FRIENDS OF LIBERIA NEWS DISPATCH
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THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES:
CLLR. JONES GETS FIVE YEARS SUSPENSION
GOL, UN LAUNCH U.S. $37 MILLION APPEAL
PLEDGE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SIGNED
GOVT. ACCOUNTABILITY-OSIWA, IREX, LMC FORM PARTNERSHIP
PSA: (AT BOTTOM OF PAGE)
IU REACHES OUT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
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These items are distributed free of charge courtesy of
Friends of Liberia (FOL) in association with the Liberian
Collections Project (LCP) at Indiana University. To learn
more about Friends of Liberia (including how to join) and
the Liberian Collections Project, please visit our websites
at
http://www.FOL.org and
http://onliberia.org/fol_service.htm.
Contact Friends of Liberia at
liberia@fol.org. Contact the
Liberian Collections Project at
liberia@indiana.edu.
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FOL Trip To Liberia May 2013
Friends of Liberia is coordinating a trip to Liberia for its
members, families and friends. The group will depart the U.S. on
May 4, 2013, and leave Liberia on May 22 or 23, 2013 (or when you
choose to leave). There will be an opportunity to work on service
projects and FOL plans to host receptions in Monrovia and in
Kakata. Meetings will be scheduled with VIPs in Liberia. Most of
the trip's time travelers will be on their own to go visit
favorite places and "old" friends. If you are interested in
joining this trip, send an email to
liberia@fol.org and in the
subject line put: Trip To Liberia 2013. There is still room for
more travelers so if you are interested, please send a non-
refundable deposit of $100 to FOL. Go to
www.fol.org for details.
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HEADLINE: CLLR. JONES GETS FIVE YEARS SUSPENSION
BYLINE: C. WINNIE SAYWAH
DATE: 21 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 21, 2013 (The Inquirer) -- The Supreme Court of Liberia has
adjourned for its October 2012 term of court with several
opinions handed down and judgments rendered against legal
practitioners operating in courts across the country which it
said are exposing the judicial system to disrepute. The court
resumes second working Monday in next month.
The highest court of the land opinion yesterday ordered a legal
consultant of the Jones & Associates Law Firm, Marcus R. Jones,
to restitute in three months the total amount of US$62, 130
established to be in his possession to Reverend Eric Allison, a
senior pastor of the Bardnersville Lutheran Church.
The Supreme Court further ruled that Cllr. Jones who is a
professor of law at the Lewis Arthur Grimes School of Law be
suspended for at least five years from practice directly or
indirectly and if up to such time he still does not produce Rev.
Allison's money, that punishment constitutes disbarment.
The Supreme Court's judgment is in line with a recommendation
sent to that bench for review by the Grievance and Ethics
Committee requesting that Cllr. Jones be barred from practice of
law for at least one year until such time when he shall have made
available the money placed in his possession by his senior
pastor.
During the review by the high court, Cllr. Jones who is also a
former president of the Liberia National Bar Association begged
the Supreme Court to tamper justice with mercy admitting that he
acted not based on an 'attorney/client' relationship but as a
senior evangelist in the Bardnersville Lutheran Church, of which
Allison is his senior pastor.
Although he justified his action apparently because of his
ability to administer the law as he previously served as County
Attorney and Acting Solicitor General, Cllr. Jones relied that
his action being done in good faith was backed by instructions
from his reverend.
He admitted before the full bench of the Supreme Court that he
used some of the US$62,229.98 entrusted to him by his reverend to
foot his bills during the just ended elections even though he had
already deducted his 33 percent legal service fees.
He further explained before the Committee and also the full bench
of how he placed Rev. Allison's money in his personal check
account instead of opening a savings account and that he was
unable to state exactly how much was left in said account but
from what he thinks the approximate amount should be in a tune of
US$40,000.
The Grievance and Ethics Committee's recommendations among other
things called for the suspension of Cllr. Jones from legal
practices in the country for one year and until such time he is
made to pay the full amount of US$62,229.98.
But, Cllr. Jones even pleaded with the bench by saying, "I want
this court to be kind enough in handling the matter, taking into
consideration the time that Rev. Allison requested the US$17,000,
was just when the national elections had ended."
Rev. Allison lost his wife Amelia Allison in a Kenya Airways
plane crash on January 30, 2000 and being that Cllr. Jones holds
a senior position in the church and with his vast legal
knowledge, he volunteered not as a lawyer of the Jones &
Associates through Cllr. Jones who should have been contracted
and terms of legal services provided his client, instead as a
senior evangelist in whom the pastor had reposed great
confidence.
Cllr. Jones successfully negotiated for an amount of US$182,000
with the Airways for the benefits of Rev. Allison and his three
children, an action which was done out of court with no cost to
the counselor except that he told the court that he made several
telephone calls while in Ivory Cost and at home pursuing
settlement into the matter.
Upon receipt of the said amount, Cllr. Jones requested a 33
percent as his legal fee which was accepted by Rev. Allison also
in good faith although it was not initially negotiated however,
Cllr. Jones, being a respected lawyer, failed to promptly account
for the balance of US$62,229.98 his client had entrusted him with
to the extent that at a point in time, he even issued the
Reverend bad check and or refused to give him his own money upon
prompt request.
In its in-house cleaning process, the Supreme Court has also
barred Atty. James K. Saybay of the Gbarnga, Bong County
jurisdiction from practicing law directly or indirectly for a
period of one year, a punishment which is in line with the
recommendation of the Grievance and Ethics Committee.
Atty. Saybay's problem began when he entered a land sale deal
with one Mark Thomas at which time he decided to give his parcel
of land on the Ganta-Gbarnga Highway containing two unfinished
houses to Mark for US$12,000. Mark paid him US$9,000 up front and
promised to pay the balance of US$3,000 in two weeks.
Following some time, Mark could no longer interface with the
attorney to pay the balance and get his deed but on a fateful
day, he contacted Atty. Saybay and engaged him saying that he was
prepared to settle his balance obligation and get his land but
Atty. Saybay refused on grounds that he had changed his mind.
Mark being tired of being misled took his complaint to the then
Chief Justice, Johnnie Lewis who transferred him to the Grievance
and Ethics Committee chaired by Cllr. Pearl Brown Bull.
The court has also suspended Resident Circuit Judge of Criminal
Court "B" Korboi Nuta for six month without pay, allowances and
all other amenities that are provided to a judge. This decision
is against a complaint filed to the Judicial Inquiry Commission
(JIC) since February, 2012 involving a resident of the Bong Mines
Bridge, Stanley Y. Suah.
When the review of the case was heard by the full bench, the
basis of Judge Nuta's legal representative was that there was no
evidence that he acted with dishonesty but the high court said
Judge Nuta's action in the matter at bar proved him to be a shady
character.
The legal counsel of Judge Nuta told the court in their brief
that the recommendation made to that bench by the JIC was not
about the money but time describing the case as an economic
exercise because Suah had been given his deed while Judge Nuta
was refunded for securing the land documents from the loan club.
Judge Nuta's claim was that the money loaned Suah was from a club
and within the 12 months it had accrued full interests and the
action of Judge Nuta by rescuing a neighbor should not be
described as doing business yet the Supreme Court termed it as
'business pursuit' which is disallowed under the code governing
judges.
They further informed the court that Judge Nuta acted in good
faith until the matter became controversial and he was simply
helping a neighbor but the friend of court's brief informed the
court that Nuta being a lawyer had to do everything to defend
himself.
The investigation Commission informed the court that Judge Nuta
acted in violation of Canon #6 while the high Court further
accused Judge Nuta of showing no remorse before the JIC but the
judge said he breached no ethical transgression.
This case is about Suah who was greatly in need of LD42, 000 and
went to his neighbor, Judge Nuta pleading with him to credit
same. Nuta thinking that he was helping a neighbor in good faith,
credited him the amount but instead of giving him the needed
amount, he gave only LD31,000 with an amount of LD11,000 deducted
as interest up front.
He did not take Suah to the loan club to stand as middle person
against the collateral of the land deeds given to him by Suah or
to allow Suah agree in person to the terms of the club that
warrants creditors being given funds instead he told the JIC that
he added his own deed to the deeds provided for Suah so that the
money can be provided. However, Judge Nuta said the accrued
interest put the amount owed by Suah to US$142,000 which the
court said was unrealistic.
For Judge Emery Paye, the Supreme Court has rendered a period of
six months suspension and script off his vehicle and all
amenities for entering into a judgment of default, failure to
meet standards of the judicial canon and for being off course in
handling the law.
The high court accused Judge Paye of being in violation of canon
8, 9 and 10; he did not promote justice in that he failed to
exercise due course because on the same day he disposed of the
issues of law, on the same day he conducted jury trial, on the
same day he brought down his judgment having failed to apply
constitutional rights knowing that he ruled a trial by jury.
The high court said the judge should have known the law that
during a jury hearing, judgment of the court is heard four days
after and he should have filed an action and decide the case
since one party was already dead instead he relied on returns
made when services made was to a dead person.
Judge Paye was handling a case that had dangled since 1968 under
the Tolbert regime and he unsuccessfully passed on through other
regimes since then up to 2005 when T.C Gould then Solicitor
General picked the case and called for a conference with Cecelia
H. Daniels and one Rev. Chauncey Karngar. When Cllr. Gould was
leaving his post, he reassigned the case.
In the wisdom of the court, the Grievance and Ethics Committee
should have conducted an investigation with T.C. Gould. However,
the Supreme Court reversed the Committee's recommendation against
Judge Paye and suspended him reminding him that for next offence
he shall be removed from office. Meanwhile, all punitive measures
against the judges and lawyers take immediate effect.
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HEADLINE: GOL, UN LAUNCH U.S. $37 MILLION APPEAL
DATE: 20 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 20, 2013 (The New Dawn) -- The Government of Liberia and the
United Nations Tuesday launched a nearly US$37 million appealed
to meet what they say are pressing humanitarian needs of
Liberia's most vulnerable communities during 2013.
The UN "Critical Humanitarian Gaps (CHG) 2013 humanitarian
response plan" aims to provide vital humanitarian assistance to
over half a million people at risk, including nearly 117,000
children.
Liberia continues to face significant humanitarian challenges.
Nearly half of the country's population lives in extreme poverty
surviving on less than US$ 1 per day. More than 64,000 Ivorian
refugees remain in Liberia since post-election violence in Cote
d'Ivoire forced them to flee and 25,000 former Liberian refugees
who returned home last year continue to need essential
humanitarian assistance.
The UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Liberia and
Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr Aeneas
C. Chuma, said: "We call on donors to support the humanitarian
appeal we are launching today."
"We need nearly US$ 37 million to provide vital water, nutrition,
food security and healthcare services to families at risk.
Without much needed donor assistance Liberia's most vulnerable
communities will suffer. If donors act now we will be able to
reach those communities who need our help the most. "
The UN CHG 2013 plan focuses primarily on the four-refugee
hosting counties in Southeastern Liberia; Nimba, Grand Gedeh,
Maryland, and River Gee. Bomi, Grand Kru and Montserado counties
will also be a focus for UN assistance under the plan launched
today given their poor emergency indicators for food security,
water, sanitation and hygiene services.
The CHG 2013 is a humanitarian transition planning tool which
aims to consolidate and sustain humanitarian investments made
during the emergency phase of the humanitarian crisis brought
about by the massive influx of Ivorian refugees in 2010/2011.
It aims to address pressing needs of Ivorian refugees and their
Liberian hosts in communities in the four-border counties with
Cote d'Ivoire, those vulnerable in communities with poor
emergency indicators, as well as help repatriate and reintegrate
back into Liberian society. As an appeal instrument, the CHG aims
to coordinate efforts of participating agencies to appeal for
funds cohesively, not competitively.
The 2013 Liberia CHG was prompted by persistent vulnerabilities
affecting Liberians and Ivorian refugees in communities as a
result of a 62% funding shortfall in the Liberia 2012
Consolidated Appeal (CAP).
Acknowledging the development setting under which this particular
humanitarian programming is taking place, the CHG participating
agencies decided to use Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
standard emergency indicators to prioritize needs and
intervention zones.
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HEADLINE: PLEDGE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SIGNED
DATE: 22 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 22, 2013 (The NEWS) -- President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has
signed a pledge demonstrating the Government of Liberia's
commitment to end violence against women and girls, thus making
her the 19th Head of State to sign such document. According to an
Executive Mansion release, the signing of the commitment is in
keeping with the UN Secretary-General's campaign code named:
"UNITE to End Violence against Women."
UN Women is leading a commitment drive for Governments to
publicly express their commitment and dedication to ending
violence against women and girls.
At the signing ceremony Tuesday at her Foreign Ministry office,
President Sirleaf concurred with the global campaign that it is
the responsibility of all governments to protect their citizens
while intensifying efforts to end impunity against violence.
As she signed the commitment, this is what she said: "I am
committing Liberia to three pledges: adopt domestic violence
legislation and ensure its implementation by relevant state
authorities; ensure that funds are allocated in the National
Budget for the implementation of the National Action Plan on
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence; and upscale efforts with the
Liberian Justice System to improve women and girls' access to
justice and to end impunity for violence against women and
girls."
President Sirleaf instructed the Gender and Development Minister,
Julia Duncan Cassell to ensure that the commitment is well
publicized and, at the same time, shares it with all the branches
of Government for their full participation in its implementation.
She also mandated Minister Duncan Cassell to carry Liberia's
pledge to the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of
Women in New York, slated for March which will be held under the
theme: "Ending Violence against Women." Liberia is expected to
chair this Session.
Speaking after the signing, the UN Women Representative to
Liberia, Madam Sheelagh Kathy Mangones, praised President Sirleaf
for always demonstrating her commitment to protecting the rights
of women and girls.
Madam Mangones expressed support to the Liberian Government in
its drive to protect citizens, especially women and girls, as the
UN's zero tolerance will always be upheld in collaboration with
individual governments.
For her part, Gender and Development Minister, Mrs. Duncan
Cassell described the instrument as security for women and girls.
She promised to work with the Ministry of Justice to ensure that
those who violate the rights of women and girls are prosecuted in
keeping with law.
She vowed that her Ministry will stimulate programs with
individual women and groups to ensure that women and girls are
protected from violence by their male counterparts.
Statistics show that one among every three women across the world
will be raped or beaten in their lifetime, which is equal to one
billion women.
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HEADLINE: GOVT. ACCOUNTABILITY-OSIWA, IREX, LMC FORM PARTNERSHIP
DATE: 22 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 22, 2013 (The Analyst) -- The Liberia Media Center (LMC),
Open Society Institute for West Africa (OSIWA) and the
International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) yesterday
launched two distinct initiatives in Monrovia.
Launching the projects, the Executive Director of the LMC, Mr.
Lawrence Randall said they are aimed at increasing transparency
in the Liberian government and other sectors of the Liberian
society.
Mr. Randall named the initiatives as, a two-way Automated
Response SMS and Constituency Communication Platform (CCP), both
of which are expected to be operated less than one umbrella name
'SMS Transparency and Public Engagement'.
According to Mr. Randal, the program will serve as a platform on
which citizens would "receive information on their various
budgetary allocation and monitor service delivery at all levels."
He noted that the project is carefully designed Mr. Randall to
support the Liberian government "Open Budget Initiative (OBI)."
The LMC Boss added, "Constituency Communication Platform (CCP) is
a medium through which citizens can share information on social-
economic and political issues via SMS at no coast. It also has an
opinion poll feature and a project-tracking component which is
being supported by IREX with funding from USAID".
"While the 'two-way Automated Response SMS system is an open
budget platform designed to transmit current expenditure and
information at district, county, municipal national and sectional
levels via SMS on demand been supported by OSIWA and implemented
by LMC and IREX" Mr. Randall told reporters," he explained.
In a brief remark during the launch, OSIWA Country Director Madam
Massa Crayton lauded LMC for the innovation. Madam Crayton
described the initiative as a means of taking Liberians deeper
into transparency.
With four data centers based in Lofa, Grand Bassa, Bomi and Nimba
counties, the first phase of the project is expected to last for
18 months.
OSIWA is funding the project which cost is put at US$159,000.00
for a year and six months.
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HEADLINE: 'AFL IN MALI REFLECTS NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS'
BYLINE: JOHN MOMOH
DATE: 18 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 18, 2013 (The Informer) -- Defense Minister Brownie Samukai
has strongly defended the logic behind Liberia sending troops to
Mali, who he said is supported by Her Excellency President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf and endorsed by both Houses of the national
Legislature.
Addressing the regular press briefing of the Ministry of
Information, Culture, Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) at the press
Hall of the Information Ministry last Thursday, the defense
minister reiterated that this is not the first time that Liberian
troops have been embedded alongside their colleagues in the sub-
region, citing as an example the Congo crisis in 1963.
"We were reciprocating the help that Mali rendered our country
when Liberia was in civil crisis in 1990. Liberia's participation
as part of the ECVOWAS peace keeping force is in Liberia's
strategic military interests as Mali is only separated from
Liberia by Guinea. The saying goes that when a neighbor's house
in fire, it is good to help put it off," he said.
In an answer to a reporter's question later, Mr. Samukai
explained that Liberia's troop contribution is not based on
financial considerations, but in solidarity with the people of
Mali who sent their sons and daughters to Liberia in the 1990s to
help restore peace, adding that it is within that context that
President Sirleaf decided on sending an infantry platoon sized
AFL troops to Mali.
"When troops are deployed on a mission, their support cost is
taken care of by the body that sent them, in this case the ECOWAS
which is going to determine their feeding, and other needs such
as vehicles and water which will stand at about US$1million for
the Liberian unit. Nigeria, Guinea, Ivory Coast will send
battalion while Sierra Leone will also contribute troops," he
said.
Minister Samukai intimated to the press that Liberia is
profoundly saddened over the death of eleven Guinean military
officers that perished in a plane crash near the Roberts
International Airport in the morning of the 56th Armed Forces
Day, adding that under appropriate military honors the bodies of
the deceased colleagues including the Chief of Staff of the Armed
forces of Guinea have been escorted to Guinea.
Explaining the preparedness of the AFL in the event of the
expected withdrawal of the United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL), the multi-national peace-keeping force that was deployed
in the country in 2003 to restore peace and stability in war-
ravaged Liberia, Defense minister Samukai expressed satisfaction
over the AFL's robust capacity building efforts.
He said more training is going on to replace those that are
leaving the army, adding that the Chinese government has provided
over US$4.5 million to build the capacity of the AFL, with part
of the amount donated as logistics and arms and ammunition, while
the government has provided over a million U.S dollars to begin
the rehabilitation of the John H. Tubman Todee military academy.
Brownie Samukai expressed profound gratitude to the government of
the United States for living up to their pledge to play a lead
partner role in rebuilding the AFL. "We grateful that AFL
soldiers are beneficiaries of U.S scholarships for training in
various academic and military disciplines in several US
institutions," he said.
According to Defense Minister Samukai, it is an enduring
relationship on the basis of the common understanding and
interest to safeguard the security of our people. We have
received the full support of the U.S government in AFRICOM, "28
scholarships ten of which are to upgrade the capacity of junior
officers in various US universities. Some Liberians are training
as pilots, and we are pleased to acknowledge the academic
excellence of a female pilot Major Geraldine George," the Defense
ministry boss noted.
He also mentioned the outstanding success of 'Operation Restore
Hope', the code name for the deployment of troops in the En part
of Liberia, which he said is now in its third deployment phase in
conjunction with the Police and the Bureau of Immigration and
naturalization (BIN). "We have no incident of casualty so far;
and reports indicate good civilian-military relations around the
border especially in the Gbeh River," he said.
"Many were doubtful of their performance in the South Eastern
region. But they have demonstrated how ready they are to defend
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this nation. They
have made us proud and enabled us to defend our democracy," the
Defense minister said.
The Defense Minister set the record straight over speculations
that a Liberian female pilot and military officer undergoing
training in the United States, Major Geraldine George is tipped
to be the next AFL Chief of Staff. He thanked the current
Nigerian AFL Chief of staff for a job well done and clarified
that it is the prerogative of the Commander in Chief and the
President to appoint the next Chief of Staff, adding that a
Liberian Chief of Staff will be appointed in 2014.
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HEADLINE: U.S. DELEGATION IMPRESSED WITH AFL OPERATION
BYLINE: ALVA M. WOLOKOLIE
DATE: 20 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 20, 2013 (The Inquirer) -- An 18-man military delegation from
the United States of America visiting the country has showered
praises on the Minister of Defense and his staff for the smooth
running of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). The delegation
headed by Retired General Hank Chiles told reporters yesterday
minutes after an interactive discussion with Defense Minister
Brownie Samukai that the delegation is impressed with the
progress being made by the government and people of Liberia to
maintain the AFL thus far.
Retired General Chiles lauded the Liberian people for
participating in the process that led to the recruitment and
training of the gallant men and women of the new AFL.
General Chiles acknowledged that Rome was not built in one day
and as such the progress made so far shows that Liberia is on the
right path.
"You are making progress and undertaking lots of progress. We
have this saying in our country that Rome was not built in a
day's time. We appreciate your insightful explanation and thank
you for being part of the solution," Retired General Chiles told
Minister Samukai.
The US Retired General presented a medal to Minister Samukai
depicting his effort and significant contribution to the
transformation of the AFL.
Earlier before General Chiles comment, Minister Samukai
highlighted some of the reforms that have been undertaken by the
ALF and the Ministry of Defense. Minister Samukai commended the
government and people of the United States for the huge support
that is being given to the people of Liberia especially the
military.
Although some progress has been made, the Minister pointed out
several challenges faced by the AFL. He outlined accommodation,
rate of attrition, logistics, among others as some of the
challenges being experienced by the new force.
Minister Samukai told the delegates about the command structure
of the AFL including the selection of a Liberian Chief of Staff
by 2014. He explained about the AFL deployment in Mali to assist
with the peace keeping mission in that West African state.
The US military delegation has 15 of its members who are expected
to be future generals of the US military. They are undergoing a
capstone course. The objective of the course is to ensure that
new GO/FOs and their civilian equivalents understand the
fundamentals of joint doctrine and joint operation art and how to
integrate the elements of national military strategies. The
course also teaches fellows how joint interagency and
multinational operations support national strategic goals and
objectives. The course is five weeks in length, 12 days of which
are dedicated to overseas field study.
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HEADLINE: WAR VICTIMS' PLIGHT ON INTERNATIONAL AGENDA
DATE: 20 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 20, 2013 (The New Republic Liberia) -- The state of human
rights and justice for victims of the Liberian civil conflict
will be put, very soon, on an international agenda as the
Coalition for Justice in Liberia (CJL), a U.S.-Liberia based
human rights advocacy organization, in collaboration with
international human rights organizations is expected to hold a
series of conferences and training during the months of March and
April.
A statement issued to the effect said the conference which takes
place under the theme "The State of Human Rights and Justice for
War Victims in Liberia", seeks to to raise public awareness about
the overall state of human rights in Liberia and bring
international attention to the neglected issue of justice for
victims of the Liberian civil war.
A CJL statement recalled the elapse of ten years since the end of
the brutal civil war that claimed more than 250,000 lives and
destroyed major infrastructures.
More besides, the entity also recalled it is well over two years
since the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
completed and submitted its report detailing the root causes of
the Liberian civil conflict, the persistence culture of impunity,
but these recommendations have largely remained unaddressed and
have not been given adequate attention by policymakers in
Liberia.
In addition to calling attention to the lack of justice for war
victims, the organization noted that a major component of the
conference will be to provide training to the war victims.
"The goal is to empower Liberians with information, knowledge,
and skills they need to engage in self-advocacy, champion their
own cause, and take ownership of their fight for justice. The
Minnesota-based Human Rights Advocates organization, will conduct
this training on Friday, April 19, 2013, at the Liberian Youth
Center based in Minneapolis<," the statement under the signature
of Lovetta Tugbeh, CJL, Interim Director indicates.
"Further, the First in the Series of this conference is an
Outreach Forum planned to be held at African Cultural Alliance of
North America (ACANA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday,
March 31, 2013. Liberians in Philadelphia will be engaged and
will have an opportunity to discuss legal actions that are
available to ensure that those who were responsible in the
commission of crimes against humanity, abuse, and torture, are
held accountable and brought to justice."
According to the organization, the internationally-renowned
Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) will facilitate this
forum, adding "This outreach effort is expected to set the stage
for the main conference scheduled to be held at Brooklyn Center
Community Center (Constitutional hall) on Saturday, April 20,
2013 in Minneapolis, Minnesota."
"This august human rights conference which is the first of its
kind being held since the end of the 14 years brutal civil war is
expected to bring together Liberians from across the United
States, including the victims of war, human rights advocates, and
international human rights organizations, leading the fight for
justice for victims of war."
Among the participants attending this conference are former
members of the TRC, the Center for Justice and Accountability
(CJA), Human Rights Advocates (HRA), University of Minnesota
Center for Human Rights, United States Department of Justice
(DOJ), Center for Victims of Torture, Liberian faith based
community and a host of others.
The state of human rights and justice for victims of the Liberian
civil conflict will be put, very soon, on an international agenda
as the Coalition for Justice in Liberia (CJL), a U.S.-Liberia
based human rights advocacy organization, in collaboration with
international human rights organizations is expected to hold a
series of conferences and training during the months of March and
April.
A statement issued to the effect said the conference which takes
place under the theme "The State of Human Rights and Justice for
War Victims in Liberia", seeks to to raise public awareness about
the overall state of human rights in Liberia and bring
international attention to the neglected issue of justice for
victims of the Liberian civil war.
A CJL statement recalled the elapse of ten years since the end of
the brutal civil war that claimed more than 250,000 lives and
destroyed major infrastructures.
More besides, the entity also recalled it is well over two years
since the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
completed and submitted its report detailing the root causes of
the Liberian civil conflict, the persistence culture of impunity,
but these recommendations have largely remained unaddressed and
have not been given adequate attention by policymakers in
Liberia.
In addition to calling attention to the lack of justice for war
victims, the organization noted that a major component of the
conference will be to provide training to the war victims.
"The goal is to empower Liberians with information, knowledge,
and skills they need to engage in self-advocacy, champion their
own cause, and take ownership of their fight for justice. The
Minnesota-based Human Rights Advocates organization, will conduct
this training on Friday, April 19, 2013, at the Liberian Youth
Center based in Minneapolis<," the statement under the signature
of Lovetta Tugbeh, CJL, Interim Director indicates.
"Further, the First in the Series of this conference is an
Outreach Forum planned to be held at African Cultural Alliance of
North America (ACANA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday,
March 31, 2013. Liberians in Philadelphia will be engaged and
will have an opportunity to discuss legal actions that are
available to ensure that those who were responsible in the
commission of crimes against humanity, abuse, and torture, are
held accountable and brought to justice."
According to the organization, the internationally-renowned
Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA), will facilitate this
forum, adding "This outreach effort is expected to set the stage
for the main conference scheduled to be held at Brooklyn Center
Community Center (Constitutional hall) on Saturday, April 20,
2013 in Minneapolis, Minnesota."
"This august human rights conference which is the first of its
kind being held since the end of the 14 years brutal civil war is
expected to bring together Liberians from across the United
States, including the victims of war, human rights advocates, and
international human rights organizations, leading the fight for
justice for victims of war."
Among the participants attending this conference are former
members of the TRC, the Center for Justice and Accountability
(CJA), Human Rights Advocates (HRA), University of Minnesota
Center for Human Rights, United States Department of Justice
(DOJ), Center for Victims of Torture, Liberian faith based
community and a host of others.
==============================
==============================
====
HEADLINE: U.S.$29 MILLION FOR NOCAL
DATE: 21 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 21, 2013 (The New Dawn) -- The National Oil Company of
Liberia or NOCAL has made public its 2012/2013 budget in the tune
of nearly US$29 Million dollars.
A statement issued in Monrovia authorized by NOCAL Vice President
for Public Affairs Israel Akinsanya Wednesday reveals that
inflows include income from annual training, social welfare
contributions, hydrocarbon development fund, assets transfer, bid
round application fees, and T.G.S. NOPEC agreements; while
outflows or the expenditure category, a very high percentage of
the proposed annual budget is allotted for capacity building
including scholarships, capital expenditure and development to
improve NOCAL's capability.
The release reveals that within the inflows or receipt category
of NOCAL 2012/2013 budget, social welfare contributes $1,450,000;
hydrocarbon development fund $375,000.00; annual training
$1,075,000.00 and T.G.S. NOPEC Agreement $18,405,533.40.
Other incomes include interest on time deposit $300,000.00; bid
round application fees $2,500,000.00; miscellaneous revenues or
JOC fees $194,000 and assets transfer and transactional income
amount to $2,500,000.00.
Additionally in the inflows category, NOCAL said surface rental
fees by the Government of Liberia contributes $1,102,446.78;
University of Liberia $775,000 and renewable energy funds
$300,000, with a grand total revenue of $28, 976,980.18.
However, the grand total expenditure according to the NOCAL
release equally amounts to the grand total income of US$28,
976,980.18.
The release quotes NOCAL Senior Vice President and Vice President
for Finance, Marie E. Leigh Parker as saying "Liberia does not
receive any oil revenues - all income at this stage is generated
by fees for the use of seismic data by other parties."
Madam Parker said contributions are made by private sector
partners for corporate social responsibility, training, among
others. She said NOCAL will continue to maintain its commitment
in meeting its obligations, regarding the Liberia Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI).
==============================
==============================
====
HEADLINE: CELLCOM, TOTAL LIBERIA LAUNCH NEW BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
DATE: 20 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 20, 2013 (Heritage) -- The Managements of Cellcom GSM and
TOTAL Liberia on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 formally launched a
new business partnership. They launched the new business
partnership at a news conference held in Monrovia. Speaking at
the launch of the latest business initiative, Madam Rema Bull,
the Retail Supervisor of Total, said: "The management of TOTAL
Liberia is pleased to announce a business partnership with
Cellcom for the provision of all Cellcom products and services in
its service stations."
According to Madam Bull, this partnership is a strategic venture
that has brought together two strong service providers from two
distinctively important business sectors-Petroleum and
Telecommunication. She said they are most proud that the union
based on their mutual goals that strongly focus on the
decentralization of professional and quality product and service
to every Liberian in and outside of Monrovia and a business norm
where services to customers must be convenient and satisfactory
at all times.
"We, the marketing and services team of TOTAL Liberia, reassures
our customers and the general public of our commitment to
continuously develop and offer diversified services in our retail
outlet that meet your needs," she noted. "We take this
opportunity to remind you that when you turn to TOTAL, you are
welcomed into a service station and not gas station or filling
station. We do not only meet your fuel needs, but offer you a
service package that you can always refer to as A visit to TOTAL
for a one-stop-shop," the Retail Supervisor of Total, stated.
"Our first five years in the retail petroleum sector in Liberia
has been intense with development and expansion. Today, we have
22 service stations in eight counties (Grand Cape Mount, Bomi,
Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Nimba, Lofa and Sinoe) and a
target to launch in three additional new counties this year," the
Retail Supervisor of Total further stated.
"In addition to these developments, we now target to begin a
vigorous campaign to expand the scope of the services we offer.
We are confident that the partnership with Cellcom for this
business model is a positive step in the right direction and you
can be sure of satisfactory services from major leaders in the
Petroleum and Telecommunication industry," she added.
For his part, the Corporate Communications Strategist Cellcom,
Dr. Kimmie Weeks, who also addressed the news conference, hailed
the latest partnership between Cellcom and TOTAL Liberia.
He recalled that the two companies. He bragged that since Cellcom
broke the monopoly seven years, the company had and continues to
serve the Liberian people for which it came to Liberia. Dr. Weeks
assured that the Liberian people that Cellcom would continue to
make communication more affordable and reachable for them, saying
this is being manifested by the many communication services
undertaken by the company, including the Scratch & Fuel, Cellcom
4G, Fiber Cable etc.
Dr. Weeks disclosed that the new partnership has already kicked
off in two of TOTAL Liberia service stations in Monrovia and
would be extended to the rest of TOTAL Liberia stations.
Meanwhile, Cellcom Shop provides several services at the
stations. They are: Internet Packages, Scratch Cards, SIM Cards,
Mobile Phones, GD devices and Easy Transfer.
==============================
==============================
====
HEADLINE: ELLEN MEETS SOUTH KOREAN INVESTORS
DATE: 20 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 20, 2013 (The New Dawn) -- A high-powered South Korean
business delegation visiting Liberia has expressed interest in
investing in the areas of roads, information communication
technology, health care, tourism and transport.
An Executive Mansion release said during the courtesy call at her
Foreign Ministry Office, the Chief Executive Officer James Juhee
Han, of the business group known as MakeGroup, said his company's
investment interest in Liberia is predicated on the level of
political and economic stability achieved by this government
since Madam Sirleaf came to power.
"Madam President, my company and I are exceptionally pleased to
meet with you, especially the first woman African President. Your
leadership has led to a great change in the country," Mr. Han
asserted.
Mr. Han, who has investment interests in West Africa, said he
would love to jump-start his investment in Liberia, having
visited Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone for possible investment.
"Because of Liberia's achievements," he said, "our investment
interest here is immediate and we would be glad to be given the
green light for commencement in the areas mentioned."
Responding to the MakeGroup CEO, President Sirleaf said Liberia
is open for business, and she welcomed the delegation's interest
as long as it was a legitimate entity and falls within Liberia's
laws, policies and agenda.
The Liberian leader urged CEO Han to meet with the relevant
government agencies in finalizing their investment ambition. She
suggested that the delegation meet with officials at the National
Investment Commission and negotiate investment incentives.
President Sirleaf also called on the company to engage the
Liberian Business Registry if it is not interested in investment
incentives.
"While I welcome investment in Liberia, I also want you to be
focused in your investment. Instead of having interest in
multiple areas, it's good to have interest in at least one or two
areas and do it well and the soonest," the President urged. The
delegation concurred, and promised to return to Liberia shortly
to begin their investment engagements.
==============================
==============================
====
HEADLINE: MRU TECHNICAL COMMISSION MEETING ENDS IN MONROVIA
DATE: 19 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 19, 2013 (Heritage) -- A three-day meeting of the Mano River
Union (MRU) Technical Commission on Education and Research has
ended in Monrovia, with a call for more investment and
development in education and training in MRU countries. The
meeting brought together several top delegates, including
Ministers, Deputy Ministers, amongst others from MRU countries.
Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Mr. Samora Kamara, Liberia's
Education Minister Edmonia Tarpeh, and the Deputy Secretary
General of MRU Mr. Simeon Mulbah were part of the delegates.
The meeting commenced from February 13-15, 2013. Speaking at the
climax of the meeting, the Deputy Minister for Administration at
the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs, Dr. Marcus Dahn,
said: "Low access to quality education is no education at all."
He said many people do not have access to quality education
across the MRU basin due to "widespread abject poverty." He
stated that the lack of "gainful and purposeful employment to
make citizens productive" remains a major challenge in many MRU
countries.
Despite the challenges, Dr. Dahn indicated that the MRU countries
have decided to brainstorm to put in place strategies and
policies in order to strengthen the educational and research
systems in their respective countries.
He said MRU countries must remain focus and determine in order to
integrate activities, indicators and policies that would impact
their countries' educational systems. He further stressed the
need for collaboration and coordination amongst MRU countries,
especially in the areas of education, training and research.
The government official then called for the rejuvenation of an
"integrated and high quality training and research framework that
would produce productive societies that citizens deserved." Also
speaking, Deputy Agriculture Minister for Administration, Mr.
Charles McClain, called for the empowerment of farmers through
training and tertiary education within MRU countries.
He said farmers must be educationally empowered in order to
ensure food security in the MRU basin. In Liberia, Deputy
Minister McClain pointed out that about 70% of the population
relies on farming, and as such, more support must be provided in
the area of training and education.
For his part, the Deputy SG of the MRU, Mr. Simeon Mulbah,
disclosed that that leaders of MRU countries have made
significant strides in the area of education.
However, he said the MRU countries must continue to do more in
order to ensure that education is affordable for all.
He named "civil war" as one of the primary factors that
contributed to the backwardness of the educational sector of
several MRU countries including Liberia. Mr. Mulbah used the
occasion to call on MRU leaders to "do what needs to be done" for
their citizens.
==============================
==============================
====
HEADLINE: UN ASKS GOL TO TRAIN MORE POLICE OFFICERS
DATE: 22 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 22, 2013 (Heritage) -- An official of the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) has called on the Government of
Liberia (GoL) to invest in the training of more police officers
as UNMIL transitions. According to Mr. Napolean Abdulai, the
Liberian government needs to beef off the number of police
officers as part of its readiness to provide national security,
stressing, "It is important to look at UNMIL transition more
seriously."
Mr. Abdulai observed that the current size of the Liberia
National Police (LNP) is too small to provide security for the
country when UNMIL draws down completely. The UNDP official made
these comments Thursday, February 21, 2013 at a handing over
ceremony of a vehicle donated by the UNDP-Liberia to the Liberia
National Commission on Small Arms (LINCSA).
Ceremony marking the handing over of the vehicle was held at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia. The vehicle, according
to Mr. Abdulai, costs US$53,000.
"Government needs to put more money to the training academy. More
police officers must be trained because the state needs adequate
security personnel," he noted. He furthered that small arms and
light weapons can't be controlled in the absence of adequate
police officers. The UNDP official pointed out that fighting the
proliferation of small arms and light weapons is important for
the peace and stability of any nation and that Liberia is not an
exception to this.
"The proliferation of small arms and light weapons impedes the
peace and stability of any nation. This impedes the development
process as well," he stated. "Where small arms dominate,
development suffers," he added.
Also speaking, Ambassador Conmany B. Wesseh, Minister of State
without Portfolio, and Chairman of LINCSA, lauded UNDP for the
donation of the vehicle.
He said arms control must be seen as part of the general national
and regional efforts towards peace consolidation, noting, these
efforts must continue to cover all aspects of the rebuilding
process of Liberia in the context of Vision 2030 and its agenda
for transformation and the Roadmap for national reconciliation.
"Thank you UNDP for this gift. It will be used for the purposes
for which it was given. The Government of Liberia and our
President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will continue to make arms
control as one of its pillars in the promotion of peace and
security," Amb. Wesseh added.
For his part, Liberia's Foreign Minister, Augustine Kpehe
Ngafuan, said government is committed to the 2006 Convention of
Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on small arms
and light weapons control. Commenting on the training of more
police, Minister Ngafuan said the government is exerting all
efforts to increase the current size of the LNP.
==============================
==============================
====
HEADLINE: INFORMATION FREEDOM STRUGGLE CONTINUES
DATE: 22 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 22, 2013 (The Analyst) -- Human rights and democracy
advocates in September 2010 fractured if not broke backbone of
despotism in Liberia when they succeeded in pushing Government to
the final Legislation of the Freedom of Information Law.
Liberia's ruling elites had thrived on bureaucratic secrecy or
close governance practices-a way of entrenching the policy of
exclusion, corruption and unaccountability. But it seems the
fractured wounds of the Government were healing for a combination
of reasons, including but not limited to lack of skills to track,
monitor and report compliance and poor public awareness. These
defects are now under attack in wake of a pact entered into by
the international peace and democracy organization, Carter
Center, and the Ministry of Information. The Analyst reports.
The Government of Liberia, represented by the Ministry of
Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, and the United States-
based Carter Center have signed a memorandum of understanding to
reinforce the spirit and intent of the Freedom of Information Law
signed in 2010.
The Law was principally enacted to increase transparency and
accountability in the public sector and increase citizens' right
to information as guaranteed by the Constitution.
The MOU is a platform by which both institutions will cooperate
to promote and strengthen the full and effective establishment of
the FOI Law in Liberia, including implementation, compliance and
encouraging its use.
The Center, being an organization chartered to promote democracy,
human rights development and transparency is, under the terms of
the MOU, committed to collaborate and to share its international
experience in the area of the right of access to information with
the GOL, including building capacity for implementation,
promoting effective compliance and appeal mechanisms and
increasing awareness.
The MOU acknowledged that while significant progress continues to
be made in advancing both awareness and implementation of the FOI
Law, much work remains to be done to ensure its full and
effective implementation and enforcement, including providing
continued critical support to the existing pilot agencies and
expanding support to two additional ministries, providing basic
training to all designated Information Officers and further
sharing good practices and international experiences.
The Memorandum therefore serves to delineate the relationship
between the GOL and the Center upon which they have agreed to
collaborate in support of the full and effective implementation,
compliance, and promotion of the FOI Law.
Under the MOU, the Carter Center will retain its local field
office to provide ongoing support and assistance related to the
right of access to information and help Government identify up to
two additional target Ministries/Agencies for a total maximum of
nine (9) target agencies/ministries/public bodies (hereinafter
called "target agencies") to which activities pertaining to the
Memorandum will be focused.
The Carter Center will also maintain a consultative relationship
with the GOL through the Ministry of Information, Culture and
Tourism and the target agencies on matters directly affecting the
implementation, enforcement and use of the FOI Law.
The MOU also obliges the Center to help convene and facilitate
workshops and training sessions for public officials of the
target agencies and other agencies designated Information
Officers to raise awareness of the FOI Act and its operation and
implementation, including but not limited to records and
information management, automatic publication, and processes and
procedures for responding to requests, and compliance mechanisms.
It will support Government's efforts to raise public awareness on
the right of access to information and encourage collaboration
and communication, through convening periodic meetings between
the relevant Government personnel and other key stakeholders,
including the independent's Information Commission and civil
society leaders.
The Government's responsibility under MOU include, amongst other
things, designating a principal counterpart to work with the
Center's representatives related to freedom of information
activities.
The MOU says the Government will identify, with the assistance of
the Center, up to 2 additional target agencies to which
activities pertaining to this Memorandum will be focused,
although implementation of planned activities under the MOU may
be extended to or benefit other agencies of the GOL if possible
with available resources.
The Government is expected also to establish an agreed-upon
schedule of consultations and collaborative activities between
the Ministry of Information and the target agencies and the
Center, with the objective of conducting workshops and training
sessions for awareness raising and capacity building.
Establish an agreed-upon schedule of collaborative activities
between the GOL and the Center aimed at raising awareness and
developing capacities for the designated Information Officers.
The MOU also gives the Government the responsibility to encourage
key officials within the target agencies and Information Officers
to participate and collaborate in all activities undertaken under
this Memorandum to promote and improve the implementation,
compliance and promotion of the FOI Law.
Both Government and the Carter Center will meet regularly to
share lessons learned and develop activities and future
programming, as well as to discuss any challenges and
difficulties encountered in fulfilling the terms of the MOU.
It is the Government's responsibility to also provide support, as
necessary and appropriate, to assist the Center in its
fundraising efforts related to this MOU and in meeting the legal
requirements for working in Liberia.
The Memorandum is expected to last from February 2013 and shall
remain in force until 31 day of December 2013 or such longer
period as may be agreed by the parties.
According to its terms, the Memorandum does not create
enforceable legal obligations or third party rights and any
issues not mentioned in it may be resolved through mutual
consent.
Government and the Center agree to work collaboratively to
determine the modalities on the implementation of this agreement
and, upon the request of either party, the Memorandum may be
amended or revised with the written agreement of both parties and
it may be terminated by either party upon the giving of three (3)
months written notice.
==============================
==============================
====
HEADLINE: SIME DARBY, MINISTRY OF JUSTICE COMPLETES TRAINING
DATE: 22 FEBRUARY 2013
SOURCE: All Africa
(c) 2013 AllAfrica
Feb 22, 2013 (The New Republic Liberia) -- At least 250 security
personnel from the Sime Darby Plantation Liberia on Saturday
graduated from a security training exercise conducted by the
Public Safety Division at the Ministry of Justice.
The training, which lasted for nine weeks, focused on basic
security techniques, physical fitness and good academic output.
Requirements for training included, passing a written test,
passing an oral interview, completing medical examination, and
passing a physical examination.
The 250 graduates according to the Ministry of Justice trainers
have all met the criteria to enable them to serve as security for
the company.
Col. Jackson F. Morlu, Director for Public Safety at the Ministry
of Justice who was the focal person, said, the training
represents the first ever Liberian government trained corps of
security personnel.
According to him, the Ministry of Justice provided the training
curriculum, provided security training experts, and supervised
the training to a successful end. SDPL provided logistical and
other support for the training exercise.
The security graduates according to the Col. will all be issued
licenses by the Liberian government through the Justice Ministry,
for the purpose of carrying out arrests, access control,
investigation, preservation of crime scenes and reporting
writing.
The Director of Public Safety further said that the training
exercise had taken into consideration conventional human rights
issues, respect for indigenous people rights and preservation of
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