Divided CDC Foams Over Flooded Bi-election

The CDC's flagbearer and first partisan George George Weah



NEC Warns Against Pre-Election Campaign



By: Bill K. Jarkloh

In the face of a flooded race to fill in the Montserrado County Senatorial vacancy left behind by the demise of Senator Hannah Brent, the main opposition party of football legend George Weah, the Congress for Democratic Change (DCD) is falling apart over who should represent the party in the race.

With the death of Senator Brent reducing the number female representation in the Senate to four, political commentators imbued with this gender advocacy think a female candidate would be ideal to occupy the slot. At present, Senior Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor of National Patriotic Party representing Bong County, Maryland County’s Gloria Musu Scott of the ruling Unity Party, Margibi County’s Senior Senator Clarice Jah of the Liberty Party and Montserrado County’s Joyce Musu Freeman-Sumo of the Congress for Democratic Change are the remaining female Senators in the Legislature.

However, names of several potential men have spouted. Some of the names that have spouted on the crowded field include Professor. Alhaji Kromah, two times presidential candidate of the All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP); Clemencea Urey who won Saturday’s UP’s primaries as the party’s candidate and Darius Dillion of the Liberty Party;

Others are Acarius Gray; Geraldine Doe-Sheriff and Eugene Nagbe all from the CDC , Professor and former Finance Minister Wilson Tarpeh, Daniel Johnson who heads the Monrovia City Council and Edwin Snowe, former speaker of the current House of Representatives and a Montserrado County representative whose intention remains unconfirmed and an array of female candidates.

When it was announced that vacancy occurred at the Upper Chamber of the National Legislature, moves that were made in political domains reflected what was reminiscent a split in the one time mutual cooperation that have bind the CDC’s political activism and positions amongst members.

Instead of standing together, the Chairman of the Party, Geraldine Doe-Sheriff hastily announced her interest to the opposition to the dislike of party godfather and standard-bearer Weah who did not bite4 his tongue in registering support to Lenn Eugene Nagbe, the Secretary General of the party who too was eyeing the vacancy to contest it.

Apparently, the CDC executives wanted to out-smart each other since constitutionally, the National Elections Commission is required to conduction a bi-election to fill whatever vacancy that is created in the National Legislature within 90 days, as such may be occasioned by death or resignation of a member(s).

In words of Weah who spoke in the media from the United States, Nagbe was the choice of the party and not Party Chairman Geraldine Doe-Sheriff, but Madam Sheriff, with some party stalwarts standing behind her decisively implied the fact that CDC is no personal property of Mr. Weah but a political institution that should be patterned in a democratic manner. She said Weah was not saying the truth and that a party convention would decide who should be supported by the party.

On the other hand, loquacious Acarius Gray stepped in, registering his interest to contest for the vacancy on CDC’s ticket.

In the meridiem of time, however, CDC has held party congress in New Krutown where partisans preferred Madam Geraldine Doe-Sheriff for the Seat for Montserrado in the Senate, but Acarius Gray considered the congress’ result faulty and unacceptable.

Notwithstanding the fact that Weah who supported Nagbe as the Secretary General for the Senatorial vacancy hasn’t reacted to the DCD’s congress that has elected Madam Doe-Sheriff for the position, Mr. Eugene Nagbe himself pledged support to the congress’ choice of party Chairman sheriff to contest the by-election.

Mr. Nagbe said the CDC has spoken and that he stands by the decision of the CDC, while the CDC’s Assistant Secretary Acarious Gray resented the congress and its choice of party chairman Doe-Sheriff.

Eugene Nagbe, Acarius Gray, and Geraldine Doe-Sheriff are all top executive members of George Weah’s CDC, serving currently as secretary-general, assistant secretary-general and chairman respectively.

The disagreement amongst at the party’s hierarchy potentially could squander the CDC’s chances of victory since others who may not be interest in the controversial choice of the party may commit their loyalty at the polls to some others who may in fact be outside the party as the race is indeed flooded.

Others whose names have surfaced include University of Liberia Economics and Banking Professor Wilson Tarpeh of who has entered the race for the second time after his defeat by the CDC’s iron-lady Senator Joyce Musu Freeman-Sumo during the 2005 senatorial election.

Like Tarpeh who was defeat when to Senator Freeman-Sumo, the Unity, the Unity Party’s Clemenceau Urey, also fell to the gallant CDC female in the senatorial Montserrado County race also was elected to contest the ensuing senatorial by-election

It is also speculated that dethroned Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe, a Representative for Montserrado County may likely take advantage of the vacancy to bid for the Upper House, although this intention by Snowe has not been made official. Snowe, a one time stalwart of the former ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP) of Charles Taylor contested the Montserrado slot he occupies at the Lower House in Parliament as independent candidate after the NPP apparently denied him to use party ticket.

Similarly, women seem to be overcrowding the race for the Montserrado County seat at the Senate, according to an online report. Already, the National Elections Commission (NEC) has reported the official registration of nine independent candidates, pending the holdings of primaries of various political parties, who are expected to field their candidates before the Commission’s set deadline of September 26, 2009.

Evidently declaration of interests ahead of party primaries or the submission of self arranged or genuine petitions to personalities which has usually characterized Liberian politics has been the order of the day. So far, the females have all decided to go independent despite whatever current political affiliations they might be having at the moment.

One of such women who contemplate contesting the vacancy is Jacqueline Capehart, a long-time business executive, saying that her desire to contest the bi-election borders on the lapses that have occasioned present legislative works on Capitol Hill. “I’m really disappointed by the level of work being done by our lawmakers. Our representatives are not liaising with us, who they claim to represent. There must be palaver-hut kinds of discussion”, Jacqueline told a reporter.

Previously a member of the opposition CDC, Capehart said her ambition for the senatorial position is also based on her desire to contribute to the task of re-building the war ravaged nation, irrespective of which profession one finds him or herself into.

Says Capehart: “It has reached the point in this country now where we ought to contribute our quota to nation building, regardless of where you find yourself”. Looking from the political horizon, it is evident that she might go as an independent candidate since the Unity Party she is member of has already voted Mr. Clemenceau Urey.

It was Urey, George Kailondo and Ms. Capehart despite who desired the contest on party ticket but were defeated at party primaries; she still desires to run while Kilando, a businessman, bowed graciously to Mr. Urey and accepted his defeat. UP’s Urey got an easy ride over George Kailondo during Saturday’s primary after the latter conceded defeat, prior to the primary election.

Further, it is also speculated Mr. Darius Dillion of the Liberty Party, who now serves as senior senatorial aid in Bong County Senator Jewel Taylor’s office, has expressed interest. Dillon is noted for his critical advocacy and stance against basic decisions that he considered inappropriate

Another female candidate, Grace McGill Kpan, President of the Dock Workers Union of Liberia desire the race as well. Kpan says she believes in the quest for workers to be represented at the highest level. McGill Kpan, who is also known for her unwavering advocacy as a labor leader sounded confident in a race that promises to produce other political giants, already testing the waters for the ensuing 2011 Elections.

“I’m a servant-leader who has worked as a labor leader”, she added. McGill Kpan then added the obvious voice as would be expected from any female candidate. “It’s good for another female to take that seat, because the number of females in the House is already minute”.

Meanwhile, the National Elections Commission (NEC) which spoke of the formal registration of some nine nominees warned against pre-election campaign, saying that anyone engaging in pre-election campaign would be disqualified.

With the list of contestants expected to grow, the NEC put nomination period between September 12 - 26, to be followed by a period for objection and claim, if there will be any. The Commission further said political campaign will take place from October 14 to November 8 followed by the replacement of voters’ identification cards from October 20-31 and the arrival of paper ballots on November 1, 2009.

The official announcement of polling results is would be on November 14, four days after voting. In case of any runoff, it will be conducted on November 24 with final results announced on November 27.

Statistics at the National Election Commission have it that Montserrado has 14 electoral districts with 496,508 registered voters of the 1.3 million people in Montserrado County, while 280 voting precincts and 989 polling places used in the 2005 elections remain unchanged for the ensuing bi-election.

Furious Education Minister Explores

Minister Korto Blames Journalists As “Paid” Agents to Go After Him

By: Bill K. Jarkloh
www.panwhanpen.com/billkjarkloh.wordpress.com
Email: jloplehdee@gmail.com/bill_ksolborjarkloh@yahoo.com

Bittered with journalists after his suspension, Furious Minister of Education Minister Joseph Korto has lambasted journalists, saying they are ‘paid agents of his political opponents’ who go after him. Dr. Korto, after he resumed works from a one week suspension without pay, was irritated when the Truth FM’s Patrick Honnan quizzed him on the TRUTH Breakfast Show via phone, seeking to know whether he considered his suspension demeaning, a sign of weakness or strength.

The journalist engaged Dr. Korto on the Truth FM via telephone and further quizzed him on reports from the hinterlands indicative of poor school facilities, a situation reminiscent of that of the E. Jonathan Goodridge’s condition for which Minister Korto and his deputies were suspended.

“I know where you guys are coming from. You are referring to a picture of a school in the interior of Nimba where you have gone and taken pictures that you have published in the papers. But that school is not the only school, there are a couple of good school facilities that have been ignored,” Minister Korto furiously responded the TRUTH FM Breakfast Show question.

The Furious Education Minister contended, “One like you do not know what is happening around, you guys are paid by political opponents to go after people. You may take it and say what you want to say,” he said, noting that the school that was being used as the radio station’s reference was a self-help project – a makeshift school built by the people themselves.

Although presenters of the show countered that the situation was a perfect example to develop an idea of what the public school system is like in the countryside (meaning remote or rural Liberia), Dr. Korto refuted this assertion, saying that his administration has been doing well. But the presenters insisted that there are others rural public schools journalists have no access to, using places such Karnplay in Nimba and also rural Grand Gedeh for Example.

“The President holds me responsible for what are happening in the public education sector because she knows that those should not be happening considering my intellect. You know it is not possible for me to be everywhere; but the President think as head of the Education Ministry, I should be responsible so she suspended me,” he explained.
He added: “I had a lot of respect for you guys. But I know now that you are paid agents hired by my political opponent to tarnish my good hard earned reputation,” saying “you guys are playing politrick with me.”

Recently, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, describing the Education Minister irresponsible, suspended Minister Joseph Korto and his deputies after an unannounced visit at the Campus E. Jonathan Goodridge Public School in Barnersville where she discovered the surrounding of the campus insalubrious and unhygienic. Accordingly, the President on that day, September 7, 2009, described the learning atmosphere at the institution to be horrendous something which she ordered the institution closed for one week.

The visit of President Sirleaf at the E. Jonathan High School was predicated upon threat of strike action by students of the school due to filthy learning condition and bad Administrative practice.

In a rather tough frame of mind, President Sirleaf termed the leadership at the Ministry of Education as irresponsible and inattentive considering its failure to institute requisite administrative and instructional measures at the institution.

Information Minister Dr. Lawrence Bropleh revealed that funds for the cleanliness of the campus will be made accessible from the Presidential Project Budget due to the exigency of the case at the institution. Public Schools in Liberia are disappointingly managed with students in rural areas sitting on cement blocks to learn something which have been reported consistently in the media.

Observers classified the President impromptu visit at the institution as a welcoming venture and challenged her to continue to make such visit a habitual exercise to other Public Schools around the country. The Ministry of Education shares the giant size of the country’s budget with absolutely ineffective policy and poor implementation something which parents and guardians of students attending these institutions have complained for prompt remedy and solution but to no avail.

Deputy Ministers suspended along with Minister Korto are Hester Williams Katakpa, John Emmanuel Roberts and Mathew Zazay. The recent action of Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the E. Jonathan Goodridge Public High School branding the Minister of Education and former Presidential Candidate Dr. Joseph Korto as irresponsible and reckless in the discharge of his duty entails a matter of attention as we gradually enter the 2011 Presidential election.

Being irresponsible in leadership as affirmed by the Liberian President further illustrates a better picture over the ability of Dr. Korto to administratively control the affairs of any entity least to mention the Country as a whole.

In a bid to substantiate the views of the President concerning the griminess of the giant size institution, I personally visited the E. Jonathan Goodridge High School in Barnersville and realized that the President’s action to suspend authorities at the Ministry to be lightered. Besides the poor running of the institution, other investments like the structures and buildings which are considered assets of government are seen unattended to as far as its renovation is concern.

Coming back to the capriciousness of Dr. Korto as Minister of Education, one could doubt how effective an individual given the task as Minister of Education and by extension, heavily supported by national and international organizations and also supported by the government as indicated in the budget of Liberia would ignored and downplayed his responsibility in making learning condition in Public Schools an acceptable areas for education. What if Dr. Korto had won the 2005 election in Liberia?

As a former Presidential Candidate, there is a need to clear the air over the irresponsibility quality attributed to you Dr. Korto so as to safeguard your ability to govern or share and inspect responsibilities given you. While it remains factual that President Sirleaf is the Boss of Dr. Korto, classifying Dr. Korto and his entire deputies as irresponsible clearly taint the credibility and characters of these educated individuals.

On the other hand, there is also the need for Dr. Korto as a Politician to clear the air over the irresponsibility character attributed to him. Remember, statement alluded to individual’s credibility without prompt response may likely follow them in the future.

The Ministry of Education is just a section of the entire administration of the country and branding Dr. Korto as irresponsible person only indicate his inability to run the affairs of the whole country. The actions against the heads at the Ministry of Education should also be extended to other institutions in government.

Significant percentage of people employed in government institutions usually go free from the inability or refusal of their Bosses to monitor them thereby impeding the needed results expected from such output. “I believed the action against the heads at the Ministry of Education will signal warning to other heads of government institution to dedicate responsibility and further monitor such responsibility.”

President’s Apology Receives Mixed Reactions

… Imam Wants Broh Apologize But Mayor Assures More Cooperation

The apology by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to Islamic leaders and Muslims of Liberia on Tuesday has controversially been greeted by members of the public.

A radio talkshow on the SKY 107 FM in Monrovia Wednesday showed that members of the public are divided on the President’s stance taken in the wake of the Mary Broh-led Presidential Taskforce’s clearing of some Muslims from the sidewalks around the Benson Street Central Mosque during a Ramadan worship service in Monrovia. The Special Presidential Taskforce was set up to give Monrovia a facelift.

Most of the callers on the phone-in talkshow said the President’s dissolution of the Mary Broh-led Special Taskforce and the apology on Tuesday by Madam Sirleaf when she visited Ramadan Fast worshipers at the Mosque was bias on ground that the Presidential taskforce was performing the function for which it was established and did not enter the Mosque to disorganize or disturb the Muslims.

“If Madam Sirleaf should apologize to Muslim worshipers, why didn’t she also apologized to the churches affected first by Madam Broh’s cleaning up exercises or the Seven Day Adventist Church whose Saturday worship services were disturbed by the cleaning and clearing campaign of the Presidential taskforce?” a caller asked.

The caller told the presenter of the show that Madam Broh’s Special Taskforce had acted against Adventist worshipers and broke down some Christian structures without any apology to the Seven Day Adventist or the Churches all in the name of cleaning the city, saying that apologizing to Muslims who sat on sidewalks to create filths and were cleared by the Taskforce is an indication of a bias.

Other callers on the show who share the same views said the Broh Presidential Taskforce should not have been dissolved; instead it was Madam Broh who should have been dismissed for overacting on presidential mandate.

Some others, however, noted that the President did well to dissolve the Broh-led Presidential. The callers said the Broh-led Taskforce was not necessary and constitute a waste of public resources, considering the constitution of the complete structure of the Monrovia City Corporation of which Madam Broh is acting Mayor.

“The Monrovia City Corporation is responsible for enforcement of city ordinances; what is the need then for a Presidential taskforce?” the caller wondered.

However, callers apparently of Muslim background differ, saying that it was necessary that the President apologize. Those who held that view state that the presidential gesture was reuniting and reconciliatory, and noted that Madam Broh did not do well to disturb the Ramadan session of the Muslims at the Benson Street Central Mosque.

The 50-50 talk show featured callers with the divided opinions on the dissolution of the Broh-led Presidential Taskforce and the subsequent apology by President Sirleaf.

The Executive Mansion in a release on September 1, 2009 however said President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has paid a visit to the Benson street mosque in Monrovia, the scene of a standoff Saturday between residents of the area including Muslim worshippers and a Special Presidential Task Force set up to help clean the city. Several residents and worshippers are reported to have suffered inconveniences during the Saturday clean up exercise.

The President, accompanied by the Acting Mayor of Monrovia, Madam Mary Broh, again expressed regrets for the inconveniences worshippers may have experienced during the clean up exercise by the Force. An Executive Manson release says the President reminded the Muslim community that Liberia belongs to everyone. “There is no one person, group, religion or party that is better than the other,” She assured Liberian Muslims.

The President observed that there may be incidence sometimes, that may be unfortunate and lead to tension, “but as leaders, we must find a way to subdue it and go beyond the event in the interest of unity and peace in Liberia.”

President Johnson Sirleaf said her visit to the Mosque was intended to reinforce the message and reconfirm her Government’s commitment to the promotion of peace and unity in the country.

Monrovia Acting Mayor, Mary Broh, assured the Muslim leaders of more consultation between her office and heads of various groups before enforcing city ordinance in any community.

Sheik Kafumba Konneh, in response, welcomed the visit by the President, describing it as a true manifestation of a true leader. The visit, Sheik Konneh said, is a testimony of the Liberian leader’s commitment to the promotion of peace, security, happiness and unity among Liberians.

He accepted the President’s apology on behalf of the Muslim Community, promising that the Community and Muslim leaders will cooperate with authorities of the Monrovia City Corporation to ensure that the city remains cleaned.

The visit by the President to the Mosque followed a meeting Sunday between the leadership of the Muslim Community and the Liberian leader, following concerns over the reported stand-off Saturday between residents of the Benson Street community and the Special President Task Force during a routine clean up exercise.

The Force has since been dissolved by the President, on grounds that it is no longer necessary, now that the City Corporation has put in place a structure to carry out the functions for which the Task Force was set up.

Meanwhile, an online Liberian media outlet, the FrontPageAfrica reported that despite the President's apology, Muslims at the Mosque where the weekend incident occurred are demanding that Broh herself apologize for the incident which took place during the observance of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“She ordered her men to step the whole food. Just as the first person’s food was placed in his palm, her guards began stepping the food,” Imam Mohammed Sheriff, the head of the mosque said.

Iman Mohammed Sheriff, representing the chief iman and residing for the five-daily prayer described the Acting City Major’s action as an ‘attack on Islam’. He quoted Broh as saying, “These people are dirty. Your take down the whole shit down” as food donated by President Ellen Johson-Sirleaf to the Muslim community that same day was being distributed.

The Imam continued: “She ordered her men to step the whole food. Just as the first person’s food was placed in his palm, her guards began stepping the food”, the head of the mosque said which, according to him, led to hundreds of Muslims being unable to end their fasts that Saturday.

Iman Sheriff said the incident took place on Saturday, August 29 at exactly 6:30PM as muslims gathered to break their daily fast during this period of Ramadan.

He said Broh ignored a stockpile of dirt that gathered directly across from the mosque but rather chose to abuse them at their worship place which was very clean as food was being served.

Meanwhile, Iman Sheriff confirmed that the Liberian leader apologized on behalf of Broh to the entire Muslim community during their Sunday’s meeting with her. However, the Imam said, they told the President to make the apology an open one to the entire public on radio stations,” according to the FrontPageAfrica online magazine.

The “President’s apology” is not enough for the Muslim community which is demanding that the controversial Acting Major makes an open apology. The imam insisted, saying, “Let Madame Broh herself apologize to us for her personal grudge against us, Muslims. We are expecting her to come here either today or tomorrow to do that according to information we received.”

The iman revealed that the Acting Major’s attack is an anticipated and planned one as she had earlier promised to ‘rage clean-up’ against the Benson and Newport Streets mosques. According to him, she made the threatening remarks when she and her team had earlier visited two nearby meat shops owned by Malians on August 24th (Flag Day).

Haja Aisha who was brutalized during Saturday's melee says she was refused treatment at a local clinic Malag Clinic on Mechlin Street. But she was instead referred to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Sinkor by the clinic’s medical staffs.

Haja Aisha, after three days of being “brutalized” during the incident, still appeared very critical and was refused treatment at a local clinic Malag Clinic on Mechlin Street. She was rather referred to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Sinkor by the clinic’s medical staffs.

Addressing his weekly news briefing Monday, Presidential Press Secretary Cyrus Wleh Badio said the incident overshadowed the good intentions of the President who has been identifying with Muslims during the Holy Month of Ramadan. “The incident, it is our understanding, affected some members of the Muslim community who were preparing to break their fast.”

In the aftermath of Saturday’s incident, Muslims reportedly went on the rampage and physically assaulted Broh, recently appointed as Acting Mayor of Monrovia. Eyewitnesses said police sealed off the sections of Benson and Mechlin Streets and Benson/Randall Streets to bring the situation under control.

The President, has meanwhile, dissolved the Special Presidential Task Force with immediate effect. The Force, the President says is no longer necessary, now that the Structure of the Monrovia city Corporation is in place.

Young Professional Program Demands High Standards

… Pres. Sirleaf Points At Good GPA & Community Participation
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says the President Young Professional Program (PYPP) will demand of qualified participants, high standards of performance in academic works and community; reports Bill K. Jarkloh.
The President also said although reward in terms of salaries of participants may not be that too big, participants stand top immensely benefit in its long term agenda. The President spoke at the Monrovia City Hall Thursday when she officially launched the PYPP
The PYPP which aligns with national Capacity Development Strategy is closely coordinated with Liberia’s civil service Agency, and the Ministry of Planning’s Capacity Development Unit. It is being implemented by these relevant government institutions in collaboration with Johns Snow Incorporated (JSI) Liberia.
In her remarks when she launched the program, the President said those that will be qualified will have to have talents that requires of them grade average and community service participation that would pull them out amongst the other from their your communities or in the schools or institutions, so as to be identified as the top ones who have the potential to become professionals.
“It will require talents because on the job their will be learning and knowledge sharing including building skills on computer training programs to enable you to build on the knowledge that is attained from the University,” President Sirleaf noted, indicating that the reward will not be so large in terms of the monthly pay they m ay put themselves as ones favored to go high in service when they shall have applied all the skills to be achieves while on the program.
“Just thing of it in a longer time when you enhance your talents when you work with people that will enable you to grow professionally, you would have put yourself becoming one of favored ones to go high in service when you shall have applied all the skills to be achieves while on the program,” she encourage the prospective participants.
She said the PYPP is one of the initiatives of her administration intended to for capacity building and directed towards using Liberians at home and in the diaspora to foster the country’s development objectives.
She name many other projects sponsored by American billionaire George Soro and others, who committed resources that will enable to incorporate high level Liberian professionals in the diaspora to return home and take up responsible position in government.
“The resources provided,” she said, “enable us to at least extend the opportunity cause to offer government salary as an incentive to come home.”
She also made reference to a program of the UNDP to repatriate Liberians home for a limited period of time which she noted has also providing them a salary scale that is more than the government can provide, and made mention of the Senior Executive Service (SES) Program, one intended to attract Liberians professionals at home and abroad to come and undergo program supported by wide range of donors - bilateral and some foundations - to provide money for the attraction of talents that are needed to carry on the task of managing the development program of Liberia.
The PYPP, a proxy of the Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs – Amara Konneh said, is a full time program and is not a part-time one and required for admission into the two years PYPP program include a current CV or résumé, a most recent college transcript and three letters of recommendations.
Speakers at the occasion, including Deputy Justice Minister for Administration Eva-Mae Mappy Morgan, a Liberian Fellow assigned at the Ministry of Education- Lincoln Ajoku, JSI’s PYPP Program Manager and fellow – Saah Charles N’Tow and Theresa Jordon who is the National Capacity Development Program at the Civil Service Agency have all spoken well of the President’s Young Professional Program.
Mr. Charles N’Tow disclosed how the PYPP will pay the young professionals some US$350 with transportation attached, saying that the first phase of the program is running for the next two years and may be expanded or extended after its first phase.

Lofans Want “Bygone Be Bygone”

…Say Nothing Less Than Forgivingness Will Bring Genuine Peace

Residents of Lofa County have frowned on recommendations by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) suggestion prosecution for of actors of the Liberian war and sanctions against those considered supporters of the wars.

The position of the Lofans followed recent report quoting some Civil Society Organizations that that would revert to the people to generate national consensus regarding the recent recommendations by the TRC providing prosecution and sanctions of people placed in varying categories.

The Lofans from five towns said nothing will bring genuine peace and reconciliation amongst the people than forgivingness, calling on the National Legislature to prudently act on the recommendations of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission in a manner that will not reverse the gains made towards peace and development made.

The Lofans, representing some towns including at a Galamai, Vomemai, Duowoiljallamai, Kaba’s Town, Beteijamai, Korwormai, Bakuma and Voinjama town, said in told a workshop in Voinjama City that it is now time for Liberians to adopt the spirit and attitude of forgivingness which, in their view, would sustain the gains made thus far. The Lofan residents further said that Liberians were tired of war, and noted that there was no need for reintroduction of acrimonies feelings amongst the people under the canopy of reconciling them. Other towns and villages represented at the workshop were Lawalazu, Zanalormai, Kolahun, Zaawadamai, Tennebu, Barkadu and Se-Mata

The spoke while making their input on the topic: Peace & Reconciliation in Post Conflict Liberia within the context of the TRC Recommendations. Most of the 26 participants of the workshop underscored the need for healing and coexistence amongst the people of Liberia instead of the tendency of fear and mixed feelings that have characterized suggestions imbedded in the findings of the TRC.

The TRC recently submitted its findings to the President and the National Legislature providing for the prosecution of warlords and their factional commanders and others labeled plunderers of the national resources during the civil conflict as well as spelling out a 30-year sanction against some public figures said to be sponsors of the civil wars, including President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

“If there is another conflict because people want to punish those who brought war on us, our children’s schools will further be delay, the present spirit of development in the country will die and the women who are always the foremost victims will once again be driven out of their homes into refugee camps while their husbands, children and brothers will be forced into fighting war again,” said Rebecca Samufa of Se-mata.

Farkollie Gayflor of Zanalormai interjected, saying that most of the warlords still have their fighters on the ground, who are suffering unemployment and could be induced into fighting for little or nothing, since most warlords are strategically placed and have bigger earning power that they can use to cause mishap.

“Let us not take for joke threats by the warlord that they will resist prosecution and could fight if they were to be prosecuted; I heard many others arguing that the men they say they are dependinmg on are just figure but in reality not on ground. But why should be believe in this argument in the face of the overwhelming joblessness and the increasing reports of armed robbery – why shouldn’t us think that the criminals could be hired to start a disturbance that could destroy the peace attained now,” Olive Johnson of Voinjama City argued.

Of the 26 participants, only two said the idea of prosecution and sanction for warlords, their followers and their supporters was good and could curb impunity, while the rest disagree, saying “let bygone be bygone.”

In what is considered her first public statement on the findings and Recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says while she has always admitted her supported to former NPFL leader Charles Ghankay Taylor, she has equally expressed remorse to the Liberian people for her “misjudgment” and has enjoyed the people’s confidence by virtue of her election as President.

The President said her early support to Taylor was because of the consideration that she felt the brutality of the “dictatorship” by former President Samuel Kanyon Doe should be challenged, saying nevertheless, “…it was equally clear that when the true nature of Mr. Taylor’s intentions became known, there was no more impassioned critic or strong opponent to him in a democratic process.”

“I have talked about this openly over the past twelve years and expressed remorse to the Liberian people for my misjudgment. In turn, the Liberian people rendered their judgment,” she maintained, saying in 2005, “I was elected President of the Republic of Liberia,” the first female President of Liberia indicated saying that her mandate has become to return hope to the country and to make the children smile again.”

President Sirleaf’s National Independence Day statement in which she made the assertions constitutes her first public statement on the final findings and recommendations of the Truth and Recommendation which linked her to public sanction barring her from public office for 30 years.

President Sirleaf accentuated, “This is as much as I can say to you as I am named in the report for sanction and I have been advised that it would be legally imprudent for me to give a more extensive comment on the report,” noting also,”... my comments could be misinterpreted as an attempt to influence what ever action the National Legislature might take on the report, and I do not intend to do so.

The President, who added that she believes in the wisdom of the Liberian people and is convinced that they will make a proper judgment on the TRC’s Final Report, told the Liberian people that she has dedicated her to navigating a future for Liberia free from war and fear and grounded in individual freedom and opportunity.

“Sometimes, the circumstances were opaque, the distinctions between evil and good were not so clear—this is the nature of conflict and war,” she indicated, noting that when on January 16, 2006 she spoke to the nation, she recognized that the vote for her was a vote for change.

Didn’t I Deserve My Government’s Protection?’

--Liberian Journalists Feels Discriminated

A Liberian journalist says he feels discriminated by the Liberian authorities considering the failure by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate his “illegal dismissal” complaint filed against Mr. Peter Owusu Manu of the Embassy of Ghana.

The Editor of the NEW VISION Newspaper and former Executive Officer for Information at the Embassy of Ghana, Bill K. Jarkloh, is therefore calling on the Minister of Foreign affairs of Liberia to probe his complaint so as to accord him his labor rights under the Liberian and international laws.

Mr. Jarkloh, who accused the Ghanaian diplomat, Mr. Manu, and his collaborators at the Embassy of witch-hunting him, said he was ashamed that a Ghanaian diplomat would abuse the rights of d in eNMBASST, before the Liberian Government through the Foreign Ministry to ensure that the journalist’s labor rights are protected.

Photo: Mr. Manu of the Ghana Embassy

Mr. Bill K. Jarkloh said, “Manu should hide behind so-called diplomatic status to abuse the rights of a Liberian and to also insult and insubordinate authorities at Ministry of Foreign Affairs for seeking redress in favor of a Liberian who has worked and was illegally dismissed without his benefits.

The Journalist said he is disturbed by the apparent lack of interest being exhibited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially the office of the Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs, Cllr. Krubo Kollie, who has been silent and have him running up and down the stairs of the Foreign Ministry for redress. He said the continuous silence and delay to give him redress is dangerously an indication that Liberians working with foreign missions are not protected.

“But I as for me, I insist on protection by my government. The same way government would have had me liable if I offended the Embassy is the same way the Government must protect me if the Embassy a diplomat of the Embassy or the Embassy offends me,” the Liberian journalists lamented. Mr. Jarkloh displayed documents that indicates he was terminated from work at the Embassy of Ghana for was referred to as “Financial Difficulties” and noted that this dismissal was an act of witch-hunt by Mr. Manu and his collaborators at the Embassy which could not have been if an Ambassador was on ground.

Journalist Bill Jarkloh said the lack of interest in his “illegal dismissal” complaint against the Charges d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Ghana is indicative of the lack of the political will on the part of authorities concern to accord protection to Liberians working with diplomatic entities who have been deprived by diplomats or whose rights may be violated and abused.

The journalist said he is utterly ashamed of the weakness of the Offices of Legal Affairs Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Deputy Minister Krubo Kollie, for allowing the Charges Affairs of the Embassy of Ghana, Peter Owusu Manu, to insubordinate and practically insult the authorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia on the alter of seeking protection for a Liberian violated by a diplomat.

Jarkloh recalled that Mr. Manu of the Embassy of Ghana has always bragged that no Liberian authority can act against him in the event of any action he might take and may be considered wrong under the Liberian laws, saying, “Manu threatened that he would terminate my services without my full benefit after the end of the tenure of the Ambassador of Ghana, H. E. F. Adu-Amanfoh, whom Manu thought was protecting the Liberian from terminated from the embassy employ.

According to the journalists Manu acted upon his desire to violate his (Jarkloh’s) labor right, terminating his services under the canopy of “restructuring staff position due to financial difficulties” facing the embassy. The worst of the matter is that Manu did so without paying his four months benefits for the four years of service and the one month in lieu of notice of termination as required by the Liberian Labor laws and the laws of Ghana.
Jarkloh intimated that when Manu was reminded of the five months benefit payment, he said the laws of Liberia could not hold on any action he takes against Liberians working at the Embassy, which Jarkloh said was erroneous and therefore prompted him to have complained to the Ministry of Labor for protection of his right.

However, Mr. Reginald Doe, the Hearing Officer who was assigned Journalist Jarkloh’s case referred the matter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on ground that a Foreign Diplomat was involved, and that the Labor Ministry could not assume jurisdiction as such.
Mr. Doe who documented the case file and forwarded to the Foreign Ministry for attention of Minister Olu Banke King-Akerele who was already out of the country, even though during a follow-up, he was referred to the Office of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Legal Affairs, Cllr. Kruboe Kollie who acknowledge receipt of the case file.

Accordingly, the deputy foreign minister for legal affairs wrote inviting the Ghanaian Embassy Charges d’ Affairs, whose response in a note verbale (diplomatic note) as insulting and insubordinating the authorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The journalist’s concern for protection comes in the wake of a challenged put up by the Ghanaian diplomat, Peter Owusu Manu, against the intervention of Liberian Foreign Ministry authorities into an ‘illegal labor practices’ complaint filed against him by the Mr. Jarkloh, who served the Ghanaian Embassy for four as Executive Officer for Information.

Journalists Jarkloh quoted some staff at Deputy Ministry Kollie’s office as saying that Manu’s performance when he (himself) delivered his Note Verbale defied contemporary diplomacy. Journalists Jarkloh said when Manu took note verbal to Deputy Minister Krubo Kollie’s office, he flung it on the desk of an office staff without a word and walked out ignoring the “who are you” chorus from the staff present at the office, Mr. Jarkloh said he was told.
Cllr. Kollie’s staff intimated to the journalist that it was later discovered that it was one Peter Owusu Manu, a Ghanaian diplomat, responding to a letter from the office of the Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs after the envelope was opened and the contents of the diplomatic note was read. Cllr. Kollie and her staff, according to Mr. Jarkloh, were astonished by such undiplomatic behavior, which they said was insulting to the Foreign Ministry of Liberia.

In his diplomatic note, Manu, instead of honoring the invitation by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the Minister should send her representative at the Embassy of Ghana for any hearing desired of the “illegal dismissal complaint” by Mr. Jarkloh. In his Note Verbal of 4th April 2009 and addressed to the Foreign Minister proper, Manu wrote, “Mission will however welcome any representative from the Foreign Ministry to be briefed on Mr. Jacklor’s past threats of blackmailing of the Mission’s staff in the event of any attempt to terminate his appointment.”

Lorma-Mandingo Conflict Spotlighted

…ZODWOCA Director Stresses the Need for Coexistence

A local NGO, the Zorzor District Women Care (ZODWOCA), has been finding working to resolve a long standing conflict between the Mandingoes and the Lormas in Lofa County The Executive Director of ZODWOCA, madam Agnes Kortimai, told this reporter that it is now time for all Liberians coexist and move forward with the national development agenda of the present administration

She said it was because of this she included the Lorma –Mandingo conflict on the in a recent NED-sponsored workshop which discussed amongst other things, the fundamental rights in the Liberian Constitution, new legal protections against gender-based violence, defending rape victims in local courts, protecting against domestic violence and women’s leadership promotion.

According to her billkjarkloh.wordpress.com, the new world does not call for discrimination, which she said has impeded on the rights of individual to so many things including intermarriage amongst others.

Calling on Lormas and Mandingoes to bury their hatches by accepting each other, Madam Kortimai said for this reason, at the workshop discussions were also centered on “resolving conflicts among the belligerent tribes over hot-blooded issues such as conflict between the Lormas and Mandingoes ethnic groups, property rights, religion, and intermarriage”.

During the workshop, the group exercises, formal and informal presentations, discussions, and exchange of personal experiences formed major parts of the workshop. Workshop facilitators included religious leaders, community women’s leaders, youth’s leaders and ZODWOCA staff.

Addressing the Lorma-Mandingo feud, the workshop reviewed the ethnic problem between the Lormas and the Mandingoes. Some of the speakers, especially a religious leader, who spoke briefly as a facilitator, asked the participants to do with him a research aiming at finding the root causes of said conflict, of which nearly every participant agreed, was the issue of land, .intermarriage and petty jealousy.

Ms. Krubo Deddeh, a Lorma women leader in the clan, told her fellow women that they should be the one to bring peace between the Lormas and the Mandingoes.

Madam Deddeh also alluded to an incident between Lawalazu and Samie Town, in which a youth leader of Samie Town was missing and Samie town was accusing Lawalazu for the youth leader, a situation which she noted has almost resulted to war between the two towns.

Madam Deddeh also said she said that they were prepared to put the past behind them and move forward with live. She also cited the recent program held in Quondi Bondi, a Mandingoes dominated Clan, where the two conflicting tribes made greater gains in enhancing their relation.

Deddeh further cautioned participants of both tribes at the workshop to encourage their respective kinsmen to avoid conflict between their tribes as conflict was not the best solution in solving any problem. “This county/country belongs to every one of us and we should try to live in peace with one another, and that is the only way that we can develop this county, Lofa.” She said.

The Lormas and the Mandingoes in Lofa have not been coexisting since the Lormas accused members of their rival tribe of killing their members of their tribe during the Liberian Civil war. The conflict started far before the Liberian war when the Lormas were claiming ownership of Lofa which the Mandingoes opposed.

During the war, the bitterness that attended the Lormas claim has caused the Mandingoes who were dominant in ULIMO-K and the LURD rebel groups reportedly haunted and killed the Lormas, leading to the formation of the Lofa Defense Force predominantly of the Lormas to prevent themselves from further attacks of the Mandingoes.