Young Baby Thrown Away; Found Dead

…Community Dwellers Throng the Scene to Catch a Glimpse 

    

 

 Mothers of reputation broke down in tears Sunday afternoon in the New Georgia Estate vicinity when what could be considered a week old baby was found dead in a black plastic bag.

 

    The scene of the dead baby of the male attracted huge crowd who went peeping in a flower bush along leading to the New Georgia Gulf, expressing surprised at the heartlessness of the mother who had thrown the baby away.

 

    The NEW VISION’s editor who visited the scene said the baby was seen head upside down, feet twisted and neck seems to be broken while sit head lied in a pool of blood inside the plastic bag.

 

    Investigation by the NEW VISION did not find out who the mother could be. Women and men who throng to the area to catch a glance expressed disgust over the unknown mother, who had denied the child’s right to survivor.

 

   One of those who rushed on the scene was the Assistant Coordinator for Women and Children’s right, Madam Korpo Kortimai who said “only a wicked mother could do this.”

 

        “No one knows whether this baby was thrown away alive and later get killed because of the hash condition that it underwent,” Ms. Kortimai said, noting that it would be better for mothers who cannot cater to their newly born babies to take them to the Women and Children Unit of the Liberian National Police so that the police can call in philanthropist and children NGOs to take care of the survivor of the child.     

 

    She said everyone, including babies, has the right to live under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter for People’s Right and other instruments such as the Constitution of Liberia, adding that throwing children in the dumpsites is cruelty at the highest peak.

 

    Beatrice Worwin, another lady who was in tears for the gruesome treatment meted to the dead child said any such insinuation that treating newly born children in such a manner id due to poverty or hard time is unacceptable.

 

    Madam Worwin, who called on community dwellers in various communities to monitor pregnant women and the whereabouts of newly born babies, added that it is only by doing so that heartless women that have decided to deny children their rights to live can be identified to account for their newly born babies.

 

    Many other women who crowded the place expressed general misgivings, and called on the government to investigate mothers whose children are not seen with them so as to establish the whereabouts of the babies or children.

 

    There was no police on the scene up to press time. Investigation continues.

 

Photos and text by Bill K. Jarkloh (www.panwhanpen.com)

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, 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.
zodwoca-moves-to-resolve-lorma-mandingo-feud1

UL Baccalaureate Was A Flop

…Rev. Simpson Wants Graduates Use Education for Nation
The 87th commencement baccalaureate of the University of Liberia was somehow a flop as a result of poor organization, which reduced the occasion to photo-taking affairs.
The NEW VISION’s man that stopped by on the Main Campus of the University of Liberia to listen to the Baccalaureate sermon noticed that the service, which should have started11:AM, was delayed for almost an hour plus. It was scheduled to have begun with a procession of faculty and successful candidates for this commencement convocation, but the process was poorly arranged.
Seated later, some of the members of the graduating classes did not have a chance to view the podium or to listen to the baccalaureate sermon due to uncontrolled over-crowdedness of the UL Pavilion that hosted the service.
Journalists who went to cover the occasion were caught up in struggles for shots between the stage and the podium which Rev. Simpson and others spoke from without a public address system to transmit sound louder to the thousands of prospective graduates who swam the area along with their jubilant relatives, friends, spouses and/or well-wishers.
The NEW VISION observed lost of total orderliness and lack of quietude that should have characterized such occasion, as there ensued a struggle amongst the prospective graduates to hear speakers and the master of ceremony.
The ultimate thing that therefore resulted was the cornering of members of the graduating classes by photographers for shots, thereby reducing the entire campus to a photo taking gallery.
Speaking to the graduates, however, a Liberian cleric and educator, the Rev. Leo M. Simpson, on that Sunday, admonished the 2, 155 successful candidates of the classes of 2009 of the 87th Commencement Convocation of the University of Liberia to use their education to contribute to the process of nation-building.
He told members of the graduating classes to use self-control and sound reasoning as academicians to fast-track national development.
Bishop Simpson of the Pentecostal Assembly of the World (PAW), who delivered the baccalaureate sermon, further called on members of the classes to be careful and disciplined as they obtain their respective academic degrees. He was addressing more than 2, 155 prospective graduates from under-graduate and graduate schools of the University of Liberia.
“Education without discipline leads to anarchy. Education without discipline leads to disaster and crisis”, he said as he struggled to be audible in amidst of a poor sound system and an overcrowded baccalaureate service.
The PAW cleric and educator told the graduates that education is not a right in Liberia but rather a privilege. “There are thousands of your colleagues out there who do not have the opportunity to achieve education. Education in Liberia is not a right but a privilege,” Rev. Simpson said; writes Bill K. Jarkloh (www.panwhanpen.com).

UL Baccalaureate Was A Flop

     The NEW VISION’s man that stopped by on the Main Campus of the University of Liberia to listen to the Baccalaureate sermon noticed that the service, which should have started11:AM, was delayed for almost an hour plus.  It was scheduled to have begun with a procession of faculty and successful candidates for this commencement convocation, but the process was poorly arranged.    

     Seated later, some of the members of the graduating classes did not have a chance to view the podium or to listen to the baccalaureate sermon due to uncontrolled over-crowdedness of the UL Pavilion that hosted the service.

    Journalists who went to cover the occasion were caught up in struggles for shots between the stage and the podium which Rev. Simpson and others spoke from without a public address system to transmit sound louder to the thousands of prospective graduates who swam the area along with their jubilant relatives, friends, spouses and/or well-wishers.

      The NEW VISION observed lost of total orderliness and lack of quietude that should have characterized such occasion, as there ensued a struggle amongst the prospective graduates to hear speakers and the master of ceremony.

      The ultimate thing that therefore resulted was the cornering of members of the graduating classes by photographers for shots, thereby reducing the entire campus to a photo taking gallery.

     Speaking to the graduates, however, a Liberian cleric and educator, the Rev. Leo M. Simpson, on that Sunday, admonished the 2, 155 successful candidates of the classes of 2009 of the 87^th Commencement Convocation of the University of Liberia to use their education to contribute to the process of nation-building.

     He told members of the graduating classes to use self-control and sound reasoning as academicians to fast-track national development.

     Bishop Simpson of the Pentecostal Assembly of the World (PAW), who delivered the baccalaureate sermon, further called on members of the classes to be careful and disciplined as they obtain their respective academic degrees. He was addressing more than 2, 155 prospective graduates from under-graduate and graduate schools of the University of Liberia.

     “Education without discipline leads to anarchy. Education without discipline leads to disaster and crisis”, he said as he struggled to be audible in amidst of a poor sound system and an overcrowded baccalaureate service.

       The PAW cleric and educator told the graduates that education is not a right in Liberia but rather a privilege.  “There are thousands of your colleagues out there who do not have the opportunity to achieve education. Education in Liberia is not a right but a privilege,” Rev. Simpson said; writes Bill K. Jarkloh (www.panwhanpen.com).

 

 

Travel-ban Victims Cry for Justice

…Says “We Can’t Destabilize This Country”

Compiled by Bill K. Jarkloh
www.panwhanpen.com/billkjarkloh.wordpress.com

Victims of the UN Travel ban against officials and associates of detained former President Charles Ghankay Taylor have been crying foul for what they considered miscarriage of international justice against them, calling for intervention of the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf administration.

Those on the travel ban include Randolph Cooper, Cyril Allen, John Richardson, Representatives Edwin Snowe, Kai Farley and Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor amongst others. The affected Liberians want their government to ask the French Ambassador about the truthfulness of his statement. They observed the UN keeps giving different reasons for the travel ban imposed on them and the allegation from the French Ambassador is no exception.

It is totally unfair for one to be denied the right travel which is curtailing one’s right to free movement, even if he was to go to seek health attention abroad, especially when such person has not been tried and convicted of any crime to warrant the punitive action, says Lewis Brown, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Charles Taylor-led administration.

Mr. Brown spoke on the Truth Breakfast Show of FM 96.1 where he accused this administration of protecting a few and leaving others vulnerable. The former Foreign Minister and one time Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) said amongst other things that the United Nations’ travel ban on them has not been justified. He noted that they, under the sanction, have been punished or convicted without trial for their perceived offence.

“You should know that people on the travel ban enjoy the confident of their people. Some of these people were elected to the Legislature because their people think they are capable of defending their interest,” Mr. Brown, also a one time Security Advisor to former President Taylor, noted.

He maintained that the treatment being meted against them could not have been one meted against United States officials, especially congressmen elected by their respective constituents, who have not been convicted but merely accused of crimes.

Another Liberians who has got to be bitter against the ban include another former Foreign Minister Dorothy Musuleng Cooper, who said, in reaction to French Ambassador Jacques Gerard’s statement, that victims of the travel ban have been responsible people who “..,will not destabilize the country” even if they were purged of the sanction.

Also John Richardson, another victim of the travel ban, who spoke recently at a news conference in reaction to the French ambassador’s statement against travel ban victims, said Ambassador Gerard’s recent statement to the effect of the UN travel ban should not be taken lightly; he said instead it should be engaged. Mr. Richardson wondered whether the French Ambassador’s statement is a personal view or the position of the French Government.

The Liberians placed on travel ban by the UN have appealed to the Liberian government to intervene in a statement made against them by the French Ambassador.

Ambassador Gerard reportedly told Senate Pro-Temp Cletus Wotorson that the affected Liberians would use their alleged hidden wealth to destabilize the country. Ambassador Gerard made the remarks when Pro-Temp Wotorson requested the intervention of France in the removal of the travel ban on the Liberians.

The sanctioned Liberians recalled the first reason the UN gave was to facilitate the peace process in Sierra Leone, which later changed to on-going ties with former President Charles Taylor. According to the affected Liberians, with peace now restored to Sierra Leone and Mr. Taylor in prison, a new reason is being crafted to justify the travel ban on them.

The Liberians, some of whom supported the Unity Party in the 2005 elections, said they have remained law-abiding and promised to be law-abiding in spite the situation. They want the Liberian government to intervene in what they termed advanced punishment without due process or the benefit to be tried for any wrong-doing.

NASSCORP Sets Records Straight

…Accuses GAC of Data Error

The National Social Security
and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) in Liberia has registered strong reservations against the unprofessional, unethical and irresponsible conduct of the audit conducted by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) at the corporation.

Presenting for the first time, its official response which detailed findings of the audit report to members of the National Legislature, last Friday, at a public hearing conducted by the House Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Expenditure, NASSCORP Director-General, Francis M. Carbah said the refusal of Auditor General John S. Morlu to separate the audit periods under different administrations, creates the impression that all the transactions took place during the current administration.

The NASSCORP Boss pointed out that the misrepresentation of USD1,417,166.51 which the audit report termed as “Financial Irregularities and malpractices”, represents disbursement made over several years by various administrations but the audit report recklessly presented the impression that this management is responsible to account for this amount.

Mr. Carbah intimated that the current management took over the affairs of the Corporation on February 3, 2006 and that prior to commencing the audit, the Auditor general defined the audit period from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2007.
Strangely, he added, the audit period expended further back and included figures for transactions that occurred as far back as 2003.

The Director General said the intent and purpose of the GAC obviously was to distort the fact, misrepresent and mischaracterize this Administration and the Board and create a deliberate false impression.

The NASSCORP Director-General said for what the GAC alleges as irregular and unaccounted expenditure which totaled US$1,417,166.51, the sum of US$1,010,896.51 is for transactions which occurred prior to February 3, 2006, when the Board and management assumed the mantle of authority of NASSCORP, therefore, the management and Board bear no responsibility for these sums of money nor are they putting up and defense for activities that took place under previous administrations and boards.

The Director-General told members of the National Legislature that they have come to present to the august body one by one, the detailed figures of the USD406,270.00 which consists of transaction for the period under review.

The Director-General clarifies a stance in the GAC audit on Board remuneration paid to the Director-General in the amount of US$10,650 from February 2006 to June 2007 for which the GAC termed as irregular and should be refunded.

The NASSCORP boss drew the attention of the Legislators to Section 89.4 of the People’s Redemption Council (PRC) Decree #14, which states, “The Director-General shall receive a salary to be established by the Board of Directors subject to the approval of the President. The other members of the Board, in their capacities as such, shall not receive salaries but receive stipend for each meeting attended and all the expenses incurred in attending duties of the Corporation”

He said the PRC Decree also recognizes the Director-General as member of the Board, therefore, the phrase “The other members of the Board” does not excludes the Director-General, and as such, he is entitled to Board remuneration.

He regretted the stance of the Auditor General to renounce stipend and sitting fees paid to the Board of Director in the tune of US$106, 900 for the period February 2006 to June 2007.

He said the Auditor General contradicted himself, because after he had quoted Section 89.4 of the PRC Decree in the very audit report, he again declared as illegal the stipend and sitting fee paid to the Board members, something which the NASSCORP Boss noted is a clear misrepresentation of Section 89.4 of PRC Decree #14 and the Auditor General should rescind his stance.

On the issue of US$93,917.00 paid as per diem for foreign travel over a two-year period, the Director-General said, it was done in line with the 1988 General Regulations of NASSCORP which authorizes the Board to establish the financial policies and approve the Corporation’s budget, which provides for planned expenditure including travel expenses.

The National Social Security and Welfare Corporation management has also expressed serious concern about the misrepresentation of the Corporation’s Regulations by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and willfully accusing the management of excessive administrative expenditure.

The audit report of the GAC contended that the Management and Board of Directors exceeded expenditure limits imposed by NASSCORP Regulations, as well as exceeded the Budget for the fiscal period 2006/2007. The Auditor General based his accusation on Regulation 61, paragraph 1, of the General Regulations of NASSCORP which places the limit of Administrative Expense at 1.2% of total insurable earning.

Addressing member of the National Legislature at a public hearing conducted by the House Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Expenditure, NASSCORP Director General Francis M. Carbah said, contrary to the assertion of the Auditor General, the management did not exceed the expenditure limit imposed by the General Regulation of 1988.

Director General Carbah said the Auditor General refers to Regulation 61, paragraph 1, of the Regulations which places the limit of Administrative Expenses at 1.2% of total insurable earning, but regretted that the Auditor General for the purpose of misleading the Liberian people, deliberately and willfully employed a fraction of the Regulation 61 to explain the intent and purpose of the entire Regulation, and cleverly omitted Section 2 of the Regulation 61 to suit his own purpose.

He intimated that Section 2 of the regulations states that the administrative expenditure incurred under paragraph 1 shall be distributed among the National Pension Fund and the Employment Injury Fund in ratio of two-thirds and one-third respectively. Provided that the Board may, during the first two years of operation of part II of the Decree, authorize such relaxation in paragraph 1 or paragraph 2 or both as it may deem necessary.

He explained that the management communicated to the Auditor General on June 6, 2006 outlining reasons regarding the decision of the Board to relax the limit but he pays no heel to the explanations.

The Board among others , according to the Director General, took the decision to relax limit on administrative expenditure, because the Social Security Contribution base, the denominator and key determinant of the limit which the Auditor General referred to, has undeniably and obviously dwindled to below 50% of the level in 1988 when the standard was adopted for an economy that was flourishing at the time and that the decline in the contribution base is owing to the prevailing state of depressed economic activities and very high unemployment in the country.

The Board also made mention of the new sets of cost variables into the general operating environment in Liberia since the civil crisis, that is self-power generation and the associated cost of fuel, maintenance, additional labor which were not there in 1988 that has increased the cost of administering any entity in our country.

Depressed Liberian Tailor Wins US$10,000

…CELLCOM Launches “Be A Millionaire” Campaign

A CELLCOM Raffle draw under the Company’s “Be a Millionaire GSM raffle program last Saturday saved a 25-year-old Taylor, Samuel T. Bowin of the frustration of the burning of his residence which left with him only one shirt and a pair of trousers.

Stunned when he was brought to the offices of CELLCOM last Saturday to receive his US$10,000 Check from the management of CELLCOM, Mr. Bowin said the money will bring hope and joy to him.

“Just last week,” he narrated, “my house burned and I only have one shirt and one trousers left with me.” According to him, he was already broken hearted, but he noted that the US$10,000 that he won on that day “will make me to start my life back.”

The five digits of the serial number that made Bowin a proud winner of the CELLCOM “Be A Millionaire” raffle, 68689, were picked by Madam Gloria Menjor of the LBDI who picked 6; Journalist Bill Jarkloh picked 8, Ms. Jenebu Sow picked 6, Ms. Grace Totten picked another 8 while Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Chairman Jerome Verdier Picked 9.

The CELLCOM directorate of the serial numbers indicated how the number is the serial of 077743649 which is Mr. Bowin’s mobile phone number, making him the proud winner of the first US$10,000 from the “B A Millionaire” raffle of CELLCOM.

CELLCOM In humanistic capitalism

Commenting at the occasion, the Operation Manager of CELLCOM, William Samoah, said, “As long as CELLCOM operates in this country, we have much to give back to the people.” The CELLCOM Operation Manager William Samoah told the Liberians at the occasion where the Check of US$10,000 was given to 25 year-old Bowin, a student of David Lomen Institute, that the CELLCOM style of investment is a humanistic capitalism which does not just take from the people but give back to the people.

He said from the day CELLCOM entered Liberia, it has had the people in mind, noting that that was shown when CELLCOM forced other GSM companies to make affordable GSM services for the ordinary. Prior to the coming of CELLCOM to Liberia, least cost for scratch card was US$15, while SIM card cost more than US$60.

But the introduction of a US$5.00 SIM and GSM phones costing US$25 has compelled others to reduce the cost for their services. At present there are four GSM service providers: CELLCOM, COMIUM, LIBERCELL and LONESTAR Communications which is the first to start GSM operation in Liberia.

Since the introduction of people’s oriented-service programs by CELLCOM, others have also joined the competition of programs and raffles geared towards the economic empowerment of customers as well as holiday bonuses amongst others.

GSM competition stiff in Liberia

GSM companies in Liberia have been in stiff competition since CELLCOM has launched its operation. Most often, the Liberian GSM world has turned humanistic with service providers grappling with empowerment programs for subscribers.

Recently, COMMIUN gave out “dream houses” to poor Liberians winners, LoneStar gave out a pickup to a winner and amongst others programs executed by CELLCOM, it has started to empowered ordinary Liberians by a weekly draw of US$10,000 under their “Be A Million” GSM raffle game.

T-Max Jlateh, the Public Relations Manager of CELLCOM told journalists in a pre-raffle draw briefing, “CELLCOM fells compelled to bring smile in the life of subscribers and Liberians in general. The ‘Be A Millionaire’ campaign starts today with its first draw, and every Saturday their will be a draw program here until the management can end the program.”

Although Mr. did not say how soon nor long will the “Be A Millionaire” program last, he was confident in answering a reporter’s question that it will go for the rest of March.

“Whenever you call on CELLCOM GSM to and other GSM company or CELLCOM user and used $2, you have secured a raffle ticket in the CELLCOM system and you are therefore qualified to participate in the draw,” Mr. Jlateh said. He explained that that when the draw is done and your re selected your number is selected through the serial number that would be randomly picked by the panel of judges, you have won from the CELLCOM draw US$10.000,” Mr. Jlateh explained.

The occasion was also graced by Grand Kru Country Senator Cletus Wortorson, who thanked the CELLCOM management for empowering the Liberian people while at the same time congratulating the winner.

COMIUM Liberia Turns Over Dream

Meanwhile On Thursday, 05 March, the long awaited COMIUM “Dream House,” the second of its kind, was finally given to Mr. Mohammed Sheriff. The second Dream House was to have been turned over to the winner of the competition amongst the company’s subscribers, Mr. Sheriff, since December in 2008, but circumstances apparently delayed the turning over of the “Dream House” to last Thursday.

It can be recalled that on July 26, 2008, Ms. Lucricia Kollie of West Point won the first “Dream House of COMIUM” which is located on the highway leading to the Roberts International Airport (RIA).

Speaking at the program of turning over the second “Dream House”, the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Post and Telecommunication, Mr. David G. Saydee, encouraged young Mohammed Sheriff to keep the Dream House clean as he would be very relaxed in living in his new residence.

Responding to his honor on the occasion of the turning over of his new residence’s keys, Mr. Sheriff promised to uphold tidiness and cleanings that would keep the facility modern at all times.

He thanked the COMIUM Management and staff for giving him such prize, calling on Liberians to subscribe with COMIUM Liberia for better chance of winning great prizes.

Meanwhile COMIUM Liberia’s Sale Manager Evica J. Lewis has announced another raffle styled “Dream vacation,” which would afford the winner the opportunity to travel to the United State of America.

War Crime Court Advocate, 32 Others Charged

…Police Accused Them of Attempt to Destabilize Liberia

The Government of Liberia has charged War Crime Court advocate Mulbah K. Morlu and 32 others with criminal conspiracy. They have forwarded them to the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice for prosecution.

A police charge sheet detailing the charge states that on March 7, 2009 at 10:A.M, Morlu et al of the City of Monrovia were arrested, advised of their Constitutional rights, investigated and and charged with the commission of the crime, “Criminal Conspiracy” which contravenes Chapter 10, Section 4, Paragraph three of the New Penal Code of Liberia.

The police state further that the defendants, without color of rights and inn the absence of clearance from the Ministry of Justice to demonstrate, gathered around the Paynesville Community and took to the streets in illegal demonstration.

The demonstrators reportedly obstructed normal flow of traffic and pedestrian movements thereby causing chaos and disruption of normal businesses. The disruption, according to reports, include the movement of guests en route to the colloquium on women which, the police said, put citizens and the foreign guest in fear.

Predicated upon the information, police moved in quickly to contain the riot b from spreading further in light of indications that the rioters were heading for the SKD Sports Stadium where the women Colloquium was being hosted.

The rioters were said to be armed with sticks, rocks, cutlasses and other deadly weapons with which they wounded four police officers who went to contain the rioters with other colleagues.

Police disclosed that evidence gathered from the scene was indicative that the rioters’ intention was to cause instability throughout the Republic of Liberia while the country was hosting foreign guests.

The police said due to the the amount of evidence collected from the scene and predicated upond the fact that such act violates the Penal Code, the men were charged with “Criminal Conspiracy”.

Amongst those that were charged are John Farkollie, 57; Francis A. Kargbay, 57; Alphonso Biddle, 54; Patrick Natt, 36; Isaac Quawah, 54; Alexander Geor, 42; Archie Bryant, 35; David Gonkattee, 32; John Wonyah, 50 and Samuel Paye, 52.

Others are Kolubah Lardou, 57; William Sumo, 50; Thomas Johnson, 68; Jerry Soumie; Sign Larmie, 40; Moses Wreh, 60; Robert K. Mahn, 57; Salyda Sackor, 56; Thomas Killie, 45; Matthew Gband, 39; Joseph Totaye, 58, Nehemiah Barogar, 24 and Lahubah Zayzay. The rest incluf Fulton Teah, 31; beyan Doker, 50; Mulbah Morlu; Joseph Nemely, 72; Emmanuel Wilson, 39; Jallah Sawou, 41, Abayomi Cassell, 37 and Moses Gardeah.

Meanwhile, defendant Morlu has expressed disappointment with the approach of the Liberian National Police. He claimed that the police used arms and excessive force against those he called peaceful Liberians.

Morlu, one of the ringleaders of the demonstration, the went out to preent a 10-page petition outlining the role of President Sirleaf in the 14-year civil crisis when they were arrested. He said the petition also highlighted the involvement of Madam Sirleaf with Charles Taylor. Meanwhile, lawyers representing Morlu and the rest of them are preparing a valid bail for them.

Political Thuggery & Espionage Re-surfacing?

…Auditor Genera Morlu Demanding Quick Action

Introduction

The Liberian parlance, “Monkey does not leave behind its black hands” is difficult to disprove when it is analogized with the Liberian politician’s ingrained tendency of bullying critical voice into absolute submission, this was how the Public Agenda newspaper started its analysis of the resurgence of political thuggery. The topic sentence or thesis statement of this article by the paper was not mistaken. In the past, political actors that have found themselves in leadership position have used the scare-tactics of bullying opponents or those critical of them was the modus operandi from the days of the foundation of Liberian politics – heightened during the tubmanic era and then peaked at during Taylor’s civil-military regime that phased out 2003 August. This kind of tactics was a way of obliterating critics and, at most, driving them into exile so that they perpetuate themselves into power without criticism against the odds of their regimes. At this tactics, dissenting voice often comes overtly and brutally; but it also comes subtly and covertly, or by means of the combination of both. The manner and form notwithstanding diverse, there is one thing that almost always stands in every case: no Liberian leader lets challengers of the Presidency survive without deep bruises either inflicted by him/herself or his/her commissioned thugs and spies as the situation seems to be resurfacing at the General Auditing Commission (GAC), the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC and other domains of the government.

The Brevity of This Vicious Political Trait’s Evolution

The country’s 18th President, Tubman, constructed the architecture for political intimidation, coercion and annihilation in the country. He spread his despotic tentacles across the country via “Public Relations Officers (PRO)” who were actually secret agents that gathered true or false intelligences for his ear and action.

Once Tubman lent ears and eyes on hints from his intra-governmental or intra-national espionage network, he got into action and effectively subdued the target. The 27-tenured President left the traits so entrenched that his successors imbibed them. Tolbert, however his noted liberal deportments, hardly uprooted Tubman and True Whig Party’s secret cells and fanatics whose information to the President was sufficient ground for governmental action.

President Samuel Doe maximized the trait via his Krahn-dominated Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SATU) and other military and paramilitary forces who worked both covertly and overly to feed the Presidency with the real or perceived maneuvers of opponents and critics. And Doe hardly ignored their reports on his and government’s perceived and real opponents within and without.

Charles McArthur Ghankay Taylor, probably the luckiest of all–lucky because he’s having his day in court to answer to entrenched culture of political thuggery and espionage–is also on record fielding partisans, well-wishers and other extremists to contain, if not liquidate, dissenting voices.

The Hereditary Traits Hit Ellen

Beyond all the pretenses camouflaged by rhetoric, there seethes a fury of political and bureaucratic intolerance and hate within Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and/or her administration–the same intolerance and hate that historically and characteristically provide the composts that give growth to the culture of political espionage and thuggery in the country. Probably mortified by past appellation of human rights and pro-democratic advocate and by the fact that the administration does not command an active military force of its own, coupled with the overwhelming presence of the rights-obsessed international community, Sirleaf and most of her officials are constrained to keep the hereditary traits of political intolerance and hate highly discreet and disguised.

Nonetheless, monkey can hardly leave behind its black hands, the ripples of political espionage and thuggery are growing visibly with time under the Sirleaf leadership. And the new tactic is to disfigure and render inconsequential any individual or group within or without government who, even those standing on the pedestal of its own transformation policy for proving to be tough and dissenting on the modus operandi of Government in general and the presidency in particular.

The most recent targets are the government’s own progenies–the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)–which have variously come under and been enduring devastating presidential maneuvers. One longtime political pundit states, “As it had been under past authoritarian regimes, so it is under the Sirleaf administration: firstly, commission aficionados, often within the same organization, to keep surveillance on the principal targets and leak every trace of non-conformity; and secondly, if the result is difficult to come by, use thugs to unleash provocative venoms.”

The GAC Malaise

The GAC is currently wobbling in the furnace of the onslaught and is endeavoring to salvage itself from political espionage and thuggery. In less than a week recently, the physical attack increased on the Commission: office vehicle damaged, senior official’s home burglarized and another senior official brutalized.

Since the transfer of Elizabeth Tubman from the Ministry of Finance, where she headed the BGA Section, the Commission continues to witness intermittent disquiet owing to what some staff there call her “espionage” tactics a the GAC. According to a source who does not want to appear in print, the planting of Elizabeth at the Commission, believed to be a daughter of President William Tubman, was perhaps an ideal placement not only because the transferee must have been carrying the espionage-thuggery trait of her father, but also because the GAC and its head were about to produce audit reports that might leave far-reaching political implication for the transferor, President Sirleaf.

It is not clear how the presidential maneuvering have been paying off, though there were reports recently that a trumped-up and obscure pressure group, Movement for the Downtrodden Masses, got access to deliberately abridged GAC financial reports sent to the Ministry of Finance and subsequently exploited the leaked documents to rain disparaging comments on the Commission.
Probably just mere social hoodlum and professional misfit, the source said, Madam Tubman has so far limited her job at the GAC to fomenting hullabaloos and trading chitchats between the Commission and her assignors for which sources say she snatches US$2,000 monthly.

The issue of professional misfit of Madam Tubman was since raised at the Ministry of Finance by ex-Assistant Minister for Expenditure, Aletha K. Brown, who wrote a memorandum of December 5, 2007 questioning the professional capacity of the subject. The quality of quarterly reports supervised and submitted by the then Director-General of the Bureau of General Accounting (BGA) for review, according to the Browne memo, required weeks of additional work to get her handiwork tidy up.

“We are particularly concerned about the disruption this level of our involvement in the work of the BGA is causing our office,” Browne’s memo further states. “Clearly, there are issues of capacity that need to be addressed.” The GAC Deputy Auditor General for Administration, Madam Elizabeth, confessed to her incapacity problem in a memo to Auditor General John Morlu, a copy obtained by Public Agenda.

“This is in reference to your memo dated 15 May 2008, giving me the responsibility to prepare four proposals for your review and onward submission to the World Bank and EU,” she wrote in the memo dated May 28, 2008. “I do not have the technical skill in writing project proposals, therefore, it will be prudent to hire a expert [sic] or select someone in our organization who has the technical skill, and I will be more than happy to work on the team.”

GAC sources begging for anonymity for fear of reprisal say the assignment of Madam Tubman by Madam Sirleaf at the GAC is epitome of pension scheme for the former first family member. “The lady does nothing, except to collect her check and other emoluments at the month’s end for which she gather hints pleasant to the ears of her masters,” a GAC source hinted. “If we have little quiet today, tomorrow is commotion often authored by this lady.”

In her latest show of brouhaha, according to our sources, Madam Tubman and her “NGO” [Women Never Got Old] pals verbally and emotionally attacked Auditor General John Morlu at ceremonies marking President Sirleaf’s presentation of the State of the Nation Address before the 52nd Legislature on Monday. The source further said when the Elizabeth-led cabal’s whispers of “GAC-Corrupt” invectives could not attract much attention in the hall where the President was delivering her speech, they reinvigorated themselves outside the hall scoring the goal they had sought: many passersby and bystanders gave them audience as they shouted on the top of their voices, “GAC Corrupt; Morlu Corrupt”.

The GAC Deputy Auditor-General took her new assignment at the Commission with a backlog of fiscally indiscipline credentials. The fraudulent case was about some “eat-so-eat-so” scheme that Madam Tubman engaged in as she took office at the GAC. In taking office, a source divulged, she had a gracious offer from Government via the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to pay her “transitional” emolument. But Tubman did not inform the GAC. She rather chose to put pressure on the GAC which bowed with some US$1,500 monthly.

Caught pants down, sources say Madam Tubman was asked to refund monies taken from GAC while at the same time receiving another “eating” from the UNDP. Apparently her “eat-so-eat-so” has passed on with impunity. As if Madam Tubman and colleagues’ onslaught on Morlu at the Annual Message ceremony was not sufficient, they drove to the premises of the GAC a day or two later and used car-parking claims to unleash another round of invectives.

The Deputy AG insisted parking on a spot reserved for the Auditor-General despite being persuaded by guards to use an alternative spot traditionally reserved for D/AG/Adm. The guards’ counsel, eyewitnesses said, enraged Madam Tubman and her peers who were seen panting in anger and stampeded with insults and other acts of discourtesy that attracted swarms of onlookers.
The stampede-breakers called in their contacts who sent a band of police officers. Without much ceremony, the officers commandeered the park-signs before the GAC and made away with them.

Except God intervene, one source said, the TRC would soon break into two factions, engulfed in commotion which detractors of the Commission might use to further discredit and annihilate it. “As long this lady is around she shall work to ensure her espionage mandate is achieved,” the source said. “And there is little or nothing authority at GAC cannot do because it is President Sirleaf who commissioned her and it is at her way and will and pleasure Madam Tubman is serving.”
If the GAC cracks, the source said, it would be joining the fate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which is nursing the wounds of the policy of political espionage and thuggery.

In the wake of the rancor at the GAC, reports have it that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called for the reprimand of the women that had assaulted the Auditor General of Liberia after a probe has proven then liable. But the General Auditing Commission of Liberia has rejected calls by Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for a probe into the incident which followed the President’s State of the Nation address on Monday, leading to an assault on the Auditor General, John S. Morlu by Morlu’s deputy, Matu Tubman and two other women.

Reports have indicated that Sirleaf has asked the various ministries to punish the women who allegedly assaulted the Auditor General on Monday. The President has called for an investigation between Ms. Elizabeth Martu Tubman, and the GAC security.

The decision by Sirleaf is hardly acceptable to the Auditor General and auditors at the GAC who call on the President to take action as her call for probe is “unacceptable” to them. The accused Mrs. Tubman of leading a gang of women to attack the AG who eyewitnesses say did not retaliate during the incident. The assault on Morlu was curbed through the swift intervention of Moses Kollie and former Minister of State, Morris Dukuly.

President was notified

Already, it has been reported that the GAC has notified the President and the Executive Mansion; that the incident was witnessed by several people and seen in broad day light and a probe now would only lead to a waste of time for the “apparently a clear cut incident”. Ms. Tubman, and the women, following the Monday incident, again assault the Auditor General and other staff of the GAC on Tuesday, when Ms. Tubman and band of women reportedly stormed the GAC’s offices and launched the new round of assault.

The GAC has described Ms. Tubman’s actions as a “calculated plan” to obstruct and undermine the work of the GAC and to humiliate the Auditor General. During the President’s State of the Nation address Monday, Tubman reportedly insisted on parking her vehicle in the space reserved for the Auditor General. The incident according to Morlu, made him thirty minutes late for an important EGRIP meeting at the Ministry of Finance.

For Morlu, the incident raises serious questions about the support he is receiving from the administration. The AG a media outlet recently that he wondered why Tubman and her peers showed up at his place of work; after attacking him at the State of the Nation’s Address? “It is calculated. It was planned. It could have been directed, because of their boldness to attack an AG and the entire GAC staff. Who is providing them backing? You are the appointing power, and tangible action is needed. Again, Morris Dukuly and Hon. Kollie witnessed the entire incident at the Capitol.”

‘Will Not be Swept Under the Carpet’

According to Morlu, the staff of the GAC has been attacked in the past and nothing has been done by the government to protect him, and his staff of the GAC. “This attack on me at the State of the Nation Address by a gang of women put together by Deputy AG Martu Tubman will not be swept under the carpet by an expanded and unnecessary investigation, because the facts are so glaring with even the Government admitting that I was unduly harassed. The Minister of State McClain, and DG of the CSA know the facts, because the DG has spoken to Mr. Dukuly.”

Morlu says he has informed the President, that he has already informed the Minister of Justice, that he reserves the right to self defense against these types of attacks. However, he continues to exercise the maximum patience, as he and his staff of the GAC has come under attack. “I cannot take anymore!,” Morlu declared.

In the wake of the incident Morlu says, he does not see how he and Ms. Tubman can ever work in the same building. “This issue will not be watered down by an expanded investigation. Demonstrable inaction on the part of the Government to take swift and reputable actions against these kinds of attacks against me, and the GAC is increasing the risk of more unprovoked attacks, which is affecting the morale of the staff of the GAC. They are all concluding that it is likely supported by the Mansion, which you have been assured that it is not the case. I like to continue to believe that is the case,” Morlu declared Thursday.

Wife, family fears for safety

Morlu said his wife and family are concerned for his safety in Liberia, and the incident has dampen his resolve to even consider renewing his contract to stay in Liberia beyond the three-year mandate. “Truly, I have reached the end of this whole attack. I cannot tolerate it any longer. I just came to Liberia to do a piece of job. If they want to take GAC back to the days of compromised audits and continue the looting of state coffers, I will not be a part of it. This Nation needs to move forward responsibly to respond to the needs of its people, rather than the perceived continued support to disorderly behavior by highly placed Government officials who will leave their places of work, to join another person to attack and undermine the work of others.”

The AG asserted that he has never been an enemy of the Sirleaf Government, and only came at the President’s request to help improve accountability and transparency. “However, the uncontrolled, planned and escalated attacks and threats against me, and the staff of the GAC was not a part of the deal. But I am the real target of so many of these people,” the AG said.

Morlu said it is highly likely that if it was him who had attacked and threatened the women, he would have been immediately ordered arrested and imprisoned. “For instance, I was accused of breaking a US$50 glass door and was prevented from leaving this country to see my wife and children for Christmas. I would have been probably sent to the “Gulag” for attacking and threatening other government officials at the President’s State of the Nation Address. But since it is against me, they are walking free.”

Morlu said in any event, if swift action is not taken against Ms. Tubman and her gang of unruly women who attacked him at the State of the Nation Address, and followed it up with another attack at my office of work, then he would have to seek legal redress in the Courts. “There are many ways to scheme to get me out of this position and this country, so that they can carry on the “business as usual” you’re trying to end. Attacks and threats on my personhood is not a viable option. GAC must not be turned into another GRC, TRC, and Transport Ministry etc confusion was or is the order of the day.

As long as I am AG, Mr. insisted, I will resist any attempt by people like Ms. Tubman and her gang of women to undermine the work and integrity of the GAC. No expanded investigation is needed, when the facts are so glaring. It is not proper to shift blame on the GAC security. How will any Cabinet Minister feel, if his or her undermen decided one day to insist that he or she park their vehicle in the space reserved for them, a day after the same minister was attacked by the same women?”

The incident comes as Morlu, in recent weeks has been winning praise from the U.S. government. Both the United States Ambassador to Liberia Linda Greenfield, and Mr. Gene L. Dodaro Comptroller General of the General Accountability Office(GAO), the Supreme Audit Institution in the United States have heralded the GAC for fighting fraud and waste in Liberia.

Pres. Sirleaf must decisively act

Greenfield, in a meeting with Morlu this week said she was greatly impressed and deeply overwhelmed with the high level of performance of the Auditor General in the fight against fraud, waste, abuse of resources, graft and fiscal improprieties. The incident also comes as the Department of International Development (DIFID),based in Great Britain announced that it has paid the arrears of the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to the African Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions of English Speaking Countries(INTOSAI), thereby making the GAC a full-fledged and active member of AFROSAI-E.

The payment of the arrears, over US$45,000.00 accumulated over the years is a notable gesture on the part of DIFID, something which smoothens GAC ‘s relations and demonstrates its active and increasing participation on promoting independence and collaboration amongst international auditing institutions.

For Morlu, in the wake of this week’s incident, it is crucial for President Sirleaf to put her foot down and put her friends in check. “Their attacks were surreal because it was unprovoked. I believe I have never met or crossed paths with these women, except for their ring leader Ms. Tubman. They must not exploit their relationship with the President, – or anyone else in the Mansion to attack and threaten other people,” the AG concluded.

The TRC melancholy

Another pivotal state institution that has been radiating with symptoms of political espionage and thuggery is the Truth & Reconciliation Commission probing Liberia’s social, economic and political aberrations between 1979 or even beyond and 2003. The advent of the TRC, coupled with its operations, has been encumbered by external, though national, influences that are nearly wrecking the essence and gains of the Commission.

In-fighting between and amongst commissioners and feuds between the Commission and other state structures, particularly the office of the President, has been the order of things characterizing the modus operandi of the TRC. Some analysts believe that the malaise facing the TRC is a grand scheme by high national powers to de-venerate this all-important commission and render it unpopular and useless in the hope that their deeds during the period being probed are left unexcavated for the sake of impunity.

However regarded with contempt by some pundits who believe the Commission’s autonomy from other powerful structures and officials of government is questionable and compromised, the TRC has shown some juice and muscles that nearly contradict pundits’ opinion. Mid last year, the TRC mustered the courage and accused elements in the office of President Sirleaf of interfering with the work of the Commission in trying to establish the authenticity of allegations of war crimes committed by folksinger Michael Davies, alias Sundaygar Dearboy.

Michael is a praise-singer of President Sirleaf. Investigation conducted by journalists and the TRC in a couple of villages in Grand Bassa County uncovered gross violation of human rights and war crimes allegedly committed by the pro-Sirleaf singer during the civil conflict. When the TRC was about to appraise the reports, the Executive Mansion attempted to counterbalance the investigation with pro-Dearboy maneuverings which the Commission found offensive and strongly reacted to at the time.

The TRC also proved it had teeth to bite when it angrily reacted to Justice Minister Philip Banks’ “legal advice” urging President not to stand before the TRC. Banks had cited fear of mob action against President Sirleaf and Article of 61 of the Liberian Constitution as grounds for dissuading the President to appear.
But the TRC, amongst other things, asserted that Banks’ opinion, “stretching the limits of Article 61 of the Constitution of Liberia to include the LTRC, a non judicial, truth-seeking, reconciliation and peace building institution, advising the exclusion of the President of Liberia’s testimony from the LTRC process on matters unrelated to the Presidency from 1979 to 2003, is, in the least, disappointing and appears analogous to and indistinguishable from dishonesty.”

President Sirleaf herself has been evasive in meeting the TRC’s request to appear and testify openly. The TRC members, or some of them, have been in fist fight and quarrels that draw the dichotomy of so-called Execution Mansion-controlled commissioners and anti-establishment commissioners. The dichotomy is becoming clearer by the day as acrimonies linger between two camps of commissioner over the release of TRC’s preliminary reports.

One camp headed by Chairman Jerome Verdier submitted the first volume of report with recommendations for criminal prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but another camp of four has objected on grounds that the recommendations were not product of consensus amongst all commissioners.

A similar brew surfaced again when the President’s appearance before the TRC in camera became an issue. TRC source hinted Public Agenda that there are commissioners who usually swallow every gesture of the president and seek to impose same on other members of the TRC. “We must be thankful that there are some good Liberians on the TRC who are independent-minded; otherwise, the TRC would have since been a President’s surrogate commission,” said a TRC source who does not want to be named. “Here, we have the President’s eyes and ears. I am sure they are here. What I don’t know is whether they are acting on the order or commission of the President.”

Malaise of Other Critical Voices

The GAC and the TRC, however principal targets of the resurgence of political espionage and thuggery, are not the only groups in the furnace. A number of private individuals and organizations are also being sweltered by the planted confidantes and thugs to monitor and demean.
The head of a civil society organization, who begged not to be named in print because he would alarm at the appropriate moment in the near future, said he suspects powerful political forces are acting against his advocacy campaign.

“What I notice is that deliberate efforts are being made to frighten some of our donors and partners as a form of strangulation,” the said. “I notice that some of my funders are backing away without any tangible excuse, even though they told me in confidence that I should tune down my aggressive advocacy. At times I get anonymous calls from people who disclose my next moves as if there were insiders here that feed the big powers with information.”
Courtesy of Public ADENDA

Prdesident Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf: Will She condone thuggery?

Elizabeth Tubman of the GAC: Will she go unpunished

Thinking Through The Time (Part I)