The Amputee Football Federation of Liberia (AFFEL) has cast what it calls ‘vote of no confidence’ on its interim administration headed by Soweni Garpu. The federation comprised of six amputee football teams is demanding an urgent election on ground that Madam Garpu’s conducts are incompatible to the objectives of the federation.
As the www.newvisionliberia.com reports, the amputees, through their spokesman Eric Myers, said since Madam Garpu was appointed as interim head by Rev. Robert Karlor, she has continued to generate money from international donors in the name of amputees and has don nothing to improve the livelihood of members of the federation.
According to Mr. Myers, Garpu is not an amputee, but she is benefiting immensely from funds intended for amputees without consideration of the plight of the member-amputees of the federation.
He said they need a leadership that will address the plight of amputees and identify with them at all times. The Federation’s spokesman also described this behavior by Madam Garpu as “unfair”. He called on well-wishers and people of goodwill to rally around them in ensuring that their living conditions are improved.
He further stated that Madam Garpu was only appointed as interim head to spearhead free and fair elections; “But it appears that she intends to hold onto power with the backing of Rev. Karlor.”
The Spokesman furthered that these conducts of the affairs of the federation have forced amputees in the country with no alternative but to go into the streets to beg for their daily bread. He also noted, “T his is unacceptable. It must be stopped immediately.” He maintained that the holding of free elections of leaders that will adequately address their plight will help to discourage amputees being beggars.
Meanwhile, Myers extends appreciations to the president of the Mighty Conqueror amputee team, Ogunti for her continuous assistance the unfortunate Liberians of the federation. He calls on well-wishers to emulate same.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Liberian Artist Denies Attrocities
‘I’ll Face TRC, Clear My Name’
...Dearboy Fires Back, Denies Murder Rape Claims
The start of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to hear testimonies of victims has implicated a popular Liberian artist, Sundaygar M. Davis alias "Sundaygar Dearby", into the commission of attrocities during the more than 14-years of fratricidal conflict, but but the Liberian musical artist seems not to be happy with the allegation brought against him at the TRC forum on January 8, 2008 at the Centinnial Pavilion, denouncinthem with a pledge to face the Commission so that he would clear his name.
As the www.frontpageafrica.com/ reports today, Dearboy felt the need to decisively respond to the allegations widely carried in a bid to convince his many fans of his music - a big hit at parties and a top player on radio stations across Liberia and among the Diaspora Liberians’ party scene. So when a damning allegation surfaced Tuesday
“I am equally as shocked as many of you may be to learn of the allegations published in Front Page Africa and other publications, in attempts to tarnish my reputation. For your information, I, Sundaygar Michael Davies (Dearboy), am innocent of all of the alleged allocations, Dearboy told FrontPageAfrica late Tuesday night. ‘I Preach non-violence’" he reacted. The singer added: “Rest assure that these allegations are fraudulent. I am a Christian and I have never had any intentions to hurt anybody for any reason. Secondly, I would be the last person to hurt my own indigenous people. Anyone who has heard my music would attest to the fact that I preach non-violence.”
“I am equally as shocked as many of you may be to learn of the allegations published in Front Page Africa and other publications, in attempts to tarnish my reputation. For your information, I, Sundaygar Michael Davies (Dearboy), am innocent of all of the alleged allocations, Dearboy told FrontPageAfrica late Tuesday night. ‘I Preach non-violence’" he reacted. The singer added: “Rest assure that these allegations are fraudulent. I am a Christian and I have never had any intentions to hurt anybody for any reason. Secondly, I would be the last person to hurt my own indigenous people. Anyone who has heard my music would attest to the fact that I preach non-violence.”
Asked whether he knew any of those making charges against him, Dearboy would only say: “I am returning to Liberia as soon as possible to prove my innocence in the court of law. I want to extend my thanks and appreciation for your prayers and continued support. I don’t know who those people are and I haven’t met them before. but I was so shock when I heard the news,” Dearboy told FrontPageAfrica late Tuesday night.”
One of those in question was witness David Saiware, who says he was ten-years old when an alleged incident involving Dearboy took place in late December 1994, following the recapture of the area from forces of the defunct Liberia Peace Council (LPC).
The hearings being conducted under the theme, ‘Confronting Our Difficult Past for A Better Future,’ will run through January to July 31st this year. During the opening ceremony, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf urged all officials and Liberians to give the process their fullest support. The President called upon Liberians from all walks, including herself, to respond to the TRC when called upon to do so, thereby avoiding the need for the TRC to use its subpoena powers. “Be honest and truthful in telling your experiences,” the President urged witnesses.
On Tuesday, Saiware accused Dearboy” of committing untold atrocities leading to the death of his sister in his home town, Gardour, Grand Bassa County. Saiware said Dearboy was one of the commanders of the now defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NDPL) rebel groups that ordered 25 men to gang rape his 16-year old sister Rita who later died. I spent a lot of time to build this reputation of mine and I have contributed beautifully to the success of Liberia in bringing peace in our culture - through my music. So I don’t see why I would be able to do such a thing.
He said because of the incident, he had to abandon school. He later moved to another relative. Saiware alleged that Sundaygar Dearboy was an NPFL Commander who hated odd numbers. “When ever he counts a group and there is an odd number, he will kill one person to make the number even. For example, if he counts a group and the last person is an odd number, that person will die whether a woman or man,” little David told the public hearing. He admitted that he feared coming to testify because of the popularity of the singer Sundaygar Dearboy because as a little boy, Sundaygar Dearboy could do anything to him.
“I can say the man is a singer now and is popular. I didn’t want to give this statement but the death of my sister was hurting me; that’s why I made the statement,” David said; adding, “When the people came last night I refused to come today because the man who I will be testifying against is in Monrovia and it’s where you all are carrying me. He’s well known. However, the people promised me protection; that’s why I’m here.” Saiware said he has refused to play the popular singer’s cassette. “I don’t want to hear it at all to my righteous God because as a Bassa, he should not have killed his tribesmen, rather protected them.”
He said at the time he was quite young; but when questioned by one of the Commissioners as to whether if he saw a photograph of the Liberia singer he would recognize it, he would recognize it, he replied in the affirmative. At that junction, when one of the Commissioners exhibited a musical CD of Sundaygar Dearboy to him and asked, “Look at this; is that the same person you are talking about?” He immediately recognized the photograph as that of the former NPFL Commander.
“This is the man I’m taking about to my righteous God. That’s him here; but I don’t even want to hold the CD in my hand,” he said. Saiware’s allegations were supported by two other witnesses - Emmanuel Jimmy and Paul Flomo, who accused Dearboy of wanton destruction and rape during the period of the war. Jimmy accused the musician of even raping his daughter Beamondyu, who at the time was 13 years old, and now resides in Harbel, Firestone; while Paul Flomo accused Sundaygar Dearboy of being the man behind the burning down of some 14 huts in Gardour Town, Grand Bassa County.
Flomo accused Sundaygar Dearboy as being responsible for the beating of his father, Alfred in 1994. His father later died on 8th February 1998. When questioned whether the beating was responsible for his father’s death, Paul could not really say, but did blame the death of his father on Dearboy. On Tuesday, Dearboy declared that the allegations were totally untrue. “I spent a lot of time to build this reputation of mine and I have contributed beautifully to the success of Liberia in bringing peace in our culture. So I don’t see why I would be able to do such a thing.”
Dearboy is hoping that his fans, family and friends give him the benefit of the doubt and his chance to tell his side before the TRC. “To my fans, well-wishers, to my supporters to my family, to my wife, my children I want them to understand that I am a Christian and I never had any intention of hurting anybody. I would be the last person in fact to hurt my own indigenous people, whose culture I am trying to promote.
I don’t know where this is coming from but I want all to have credibility and respect and still trust me and I will return to Liberia to make sure that I get to the due process of law and face whoever or the institution that is responsible for initiating this process and I will be coming to Liberia and I am not going to disappoint them. I am a law abiding citizen and will definitely defend myself against whatsoever have been said about me and clear my name.”
The Dearboy revelation took many by complete surprise Tuesday and many are still finding it difficult to comprehend, much less believe. On the popular OnLiberian Medium and the Concerned Liberians chatrooms, the issue is drawing heated debate and discussions. "I had never thought reading or following the TRC process but man this story is terrifying. So it means that doing this process, some of the people we have come admire and love are the very same people raped and killed people? My God, have Mercy and give us Grace,” wrote James Kollie, who says he was touched by Saiware's story and “truly hoped that God will give David the courage to forgive Sundaygar as we bring healing to our land and country.”
Anger was boiling for others like Cooper Kweme, who wrote: ”There is no Liberian who has not visited a function and not dance to the music of Sundaygar Dearboy. The testimonies of a boy about the atrocities committed against his family by Sundaygar Dearboy when he was a rebel commander in Taylor's NPFL, give be goose bumps. Our hearts will boil with anger as we hear more of the truth about what happened in Liberia. The Sundaygar Dearboy story will catch a lot of people off guard. My mouth is full and a minor headache is beginning to affect my person.”
While many are already jumping the gun on the celebrated singer, others like Amos Zumo is hoping that Dearboy would be given the benefit of the doubt and a chance to clear his name. “I hope we don't jump to conclusions so fast. Let's hope that there are not jealous people in the background "cooking this up". Having come to know Sundaygar somewhat, I am inclined to believe Sundaygar's denial and sincerity at this point. I hope we can give him his day. Let's not forget that there are bigger fishes out there roaming untouched to date.”
As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) began its public hearings in earnest today, three Liberians alleging to be victims have testified before it. The first of three witnesses to take the stand accused the renowned Liberian singer, Michael David, alias “Sundaygar Dearboy” of committing untold atrocities leading to the death of his sister in his home town, Gardour, Grand Bassa County.
Today’s hearing was held in camera and broadcast live throughout the country. The TRC is conducting the program under the theme: “Confronting Our Difficult Past for a Better Future.”
The first witness, David Saiware, to the astonishment of all in the Pavilion, revealed that singer Sundaygar Dearboy was one of the commanders of the now defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NDPL) rebel groups that ordered 25 men to gang rape his 16-year old sister Rita who later died. Witness Saiware, who was 10 years old at the time, said the incident took place in late December 1994, following the recapture of the area from forces of the defunct Liberia Peace Council (LPC). He said because of the incident, he had to abandon school. He later moved to another relative.
He alleged that Sundaygar Dearboy was an NPFL Commander who hated odd numbers. “When ever he counts a group and there is an odd number, he will kill one person to make the number even. For example, if he counts a group and the last person is an odd number, that person will die whether a woman or man,” little David told the public hearing. He admitted that he feared coming to testify because of the popularity of the singer Sundaygar Dearboy because as a little boy, Sundaygar Dearboy could do anything to him. “I can say the man is a singer now and is popular.
I didn’t want to give this statement but the death of my sister was hurting me; that’s why I made the statement,” David said; adding, “When the people came last night I refused to come today because the man who I will be testifying against is in Monrovia and it’s where you all are carrying me. He’s well known. However, the people promised me protection; that’s why I’m here.”
David said he has refused to play the popular singer’s cassette. “I don’t want to hear it at all to my righteous God because as a Bassa, he should not have killed his tribesmen, rather protected them.”
He said at the time he was quite young; but when questioned by one of the Commissioners as to whether if he saw a photograph of the Liberia singer he would recognize it, he would recognize it, he replied in the affirmative. At that junction, when one of the Commissioners exhibited a musical CD of Sundaygar Dearboy to him and asked, “Look at this; is that the same person you are talking about?” He immediately recognized the photograph as that of the former NPFL Commander. “This is the man I’m taking about to my righteous God. That’s him here; but I don’t even want to hold the CD in my hand,” he said.
Two other witnesses of the town, Emmanuel Jimmy and Paul Flomo accused Sundaygar Dearboy wanton destruction and rape during the period of the war. Emmanuel Jimmy accused the musician of even raping his daughter Beamondyu, who at the time was 13 years old, and now resides in Harbel, Firestone; while Paul Flomo accused Sundaygar Dearboy of being the man behind the burning down of some 14 huts in Gardour Town, Grand Bassa County.
Mr. Flomo accused Sundaygar Dearboy as being responsible for the beating of his father, Alfred in 1994. His father later died on 8th February 1998. When questioned whether the beating was responsible for his father’s death, Paul could not really say, but did blame the death of his father on Sundaygar Dearboy. The second witness, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Walker, a Baptist prelate and head of the Lott Carey Baptist Mission, took the stand and gave a chronological history of the events from 1979 to 2003. He said he was prepared to be around to serve as a resource person if he was needed.
He accused the leader of the defunct rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), Sekou Damate Konneh for burning down educational facilities of the mission that he says has greatly affected the smooth operation of the institution.
Rev. Dr. Walker accused the defunct rebel group of using the campus of Lott Carey Baptist Mission as launching pad in its bid to capture Monrovia. He’s claiming reparation of over US$100,000. For him, it’s his own sense of reconciliation.
The third witness, Michael Biddle said his family lost their father, the late Cllr. Patrick Biddle, for an interview he granted the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in defense of soldiers loyal to the late President Samuel Doe. He refused to disclose the names of those who killed his father and chose to give them to the TRC in confidence.
Despite their testimonies, they have all pledged their commitment to forgive their alleged perpetrators.
Morlu's Poor Performance Defense
No Garbage Can Change the Grade
…Of John Morlu’s Maritime Performance 2007
By Bill K. Jarkloh
Poverty and the insatiable greed for material gains and finances most often blinded many people who professed to be knowledgeable and honorable. But woefully, they later find themselves in the gutter when the truth they intend to kill at the platform of gullibility starts to unravel itself in the course of time.
The background of this article is from condemnation heaped on the NEW VISION Editorial Board of which I am a part in the Liberian media for analysis that led to poor performance judgment passed on the Commissioner of the Bureau of Maritime for the Republic of Liberia during the NEW VISION’s evaluation of the performances of public servants in the Liberian officialdom.
However, it is a pity. Certainly it is a pity for one who supposed to encourage the Maritime Commissioner to buckle up on making the once flourished but now diminishing Liberian Maritime program serviceable to the people to instead sprout up and masquerade as though he is an authority that sector of society. It not just a pity, it is equally woeful for him especially to have chosen to defend the ruining of this lucrative sector, especially in the wake of public opinion on performance of officials in this segment of the society.
While it may be a reality of humanity that not very one is principled, one Fahresta A. Faresta’s defense against the grading of the Maritime Commissioner John Morlu in the yearend edition of the NEW VISION raised eyebrows in many sectors of the maritime community of Liberia and the public in general.
But for me, I harbor no doubt that this Fahresta. A. Fahresta is one unprincipled journalist who traded the power of the ink between Roosevelt Johnson and Charles Taylor. On account of his unprincipled-mindedness, he transferred his loyalty to Charles Taylor only in pursuit of the dollar when the Johnson scenario on the Liberian militia-political landscape was crushed.
This gravy seeking writer has now become the defender of John Morlu, the Acting Commissioner of the Bureau of Maritime who scored “poor” during last year’s bureaucracy at the Maritime Bureau. He has erroneously wrote without conscious an analysis that “The Liberian dailies are flooded with instances where most media institution lacking the requisite qualifications or the ability to raise any sound argument and discuss a critical national issue, have selected to blackmail and all sorts of negative insinuation as weapons to either humiliate or harass public officials on what the ‘think’ should be and not what is required of that official or public institution.”
Why, then, didn’t he want to use his right name if he were writing with conscience and was assured that his arguments were on fertile ground? Anyway, this writer uses the name Fahresta A. Faresta because he wants to remain anonymous, fearing that there will be a come back by the NEW VISION editorial staff. Hmmmm!!!!!!
Fahresta, as he may call himself, is practically lingering in confusion of thoughts. He lacks sound analysis of the issue and devoid his trash of investigation. This is why some readers, as I heard, referred to his piece as “garbage or a trash”. He is confused because he doesn’t know what he meant by the dictions he used.
For instance, he said the NEW VISION does not possess the “requisite qualifications to discuss or ability to raise any sound argument and discuss critical issues.” But this means too that he doesn’t either understand the diction “blackmail”. How dare this ill-informed masquerader telling people with internationally acclaimed practice and knowledge, fumbling with words in reference to genuine opinion expressed.
This is an indication that he’s a dollar agent, blinded by what he was paid to castigate people whose international background and understanding of the Liberian politics and bureaucracy he does not know.
This paid agent, will never produce any prove of blackmail, although he has the burden of proof. If he doesn’t mind, may we define to him blackmail? Blackmail refers to extortion by threats of public exposure. Better still, “blackmail” refers to forcing public official to do what he does not have to at the alter of threats to expose his misconduct. Giving these working and lexical meanings of the word blackmail as used by Fahresta, can he indicate when and where any member of the editorial staff of the NEW VISION visited Mr. Morlu or any senior staff of the Maritime Bureau with threats to expose him if he did not comply. Nonsense!
Moreover, what qualification - meaning requirement, skill or condition etc. – does a Liberian medium that has been following the performance pattern of officials occupying public positions – in the agencies or ministries - throughout the year need to pass judgment of poor performance by public bureaucracy? Fahresta’s arguments were very obnoxious, detestable, despicable and abhorrent indeed.
Assuredly, there is no gainsaying that this so-called Fahresta’s analogy and/or discernment of the grading of the Maritime Bureau’s commissioner is instead influenced by the dollar, by gullibility that grew out of sheer frustration of failure to achieve, this is coupled with his sheer ignorance of the practical Liberian bureaucracy. This is why it is rather a pity for this pen-peddler to think that the well-paid, professionally qualified and competent and internationally acclaimed members of editorial board of the NEW VISION have traded on cacophony of innuendoes and unsubstantiated citations in the grading of John Morlu at the Maritime.
Maybe this so-called Fahresta needs to know that no member of the Editorial Board of the NEW VISION will fall for any amount of the American dollars, the British pound or the Euro that popularly in demand here to fight against the truth, neither will any member of the NEW VISION editorial dive for meager amount such as US$200-$500 to write trash against the editorial judgment passed by any media institution for that matter against poor performance of any public servant as Fahresta did.
Therefore, the NEW VISION is announcing that it takes the challenge, considering that the finality of this war launched would further disgrace the paymaster or throw him out of the Maritime sector, while at the same time exposing the intellectual bankruptcy of paid agent Fahresta – if in fact it is his real name. For the NEW VISION, it is determined to expose Morlu as a way of further validating its judgment of Morlu’s performance for the time he served the Maritime Bureau as Commissioner [see more revelations in today’s edition].
That’s not all. Fahresta’s faulty exposé will be x-rayed here too. The NEW VISION will also expose his gullibility and ignorance in whatever available and possible. By so doing, he must be told that successes in public service are not abstract; they but tangible or physical. May we ask Fahresta and his master Morlu: Has the Maritime Institute reopened since the war was over and Morlu assumed the mantle at the Bureau of Maritime’s leadership? If yes, has any desired ordinary Liberian been afforded an opportunity to benefit from the Maritime program of Liberia?
Assuming the answer yes also, when and how many Liberians enrolled in that institution since the postwar period under Morlu’s administration? How many Liberians have been sponsor to international maritime institutions around the world, not to mention the International Maritime University? How many Liberians has the Morlu Administration sent work on vessels flying the Liberian flags? These are some of the performance-factors that engender mass public benefit and therefore good score for him, and not ones such as a conference engineered by a bureaucrat for the sole purpose of “licking fingers” at the expense of the state and its resources (we will come to that later).
Sorry, I am going too far. Let us respond to concerns raised by the paid agent – Fahresta. In is article – 2007 FLUNKIES & ACHIEVEMENTS - SENIOR OFFICIALS OF GOVT. UNDER X-RAY (John Morlu, Maritime Commission Scores “Poor” A Rejoinder By Fahresta A. Faresta. In this embodiment of disjointed analysis ditched out to the public to justify some drops from Morlu’s pocket, Fahresta was reacting to the section of the NEW VISION’s grading that states that the Morlu Administration was rocked by rampant corruption, tribalism and nepotism.
In propounding his argument, he was quizzical, asking “What a cleanup campaign would dismiss and bring back the most prohibited debris as [stated] in the case of [the NEW VISION’s grading of] Mr. Morlu? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! I laugh at Mr. Fahresta.
Why didn’t he ask: “Why was Mr. Morlu, a confirmed Commissioner of the Bureau of Maritime dismissed, and after a media debate regarding the legal status of his successor, Cllr. John Steward in the United State, brought back as Acting Commissioner? Fahresta, why did the President take Morlu back as acting commissioner and as proper and confirmed commissioner? Up to date, Morlu hasn’t been sent to the Senate for confirmation following his woeful dismissal and face-saving lobby that took him back to the BMA.
Does Fahresta think Morlu is still standing a better chance, after he was demoted from the office of the Maritime Commissioner [thrown down from grace to grass – I mean dismissed] and then brought back as Acting Commissioner of Maritime? This situation in fact validates the portion of Morlu’s poor mark graded him by the NEW VISION. This is why the editorial was quizzical as to whether there is brain drain in the Maritime sector of Liberia.
This guy, Fahresta, is indeed either bankrupt intellectually or blinded by the dollar in discussing public issues! Why should a sound man dare to state that an editorial judgment is opinionative? What he thinks a media judgment is? Is it not an opinion? So who has lived with the acute poverty of sound judgment or unintelligent sense of thought? The one who has issued a valid opinion on another’s performance or the one who says an opinion is ‘opinionative?” What an embarrassment to the inky fraternity?
Oh no! I was taken away by the flow of thoughts, forgetting that Fahresta A. Fahresta was just trying to earn a dollar from Mr. Morlu’s pocket. This cannot be false; we saw a US$500 check of the Maritime paid to a sisterly media institution to sponsor pages for the publication of these incoherent arguments, leaving the question: Will that change the grade point?
For fact, anyway, it puzzles me to know that Fahresta is defending the practice of corruption and nepotism at the Maritime. He asks for “modicum” or an ounce of evidence to substantiate attributions of rampant corruption, nepotism or tribalism to the Morlu administration. So we are now refereeing him to the front-page story in our today’s edition indicating the Morlu administration’s corruption.
Besides, Fahresta must forget the dollar a bit, brave the storm and get principled to look at dismissals (or so-called retirements) and subsequent appointments made by Commissioner Morlu in such offices as the office of the Assistant Commissioner for Small Wateraft, the Office of the Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Maritime, the Office of Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and two research officers at the Bureau when people that serve for more than 30 years are still in office because of Morlu’s favor.
Obviously, I wouldn’t call names, but counter-checking the information will reveal more than indicated herein. Or should we lead a microphone to the Maritime Bureau, seeking to investigate and unravel these allegations in spite of facts on hand? Will Morlu submit himself to journalists to quiz him on his these facts?
My God, if the media in Liberia was saturated with failed fellows as alleged by Fahresta, it can never be the NEW VISION. All of the editorial staff members of the New VISION are collegians and acclaimed journalists. The all earned ether degrees, diplomas and certificates in colleges and universities; some are campaigning for Bachelor and Master Degrees and are established citizens of Liberia. None, I mean none is a misfit or is intellectually and professionally bankrupt like Fahresta. Maybe this misfit wants to draw the NEW VISION editorial staff to his level of thinking or achievement, materially or intellectually.
Besides, all of them are well paid – not a hundred US dollar or two hundred US dollar. They are all paid by United Nations standard. This is why they wouldn’t fall for anything like Fahresta. This standard of achievement makes the editorial staff difficult if not impossible to buy in a manner such as the way Morlu bought Fahresta.
This is reason for my worry as to why Fahresta is murmuring when Morlu who was graded “poor” stuck in his shell. What fish has Fahresta to fry in this grading matter, which is intended to encourage better performance in officialdom? Anyway, I rest a bit. We will deal with other issues that Fahresta raised in subsequent editions.
All to say for now is to advise him against this sort of misconduct which has the propensity to rob him of opportunities. When those whop should hire you get to know that you are cheap and unprincipled, you are finished on the job market; there will be no better employment for you.
Consequently, Fahresta is advised to conduct himself well. Conduct himself professionally well to be able to get good job that will not allow him destroy himself as he has been doing. But he will linger into abject poverty and will always stand in need of meager resources that will degrade him professionally and introduce him to scorn unless he stands for reputation, unless he’s principled and unless he knows that the truth is the pivot of not journalism alone, but for success in humanity. Bye-bye and check you up, Mr. Fahresta A. Fahresta in our next edition. If Fahresta will, he may insist on this battle. But posterity is the ultimate judge for us all.
…Of John Morlu’s Maritime Performance 2007
By Bill K. Jarkloh
Poverty and the insatiable greed for material gains and finances most often blinded many people who professed to be knowledgeable and honorable. But woefully, they later find themselves in the gutter when the truth they intend to kill at the platform of gullibility starts to unravel itself in the course of time.
The background of this article is from condemnation heaped on the NEW VISION Editorial Board of which I am a part in the Liberian media for analysis that led to poor performance judgment passed on the Commissioner of the Bureau of Maritime for the Republic of Liberia during the NEW VISION’s evaluation of the performances of public servants in the Liberian officialdom.
However, it is a pity. Certainly it is a pity for one who supposed to encourage the Maritime Commissioner to buckle up on making the once flourished but now diminishing Liberian Maritime program serviceable to the people to instead sprout up and masquerade as though he is an authority that sector of society. It not just a pity, it is equally woeful for him especially to have chosen to defend the ruining of this lucrative sector, especially in the wake of public opinion on performance of officials in this segment of the society.
While it may be a reality of humanity that not very one is principled, one Fahresta A. Faresta’s defense against the grading of the Maritime Commissioner John Morlu in the yearend edition of the NEW VISION raised eyebrows in many sectors of the maritime community of Liberia and the public in general.
But for me, I harbor no doubt that this Fahresta. A. Fahresta is one unprincipled journalist who traded the power of the ink between Roosevelt Johnson and Charles Taylor. On account of his unprincipled-mindedness, he transferred his loyalty to Charles Taylor only in pursuit of the dollar when the Johnson scenario on the Liberian militia-political landscape was crushed.
This gravy seeking writer has now become the defender of John Morlu, the Acting Commissioner of the Bureau of Maritime who scored “poor” during last year’s bureaucracy at the Maritime Bureau. He has erroneously wrote without conscious an analysis that “The Liberian dailies are flooded with instances where most media institution lacking the requisite qualifications or the ability to raise any sound argument and discuss a critical national issue, have selected to blackmail and all sorts of negative insinuation as weapons to either humiliate or harass public officials on what the ‘think’ should be and not what is required of that official or public institution.”
Why, then, didn’t he want to use his right name if he were writing with conscience and was assured that his arguments were on fertile ground? Anyway, this writer uses the name Fahresta A. Faresta because he wants to remain anonymous, fearing that there will be a come back by the NEW VISION editorial staff. Hmmmm!!!!!!
Fahresta, as he may call himself, is practically lingering in confusion of thoughts. He lacks sound analysis of the issue and devoid his trash of investigation. This is why some readers, as I heard, referred to his piece as “garbage or a trash”. He is confused because he doesn’t know what he meant by the dictions he used.
For instance, he said the NEW VISION does not possess the “requisite qualifications to discuss or ability to raise any sound argument and discuss critical issues.” But this means too that he doesn’t either understand the diction “blackmail”. How dare this ill-informed masquerader telling people with internationally acclaimed practice and knowledge, fumbling with words in reference to genuine opinion expressed.
This is an indication that he’s a dollar agent, blinded by what he was paid to castigate people whose international background and understanding of the Liberian politics and bureaucracy he does not know.
This paid agent, will never produce any prove of blackmail, although he has the burden of proof. If he doesn’t mind, may we define to him blackmail? Blackmail refers to extortion by threats of public exposure. Better still, “blackmail” refers to forcing public official to do what he does not have to at the alter of threats to expose his misconduct. Giving these working and lexical meanings of the word blackmail as used by Fahresta, can he indicate when and where any member of the editorial staff of the NEW VISION visited Mr. Morlu or any senior staff of the Maritime Bureau with threats to expose him if he did not comply. Nonsense!
Moreover, what qualification - meaning requirement, skill or condition etc. – does a Liberian medium that has been following the performance pattern of officials occupying public positions – in the agencies or ministries - throughout the year need to pass judgment of poor performance by public bureaucracy? Fahresta’s arguments were very obnoxious, detestable, despicable and abhorrent indeed.
Assuredly, there is no gainsaying that this so-called Fahresta’s analogy and/or discernment of the grading of the Maritime Bureau’s commissioner is instead influenced by the dollar, by gullibility that grew out of sheer frustration of failure to achieve, this is coupled with his sheer ignorance of the practical Liberian bureaucracy. This is why it is rather a pity for this pen-peddler to think that the well-paid, professionally qualified and competent and internationally acclaimed members of editorial board of the NEW VISION have traded on cacophony of innuendoes and unsubstantiated citations in the grading of John Morlu at the Maritime.
Maybe this so-called Fahresta needs to know that no member of the Editorial Board of the NEW VISION will fall for any amount of the American dollars, the British pound or the Euro that popularly in demand here to fight against the truth, neither will any member of the NEW VISION editorial dive for meager amount such as US$200-$500 to write trash against the editorial judgment passed by any media institution for that matter against poor performance of any public servant as Fahresta did.
Therefore, the NEW VISION is announcing that it takes the challenge, considering that the finality of this war launched would further disgrace the paymaster or throw him out of the Maritime sector, while at the same time exposing the intellectual bankruptcy of paid agent Fahresta – if in fact it is his real name. For the NEW VISION, it is determined to expose Morlu as a way of further validating its judgment of Morlu’s performance for the time he served the Maritime Bureau as Commissioner [see more revelations in today’s edition].
That’s not all. Fahresta’s faulty exposé will be x-rayed here too. The NEW VISION will also expose his gullibility and ignorance in whatever available and possible. By so doing, he must be told that successes in public service are not abstract; they but tangible or physical. May we ask Fahresta and his master Morlu: Has the Maritime Institute reopened since the war was over and Morlu assumed the mantle at the Bureau of Maritime’s leadership? If yes, has any desired ordinary Liberian been afforded an opportunity to benefit from the Maritime program of Liberia?
Assuming the answer yes also, when and how many Liberians enrolled in that institution since the postwar period under Morlu’s administration? How many Liberians have been sponsor to international maritime institutions around the world, not to mention the International Maritime University? How many Liberians has the Morlu Administration sent work on vessels flying the Liberian flags? These are some of the performance-factors that engender mass public benefit and therefore good score for him, and not ones such as a conference engineered by a bureaucrat for the sole purpose of “licking fingers” at the expense of the state and its resources (we will come to that later).
Sorry, I am going too far. Let us respond to concerns raised by the paid agent – Fahresta. In is article – 2007 FLUNKIES & ACHIEVEMENTS - SENIOR OFFICIALS OF GOVT. UNDER X-RAY (John Morlu, Maritime Commission Scores “Poor” A Rejoinder By Fahresta A. Faresta. In this embodiment of disjointed analysis ditched out to the public to justify some drops from Morlu’s pocket, Fahresta was reacting to the section of the NEW VISION’s grading that states that the Morlu Administration was rocked by rampant corruption, tribalism and nepotism.
In propounding his argument, he was quizzical, asking “What a cleanup campaign would dismiss and bring back the most prohibited debris as [stated] in the case of [the NEW VISION’s grading of] Mr. Morlu? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! I laugh at Mr. Fahresta.
Why didn’t he ask: “Why was Mr. Morlu, a confirmed Commissioner of the Bureau of Maritime dismissed, and after a media debate regarding the legal status of his successor, Cllr. John Steward in the United State, brought back as Acting Commissioner? Fahresta, why did the President take Morlu back as acting commissioner and as proper and confirmed commissioner? Up to date, Morlu hasn’t been sent to the Senate for confirmation following his woeful dismissal and face-saving lobby that took him back to the BMA.
Does Fahresta think Morlu is still standing a better chance, after he was demoted from the office of the Maritime Commissioner [thrown down from grace to grass – I mean dismissed] and then brought back as Acting Commissioner of Maritime? This situation in fact validates the portion of Morlu’s poor mark graded him by the NEW VISION. This is why the editorial was quizzical as to whether there is brain drain in the Maritime sector of Liberia.
This guy, Fahresta, is indeed either bankrupt intellectually or blinded by the dollar in discussing public issues! Why should a sound man dare to state that an editorial judgment is opinionative? What he thinks a media judgment is? Is it not an opinion? So who has lived with the acute poverty of sound judgment or unintelligent sense of thought? The one who has issued a valid opinion on another’s performance or the one who says an opinion is ‘opinionative?” What an embarrassment to the inky fraternity?
Oh no! I was taken away by the flow of thoughts, forgetting that Fahresta A. Fahresta was just trying to earn a dollar from Mr. Morlu’s pocket. This cannot be false; we saw a US$500 check of the Maritime paid to a sisterly media institution to sponsor pages for the publication of these incoherent arguments, leaving the question: Will that change the grade point?
For fact, anyway, it puzzles me to know that Fahresta is defending the practice of corruption and nepotism at the Maritime. He asks for “modicum” or an ounce of evidence to substantiate attributions of rampant corruption, nepotism or tribalism to the Morlu administration. So we are now refereeing him to the front-page story in our today’s edition indicating the Morlu administration’s corruption.
Besides, Fahresta must forget the dollar a bit, brave the storm and get principled to look at dismissals (or so-called retirements) and subsequent appointments made by Commissioner Morlu in such offices as the office of the Assistant Commissioner for Small Wateraft, the Office of the Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Maritime, the Office of Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and two research officers at the Bureau when people that serve for more than 30 years are still in office because of Morlu’s favor.
Obviously, I wouldn’t call names, but counter-checking the information will reveal more than indicated herein. Or should we lead a microphone to the Maritime Bureau, seeking to investigate and unravel these allegations in spite of facts on hand? Will Morlu submit himself to journalists to quiz him on his these facts?
My God, if the media in Liberia was saturated with failed fellows as alleged by Fahresta, it can never be the NEW VISION. All of the editorial staff members of the New VISION are collegians and acclaimed journalists. The all earned ether degrees, diplomas and certificates in colleges and universities; some are campaigning for Bachelor and Master Degrees and are established citizens of Liberia. None, I mean none is a misfit or is intellectually and professionally bankrupt like Fahresta. Maybe this misfit wants to draw the NEW VISION editorial staff to his level of thinking or achievement, materially or intellectually.
Besides, all of them are well paid – not a hundred US dollar or two hundred US dollar. They are all paid by United Nations standard. This is why they wouldn’t fall for anything like Fahresta. This standard of achievement makes the editorial staff difficult if not impossible to buy in a manner such as the way Morlu bought Fahresta.
This is reason for my worry as to why Fahresta is murmuring when Morlu who was graded “poor” stuck in his shell. What fish has Fahresta to fry in this grading matter, which is intended to encourage better performance in officialdom? Anyway, I rest a bit. We will deal with other issues that Fahresta raised in subsequent editions.
All to say for now is to advise him against this sort of misconduct which has the propensity to rob him of opportunities. When those whop should hire you get to know that you are cheap and unprincipled, you are finished on the job market; there will be no better employment for you.
Consequently, Fahresta is advised to conduct himself well. Conduct himself professionally well to be able to get good job that will not allow him destroy himself as he has been doing. But he will linger into abject poverty and will always stand in need of meager resources that will degrade him professionally and introduce him to scorn unless he stands for reputation, unless he’s principled and unless he knows that the truth is the pivot of not journalism alone, but for success in humanity. Bye-bye and check you up, Mr. Fahresta A. Fahresta in our next edition. If Fahresta will, he may insist on this battle. But posterity is the ultimate judge for us all.
Porte's legacy
Reading Runs Through
- Albert Porte's Legacy Lives Through a Library01/09/08
Bill K. Jarkloh, FPA Staff Writer
Monrovia -
Although the man Albert Porte died years ago without achieving in total the principles of justice, and equity that he struggled for, his memories continue to impact the minds of the people in general, and his family in particular. But how could this man best be remembered? Shortly before the fall of 2007, the Porte family in Liberia erected a library in Paynesville at the outskirt of Monrovia.
Strolling along the Redlight-Gardnesville road last December, a reporter spotted the sign “Albert Porte Library” pointing inside a community in the Redlight district, Paynesville and of course the well-designed artistic work mesmerized the reporter and landed him to all he had read about Mr. Porte’s struggle.
The Struggle of Porte was for better Liberia
The name Albert Porte in Liberian history represent activism for the rights of the ordinary people.
A portrait of Albert Porte welcomes visitors to the reading room.Porte – a man somehow with a background of Americo-Liberianism challenged the evils of the more than 100 years of despotic rule of the True Whig Party, a party which every Liberian will reason with me symbolizes indeed, the so-called Americo-Liberianism.
The memories of Mr. Porte is an obvious recollection of the days when people were arbitrarily arrested and detained, when the common man has no say in the pseudo-democracy practiced by the descendants of the freed slaves that were repatriated by the American Colonization Society and were eventually settled on where is now referred to as Liberia, I thought.
For Mr. Porte’s lifestyle, justice and equity should know no class or status, they should always remain blind to those who play on the platform of life - which Zoroaster says characterizes the struggle between good and evil forces. As a consequence, whenever this pamphleteer went somewhere, he went with his mat and overnight bag, bearing in mind that he could be arrested and detained for his struggle against the system, the struggle which advocated for peace, truth and justice in Liberia.
On a recent visit, a reporter set his digital camera to capture the white-painted fenced Library, gearing himself in haste a bit as he started to ponder how this sound Liberian writer, progressive and activist was not only committed to the ideals of justice and fairplay.
Some students making use of the Albert Porte Reading Library in Paynesville outside Monrovia.Albert Porte was a classroom teacher. His dream was to ensure that the children, in whose hands the future of the country lies, are educated. This is because of the open secret that knowledge is power, and the only way to challenge a rotten hegemony of the so-called Americo-Liberia elite was not to be in ignorant, but to take the challenge with the knowledge and understand of the noble principles of freedom and democracy and all that are associated with them for a better Liberia.
At the entrance, knocking at the gate, a young fellow came out and asked gently:
“Can I help you?”
“Yes you may! I’ve come to talk with Mrs. Williette Porte, the proprietress of this Library.”
And so the young man who later I began to know as Othniel B. Porte, a grandson of the legendary Albert led the reporter into the Library.
Certainly, there is a need to remember Mr. Porte. The ideals he stood for are still in demand today. The need for justice will ever be unwavering.
What Porte was against was arbitrary arrest and detention and torture. It is obvious that Mr. Porte’s activism was to scorn corruption, gullibility and selfishness that had and perhaps continue to permeate government, the interference of the Executive Branch with the functions of the Legislative and Judicial Branches, using the security as vehicle for such interference and the general security excesses. Surely, Porte wanted a Liberia governed by people with characters that respect human value, a Liberia where proceeds from the vast resources would be equitably distributed for the common good of the people.
For these objectives that he struggled for honoring, Mr. Porte even in a modest way as in the case of erecting a library that will provide resources for the development of good citizens is equally noble.
Mr. Porte Envisioned the Library
Make reference to Albert Porte Reading RoomAnd so Othniel Porte escorted the reporter around and revealed the various features of the Albert Porte Library, which has a reading hall wherein a portrait of Mr. Porte is conspicuously displayed on a card catalog. It also has a Children's Section containing books for pre-school and elementary students, an African, Reference and General Sections. It also has International and Periodical Sections.
“My late granddad was a classroom teacher. It was his desire to help the unfortunate children and see to it that people are educated properly,” Othniel explained.
Relying on this dream of Mr. Porte as related by his grandson, it must be said that proper education is obtained in the environment where libraries and laboratories are equipped, classrooms are not congested and textbooks and other instructional materials are available. According to Othniel, Mr. Porte had envisioned the Library. “Dating years back when he was alive, my granddad had his own collections in his chamber. And so we have this dream of a Library as of grave importance to us,” he explained.
On one section of the library, students are already making use of Porte’s legacy. Most were seen researching their works at the Albert Porte Library. The beneficiaries said the Library was a very great assistance to the community. Says Y. Winston W. Taingay, a student of the George Toe Washington School in 72nd: “This Library is important to us because here we do our assignment. There is no Library, so before we had to go all the way to central Monrovia for our assignments.” Another Student from the George Toe Washington Institute who was also researching at the Albert Porte Library, Abraham B. Hagg, made similar assertion. He praised the Library. “The Library has good books that are useful to our curricular engagements in school,” he said, while Elijah Bryant and others who were at the Library praised the Portes for the project.
‘We thought to do something tangible’
Cornered in Central Monrovia, Mr. Elfric K. Porte, son of Albert Porte said, “We thought we should do something tangible to portray the dreams and aspiration of dad. His wife Williette Porte, who historicized the Albert Library, said it all started 1996. In a relaxed mood at the Paynesville hub of the I. B. Xpress Inc., Mrs. Porte said the idea of the library started off by looking after kids during the war in 1996 during which time they decided to look for basic things for the kids to read to detraumatize them. Accordingly, the Portes taking care of some 24 kids, decided to teach the children basic skills in reading and drawing. “The kids were also anxious to watch movies. So we got ‘Sesame Street, ‘Barney’ and ‘Lion King’. We also taught them the Bible. We have friends in these disciplines to teach and we compensated them,” Mr. Porte explained.
She said it was this idea that has grown and blossomed into the “Albert Porte Library”. “Albert Porte himself was writer. Did Othniel show you his collection at the Library? He has his own Library in Crozierville and his son Elfric K Porte, my husband, decided to have a library in honor of his father,” Mrs. W. Porte further explained.
According to Mrs. W. Pote, the project started in 1996 and the Library was officially opened in 1999 in Paynesville at a building now housing the IB Xpress Incorporated in the community.
Meanwhile, Mr. Porte expressed the desire of the Portes to equip the library further. She therefore sends out an SOS for assistance in kind and cash, including books from friendly institutions and philanthropists that will help to upgrade the Albert Porte Library and to continue to keep the memories of the Liberian activist for social justice, author and teacher. HOW TO HELP?
Monrovia -
Although the man Albert Porte died years ago without achieving in total the principles of justice, and equity that he struggled for, his memories continue to impact the minds of the people in general, and his family in particular. But how could this man best be remembered? Shortly before the fall of 2007, the Porte family in Liberia erected a library in Paynesville at the outskirt of Monrovia.
Strolling along the Redlight-Gardnesville road last December, a reporter spotted the sign “Albert Porte Library” pointing inside a community in the Redlight district, Paynesville and of course the well-designed artistic work mesmerized the reporter and landed him to all he had read about Mr. Porte’s struggle.
The Struggle of Porte was for better Liberia
The name Albert Porte in Liberian history represent activism for the rights of the ordinary people.
A portrait of Albert Porte welcomes visitors to the reading room.Porte – a man somehow with a background of Americo-Liberianism challenged the evils of the more than 100 years of despotic rule of the True Whig Party, a party which every Liberian will reason with me symbolizes indeed, the so-called Americo-Liberianism.
The memories of Mr. Porte is an obvious recollection of the days when people were arbitrarily arrested and detained, when the common man has no say in the pseudo-democracy practiced by the descendants of the freed slaves that were repatriated by the American Colonization Society and were eventually settled on where is now referred to as Liberia, I thought.
For Mr. Porte’s lifestyle, justice and equity should know no class or status, they should always remain blind to those who play on the platform of life - which Zoroaster says characterizes the struggle between good and evil forces. As a consequence, whenever this pamphleteer went somewhere, he went with his mat and overnight bag, bearing in mind that he could be arrested and detained for his struggle against the system, the struggle which advocated for peace, truth and justice in Liberia.
On a recent visit, a reporter set his digital camera to capture the white-painted fenced Library, gearing himself in haste a bit as he started to ponder how this sound Liberian writer, progressive and activist was not only committed to the ideals of justice and fairplay.
Some students making use of the Albert Porte Reading Library in Paynesville outside Monrovia.Albert Porte was a classroom teacher. His dream was to ensure that the children, in whose hands the future of the country lies, are educated. This is because of the open secret that knowledge is power, and the only way to challenge a rotten hegemony of the so-called Americo-Liberia elite was not to be in ignorant, but to take the challenge with the knowledge and understand of the noble principles of freedom and democracy and all that are associated with them for a better Liberia.
At the entrance, knocking at the gate, a young fellow came out and asked gently:
“Can I help you?”
“Yes you may! I’ve come to talk with Mrs. Williette Porte, the proprietress of this Library.”
And so the young man who later I began to know as Othniel B. Porte, a grandson of the legendary Albert led the reporter into the Library.
Certainly, there is a need to remember Mr. Porte. The ideals he stood for are still in demand today. The need for justice will ever be unwavering.
What Porte was against was arbitrary arrest and detention and torture. It is obvious that Mr. Porte’s activism was to scorn corruption, gullibility and selfishness that had and perhaps continue to permeate government, the interference of the Executive Branch with the functions of the Legislative and Judicial Branches, using the security as vehicle for such interference and the general security excesses. Surely, Porte wanted a Liberia governed by people with characters that respect human value, a Liberia where proceeds from the vast resources would be equitably distributed for the common good of the people.
For these objectives that he struggled for honoring, Mr. Porte even in a modest way as in the case of erecting a library that will provide resources for the development of good citizens is equally noble.
Mr. Porte Envisioned the Library
Make reference to Albert Porte Reading RoomAnd so Othniel Porte escorted the reporter around and revealed the various features of the Albert Porte Library, which has a reading hall wherein a portrait of Mr. Porte is conspicuously displayed on a card catalog. It also has a Children's Section containing books for pre-school and elementary students, an African, Reference and General Sections. It also has International and Periodical Sections.
“My late granddad was a classroom teacher. It was his desire to help the unfortunate children and see to it that people are educated properly,” Othniel explained.
Relying on this dream of Mr. Porte as related by his grandson, it must be said that proper education is obtained in the environment where libraries and laboratories are equipped, classrooms are not congested and textbooks and other instructional materials are available. According to Othniel, Mr. Porte had envisioned the Library. “Dating years back when he was alive, my granddad had his own collections in his chamber. And so we have this dream of a Library as of grave importance to us,” he explained.
On one section of the library, students are already making use of Porte’s legacy. Most were seen researching their works at the Albert Porte Library. The beneficiaries said the Library was a very great assistance to the community. Says Y. Winston W. Taingay, a student of the George Toe Washington School in 72nd: “This Library is important to us because here we do our assignment. There is no Library, so before we had to go all the way to central Monrovia for our assignments.” Another Student from the George Toe Washington Institute who was also researching at the Albert Porte Library, Abraham B. Hagg, made similar assertion. He praised the Library. “The Library has good books that are useful to our curricular engagements in school,” he said, while Elijah Bryant and others who were at the Library praised the Portes for the project.
‘We thought to do something tangible’
Cornered in Central Monrovia, Mr. Elfric K. Porte, son of Albert Porte said, “We thought we should do something tangible to portray the dreams and aspiration of dad. His wife Williette Porte, who historicized the Albert Library, said it all started 1996. In a relaxed mood at the Paynesville hub of the I. B. Xpress Inc., Mrs. Porte said the idea of the library started off by looking after kids during the war in 1996 during which time they decided to look for basic things for the kids to read to detraumatize them. Accordingly, the Portes taking care of some 24 kids, decided to teach the children basic skills in reading and drawing. “The kids were also anxious to watch movies. So we got ‘Sesame Street, ‘Barney’ and ‘Lion King’. We also taught them the Bible. We have friends in these disciplines to teach and we compensated them,” Mr. Porte explained.
She said it was this idea that has grown and blossomed into the “Albert Porte Library”. “Albert Porte himself was writer. Did Othniel show you his collection at the Library? He has his own Library in Crozierville and his son Elfric K Porte, my husband, decided to have a library in honor of his father,” Mrs. W. Porte further explained.
According to Mrs. W. Pote, the project started in 1996 and the Library was officially opened in 1999 in Paynesville at a building now housing the IB Xpress Incorporated in the community.
Meanwhile, Mr. Porte expressed the desire of the Portes to equip the library further. She therefore sends out an SOS for assistance in kind and cash, including books from friendly institutions and philanthropists that will help to upgrade the Albert Porte Library and to continue to keep the memories of the Liberian activist for social justice, author and teacher. HOW TO HELP?
For those wishing to donate books, or make financial contributions to the Albert Porte Reading Room Call Elfric Porte Sr. at 011-2316-582665Or IBXPress, 763.531.0743
Monday, January 7, 2008
"Blood Diamond" Expert Called In Taylor Trial
…Liberians Anxious To Watch Trial
As the trial of former Liberian President and rebel leader Charles Taylor commenced in The Hague, Liberians are curiously glued to their TV sets and international radio stations to have an idea of the proceeding from the onset before the UN backed Special War crime Court for Sierra Leone now seated in The Hague.
Others Liberians are also rushing to internet cafes while some are seen with local papers that have reported the start of the trial today. “I will want the local TVs and radio stations to relay the trial of President Taylor to allow us see or listen for ourselves,” 17 year Dennis Togba said at an Haiti Center on Carey Street. haiti centers are forums for street corners debates around Monrovia.
Some Monrovia dailies and stations gave the Taylor trial epoch prominent on the pages and the airwaves. The NEW DEMOCRAT and the NEW VISION newspapers are some of the papers that highlighted the Taylor trial prominently.
Already, reports by Reuters say prosecutors called an expert on Sierra Leone's illegal diamond trade that funded one of Africa's bloodiest wars when the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor on war crimes charges began in earnest on Monday.
Taylor, once one of Africa's most feared warlords, faces charges of rape, murder, mutilation and recruitment of child soldiers at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, set up to try those most responsible for the 1991-2002 conflict.
The 59-year-old, the first former African head of state to face an international court, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He looked relaxed in court, wearing gold-rimmed spectacles, a dark suit and tie.
More than quarter of a million people were killed in intertwined wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone which shocked the world with stories and images of child soldiers high on drugs, killing, raping and looting.
Prosecutors want the trial to set a precedent worldwide and end decades of impunity for African strongmen. Taylor is accused of trying to gain control of Sierra Leone's mineral wealth, particularly its diamond mines, and seeking to destabilize its government by supplying the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels.
Prosecutors called as their first witness Ian Smillie, a Canadian expert on the trade in conflict diamonds or "blood diamonds", smuggled out of Africa and used to fund wars.
Smillie said diamonds had a history of destabilizing Sierra Leone, describing his time as a teacher in a diamond-producing area in 1967-68: "It was very volatile. Almost like a Wild West town ... There were thousands of illicit diamond diggers."
He will be followed by a victim of the violence in Sierra Leone, and then an insider once close to Taylor's regime.
The trial is being held in The Hague because of fears it could spur instability if held in Sierra Leone, as a generation of civilian amputees whose limbs were hacked off by rebels in Sierra Leone have become a painful reminder of the cruelty of the conflict. The cruelties that reign during the conflict were largely reported to have been sponsored by Taylor, who stands accused of bearing greater responsibility for the drugging rebels and militias, often child soldiers who indiscriminately killed, raped and maimed.
Prosecutors intend to call 144 witnesses but hope half of them can submit their testimony in writing, allowing the prosecuting team to wrap up their case in around eight months. They expect a judgment by the end of 2009, though an appeal would be likely to stretch into 2010.
Taylor boycotted the opening of his trial last June in a dispute over the resources allocated to his defense, prompting legal wrangling and repeated delays.
More funds were eventually made available to Taylor and a new defense team was appointed in July. The former strongman is receiving legal aid despite suspicions he amassed a considerable personal fortune.
In the past, ousted African dictators have often fled overseas to live out their days unpunished. Taylor found exile in Nigeria after being overthrown in 2003, but was later handed to the court under international pressure.
As the trial of former Liberian President and rebel leader Charles Taylor commenced in The Hague, Liberians are curiously glued to their TV sets and international radio stations to have an idea of the proceeding from the onset before the UN backed Special War crime Court for Sierra Leone now seated in The Hague.
Others Liberians are also rushing to internet cafes while some are seen with local papers that have reported the start of the trial today. “I will want the local TVs and radio stations to relay the trial of President Taylor to allow us see or listen for ourselves,” 17 year Dennis Togba said at an Haiti Center on Carey Street. haiti centers are forums for street corners debates around Monrovia.
Some Monrovia dailies and stations gave the Taylor trial epoch prominent on the pages and the airwaves. The NEW DEMOCRAT and the NEW VISION newspapers are some of the papers that highlighted the Taylor trial prominently.
Already, reports by Reuters say prosecutors called an expert on Sierra Leone's illegal diamond trade that funded one of Africa's bloodiest wars when the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor on war crimes charges began in earnest on Monday.
Taylor, once one of Africa's most feared warlords, faces charges of rape, murder, mutilation and recruitment of child soldiers at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, set up to try those most responsible for the 1991-2002 conflict.
The 59-year-old, the first former African head of state to face an international court, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He looked relaxed in court, wearing gold-rimmed spectacles, a dark suit and tie.
More than quarter of a million people were killed in intertwined wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone which shocked the world with stories and images of child soldiers high on drugs, killing, raping and looting.
Prosecutors want the trial to set a precedent worldwide and end decades of impunity for African strongmen. Taylor is accused of trying to gain control of Sierra Leone's mineral wealth, particularly its diamond mines, and seeking to destabilize its government by supplying the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels.
Prosecutors called as their first witness Ian Smillie, a Canadian expert on the trade in conflict diamonds or "blood diamonds", smuggled out of Africa and used to fund wars.
Smillie said diamonds had a history of destabilizing Sierra Leone, describing his time as a teacher in a diamond-producing area in 1967-68: "It was very volatile. Almost like a Wild West town ... There were thousands of illicit diamond diggers."
He will be followed by a victim of the violence in Sierra Leone, and then an insider once close to Taylor's regime.
The trial is being held in The Hague because of fears it could spur instability if held in Sierra Leone, as a generation of civilian amputees whose limbs were hacked off by rebels in Sierra Leone have become a painful reminder of the cruelty of the conflict. The cruelties that reign during the conflict were largely reported to have been sponsored by Taylor, who stands accused of bearing greater responsibility for the drugging rebels and militias, often child soldiers who indiscriminately killed, raped and maimed.
Prosecutors intend to call 144 witnesses but hope half of them can submit their testimony in writing, allowing the prosecuting team to wrap up their case in around eight months. They expect a judgment by the end of 2009, though an appeal would be likely to stretch into 2010.
Taylor boycotted the opening of his trial last June in a dispute over the resources allocated to his defense, prompting legal wrangling and repeated delays.
More funds were eventually made available to Taylor and a new defense team was appointed in July. The former strongman is receiving legal aid despite suspicions he amassed a considerable personal fortune.
In the past, ousted African dictators have often fled overseas to live out their days unpunished. Taylor found exile in Nigeria after being overthrown in 2003, but was later handed to the court under international pressure.
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