisfied by the current position of Senator Jewel Howard Taylor in the presidential runoff as vice presidential candidate on the CDC ticket. Read more

House Lacked Quorum for First Session After Elections, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The House of Representatives was Tuesday a sullen, cheerless scene as lawmakers met for their first executive session since the October 10 presidential and legislative elections. According to the House Chief Clerk, Mildred Sayon, there were only 26 persons in session, falling short of the attendance required to constitute a quorum. Out of the 20 lawmakers who were present, 14 lost their seats in the October 10 elections. The losing lawmakers will end their terms on the second working Monday in January 2018, according to the Liberian Constitution.

The lack of a quorum compelled the House to convene an executive session, which witnessed the appearance of finance minister Boima Kamara and deputy finance minister Tanneh Brunson. Read more

Inter-Religious Council Urges Politicians for Peace, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The president of the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia (IRCL), Episcopal Bishop Jonathan Hart has warned representatives of political parties to desist from statements that have the undertone of inciting violence. Bishop Hart said the current trends of rhetoric emanating from some parties’ representatives are shocking with the propensity to undermine the country’s peace.

He called on politicians to refrain from hate speeches and personal attacks and make their runoff campaign issues-based to avoid instilling fear among voters during and after the November 7 election. The IRCL president made the statement on Sunday during a special press conference held in Monrovia. Read more

NEC Trashes UP’s Election Irregularities Claim – Says UP’s efforts are only distraction tactics, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The chief hearing officer at the National Elections Commission (NEC) Tuesday denied and dismissed the Unity Party’s (UP) case requesting solidarity intervention in support of the Liberty Party (LP) complaint about the alleged October 10 election irregularities. Presenting his ruling on the matter, Cllr. Muana Ville said, “Having heard all arguments from both legal teams and witnesses of UP and NEC on the UP’s request to intervene in the LP’s October 10 polls alleged irregularities, this hearing office hereby denies and dismisses the UP’s request.”

Cllr. Ville cited Article 83 (c) of the constitution which says, after the conduct of elections the NEC has 15 days to announce results; and therefore, immediately after the announcement of the results any aggrieved party is guaranteed the right as provided for in Section 5.61 to file a complaint to the NEC before moving on to the Court.

Section 5.61 says “In civil proceedings law it is incumbent upon any aggrieved party or individual to file a complaint if desired in a period of seven days as of the date of the announcement of results.”

Referencing the Kuku Dorbor case on January 6, 2012, on an alleged electoral fraud discovered in Montserrado County Electoral District #3, the NEC chief hearing officer said it is not applicable to the case involving the UP, NEC as well as the LP. Read more

U.S. Embassy, UNMIL recommit to FLY, Source: The New Dawn

The United States Embassy in Monrovia and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) have reaffirmed their commitment to working with every young people across the country through the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) in promoting youth programs. Making this commitment Monday at the Monrovia City Hall in Sinkor at the official launch of the National Youth Manifesto the public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy, Paul Hinshaw says the United States government through its agencies here has been working with the Liberian government and young people in the country.

Reiterating the commitment Mr. Hinshaw says the U.S. Embassy remains committed to working with members of FLY and other youth groups in making sure their objectives in the manifesto are met.

On his part, UNMIL’s chief of peace and consolidation service Francis Kai-kai outlines numerous supports provided the Liberian government and young people over the years. He notes that the involvement of UNMIL and the international community is a clear indication that they remain committed to working with the Liberian people, especially youth groups through FLY to make sure the National Youth Manifesto is implemented. Read more

Liberia Lurks Behind in Implementing International Instruments, Source: FrontPage Africa

The deputy country representative of UN Women has said that in spite of Liberia’s adoption of various international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Violence against Women and Girls, the UNSC Resolution 1325 and other regional and global commitments, implementation remains scanty in the country.

Ms. Tikkel Alemu said studies show that on average, violence against women costs up to three percent of the national annual GDP in African countries, adding: “One can thus safely say that SGBV is costing our economy and development in Liberia.” She further said violence against women and girls is still deeply entrenched in the Liberia’s social and cultural practices. Read more

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The New Dawn

National Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow Thursday and in keeping with tradition, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by proclamation declared the day to be observed throughout the country as a national holiday.

President Sirleaf has called on compatriots, foreign residents, religious leaders of all faiths to gather their congregations in their various places of worship to give thanks and praises to the Almighty God and pray that His blessings and mercies may continuously protect Liberians as a people and as a nation, according to a Foreign Affairs Ministry press release.

“It is befitting that Thanksgiving this year be declared for the nation and its people to give thanks and adoration to the Lord for His dispensation of grace, mercy, and providence and for the preservation of our lives,” the president’s proclamation stated. Read more

Liberia Warned Against Cyber Attacks, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LIBTELCO) has warned public and private institutions about cyber-attacks and urged them to protect their networks. The head of cybersecurity at LIBTELCO, Al-Hassan Sheriff, speaking at the opening of a three-day national cybersecurity training Tuesday said the use of cybersecurity to minimize technological threat cannot be overemphasized in Liberia. He said Liberia is open to possible cyber-attack by hackers but did not say if there is an imminent threat. The three-day training is intended to sharpen the minds of participants, especially about the importance of cyber security in protecting technological materials. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Yale to assist in rebuilding Liberia’s health care system, Source: Yale Daily News

A Yale School of Medicine team was awarded $3.7 million in grant funding by the World Bank and the Health Resources and Services Administration to strengthen medical education and health care infrastructure in Liberia.

The researchers, who will be led by Asghar Rastegar, medical school professor and director of the school’s Office of Global Health, will work to improve preclinical medical education and residency programs and support the development of a certificate program in health management for Liberia. The group hopes that its work will help the nation to recover and rebuild from the Ebola epidemic that ravaged the country three years ago.

“We will undertake efforts to improve the infrastructure, training, and retention of people trained within the health system in Liberia,” said Onyema Ogbuagu, a medical school professor involved in Yale’s efforts. “We hope, through our robust approaches, to help Liberia create a resilient and responsive health care system that prepares the country for the next disease strike.” 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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