Tuesday, February 25, 2014 Edition

News Extra pg 7 TOP STORIES
LEGISLATIVE BEAT
LIBERIA DEBUNKS IVORY COASTS LATEST MERCENARIES BORDER CROSSING CLAIMS
LIBERIA-IVORY COAST CRISIS
Governance Commission Lines Compliant To LACC

UREY, NOCAL FACE PROBE
pg 6a
CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014
BUYING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2014 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2014 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 L$80.00/US$1 L$82.00/US$1 L$83.00/US$1
SELLING L$81.00/US$1 L$83.00/US$1 L$84.00/US$1
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the commercials banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
VOL 8 NO.541
NOT LIVING BY BREAD ALONE

When the Supreme Court came down with its ruling in January, I said to myself, look, like Christ Said to his disciples, Man cannot live by bread alone. So I have determined that I will not live by practicing law alone but instead will get involved in other things like engage in business and help develop the community of Caldwell. Suspended Lawyers, Cllr. Beyan Howard
SUSPENDED BY SUPREME COURT; LIFE GOES FOR CLLR. BEYAN HOWARD
PRICE L$40
News Extra pg. 6
See PG 2 & 3
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Tuesday, February 25, 2014
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Monrovia-
Wade C.L. Williams, wade.williams@frontpageafricaonline.com

have to be registered for 2014, Collins told FrontPageAfrica in an interview on Monday. The police spokesperson said that government has extended the period for the enforcement of third party motor vehicle insurance by a week, as was decided over the weekend and that he had no information that cars were being impounded because they did not have third party motor vehicle insurance. Today should have been the cut-off time in terms of enforcement, but Ive been informed that a week grace period has been given to allow car owners to go and get their insurance stickers, said Collins. All of them fall within the timeline that was set; they have to comply. What you saw today was the search for license. I can assure you that the insurance registration has been extended by a week. Third Party, A Must Transport Minister Tornonlah Varpilah during a news conference recently said the government was serious about ensuring that vehicles comply with all public safety procedures laid down by to a third party. Thats the minimum requirement for insurance. Briefing journalists about the importance of the scheme, the Transport Minister said it was meant to achieve two objectives: To remove the economic burden associated with accidents on victims and the owner of the vehicle to the insurance company and to stimulate the financial growth and solvency of the insurance sector. People lost confidence Minister Varpilah said many people lost confidence in the third party scheme because there were companies that could not meet the needs of their clients but were allowed to operate. He added that this time the government has put in all effort to ensure that the process is credible. Some companies didnt have the money to respond to the Liability claims; some of them took too long to respond and the public lost confidence in the scheme, he said. But under this new program, all the measures have been put in place to make sure that insurance companies adequately and swiftly respond to claims. He said in May of 2013, the Central Bank of Liberia vetted all insurance companies adding that the government of Liberia has released the names of the approved companies. They went after them, visited their offices; personnel trained; their management structure, and most of all, how much money they had. The Central Bank has cleared only 18 companies. Besides that Association of Insurance Companies have also entered into a memorandum of understanding with us to strictly abide by the regulations and that they will hold their members accountable, if any member reneges on payment of claims and the client files an official complaint. Owners of motor vehicles are expected within the next week to comply with the third party insurance or have their vehicles impounded. A private Sedan will cost US$150, while owners of taxis will pay US$300, transport trucks will range from US$720.00 to US$1,000.00. Compliance stickers will be sold at US$15 and will be issued along with certificates. Varpilah said the scheme has the potential to generate between US$25 and 30 million annually for the government. He said the scheme also has the propensity to create several jobs for Liberians at garages and insurance companies operating in the country.
ary Wilson had come very early on the road to catch a cab to town early Monday because she had promised a customer that she would be at her salon before 10 am on Monday to braid the customers hair, but little did she know that she would spend another two hours at Caldwell Junction before getting a cab to town. The young woman in her early thirties runs a makeshift salon in Liberias busy shopping district of waterside. She was only able to get a car upon the arrival of one of her old customers whose vehicle was nearby. Ehn ma thank you ya, because I really stay long standing on this road. Ive been here since this morning and any car you get in, the police people will say they inspecting for this and that, Mary told the lady who had offered her a ride. I really dont know what the government on again, they just stopping every car that pass here, so the cabman afraid to even go in town. The streets were jammed packed with people waiting for vehicles to take them downtown, Central Monrovia. Many stood for hours under the hot sun but they could not find any taxi, so many started to walk to town from Bushrod Island. Police lined the streets parking vehicles for one or two reasons. At some police depots, there were visible arguments between drivers and police officers because their vehicles had been impounded. At one police depot in Point Four, a driver who did not want to be named was told that he was parked because he did not have insurance stickers. The driver was outraged because for him he felt that the police had begun the process too early and not many drivers were in the position to insure their cars. This is absurd, how can the police just get up one morning and just begin to park cars? I have all my documents including my drivers license yet Ive been parked here for more than two hours and the officers want me to turn over my keys, said the furious driver. It later turned out that the police was not given a mandate to park vehicles for motor vehicle insurance but instead the inspection was targeting car documents and drivers licenses as Police spokesperson Sam Collins puts it. You may wonder what the police is doing on the streets today, we are looking for valid car documents-valid license, and cars
I really dont know what the government on again, they just stopping every car that pass here, so the cabman afraid to even go in town.
law, which included the Third Party motor vehicle insurance scheme. He said the government would not compromise on the enforcement of the insurance scheme. Your vehicle will be arrested and impounded, you will not move from where the police will put it; so if you dont insure your vehicle we will arrest the vehicle and have it kept until you can insure it, said Minister Varpilah. Not only that, if your vehicle does not have roadworthiness inspection sticker, that vehicle will be impounded. This scheme was first enacted into law in 1973 and it says that every owner of a vehicle should prove evidence that they have the financial security to respond to any damage done, as a result of an accident
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FrontPage EDITORIAL
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COMMENTARY
Commentary
Ministry of Justice Must Proceed With Caution in issuance of indictments, the blanket must cover all, not just a select few
THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE came out swinging last week with the issuance of indictment and arrest of Mr. Moses Wogbeh, the former head of the Forestry Development Authority(FDA) and several others accused of defrauding the country of millions of dollars by issuing bogus permits that allowed foreign companies to exploit the countrys hardwood forests between 2006 and 2012. The illegal permits defrauded the government of 12 to 15 million dollars. THIS IS GOOD and we welcome any effort that will bring corrupt government officials to book for trying to defraud the nation. However, this must be done across the board and not through a strategic attempt to single out a few less-powerful and leastconnected folks. MR. WOGBEH was dismissed last year when an investigation panel found that he and others misused Liberias forests by granting illegal contracts. The permits should only be issued to allow commercial logging of privately-owned land. But Wogbeh and other former forestry officials granted permits to allow logging on community and public lands, according to the panels report. THE INDICTMENT SAID that Wogbeh and others in the forestry agency took advantage of the lack of regulations in ways that were unconscionable, illegal, and a violation of the public interest, stated the report. The multiple-count indictment served on Wogbeh and others alleges that they committed economic sabotage and criminal conspiracy. LIBERIAS TIMBER sector came under international sanctions during the regime of former President Charles Taylor when his government was accused by international environmental watchdogs, including Global Witness, of deforestation and using earnings from tropical hardwoods to fund conflicts. Taylor is now serving a 50-year sentence in a British jail after he was found guilty of supporting war in neighboring Sierra Leone in the 1990s. SINCE THE fall of Taylor and his predecessor Doe, Liberia continues to be boggled down by corruption amid widespread allegations of senior-level officials entangled in serious abuse of national resources. THATS WHY WE are concerned about the level of at which the Ministry of Justice is proceeding with the slate of indictments. WE HOPE THAT these indictments will not only mark the beginning of many more but that the MOJ will begin prosecuting officials accused of corruption before they are recycled from one ministry to the next. WE HAVE seen it all before. Mr. Francis Kaba was dismissed as head of the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation for gross indiscretion in financial management only to show up on the board of the National Housing Authority(NHA) as chair.
AVOID SELECTIVE JUSTICE
THE CBL ACT AMENDMENT: THE FIRST MAJOR ANTI-POLITICAL CORRUPTION ACT IN LIBERIA
John Morlu, II, jmorlue@yahoo.com, Contributing
does not sign it, because I know that she and I had numerous discussions on how to end political corruption by changing the Condition of Service of some of the key institutions in Liberia, just as it is done in America, Zambia etc. But again, whether she signs it or not is not my issue. At least, we are having a debate on political corruption because of the amendments of the CBL Act. This is a good thing for Liberias democracy and its institutional arrangements. In Search of a Motive The opponents have attempted to undermine the amendments by attaching motive to it, arguing that this is all done to promote the presidential ambition of Speaker Alex J. Tyler. These people have failed to acknowledge that the very AMENDEMENTS in question did not originate from the House of Representatives. Instead, it stands from a long feud between the Governor of the CBL and the Liberian Senate; 2013 we witnessed at some point a bitter exchange between the Senate Pro-Tempore and the Governor of the CBL. Unless so many have forgotten, the argument between the CBL and the Senate backdated Senator Findley, as Pro-Tempore. It started when Senator Isaac Nyenabo was Pro-Temore. It all began in 2006/2007 when the CBL Governor minted coins without first seeking approval from the Legislature. The Legislature argued that it is only them that could mint coins and the CBL insisted that it was the Legislature that granted it such powers, a classic debate that existed between the U.S. Congress and National Bank of America (now Federal Reserve Bank). Liberias 1986 Constitution, Article 34 (ii) reads, no monies shall be drawn from the treasure except in consequence of appropriations made by legislative enactment and upon warrant of the President; and no coin shall be minted or national currency issued except by the expressed authority of the Legislature. Further, those who are defending the CBL have argued that the CBL Governor has not announced that he is a candidate for the 2017 Presidential Elections. Paradoxically,some of these same people are also accusing Speaker Tyler who has made no such pronouncement that he is a Candidate for 2017. Let us focus on the substantive issues and forgot about the motives, which we cannot prove at this point. The substantive issue is whether the amendment of the CBL Act will advance our collective effort to fight political corruption in Liberia. Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe agrees that the CBL amendment will help in the fight to end political corruption, except he wants such laws to apply to all public institutions. If that is the argument, then he should support the Level Playing Bill modeled after the US. Hatch Act, 1939. I also reminded a journalist yesterday that he should read the Code of Conduct prepared by Dr. Amos Sawyer and submitted to the Legislature by the President of Liberia and he will be surprised that the President and Dr. Sawyer want to end political corruption, people abusing public office to advance their political agendas. Go and read the draft Code of Conduct that was passed by the Senate! The 1986 Constitutional Defenses Opponents of the Amendments have also relied on various constitutional provisions to make their argument. It seems they are all fishing for a Constitutional provision that they can hang on to make their argument. Here are a few examples: Liberian National Student Union (LINSU) and Its Article 18 Argument In its Press Release, LINSU says the Senates action is a clear violation of the Article 18 of the Liberian Constitution: In view of Article 18, we maintain that Dr. Jones and other Duty Governors and Board members of the CBL are entitled to the right to a job, irrespective of what a senator or group of senators may perceive as 'future political treat' from Gov. Jones(the Amendments) will meet a very stiff rsistance, as it is now, where our lawmakers themselves will choose to be the very lawbreakers. An unknown group called the Coalition to Combat Impunity and Protect Natural Resources (COCPNAR) followed LINSU on the Article 18 argument. Article 18 of the Liberian Constitutions reads: All Liberian citizens shall have equal opportunity for work and employment regardless of sex, creed, religion, ethnic background, place of origin or political affiliation, and all shall be entitled to equal pay for equal work. I do not see anywhere in the amendments where any Liberian was denied equal opportunity to work because of religion, sex, creed, religion, ethnic background, place of origin and political affiliation. In fact, the CBL Governor and Board of Directors are gainfully employed and there is no complaint that they have not been paid for equal work. All the amendment says is that a sitting Governor and Board of Directors cannot run for elected office while serving and three years after they resigned or the leave the employ of the Central Bank.
n May 2011, the Germany Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, Dirk Niebel, on a visit to Liberia, cried out loud about the high level of political corruption in Liberia, mainly the abuse of public office to advance personal political and financial agendas, against the interest of the state. The amendment of the CBL Act of 1999, regardless of what motives we attach to it, is the first attempt to rein political corruption in Liberia. All those who claimed to be anti-corruption and anti-abuse of public office should support the Legislature on this issue. In 2014, I decided that enough of the writings on Liberian affairs, as so many good ideas just fall on deaf ears. It seems rather obvious that the desire to maintain a corrupt system far outweighs the pronounced commitments to ensure that laws and regulations are enforced and better systems and controls are put into place to control corruption, the number one public enemy In America, where many of us boast of being educated we say politics stops at the waters edge. In contrast, in Liberia, politics is an all-day affair. In the infamous RIA recordings, we hear a Liberian Senator say everything in Liberia that politics. Former NOCAL boss Chris Neyor said it best: Today, on the airwaves and in the print media, around the beer bars and in intellectual clubs, the stories or the underlying story is 2017. There are even some who have not yet made it through the 2014 midterm Senatorial elections and are already counting their lot for the 2017 Presidential election. Sadly for Liberia,some of those elected and appointed in government starting to maneuver for the 2017 presidential election to replace President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. As a result, the Presidents development agenda to move the country forward including the Vision 2030 national transformation plan is being hijacked by officials both legislative and executives who are putting their selfish desire for a political office years away instead of working for the common good of all.All of these have affected ordinary Liberians with skyrocketing inflation and a backbreaking unemployment rate, especially amongst youth population. I am not a lawyer. I am just a commoner with solid education and above average understanding and experience with the American System of Governments, including Federal, State and Local Governments. I also studied American Government from the University of Virginia, receiving Bachelors from its Woodrow Wilson School of Government. I have also had the opportunity to live and work in various democracy systems in Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa and transition economies of the foreign Soviet Union. Currently I am spending considerable time navigating my way in the Caribbean and Latin America. All of these developing countries have borrowed various versions of the American system, which they have not taken the time to study and understand. I was invited for dinner last year at the home of a prominent U.S. Embassy official in Haiti. In our discussion, I asked him whether Haitians and their leadership know anything about Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison. Hamilton, Jay and Madison borrowed largely from Britain, France, Rome and Greek to present a comprehensive argument (in 85 Federalist Papers) for the Constitutional Republican form of Government to be adopted in America. These Americans studied other people systems to build the American system we have today. But the developing countries including Liberia are carbon copying America but without the contextual understanding of the very complex system that Hamilton, Jay and Madison advanced in the Federalist Papers. How many Liberians have read Patrick Henrys Give Me Liberty, Give Me Death Speech, the American Declaration of Independence, the Article of Confederation, the 85 Federalist Papers and American Constitution and the Bills of Rights. Or the history behind each of the Constitutional Amendments to the United States Constitution. Anyway, my American host in Haiti reminded me that an American Ambassador does not go into a country to change it but to tell the people in that country what America is all aboutthe American principles of Government. So those who are waiting for the U.S. Ambassador to change the corrupt practices in Liberia will surely wait for a long time. I say all of this to indicate that my position on the debate on the amendment of the CBL Act 1999 is broader in perspective than the narrow Constitutional cherry picking that is being used to castigate the Legislature. I know some will say Liberia is not America but these same people boast of US education to get jobs in Liberia. I make no apologies for always talking about America! The CBL is modeled after America, too. It is therefore befitting to use America as a reasonable yardstick. Interestingly the arguments against the amendments have been less coordinated and scattered, as though these defenders of the status quo are in a desperate mood to grab onto anything to convince the President not to take the final step by signing the Amendments into law. It would be a big surprise if the President
v
can read thethree full year commentary on www. Some have You a problem with the after they leave office clause. But they forgot that the frontpageafricanonline.com amendment will be meaningless if the Governor or a
IN OTHER cases, many officials are asked to resign without prosecution only to resurface months or years later in another position. THE WAR against corruption is not a joke but it appears it has become on under the regime of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE must set the pace and
change the perception held by many that its recent attempts at indictments is nothing more than a charade targeting to less-protected and less-powerful while those seriously wreaking havoc appear to be getting an easy pass at the expense of a nation in the fringe of economic collapse.
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Journey, is sufficiently detailed there.
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COMMENTS FROM FPA ONLINE

LIBERIA 'COLD WATER BUNCH' STRIKES AGAIN-REJECTED BUT CONFIRMED
SARR ABDULAI VANDI WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Angeligue WEEKS' tenure at the LTA has been characterized by various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct, and far-reaching irregularities; and comprehensive telecoms sector incompetence. Correspondingly, Liberians must take note that the only language this wicked president and crooked plutocrat understands is massive opposition and uprising against her arrogant abuse of power and the public trust. We must follow the Maghreb example, and the ongoing demo in the Ukraine. The Madame and her "zama zamas" are in for a rude awakening! As for the useless legislators, and particularly the so-called senior senators who are wielding power in the senate must all be voted out in the pending midterm November 2014 elections. They are most responsible for legalizing bribery and normalizing corruption in the Republic. JAY WION WORKS AT NPRC Liberians have themselves to blame if we don't act now by staging protests and calling for the resignation of Ellen and the entire corrupt govt. The citizens in UKRAINE just drove their corrupt president out of power, and we in Liberia can do the same. This is the message the US Ambassador to Liberia delivered this week in Monrovia. Ellen is not crazy to order her security forces to shoot at peaceful protesters. She could find herself joining Charles Taylor in prison. There could be no better time to end the corrupt and criminal regime of Ellen. We call on opposition political parties, students, teachers, civil society leaders, religious leaders, market women, the unemployed, and others to join now the healthcare workers and start a revolution.. The USA will support our protests because President Obama continues to speak out against the corruption in the govt in Liberia. By next week, Monrovia will be blanketed with documents from the US Justice Department detailing how millions of dollars of our money is spent on US law firms here in DC for public relations purposes. These documents will include Obama's yearly warning to the US Congress on the secreting of Liberian money and the depletion of Liberian resources. Coming to your email soon and in the streets of Monrovia from me, and most of the money from our maritime program. ALTON V. KESSELLY UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN This act of rejecting a presidential appointee and then confirming such appointee after some wheeling and dealing is the well known stock-intrade of our callous and self serving senators. What is surprising is for FrontPageAfrica or anyone who has keenly followed the antecedents of our callous senators to have expected a different result. You just can't teach old dogs new tricks. Anyway, very soon, the Liberian people will again have another golden opportunity of making 50% of those self serving and callous bunch jobless. NYEMADE WANI AVERAGE JOE AT POWER TO THE PEOPLE It is ironic that he US ambassador will talk about corruption when Liberia is the most corrupt nation, bar none. I have given up on this country and 2017 will be the same if we do not kick Clarice Jah, Ballout and the others out of the Senate. Liberians keep saying we have peace but at what price. Where is the peace if we cannot find food to eat. We should and must take to the streets, Liberia is in disarray. This Weeks woman should be ashamed of herself. She and that Burphy who came running back to Liberia are dangerous people. This government is rotten to the core. The funny thing is I said that this woman was going to be confirmed because the Senate did not learn its lesson with Kilby. Liberia is in the garbage heap with all these Harvard Educated crooks. BOKAI PAGII STANFORD UNIVERSITY From the first appointment in her first term, this president has ascribed to the principle of bribery to accomplish her objectives. The Senators and representatives literally cowed in her presence and are therefore manipulated like puppies wanting food. Ellen the master manipulator has no feeling for Liberia and it citizenry, as her only intension is to loot the country and set it up for implosion in 2017.Personally; I think that she is an evil entity that has a spell on the people of this country. The corruption problem is a part of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf being and shall haunt us for many generations to come. BENJAMEN QUAYE UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA We may just be better of under military rule. At least we will expect political malfeasance and organized state theft. And if we should experience a political short-circuit, I will not moan for my country given what we are getting from this crowd. An estimated 250 thousand of our countrymen were sent to their early graves for nothing. No lessons learned!
Mr. Greaves:
Open letter to Mr. Harry Greaves
YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!
This comes with reference to your response to a caller during your Diaspora Forum interview seeking clarification on the above mentioned subject with specific focus on why you did not heed the advice of the then Foreign Minister (myself) to Madam President indicating the need for further consideration of the then pending US$26 million contract between Zakhem and LPRC in light of the ongoing litigation of GOL and Zakhem surrounding the Liberian Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. The information on the pending contract was brought to our attention at a cabinet meeting when it was circulated to cabinet members for our information. This was when MOFA was aware of it for the first time. In that regard, I found your utilization of the words impetus to describe my response as most inappropriate. Impetus when used in the context employed means that actions were taken hastily and without thought. Indeed I find this an insult to the quality of work; thoroughness, time and finances devoted to the case - all as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs efforts to reclaim GOL assets overseas. There were a number of statements in your response that were not entirely accurate. Whereas it is indeed true that Mr. Zakhem, then Liberias Honorary Counsel in Kenya, took legal action earlier to regain the chancery (office) which had been sold by an earlier ambassador as he argued that there had been no payment of his salary due by the Doe government, the accounting of subsequent management of the embassy by Zakhelm when asked for, were either not forthcoming or could not stand up to scrutiny, when they were given us. Moreover, MOFA did indeed express appreciation to Mr. Zakhem earlier for his subsequent efforts to recover the said property. Infact, he was invited to Liberia several times to clarify various claims he made (including, at one point part ownership of the Ducor) but could not be substantiated. He refused to come. In addition several attempt to ascertain the validity or otherwise of accounting records proved futile. As a result of Mr. Zakhems, subsequent lack of cooperation, we found it necessary to initiate legal proceedings against him. At least several investigative missions were undertaken to Nairobi on the matter, by the Ministrys then Inspector General (Amb. Johnson); the legal counsel of the Ministry (Cllr. Krubo Kollie); legal officer of the Ministry of Justice (Cllr. Aaron Kpallin); and the General Auditing Commission. We even had to engage the services of a Kenyan law firm. The entire matter, which is referred to under the caption Liberian Governments Property in Nairobi, Kenya (an incredible saga) on page 94 96 of my Book, Womens Leadership in Post-conflict Liberia: my
Those pages are contained in a box that should be seen as an integral part of my response. Of particular significance, in this regard is that the Inspector General, Amb. Johnson did not indicate any such notion of Mr. Zakhem having been maligned and as such, MOFA needed to apologize to him. The reports are available on the case at both MOFA/MOJ and GAC. Mr. Johnson can be contacted and he will confirm this. For your further information, we even had to involve the NSA in the matter. In closing, now that you have brought up the Zakhem/ Nairobi embassy matter, Harry, I want to note that once I left the Ministry and resigned from Government in November 2010, the case that we had in court in Kenya against Mr. Zakhem was not further pursued by GOL to its conclusion. While the Government of Kenya proved supportive of GOL efforts to retrieve our properties and were assisting us in so doing, they could not pursue the case when GOL opted not to do so. This was most regrettable. I often wondered why this matter was not properly pursued. It would be in GOL interest to know what happened since a lot of work, time and efforts went into the matter, while considerable resources were expended as well. Indeed the issue of GOL overseas properties has been well documented with a plea for MOFA/GOL to accord it the seriousness that it deserves. The recommendation by former Ambassador Charles Minor proposing the establishment of a public-private partnership for management and oversight responsibilities of Governments overseas assets, merits reactivation and serious consideration indicated. The point made as to what the actions of one brother in Nairobi has to do with another brothers proposed business in Liberia may not be as mute as you have tried to imply. We invited Mr. Zakhem to Liberia. He refused to come; decided to sue GOL in turn and indeed began making claims on GOL for doing him in as regards ownership claims etc. for the Ducor, and making himself unavailable to GAC auditors and mission of MOFA/MOJ when they arrived in Kenya. The involvement of the NSA through Mr. Nathaniel Hodge (Captain or Colonel) indicates further that the matter was not to be as lightly dismissed as your response suggested. Given all the above insights into the Zakhem/Liberian Embassy in Nairobi Case, it beats ones imagination that one would describe the entire action as impetus. This notwithstanding I must say, Harry, that I am pleased that you have reopened this matter, as we need to understand the consideration that led to MOFA not pursuing the matter along the lines that was underway and making 180 degrees turnaround after I left the Ministry. Yours Sincerely, Olubanke King-Akerele Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
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PAGE RONT
NEWS EXTRA
NOT LIVING BY BREAD ALONE

SUSPENDED BY SUPREME COURT; LIFE GOES FOR CLLR. BEYAN HOWARD
Louisiana Caldwellhortly after the Supreme Court of Liberia came down with a ruling to suspend Justice Minister Christiana Tah and Cllr. Beyan Howard, one of several lawyers representing FrontPageAfrica publisher Rodney Sieh in the libel case against former Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Chris Toe, Howard, a long-time practicing and human rights lawyer took his punishment on the chin, rolled up his sleeves and went into business. On Monday, Cllr. Samuel Woods, the lead attorney on the case led a delegation of lawyers and FrontPageAfrica to the home of Cllr. Howard in Caldwell to show solidarity with the suspended lawyer. In January, the high court suspended Minister Tah, who also doubles as Dean of the Supreme Court for six months while dealing a three-months suspension from practicing law to Cllr. Howard. The court cited the refusal of the Justice Minister who also doubles as Dean of the Supreme Court Bar to send the FrontPageAfrica editor to prison. Attorney General Tah is also the direct legal adviser to the President of the Republic. Cllr. Tah played a pivotal role in several concession agreements between Liberia and foreign firms, notably the petroleum agreement with Chevron ExxonMobil. Part of the Ministry's function is to procure proper evidence for, and conduct, prosecute, or defend all suits and proceedings in the courts in which the Republic or any officer thereof, as to such officer, is a party or may be interested; Institute all legal proceedings necessary for law enforcement.
On Monday, Cllr. Howard said he When the Supreme Court came down with its ruling in January, it was necessary to show people that it was not the end of his life. I said to myself, look, like Christ Said to his disciples, Man does not live by bread alone. So I have determined that I will not live by practicing law alone but instead will get involved in other things like engage in business. Howard who says he commenced construction of a residence and convenient store in his community in
disappointed if they had. Howard said he and Attorney Woods had had agreed to retire from human rights practice in the aftermath of the fall of Charles Taylor and Samuel Doe but felt it necessary to return to the frontline. What we see in Liberia today has forced us to come out of retirement and back into the frontline. We are prepared to go back on the front line and even if our lives are at stake we will fight on. Attorney Woods for his part said the visit was important
Caldwell, said: I can live by anything else other than practicing law. I started this project ten days after the court came down with its ruling so the word can go out that suspending Beyan Howard does not mean that it is the end of his life and I am happy that the FrontPageAfrica family and Cllr. Woods have come here today to see things for themselves. I am also happy that FrontPageAfrica has not waivered from its reportage. I would have been to show solidarity with Cllr. Howard for his ordeal. We come because as you all know Cllr. Beyan Howard was one of our lawyers who was suspended recently by the Supreme Court for three months and the objective of this visit is several. One, to demonstrate that conviction, values and principles inspired and motivated Cllr. Howard. Cllr. Howard represents the fight for human rights, democracy and freedom of the press. The other thing is
Liberians need to know that when one Liberian is being excluded and jeopardized for standing up for human rights and justice for all Liberians, then people everywhere are affected. Attorney Woods said the other issue is that very few persons stand for anything in Liberia these days. Cllr. Howard was one of the lawyers who called me up and volunteered his service to be part of the process. He was motivated. That initiative alone on the part of Cllr. Howard needs to be applauded by all of us. So this is a demonstration of our clear support. We also come to show solidarity with his family to demonstrate that he is not alone, his quest for the respect for human rights and the promotion and sustainability of democracy. Attorney Woods lamented that the elites of Liberia have contempt for honesty and
integrity and respect human rights, serious contempt and Liberia cannot continue to be contemptuous of these values. These are the values we seek to crush; these are the values we seek to undermine and our presence here is a clear statement that we will not accept and tolerate an environment in which there will just be impunity. On behalf of Cllr. Laveli Supuwood, Cllr. Kanie Wesso, Cllr. Alexander Zoe and Cllr. Musa Dean, Attorney Woods assured Cllr. Howard that the team is still alive and that the team will still continue and will in fact be expanded as many other lawyers both male and female lawyers have indicated their willingness to reform libel laws in Liberia. There is a need to address the reform of our defamation laws in Liberia and address the issue of libel laws more seriously
and help reform the system of appeals in this country and other kinds of things reflecting on future positions that will help to reduce and minimize the consequences of draconian leadership in Liberia. In her annual message this year, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf urged the legislature to craft laws that will be consistent with national interests, determining. Antiquated laws that retard the promotion of our fledgling democracy should be abolished. This Government was one of the first two African States that signed the Table Mountain Declaration, which calls for decriminalizing freedom of expression. Therefore, we will submit, for your consideration, bills to repeal all repressive laws as found in the statutes and in decrees of the PRC, the President said.
UREY, NOCAL FACE PROBE A

Monrovia former senior member of the Board of Directors of Liberias National Oil Company faces investigation as the Governance Commission lines a formal complaint to the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission. Governance Commission Chairman, Dr. Amos Sawyer says the commission is planning to do a formal complaint to the anti graft body for further investigation into admittance by Mr. Clemenceau Urey that NOCAL reluctantly paid lobbying fees in an amount of over US$118,000 to the National Legislature for the passage of some bills for the oil sector of Liberia. Serving as one of the discussants at a public hearing at the Capitol Building for the Code of Conduct Bill, Dr. Sawyer said such action as payment of lobbying fees needs to be investigated by the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission. Last week at another public hearing on audit reports issued by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) on the operations of NOCAL, Mr. Urey admitted that the oil regulatory body gave over fifty thousand united sates dollars to the legislature through two former lawmakers as lobby fees. Urey Said: We did it reluctantly. It is not something we wanted to do. We did it in the national interest to get those agreements ratified, but what I can say here to you today is that when the second payment was done, I was not in the Country and when I heard about it I got angry. Ureys admittance was in relations to audit by the GAC in which the commission cited the payment of lobbying fees by NOCAL to the lawmakers. I recommended that the US$118,400.00 purportedly paid as lobbying fees be refunded to NOCALs coffers by Madam Alomiza Ennos Barr, Member of the House of Representative, James Kaba, Chief Clerk of the House of Representative, and Dr. Fodee Kromah, President of NOCAL. Except for a payment received and signed for by Madam Barr in the tune of US$40,000.00 and another payment signed for by Chief Clerk Kaba in the tune of US$1,500.00, there was no evidence of receipt by the National legislature of US$76,900.00. On the basis of the information and clarification provided
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Governance Commission Lines Compliant To LACC

Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
by Chairman Urey, I recommended that Dr. Kromah refund the amount and that the Minister of Justice employs the necessary legal means to remedy the fraud and the contravention of Liberian laws, the Auditor General indicated in one of the recommendations contained in the NOCAL audit report. Apartheid Law, Sawyer Slams CBL amendment The head of the Governance Commission has also described recent amendment of the Central Bank of Liberia act by the legislature in which the Executive Governor, the Board of Governors, are prohibited from contesting for political offices while serving in their positions. Dr. Sawyer said: Also in the news last week it was reported that the legislature passed into law, at lightning speed, a bill amending the Act establishing the Central Bank of Liberia. This development to many aspect of the bill seems reminiscent of the Mandela laws of the Apartheid era in South Africa where laws of exclusion were individually targeted to control the actions of a single individual. Such laws are typically designed to be retroactive in their effects and with grave implications for the function of governance institutions and creating uncertainties for office holders even after the expiration of their tenures. In my view, the passage of the code of conduct with provisions of general
applicability is far better, ethical, legal and democratic way of addressing concerns regarding unfair electoral advantages. Dr. Sawyer said, though the Code of Conduct is not a panacea for addressing all issues of ethical values in the Liberian system of government, it does provide a tool for initially determining what is permissible, what is prohibited and what is required of the behavior of public officials across the board-including the legislature. Sheik Kafumba Konneh a Muslims cleric said, the passage of the Code of Conduct bill will be a mockery if it is not protected and implemented for the good of the citizenry of Liberia.
The code of conduct should not be one-way traffic, the lawmakers themselves should respect the law before querying people to respect it, the value of a law depends on those in leadership, he said. Traditional leaders Protest Provision Traditional leaders are protesting against a provision in the Code of Conduct that is against the offering of Kola Nuts or inducement. Chief Zanzar Karwoir head of the Traditional Council of Liberia has strongly opposed certain provisions in the draft Code of Conduct bill passed by the Liberian senate for public officials. Section 1.3.2 of the draft bill which speaks about bribery prohibits public employees from taking reward or
inducement for doing or forbearing to do anything in respect of any matter or transaction within the scope of their official duties. Chief Karwoir serving as one of the witnesses invited by the House of Representatives Committee on Good Governance to make input into the bill called on the lower house not to concur with the Senate on the a provision in the bill that speaks against traditional and cultural practices. Karwoir said: if that part of the bill is not deleted it will have us traditional leaders to believe that the legislature is using a cleaver attempt to do away with our culture and traditions. We have the right to receive strangers and welcome them with
Kola nuts, and to prove the importance of kola nuts in our tradition it is normally used for diary payment of women. The Liberia Traditional chief also cautioned lawmakers to protect laws they make and not to make laws for the name of making laws. He also commended the committee for inviting the Traditional Council to the Public hearing and cautioned them to take seriously the issue of culture and tradition as they deliberate on the final Code of Conduct bill. Section 1.3.10 of the bill also speaks against casual gifts: Any present or gift, unsolicited and or a modest scale giving to a public official or employee of government which is not connected to their official duties or giving during seasonal celebrations which does not exceed US$ 200.00 in value. This provision shall not apply to gifts giving during cultural and customary celebration The crafting of the Code of Conduct Bill is in keeping with article 90 of the Liberian 1986 constitution which prevents individuals severing in public offices from engaging in any other activities which shall be against public, or constitute conflict of interest. The code of conduct bill has for the past two decades linger in the corridors of the Capitol building and was finally passed last year by the Liberian senate and sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
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ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE
GENDER ISSUES
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Monrovia Violence against women, violence against our mothers and sisters has reached an unacceptable level and we all must join efforts to put this to an end, says Oniel Bestman, one of many men who participated in the One Billion Rising for Justice Campaign in Monrovia. It was a sunny Friday afternoon. The sky was blue and a special feeling of love and affection filled the airit was Valentines Day. In Sinkor, [a section of Liberias capital Monrovia] Oniel and hundreds of other men, women and youth braved the heat of the sun and marched in the streets with placards, in an event organized by UN Women Liberia and partners. They were standing up for a cause that is more than just Valentines Day.the One Billion Rising for Justice Campaign. Oniel and others who joined the Billion Rising Campaign came together to call for love that does not hurt, for an end to abuse and violence against women. Often at the center of cases of violence against women, many men now appear determined to be protectors rather than abusers of womens rights. There was almost an equal ratio of men who participated in the march. Men need to have a renewed commitment to say no to violence against women. We need to respect the rights and dignity of our mothers and sisters. If we respect their rights, we will discover their true value which
they could not show out under fear and abuse, Oniel explained. Celebrating One Billing Rising has added a bigger and contemporary meaning to Valentines Day a moment of romantic love when many people give cards, letters, flowers or presents to their spouse or partner. Though Valentines Day has become a popular celebration in Liberia, many women are unable to share these cherished moments due to acts of violence, abuse and murderironically, sometimes in the name of love. Amongst its many post-war challenges, battling the plague of violence against women is proving to be a challenging task for Liberia. Despite increasing efforts by the government and its multi-national partners to reduce inequalities and violence against Liberian women, a convincing success is far from being achieved. In 2013, the Liberian government reported a staggering 1,730 cases of rape for the year. Ten of those cases resulted to death. Human rights groups say it is likely these numbers are even higher, as many of the cases go unreported or are compromised. Rape is just one of the many dangers women in Liberia face, as domestic violence and other forms of harmful practices are also prevalent. With the first global mobilization in 2013, One Billion Rising is a campaign to end violence against women and girls. This is the second observance of the event by UN Women Liberia and its partners. The One Billing Rising campaign is a direct response
to the statistics which indicates
that one in three women in the world will be raped, beaten or coerced into sex in her lifetime, amounting to one billion women. This Valentines Day in Monrovia, more than five hundred activists joined the one billion around the globe to RISE to end violence against women and to shake the world into a new consciousness. Popular Liberian musicians and radio DJs including DenG, Sweets, 2-SWITT, F.A., Cypah, DJ Blue, Oneal Roberts, Daniel Ankrah and Vivian Akoto-a winner of UNMIL A Star is Born musical competition added flavor to the indoor program held at the William V.S. Tubman High School in Sinkor. They danced and showcased the anthem of the event Break the Chain. Culture performers
NEC RELEASES PRELIMINARY STATISTICS ON VOTER ROLL UPDATE EXERCISE
Monrovia he National Elections Commission (NEC) has released provisional data on the Voter Roll Update Exercise being conducted across the country. According to the figures released by the NEC through the Commissioner with Oversight Responsibilities of Communications, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, the total number of eligible Liberians who have been included on the voter roll as of Saturday, February 22, 2014, is 26,287. Commissioner Lansannah, at a news conference Monday said of this number, 17,496 are males while 8,791 are females. She disclosed thatTransferred Voters or registered voters who changed their locations are 6,981. These numbers, she said represent processed forms received from areas that are accessible. The NEC Commissioner indicated thatInaccessible communities that have not submitted completed
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registration forms include Yarnee District in Rivercess County, Dedei Town, Samah Town and Garney Town in Bong County as well as Jumoa in Grand Bassa County, among others. As the process progresses, it is the expectation of the Commission that individuals who fall within the three categories will turn out at our respective Voter Roll Update Centers in order to be included on the voter roll. This is important because obtaining a valid voter ID card is the pre-requisite for participation in the October 14, 2014 Special Senator Election, Commissioner Lansannah intimated. She called on all stakeholders in the electoral process-Political Parties, Civil Society Organizations, Women and Youth Groups, Religious Leaders and all Liberians to encourage eligible Liberians to turn out and be included on the voter roll. As part of efforts to enhance equitable and increased participation in the Special Senatorial Election, the Commission has intensified its
thrilled the audience with a display of different acrobatic skills and Liberia traditional dances. For many of the women who were there with their messages on posters, it was time that everyone harnessed their power and imagination to rise for justice. The event not only raised awareness for justice but recognized and honored the work and legacy of Sheelagh Kathy Mangones-the former UN Women Liberia Country Representative whose shocking passing early February has left many saddened and a void in the fight to make the world a better place for women. Kathy served as UN Women Representative in Liberia (20122014) and Haiti (2007-2012). She led with innovation and a
bold vision, inspiring her teams and delivering programs that changed the lives of tens of thousands of women and girls. Colleagues across UN Women and the wider UN systems admired Kathys warmth, drive and professionalism and passion. She was the driving force to bring the One Billion Rising event to Liberia though she would not live to participate in the grand celebration. But, in her honor and because of their passion for womens issues, several institutions and corporate bodies supported the campaign, including NGO Medica Mondiale, Coca Cola Liberia, Touching Humanity in Need of Kindness (THINK), Servants Of All Prayers (SOAP), The Liberia Girls Organization, Miss Boss Lady International, Childrensmile, Youth Focus
Center, Educare, and the National Muslim Council of Liberia. The UN Mission In Liberia (UNMIL) provided logistical support and the Liberian Red Cross, the ambulance with the first aid team. Cheerful students from the W.V.S. Tubman High School helped in organizing the hall. They were especially helpful in directing other participants to the posters where they wrote what justice means to them. For those who turned out on Valentines Day for the One Billion Rising for Justice Campaign in Monrovia, it was a moment to celebrate, to dance and to show the world the power of global solidarity in demanding justice for all women and girls, to be able to end the violence against them.
Civic and Voter Education (CVE) campaign nation-wide. These include the production of additional jingles and dramas in both Liberian English and the 16 local Languages of the country. The Commission has also produced a new version of the special Voter Roll Update song. These are being aired on 43 community radio stations and 11 national radio and television stations, She noted. She also revealed that the Commission has embarked upon the use Mobile Public Address Systems in populated communities especially in Montserrado County disclosing that since the commencement of the Mobile Public Address System, an upsurge in attendance at Voter Roll Update Centers has been reported. The NEC Commissioner said as part of the Integrated Civic and Voter Education Strategy of the Commission, the NEC will, this week commencing a series of intensive community mobilization and town hall forums targeting first time voters.
The voter Roll Update Exercise which started on January 29, 2014 is aimed at including on the Voter Roll Liberians who have attained the age of 18 years and above since the 2011 Voter Registration Exercise; Liberians who, for one reason or the other did not register in 2011; and Registered voters who have changed locations within the country and wish to be captured in their current areas of residency. She said since the start of the exercise, there has been no report of problems related to logistics and Voter Roll Update staff movement, except for the case involving 16 Ivorian Refugees who were detected by Voter Roll Update staff in the Cavalla Administrative District of Grand Gedeh County while attempting to register for inclusion on the Voter Roll. These alleged fraudsters, she noted, were immediately turned over to the Liberia National Police in Grand Gedeh for prosecution.
Monrovia -(Reuters)--iberian Defense Minister Monday denied any Liberian gunmen attacking Ivorian security forces and has challenged Ivorian authorities to provide evidence of that allegation. Brownie Samukai told Reuters in an exclusive interview that the reports of Liberian mercenaries going into Ivory Coast was false and has assured the Ivorian Government of Liberia's support to protecting its borders. Liberia's borders with Ivory Coast is one of the porous in West Africa. "There are no Liberian mercenaries leaving here to go and fight in Ivory Coast. If they say there have seen mercenaries, I challenged them, they should produce one evidence to the international community. We have re-assured Ivorans that an inch of Liberia territory
Monrovia iberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has ordered an investigation into reports of alleged arrests and forceful repatriation of Ivorian refugees suspected of attempts to destabilize both countries. A report last week by the Associated Press quoted UN refugee agency representative Khassim Diagne as saying that 14 registered Ivorian refugees were among a group of 23 suspects arrested in southeastern Liberia and shipped across the Cavalla River into Ivory Coast. The report quotes UN officials as saying such action is a violation of international law. Liberian Information Minister Lewis Brown said his country is committed to the protection of all its citizens, as well as those seeking refuge in Liberia. He said his government wants to understand the facts surrounding the reports and, if the allegations are true, it will
LIBERIA ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED FORCED REPATRIATION
will not be used to destabilize any country," he said. Speaking in a furious mood, he said, "this is an Ivorian problem and they need to find a way to solve it. They should exclude Liberians from it. We have worked diligently with the Ivorian security forces. We have excellent relations with the security authorities and we have direct exchange of notes with our counterparts." Ivorian security said on Sunday that gunmen from Liberia entered the southern part of the country and attacked security forces. Four people were said to have been killed and some people arrested. "We want to state and deny any Liberian mercenaries involved. We believed if there is a problem on the other side of the border, they need to solve it. Liberians need to be left alone. We are using our meager resources to protect our borders. We are
tired of problem. We just ended our war and we have assured our neighbors that we will not allow any form of aggression to go into their country from here." He added, "both countries need to protect their borders. We are doing it here. Also, we have been taking patrols with our Ivorian counterparts. If there has been any problem there, we would have seen the movement of people from the borders towards Liberia. But there has not been any movement of people." He said, "Ivory Coast has high military capabilities more than us. The size of their military is more than us. They have equipment more than us. I think we need to work closely together here. "I am shock about this report," he said. The attack comes less than a year after Ivory Coast and Liberia agree to open their respective borders. Reuters reported Sunday that at least four Ivorian soldiers and several attackers were killed when suspected gunmen from Liberia raided a border town in Liberia. Gunmen from Liberia have carried out several assaults on towns near the border
LIBERIA DEBUNKS IVORY COASTS LATEST MERCENARIES BORDER CROSSING CLAIMS

in recent years which the government and the United Nations have blamed on allies of former president Laurent Gbagbo. Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producing nation, is recovering from a decadelong political crisis that culminated in 2011 in a brief civil war after Gbagbo refused to accept his election defeat to Alassane Ouattara. Ivory Coasts Defence Minister Paul Koffi Koffi told Reuters that the latest attack took place early on Sunday in the small town of Grabo, but the situation was now under control. "They attacked a border post. We had to pull back. UN troops intervened to support us," Koffi Koffi said. "What is clear is that the situation is now under control." He said several attackers were killed but did not have an exact death toll. Local authorities and residents reached by telephone said that at least four Ivory Coast soldiers were killed and three gunmen were arrested. Yaya Coulibaly, a parliamentarian from Grabo, said he was told by the local army commander that four soldiers died. "I'm in contact with the mayor who said that the situation was returning to normal but there was still some tension due to sporadic gunfire that is still being heard," Coulibaly said. Grabo resident Ouattara Do, a director of a local cocoa cooperative, said the attack occurred around 4 a.m. local time after the assailants crossed over from Liberia. "They attacked the local gendarme post and the army camp. They were pushed back with the help of the United Nations forces in Ivory Coast," Do said. The attack comes as President Ouattara is recovering after an operation in a French hospital this month while former President Gbagbo is awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court for suspected crimes against humanity during the war, in which around 3,000 people died. The border was shut down in 2012 for several months due to an attack in June 2012 but was partially reopened, but only in Maryland County in the far southeast, making it possible to cross into Ivory Coast between Saniquellie (past Ganta) and Man. Western Ivory Coast has been plagued with violence for more than a decade, and
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incidents have increased since the post-electoral crisis of December 2010-April 2011, which claimed some 3,000 lives. Supporters of Ivorian former president Laurent Gbagbo, who had to be ousted from power by force in April 2011 after losing an election, have been blamed for a June 8 attack in which the Nigerian troops were killed. The assailants were based in Liberia. At the end of July, Liberian authorities said that they had arrested four people suspected of involvement in the attack. Just last week, the head of the UN refugee agency in Liberia expressed concern over the alleged "forced extradition" of 14 Ivorian refugees. Khassim Diagne told the BBC there were among a group of 23 accused by Ivory Coast of being mercenaries. The Liberian security forces are alleged to have handed them over to their Ivorian counterparts. Liberia's government said it was not aware of the extraditions and would investigate. Liberia has not responded to the latest claims from the Ivorian government.
take the necessary measures to make sure it doesnt happen again. Wed like to pride ourselves as doing the best we can to not just reinstitute the rule of law in our country, but to interact with the comity of nations in respect of international law and best practices. And
so, when we received these reports that individuals, especially from neighboring Cote dIvoire seeking refuge in our country, were forcefully repatriated, it is a matter for serious attention, and we are treating it as such, he said. Brown said, despite Liberias fragility as a country emerging
from years of conflict, the country continues to open its borders to thousands of refugees from Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. We will continue to remain a safe haven, not just for refugees from Cote dIvoire or Sierra Leone, because we see it as a duty that we
owe to ourselves and as a good neighbor to always open Liberia up to those who seek relief from their areas. And, it is not a policy of our government to return people to places where they are coming from seeking help in our country, Brown said. He said the Liberian
government is neither confirming nor denying the reports. Instead, Brown said the government wants to understand the facts surrounding the reports and, if the allegations are true, the government will take the necessary measures to make sure it doesnt happen again. The president has instructed a speedy, full investigation into this matter and we will make all of our findings available and take the proper corrective measures wherever necessary, he said. A statement released earlier by the Liberian Foreign Ministry said, The government of Liberia is reminded of recent attacks which witnessed the unfortunate loss of lives of innocent citizens and peacekeepers of the United Nations Operations in Cote dIvoire (UNOCI). The statement called on the international community to assist Liberia in moving refugee camps away from the border, so as to remove the ease with which non-state actors and mercenaries continue to go back and forth planning, and sometimes implementing activities inimical to the peace, security and stability of the two countries.
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Background:
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR SUPPLY OF COMMON USE ITEMS
IBI International (IBI) is a contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) implementing the USAID Governance and Economic Management Support (GEMS) Program. The Program is a five-year technical assistance program to improve performance through strengthening public sector capacity in Liberia. USAID-GEMS Project intends to establish a database of qualified vendors/service providers to be invited to compete for the provision of required goods and services. The result will be a preferred vendors list which will be established for a period of eighteen months to two years. The Project Office in Liberia now invites interested and legitimate business entities to submit Expression of Interest (EoI) for the provision of below listed categories of goods and services: 1. Supply of clean water to Official Residences and Offices around Mamba Point 2. Stationery & Office Supplies 3. Cleaning & Sanitary Materials 4. Provisions 5. Health and Safety (Security & Guard Services) at Official Residences and Offices around Mamba Point 6. Maintenance and Repairs of Computers & Office Equipment 7. Routine maintenance and repair services (including spare parts) for FORD vehicles 8. Maintenance of generators at Official Residences and Offices around Mamba Point 9. Fumigation services at Official Residences and Office 10. Newspaper Advertisement 11. Venues for Conferences, Training and Workshop 12. Supply of bulk fuel for Generator Sets at Official Residences and Offices around Mamba Point 13. Catering Services for Events, Workshops, etc. 14. Provision of Internet Services & Maintenance of Radio Links at various offices and residences 15. Bulk Printing and Photo copying/reproduction Services 16. Supply of GSM phone cards (scratch cards) for voice and Internet communications Qualification Requirements: Business Registration Certificate Articles of Incorporation Tax Clearance for FY2013 References (major business customers, bankers, etc.) Experience, track record, etc. Willingness to sign IBI Vendor/Supplier Code of Conduct Policy Submission: Expression of Interest (document) must be submitted in sealed envelopes clearly marked Expression of Interest for Provision of Common Use Items with the item numbers for which the EOI relates or electronically to bids@gemsliberia.com. The EOI should be deposited in the Tender/Bid Box located in the front office of the ground floor of Project Office located adjacent Atlantis Guest House, Opposite Save the Children Office, Coconut Plantation, and Mamba Point on or before 5:00 pm on Monday, March 10, 2014. Please note that IBI employees can not solicit or receive gratuities, gifts or benefits in association with this or any other procurement activity. Only shortlisted vendors / suppliers will be contacted for submission of supply proposals.
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IN BRIEF
EGYPT'S CABINET RESIGNS, DUCKING GROWING ANGER OVER ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
gypts interim prime minister submitted his cabinets resignation today, surprising even some members of the cabinet and fueling speculation over the presidential ambitions of Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led last July's coup. Field Marshal Sisi, the outgoing defense minister, is widely expected to run in the upcoming elections, and to win by a landslide. Since he has to resign his cabinet post before he declares his candidacy, speculation is rife that a presidential bid is imminent. Prime Minister Hazem el Beblawi's decision also highlights the political pressures facing Egypt's interim leadership, suggesting that even if Sisis path to the presidency is smooth, his tenure could be bumpy. The cabinet resignation comes amid a string of labor strikes, including one by public transport workers and garbage collectors. Headlines have also been dominated by news of an energy crisis that frequently plunges households across Egypt into darkness a regular occurrence in summer, when air conditioners are running, but rare in winter.
s the Dragon Lady going to be grounded for good? Thats the implication of President Obamas fiscal year 2015 military budget, outlined Monday by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Among the many trims it contains is the elimination of funds for the U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane. The famed aircraft would be retired finally in favor of the longrange Global Hawk drone. We say finally because budgeters have been trying to get rid of the U-2 for years. But the plane has proved its versatility and importance again and again in real-world conflicts. In Afghanistan, U-2s with upgraded sensors could spot soil disturbances that hinted at the placement of roadside bombs. More recently, in Syria, U-2s tracked the regime's chemical weapon-related activity. Its possible the U-2 will yet avoid the budget ax. The plane flies higher than the Global Hawk, an important advantage in overhead espionage, and carries a wider array of sensing equipment. For these and other reasons, the Air Force leadership would prefer the manned aircraft over the drone.
NEW DEFENSE BUDGET: WILL IT GROUND FAMOUS U-2 SPY PLANE?
ENTEBBE, Uganda (AP) ganda's president on Monday signed an antigay bill that punishes gay sex with up to life in prison, a measure likely to send Uganda's beleaguered gay community further underground as the police try to implement it amid fevered anti-gay sentiment across the country. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said the bill, which goes into effect immediately, was needed because the West is promoting homosexuality in Africa. Museveni may have defied Western pressure to shelve the bill, four years and many versions after it was introduced, but his move likely to galvanize support ahead of presidential elections pleased many Ugandans who repeatedly urged him to sign the legislation. Nigeria's president similarly signed an anti-gay bill into law just over a month ago, sparking increased violence against gays who already were persecuted in mob attacks. Some watchdog groups warn a similar backlash of violence may occur in Uganda. "Experience from other jurisdictions with similarly draconian laws, such as Nigeria or Russia, indicates that their implementation is often followed by a surge in violence against individuals thought to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender," the International Gay and Lesbian
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Human Rights Commission said in a statement Monday. "The Ugandan government has not indicated any plans to counter such violence or to investigate potential allegations of abuse." The Ugandan law calls for first-time offenders to be sentenced to 14 years in jail. It sets life imprisonment as the maximum penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," defined as repeated gay sex between consenting adults
UGANDA PRESIDENT SIGNS HARSH ANTI-GAY LAW

and acts involving a minor, a disabled person or where one partner is infected with HIV. Uganda's new anti-gay law has been condemned around the world. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay warned that the law would institutionalize discrimination and could encourage harassment and violence against gays. The office of European Union foreign policy chief Catherine
v
Ashton in a statement said she is "is deeply concerned" by "draconian legislation" to criminalize homosexuality in Uganda. At least six people have already been arrested over alleged homosexual offenses and more than a dozen have fled Uganda since lawmakers passed the bill in December, according to a prominent Ugandan gay activist, Pepe Julian Onziema. "The president is making this
decision because he has never met an openly gay person. That disappoints me," he said.
Museveni signed the bill at the presidential palace as government officials, journalists and Ugandan scientists looked on. Government officials applauded after Museveni affixed his signature. Scientists had written a report which found there is no proven genetic basis for homosexuality, Museveni said, citing it as a reason for signing the bill.
TRIPOLI (Reuters) even Egyptian Christians were found shot dead on a beach in eastern Libya after they were abducted from their apartments, security officials and local residents said, in the second such executionstyle killing this year. Three years after the revolution that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's weak government and army is struggling to impose state authority and control brigades of former rebels and Islamist militias in a country awash with weapons. A police officer told Reuters the bodies were found with gunshots to the head outside Benghazi in the east, where assassinations, kidnappings and car bombs are common and Islamist gunmen are active. "They were killed by headshots in execution style," a police officer said.
SEVEN EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS FOUND SHOT EXECUTION-STYLE ON LIBYAN BEACH
"We don't know who killed them." Local residents and an Egyptian worker, who asked not to be identified because of fears for their security, said unknown gunmen had arrived at the Benghazi building where the Egyptians lived and dragged them
away after going door to door asking if residents were Christian or Muslim. Security sources confirmed the Egyptians were Christians. No further details were immediately available about how they were killed or whether they were shot on the beach.
No group claimed responsibility. Last month, a British man and a New Zealand woman were shot execution-style on another beach 100 km (60 miles) to the west of the capital Tripoli. The hardline Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia is active in the east of Libya.
Its Benghazi branch is listed as a foreign terrorist organization by Washington, which blames the group for the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. (Reporting by Tripoli newsroom; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
he Liberia Football Association (LFA) has placed Red Lions FC into its administration. LFA president Musa Bility told a news conference that the FAs decision followed a letter from the clubabout its withdrawal from the Caf Confederations Cup. Red Lions, formerly Fatu FC, are due to host Algerias Club Sportif Constantinois at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on February 28. FrontPageAfrica (FPA) had reported that the club is in a crisis with their Ghanaian partners seemingly reluctant to honor their debut appearance in Africas second premier club competition. The Ghanaian partners are frustrated, having so far failed to register some of their stars, including Liberia international Dweh Allison, because of a failed International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Board chairman Ansu Dulleh wants his partners to honor the terms and conditions of the merger deal, which compels the club to honor international competitions it qualifies to but the Ghanaians say that will be wasted money because the club have not assembled its best. Coach Kobina Amissah has bemoaned a lack of strikers or scoring chances but pundits believe this is down to a lack of creativity on his part to secure point and top class strikers. And that impasse looks to be over with the LFA and government preferring to shoulder the cost of honoring the match than allow Caf imposed a fine on both club and country. The Liberia Football Association, is as of this moment, placing Red Lions [Football Club] into [its] administration. We are taking the team from the owners under our rights as administrators of the game and that we will ensure, thank God the minister is here and together, we will make every effort to make sure that Red Lions participates in the first two games. And during this time, we will ask the owners of Red Lions to present a workable plan to the LFA
LFA places Red Lions into administration; says Confed Cup with Algerias Constantine will take place on Friday
Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com
CONFIRMED!
Sports
Frontpage
Page 13 11
BARCELONA PAY SPANISH AUTHORITIES $18.6 MILLION IN NEYMAR TAX FRAUD CASE
SPORT BRIEF
as to how they intend to continue to manage the club. If that plan is not acceptable to the LFA, we will take over the team and dispose of it under the law and make that the effort that the LFA has put into the development of local talents is not thrown away and the hope and aspiration of the young players is not bashed. The fate of the participation of Red Lions right now is in the hands of the government of Liberia through the minister of youth & sports. And I can assure you, as he himself will tell you, that efforts are being made to ensure that those things happen [Red Lions honor their international engagement], Bility said on February 24. Sport minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe, who also attended the conference, said government was concerned about the sad news of withdrawal. While the government is prepared to shoulder the bills, Nagbe want the LFA to reexamine the merger deal. We urged the LFA administration to go further and review the transfer of ownership from Fatu FC to Red Lions and call the
owners again so that this action is not repeated. The government of Liberia, we can say here now, that we are 100-percent committed. We will source funding and find the financial requirements that are necessary so that the team can play in Monrovia on Friday. We can meet our responsibilities by Friday and also meet our responsibilities to play the second leg in Algeria. You have the full commitment of the government of Liberia, Nagbe confirmed. He added that the government needed to act promptly as Red Lions withdrawal decision would have affected both club and country. Nagbe said the government will channel its financial contribution to the interim administration that will shortly be appointed by the LFA. Barrack Young Controllers, which host Ivory Coasts Sewe Sports on Sunday, expects the situation to be amicably resolved. The Red Lions issue is of serious concern to me because this is a team we had so much hope in given the number of young players they recruited and the way they have ended-
up. It is really worrisome. We are following-up on the development and hope that it yields some positive results, President Sekou Konneh told FPA minutes after the FAs declaration. Did the math work? The hype about foreign investment, takeover or merger by Fatu FC, who were runners-up in last seasons FA Cup final, wasnt fully examined by the LFA, which was desperately looking for ways and moments to showcase its somewhat failed commercialization policy. And Ansu Dulleh, noted for being verbose in his private and public speeches, has been caught pants down and a victim of footballs version of a 419 (four one nine) game. The Ghanaians justification of being unable to secure international transfer certificates (ITCs) for their star players, is as lazy and a good excuse, which should have been communicated, sooner than later. And that the explosive and verbose Dulleh, who once branded journalists as incompetent and unable to do proper research, was dead on arrival at Mondays
news conference, speaks volumes of how relieved hes as a man and club official. Like he has said about journalists, he, too, didnt realize that the math, as was suggested by his Ghanaian business partners, was unsolvable. My ninth grade sponsor repeatedly warned his female students to be careful about boys promising to buy them shoes and material things to see what they were first wearing before believing that the promises would be fulfilled. Dulleh didnt do due diligence and is it too bad that their romantic marriage looks to be on its way to the Civil Law Court as the LFA places the club into administration. Why have an exhibition or pageantry about getting married on November 5, 2013 when you will divorce months to your first anniversary. Rockson Coffie came to do serious business but the news from his coach was an eye opener and a revelation that they have booked a one-way ticket to Ghana. Fare thee well Charlies and save journey oh Kwekus!!!!!!!!!
euters is reporting that Barcelona have paid $18.6 million to Spanish authorities after the club was charged last week with tax fraud in the signing of Brazilian superstar Neymar. In an official statement on its website Barcelona denied any tax offense and said that complementary tax declaration was issued due to a a possible divergent interpretation of the exact amount of tax responsibility arising from monies they owed to Neymars previous club, Santos, following his transfer last summer. The club also noted it remain[s] convinced that the original tax payment was in line with [its] fiscal obligations. MORE: Barcelona charged with tax fraud over Neymar signing Whether the payment will result in the Madrid court dropping the tax fraud charges levied on the club last Thursday was unclear. Barcelona announced in January that Neymars transfer cost $118 million, nearly $41 million more than the originally quoted fee. A document filed in Madrids National Court also said the Catalan club paid Neymar $13.7 million in 2011 and $38.4 million in 2013 as incentives to leave Santos.
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYBACK: ROONEYS REVOLUTION
OONEY PERFECT TALISMAN TO LEAD REVIVAL What does $500,000 a week get you? These days, you get a focal point for a revolution. On Friday evening Manchester United superstar Wayne Rooney signed a new four-year extension to his contract which will see him lead United into a brave new world and hopefully a much brighter future. Committing himself to the Old Trafford club until the age of 33, Rooney will likely see out his playing days with the club hes now been with for over a decade. Following his terrific display in Uniteds 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, and a stunning goal which you can watch above, Rooney had the following to say. Ive had it agreed for about a month now, so I was just hoping it would get done as soon as possible. Now I can focus on football and try to help us succeed and win games. Im delighted to sign a new longterm contract, Im here to stay and I want to help make this club successful.
FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
VOL 8 NO.541
LFA places Red Lions into administration; says Confed Cup with Algerias Constantine will take place on Friday
CONFIRMED!
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014
Sports
PRICE L$40
RAGING FIRE GUTS HOUSE IN MARGIBI
FrontPage
Spot News
A
Monrovia-
Weala, Margibi County
building located in the Weala area of Margibi County was, Sunday gutted by fire, burning one of the occupants to death and injuring others. The cause of the fire could not be verified, but report said it started from one of the apartments in the affected building. Reports said occupants who were jolted from sleep managed to escape with minor bruises, with some of them managing to salvage some properties. In the ensuing stampede, one of the occupants identified simply as Joshua, reportedly rushed in to get some of his property. But he was reportedly electrocuted immediately he entered his room as power was restored. Fire servicemen were said to have arrived on the scene at about 6:30am and immediately to putting out the fire.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014 Edition

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News Extra pg 7 TOP STORIES

LIBERIA DEBUNKS IVORY COASTS LATEST MERCENARIES BORDER CROSSING CLAIMS

LIBERIA-IVORY COAST CRISIS

Governance Commission Lines Compliant To LACC

UREY, NOCAL FACE PROBE

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

SELLING L$81.00/US$1 L$83.00/US$1 L$84.00/US$1

NOT LIVING BY BREAD ALONE

SUSPENDED BY SUPREME COURT; LIFE GOES FOR CLLR. BEYAN HOWARD

News Extra pg. 6