LEGISLATIVE pg 11 TOP BEAT STORIES

Former lawmaker demands Priority on Roads construction

LEGISLATIVE 73 MILLION LACKS SPECIFIC FOCUS

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

SIRLEAF WANTS DEVELOPMENT LOAN AGREEMENT RATIFIED FOR THE REHABILITATION OF GREENVILLE PORT

PUSHING KUWAITI DEAL

LEGISLATIVE BEAT

pg 6a

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

BUYING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014 L$80.00/US$1 L$83.00/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.542

PRICE L$40

RESIDENTS VOICE FRUSTRATION OVER ILLEGAL SAND MINING, ROCK CRUSHING ALREADY EATING UP CALDWELL ROAD

It is a problem that will no doubt affect us tomorrow, says Eric Roberts, an elder in the community. The best people to answer the question is the Liberian Government who got personalities working on these beaches and have signed documents granting these miners the right to go ahead digging under rivers. I think these questions should be posed to them to see if they have even come to see the condition of the rivers before issuing these permits. They know citizens are here. - Eric Roberts, Elder

ENEMIES OF DEVELOPMENT

VOICES pg. 7

See PG 2, 3 & 4

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Monrovia n a previously classified, now leaked and confidential conversation with Howard F. Jeter, a former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Liberian Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, prior to becoming president, offered some pointed criticisms of some of the major players of the civil war and advised the U.S. on options to rid the war-torn nation of the former head of state, Charles Ghankay Taylor and offered the first real link between Taylor and Sierra Leones RUF rebels. Taylor was the 22nd President of Liberia who served from August 2, 1997 until his resignation on August 11, 2003. Excerpts of the conversation now contained in a leaked Wikileak communication, show for the first time, what went on behind the scenes of the effort of the international to force Taylor to resign, with Sirleaf apparently playing a major role in the planning. EJS Suggested Morocco, Nigeria for Taylor Exile Sirleaf told Ambassador Jeter that Taylor could not live in Liberia without being in power because his ambition and paranoia would prevent him from retiring peacefully to the Liberian countryside. After I disabused her of the notion that the U.S. might provide haven for Taylor, ESJ mentioned Morocco as a potential exile, given that Morocco was arranging a Mano River Summit at France's urging. Because of the favorable French connection, Taylor might be amenable to a permanent Moroccan vacation. Sirleaf insisted in her meeting with the U.S. diplomat that the best thing for Liberia would be for Taylor to leave office. Saying Taylor had proven himself incapable of governing, EJS contended that Taylor's persona was one that could only thrive on chaos; thus, as long as he was in power, he would burden his people and would be a drag on the entire sub-region. "We all must work together to provide an exit for him, was Johnson-Sirleaf's solution, according to the leaked cable. Sirleaf went on to say that because of Taylor's addiction to power and money, she did not think he would leave office quietly or quickly, although she had been told that Taylor was moving his most prized possessions from other parts of the country to Monrovia should a quick exit become necessary. Yet, the current level of difficulties were not enough to uproot him, Sirleaf is quoted as saying. Stating that he would leave if there were no other alternative, Sirleaf did not think Taylor would replicate Doe, hanging on even after the last hope had vanished. But did observe that Taylor's stubbornness and willingness to fight nearly to the end could spell doom for Monrovia if the LURD ever mustered the firepower for a bona fide assault against the capital. She predicted a terrible battle of attrition and urban warfare. If Taylor felt the tide was against him that he had to retreat, he would want to destroy as much of the city as possible, believing if he could not have it no one should. If this happened, the all-out battle for Monrovia would be a humanitarian disaster. Sirleaf, according to the leaked cable, also discounted the possibility of major defections within the Taylor government despite the current difficulties, suggesting instead that senior officials remained loyal out of fear. While thinking an open rupture within the government unlikely, she foresaw some officials finding ways to go overseas for "government business" then prolonging their stays until the dust settled, Ambassador Jeter wrote. Sirleaf recommended that the only country in the West Africa subregion that could serve as a place of exile and keep Taylor sufficiently under wraps would be Nigeria. Sirleaf however acknowledged Taylor would not feel comfortable there and would think an invitation to live in Nigeria might be a trap to imprison him later. One year after Sirleafs conversation and following Taylors resignation in 2003, the head of state resigned as a result of growing international pressure and went into exile in Nigeria. Shortly after assuming office, in 2006, Sirleaf formally requested Taylors extradition, after which he was detained by UN authorities in Sierra Leone and then at the Penitentiary Institution Haaglanden in The Hague. He was found guilty in April 2012 of all eleven charges levied by the Special Court, including terror, murder and rape. In May he was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Taylor was accused and found responsible for aiding and abetting as well as planning some of the most heinous and brutal crimes recorded in human history. Jeter wrote that during a February 22 meeting at his residence, Sirleaf told me the security situation in Liberia was difficult to read, stating: While acknowledging the LURD's ability to disrupt and raid areas closer to Monrovia, she did not think the rebel group was sufficiently strong to hold territory, much less capture Monrovia, at least not in the short-term. Yet, for divergent reasons, the LURD exaggerated its strength, while Taylor inflated the threat in order to gain sympathy internationally, muzzle dissent and detain suspected fifth columnists at home. EJS characterized the LURD as an approximate reincarnation of ULIMO-J and ULIMO-K, both containing hard-line elements no less preoccupied by power than the incumbent they sought to oust. To stave off a future battle of attrition for Monrovia, EJS thought an all Liberian reconciliation conference, that included the GOL and LURD, was essential. During her previous night's conversation with President Obasanjo and ECOWAS ExecSec Chambas, it was agreed to convene the meeting on March 14-15 in Abuja. Chambas planned to fly to Monrovia and Dakar by the end of the month for consultations with Taylor and ECOWAS Chairman Wade before making a public announcement about convening the meeting. Jeter wrote that Obasanjo said he would personally extend an invitation to Taylor for the meeting, also letting Taylor know that his non-attendance would be seen as a personal affront. Limited Knowledge About LURD, But

Regarding the Krahn element in the LURD, Jeter wrote that Sirleaf did not have much contact or knowledge of the key players but suspected that Roosevelt Johnson, who now resided in Nigeria, might still wield influence. She believed most of the Krahns were Doe-era die-hards nostalgic for a return of that Krahn heyday. While the Mandingos received support from President Conte, ESF did not think President Kabbah was helping the Sierra Leone-based Krahn. However, the Krahn were getting help and some recruits from the CDF and Kamajors. Ellen also thought disenchanted elements of the AFL were abetting the LURD because Taylor was not paying them and was otherwise ignoring their welfare in favor of his AntiTerrorism Unit (ATU). Wrote Jeter: ESJ said it was difficult to assess the extent of the fighting and to accurately gauge the threat the LURD posed to the Taylor Government. Due to a combination of fiction, fraud and fear, both sides -- the LURD and the Government of Liberia -- as well as many Liberians were exaggerating the military state of play. The US diplomat continued: In the realm of fiction, the LURD claimed victories and troop strength beyond its means. In the realm of fear, the devastation visited on the city during the civil war made Monrovia's collective psyche very fragile. There was a sense of gloom that Liberia was set to repeat the cycle of violence that brought Taylor to power. Rekindling these old nightmares was the sight of Liberians fleeing to Monrovia from western Liberia just as people once flooded the capital when Taylor began his rebellion twelve years ago. Despite Taylor's legendary braggadocio, his government often operated out of fear if not outright paranoia. Thus, Taylor was overreacting to the LURD threat to Monrovia and his government. Taylor Has RUF Ties, EJS Says Sirleaf claimed in her conversation with Jeter that Taylor was using the situation to detain and harass hundreds of young men with no connection to the LURD. Fraudulently, Taylor's security agents were further exploiting this ploy, turning it into a new extortion racket by refusing to release detainees unless relatives paid hefty ransoms for their freedom. While LURD operatives were in Monrovia, they were

after September 11, both Tripoli and Ouagadougou were distancing themselves from Monrovia, with Campaore now even in the antiTaylor camp. (Note: Ellen said that Obasanjo was of the same view regarding Campaore after a recent Abuja meeting with the Burkinabe leader. End Note.) However, claiming that a recent clandestine shipment of arms to Taylor emanated from either Bamako or Lome, Ellen noted that both the Malian President and Togolese strongman appeared to be inching closer to Taylor, probably for financial reasons. EJS: Liberians Not Ready for Foreign Mandingoes Ambassador Jeter said when he asked about the leadership of the LURD, Sirleaf stated she did not know LURD Commander Konneh and some of the others who claim to command the group's frontline fighters. However, Konneh's recent public statements to the media where he demonstrated much more political ambition than acumen were troubling. According to ESJ, the LURD was basically ULIMO reincarnated. As such, it was split along Krahn/Mandingo lines, with the Mandingo and Lofa County-born elements based mainly in Guinea and the Krahn in Sierra Leone. There were various sub-factions and tendencies within each group. ESJ claimed Alhaji Kromah was passing himself off as the leader of the Mandingo wing, but his power did not extend beyond his ability to manipulate the international media. While many of his former lieutenants were active in the LURD, they no longer owed their primary loyalty to Kromah. However, Kromah symbolized a troubling element in the LURD. Labeling Kromah no more a democrat than Taylor, she felt there were other Mandingo hot-heads who wanted to seize power as well. If Kromah or another Mandingo hard-liner emerged, a LURD government would be little better than Taylor's. Sirleaf also mentioned there were moderates in the Mandingo/Lofa camp who realized most Liberians were not ready to see "foreign" Mandingos take the helm. These moderates seemed willing to discuss a broad-based interim government and elections. ESF included nonMandingos such as Former Taylor Justice Minister Laveli Supuwood and Abidjan-based former Interior Minister Soko Sackor in this group of moderates. Giving the impression that she was in contact with these two and others, EJS intimated that discussions about drafting the venerable Rudolph Grimes to head an interim government to prepare for elections had taken place. Added Sirleaf: In that Grimes was old, honest and without Presidential ambition, all sides could more readily trust him to run things fairly and not stay in office beyond his allotted time. However, she feared these moderates in the political wing did not have the influence over the younger military commanders they might think. If the LURD achieved military victory, the commanders, after tasting power and success, could not be trusted to hand over to the politicians who had been watching the fighting from the sidelines. "We have been down that road before," she noted. ( Comment: ESJ was alluding to how Taylor ignored his political sponsors, including Ellen herself, when he hijacked undisputed leadership of the NPFL years ago. EJS Defends Brumskine Sirleaf also came to the defense of another opposition leader, Charles Brumskine. According to Ambassador Jeter, Sirleaf dismissed Taylor governments claims that Brumskine, a former Taylor ally, was involved with the LURD. The GOL was simply trying to tarnish Brumskine because he had the temerity to challenge Taylor for the NPP's Presidential nomination. Taylor brooked no opposition, and to a certain degree, could not help but lump together in his mind Brumskine's political challenge with the LURD's military one.

Because of Taylor's addiction to power and money, Ellen did not think he would leave office quietly or quickly, although she had been told that Taylor was moving his most prized possessions from other parts of the country to Monrovia should a quick exit become necessary. Yet, the current level of difficulties were not enough to uproot him.
too weak and too few to militarily threaten Taylor, she maintained. Ambassador Jeter wrote that Sirleaf felt that as long as Taylor remained in power, the stability of Sierra Leone would be threatened. Ellen said Taylor was getting help from the RUF, who would stand beside him if Monrovia came under serious attack. RUF support not only bolstered Taylor's security; it maintained his role in Sierra Leone. The strategy of Taylor and the hard-core RUF was to wait out the international community's presence in Sierra Leone. The RUF would bide its time until the UN packed its bags. Once the blue helmets departed, the RUF, supported by Taylor, would begin to wreak havoc once more. Ellen hoped it would be harder for Taylor to execute his strategy this time around because some key friends were pulling away from him. Jeter wrote: Not wanting to be tagged with the "terrorist" stigma

see page 3

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

US embassy cable - 02ABUJA622 LIBERIA: JOHNSON SIRLEAF BELIEVES LURD THREAT IS REAL, BUT EXAGGERATED: SEES LIBERIA RECONCILIATION MEETING IN MID-MARCH Identifier: 02ABUJA622 Wikileaks: View 02ABUJA622 at Wikileaks.org Origin: Embassy Abuja Created: 2002-02-26 14:05:00 Classification: CONFIDENTIAL Tags: PREL PGOV MOPS LI NI ECOWAS Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ABUJA 000622 SIPDIS AF FOR DAS PERRY, AF/W FOR BOOTH FROM JETER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2012 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MOPS, LI, NI, ECOWAS SUBJECT: LIBERIA: JOHNSON SIRLEAF BELIEVES LURD THREAT IS REAL, BUT EXAGGERATED: SEES LIBERIA RECONCILIATION MEETING IN MID-MARCH REF: A. A) PERRY/JETER 2/21 EMAIL B. B) ABUJA 507 Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter. Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 1. (C) Summary. During a February 22 meeting at my residence, Liberian opposition leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (EJS) told me the security situation in Liberia was difficult to read. While acknowledging the LURD's ability to disrupt and raid areas closer to Monrovia, she did not think the rebel group was sufficiently strong to hold territory, much less capture Monrovia, at least not in the short-term. Yet, for divergent reasons, the LURD exaggerated its strength, while Taylor inflated the threat in order to gain sympathy internationally, muzzle dissent and detain suspected fifth columnists at home. EJS characterized the LURD as an approximate reincarnation of ULIMO-J and ULIMO-K, both containing hard-line elements no less preoccupied by power than the incumbent they sought to oust. To stave off a future battle of attrition for Monrovia, EJS thought an all Liberian reconciliation conference, that included the GOL and LURD, was essential. During her previous night's conversation with President Obasanjo and ECOWAS ExecSec Chambas, it was agreed to convene the meeting on March 14-15 in Abuja. Chambas planned to fly to Monrovia and Dakar by the end of the month for consultations with Taylor and ECOWAS Chairman Wade before making a public announcement about convening the meeting. Obasanjo said he would personally extend an invitation to Taylor for the meeting, also letting Taylor know that his non-attendance would be seen as a personal affront. End Summary. --------------------------------------------- -THE FIGHTING IN LIBERIA -- MORE BARK THAN BITE? --------------------------------------------- -2. (C) ESJ said it was difficult to assess the extent of the fighting and to accurately gauge the threat the LURD posed to the Taylor Government. Due to a combination of fiction, fraud and fear, both sides -- the LURD and the Government of Liberia -- as well as many Liberians were exaggerating the military state of play.

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3. (C) In the realm of fiction, the LURD claimed victories and troop strength beyond its means. In the realm of fear, the devastation visited on the city during the civil war made Monrovia's collective psyche very fragile. There was a sense of gloom that Liberia was set to repeat the cycle of violence that brought Taylor to power. Rekindling these old nightmares was the sight of Liberians fleeing to Monrovia from western Liberia just as people once flooded the capital when Taylor began his rebellion twelve years ago. Despite Taylor's legendary braggadocio, his government often operated out of fear if not outright paranoia. Thus, Taylor was overreacting to the LURD threat to Monrovia and his government. Implying the state of emergency was unnecessary, ESJ claimed that Taylor was using the situation to detain and harass hundreds of young men with no connection to the LURD. Fraudulently, Taylor's security agents were further exploiting this ploy, turning it into a new extortion racket by refusing to release detainees unless relatives paid hefty ransoms for their freedom. While LURD operatives were in Monrovia, they were too weak and too few to militarily threaten Taylor, she maintained. ----------------WHAT IS THE LURD? ----------------4. (C) When I asked about the leadership of the LURD, Ellen stated she did not know LURD Commander Konneh and some of the others who claim to command the group's front-line fighters. However, Konneh's recent public statements to the media where he demonstrated much more political ambition than acumen were troubling. According to ESJ, the LURD was basically ULIMO reincarnated. As such, it was split along Krahn/Mandingo lines, with the Mandingo and Lofa County-born elements based mainly in Guinea and the Krahn in Sierra Leone. There were various sub-factions and tendencies within each group. ESJ claimed Alhaji Kromah was passing himself off as the leader of the Mandingo wing, but his power did not extend beyond his ability to manipulate the international media. While many of his former lieutenants were active in the LURD, they no longer owed their primary loyalty to Kromah. However, Kromah symbolized a troubling element in the LURD. Labeling Kromah no more a democrat than Taylor, she felt there were other Mandingo hot-heads who wanted to seize power as well. If Kromah or another Mandingo hard-liner emerged, a LURD government would be little better than Taylor's. 5. (C) Ellen mentioned there were moderates in the Mandingo/Lofa camp who realized most Liberians were not ready to see "foreign" Mandingos take the helm. These moderates seemed willing to discuss a broad-based interim government and elections. ESF included non-Mandingos such as Former Taylor Justice Minister Laveli Supuwood and Abidjan-based former Interior Minister Soko Sackor in this group of moderates. Giving the impression that she was in contact with these two and others, EJS intimated that discussions about drafting the venerable Rudolph Grimes to head an interim government to prepare for elections had taken place. In that Grimes was old, honest and without Presidential ambition, all sides could more readily trust him to run things fairly and not stay in office beyond his allotted time. However, she feared these moderates in the political wing did not have the influence over the younger military commanders they might think. If the LURD achieved military victory, the commanders, after tasting power and success, could not be trusted to hand over to the politicians who had been watching the fighting from the sidelines. "We have been down that road before," she noted. ( Comment: ESJ was alluding to how Taylor ignored his political sponsors, including Ellen herself, when he hijacked undisputed leadership of the NPFL years ago.

Some key points captured in the leaked cable from

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LEAKS

ESJ claimed Alhaji Kromah was passing himself off as the leader of the Mandingo wing, but his power did not extend beyond his ability to manipulate the international media. While many of his former lieutenants were active in the LURD, they no longer owed their primary loyalty to Kromah. However, Kromah symbolized a troubling element in the LURD. Labeling Kromah no more a democrat than Taylor, she felt there were other

ON ALHAJI KROMAH

Ultimately, the best thing for Liberia would be for Taylor to leave office. Saying Taylor had proven himself incapable of governing, EJS contended that Taylor's persona was one that could only thrive on chaos; thus, as long as he was in power, he would burden his people and would be a drag on the entire sub-region. "We all must work together to provide an exit for him," was Johnson-Sirleaf's solution.

ON CHARLES TAYLOR

When I asked about the leadership of the LURD, Ellen stated she did not know LURD Commander Konneh and some of the others who claim to command the group's front-line fighters. However, Konneh's recent public statements to the media where he demonstrated much more political ambition than acumen were troubling. According to ESJ, the LURD was basically ULIMO reincarnated.

ON SEKOU DAMATE

In that Grimes was old, honest and without Presidential ambition, all sides could more readily trust him to run things fairly and not stay in office beyond his allotted time. However, she feared these moderates in the political wing did not have the influence over the younger military commanders they might think. If the LURD achieved military victory, the commanders, after tasting power and success, could not be trusted to hand over to the politicians who had been watching the fighting from the sidelines. "We have been down that road before," she noted. (Comment: ESJ was alluding to how Taylor ignored his political sponsors, including Ellen herself, when he hijacked undisputed leadership of the NPFL years ago.

EJS ASSESS LURD

see page 4

Page 4 | Frontpage
End Comment.) 6. (C) With regard to the Krahn element in the LURD, EJS did not have much contact or knowledge of the key players but suspected that Roosevelt Johnson, who now resided in Nigeria, might still wield influence. She believed most of the Krahns were Doe-era die-hards nostalgic for a return of that Krahn heyday. While the Mandingos received support from President Conte, ESF did not think President Kabbah was helping the Sierra Leone-based Krahn. However, the Krahn were getting help and some recruits from the CDF and Kamajors. Ellen also thought disenchanted elements of the AFL were abetting the LURD because Taylor was not paying them and was otherwise ignoring their welfare in favor of his Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU). 7. (C) ESJ dismissed GOL claims that former Senator and Taylor ally Charles Brumskine was involved with the LURD. The GOL was simply trying to tarnish Brumskine because he had the temerity to challenge Taylor for the NPP's Presidential nomination. Taylor brooked no opposition, and to a certain degree, could not help but lump together in his mind Brumskine's political challenge with the LURD's military one. --------------------------------------TAYLOR -- HE WILL RUN AWAY IF HE HAS TO --------------------------------------8. (C) Ultimately, the best thing for Liberia would be for Taylor to leave office. Saying Taylor had proven himself incapable of governing, EJS contended that Taylor's persona was one that could only thrive on chaos; thus, as long as he was in power, he would burden his people and would be a drag on the entire sub-region. "We all must work together to provide an exit for him," was Johnson-Sirleaf's solution. Taylor could not live in Liberia without being in power because his ambition and paranoia would prevent him from retiring peacefully to the Liberian countryside. After I disabused her of the notion that the U.S. might provide haven for Taylor, ESJ mentioned Morocco as a potential exile, given that Morocco was arranging a Mano River Summit at France's urging. Because of the favorable French connection, Taylor might be amenable to a permanent Moroccan vacation. Closer to home, the only country in the sub-region that could serve as an a place of exile and keep Taylor sufficiently under wraps would be Nigeria. However, she acknowledged Taylor did not feel comfortable here and would think an invitation to live in Nigeria might be a trap to imprison him later. 9. (C) Because of Taylor's addiction to power and money, Ellen did not think he would leave office quietly or quickly, although she had been told that Taylor was moving his most prized possessions from other parts of the country to Monrovia should a quick exit become necessary. Yet, the current level of difficulties were not enough to uproot him. Stating that he would leave if there were no other alternative, ESJ did not think Taylor would replicate Doe, hanging on even after the last hope had vanished. However, Taylor's stubbornness and willingness to fight nearly to the end could spell doom for Monrovia if the LURD ever mustered the firepower for a bona fide assault against the capital. She predicted a terrible battle of attrition and urban warfare. If Taylor felt the tide was against him that he had to retreat, he would want to destroy as much of the city as possible, believing if he could not have it no one should. If this happened, the all-out battle for Monrovia would be a humanitarian disaster. 10. (C) EJS also discounted the possibility of major defections within the Taylor government despite the current difficulties. Senior officials remained loyal out of fear. While thinking an open rupture within the government unlikely, she foresaw some officials finding ways to go overseas for "government business" then prolonging their stays until the dust settled. --------------------------------------------- ---SIERRA LEONE AND REGIONAL LEADERS VIEWS ON TAYLOR --------------------------------------------- ---11. (C) As long as Taylor remained in power, the stability of Sierra Leone would be threatened. Ellen said Taylor was getting help from the RUF, who would stand beside him if Monrovia came under serious attack. RUF support not only bolstered Taylor's security; it maintained his role in Sierra Leone. The strategy of Taylor and the hard-core RUF was to wait out the international community's presence in Sierra Leone. The RUF would bide its time until the UN packed its bags. Once the blue helmets departed, the RUF, supported by Taylor, would begin to wreak havoc once more. Ellen hoped it would be harder for Taylor to execute his strategy this time around because some key friends were pulling away from him. Not wanting to be tagged with the "terrorist" stigma after September 11, both Tripoli and Ouagadougou were distancing themselves from Monrovia, with Campaore now even in the anti-Taylor camp. (Note: Ellen said that Obasanjo was of the same view regarding Campaore after a recent Abuja meeting with the Burkinabe leader. End Note.) However, claiming that a recent clandestine shipment of arms to Taylor emanated from either Bamako or Lome, Ellen noted that both the Malian President and Togolese strongman appeared to be inching closer to Taylor, probably for financial reasons. 12. (C) Because many of the players in the Sierra Leonean equation -- the RUF, CDF and Kamajors -- were being swept into the Liberian mix, a collapse in Liberia could have dire consequences for Sierra Leone, including the possibility of rekindling the war in that country if Monrovia came under siege. --------------------------------------------- RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE -- THE TIME HAS COME --------------------------------------------- 13. (C) Due to the high political anxiety the LURD presence was now causing, the reconciliation conference was needed now more than before, ESF suggested. ( Ellen commented that many Monrovians were leaving and senior GOL officials were sending their families out of the city.) Previous planning called for the conference to be focused on the creation of conditions for fair elections. Participants would have been the GOL, opposition parties, and civil society, with the LURD ultimately brought into the process down the line to preclude them from citing their exclusion as a reason to continue fighting. However, Taylor characteristically vacillated over the idea of holding the conference. When he finally turned against it (Ref B), Taylor paid members of the Coalition of Political Parties, most notably the TWP's Rudolph Sherman, to endorse his idea of a conference in Monrovia in July. 14. (C) Because Taylor would control the Monrovia venue, EJS dismissed its utility, claiming that Taylor conceived it in hopes of short-circuiting efforts to hold the Abuja conference. However, during her February 21 meeting with President Obasanjo and ECOWAS ExecSec Chambas, the

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

three agreed to convene an all Liberian meeting in Abuja on March 14-15. President Obasanjo said not only would he personally invite Taylor but would let the Liberian know that his nonattendance would be considered a personal affront. 15.(C) Asserting that it was too late to draw the LURD in gradually, Ellen said the LURD leadership would be invited to this initial meeting. LURD attendance would give ECOWAS the opportunity to unambiguously tell the faction's leaders that they would face regional and international opprobrium unless they committed to free elections according to the constitutional timetable, i.e. 2003, notwithstanding the situation on the ground militarily. However, ESF feared that, during the interim between now and the conference, the LURD might become emboldened and recalcitrant should it somehow manage a significant military victory. To get Taylor's buy-in for the meeting, Chambas would fly to Monrovia before the end of the month to discuss the conference with Taylor, who would not assent if the meeting were announced before being discussed with him. The date of the conference would be publicly announced soon after Chambas talked with Taylor. ESJ stated that Obasanjo and Chambas had agreed, nonetheless, that the conference would take place with or without Taylor's participation. ------COMMENT ------16. (C) EJS was very open and shared her views freely. While fairly confident the conference will take place, she is less sanguine about Taylor's participation and the ultimate success of the endeavor. However, given Liberia's slump toward increased fighting, the conference may be the best, albeit uncertain, diplomatic tool available to arrest the current course. Yet, if Taylor or his minions attend, they will likely fill the hall with empty promises without the intention of fulfilling any but the most inconsequential of these commitments. Ellen is convinced that Taylor is incorrigible. 17. (C) For Johnson-Sirleaf, the true purpose of the conference seems to have shifted from pressuring Taylor to hold fair elections to using the venue to apply pressure on the LURD to restrain their political ambitions to fit within a more democratic game-plan. Perhaps she thinks this approach provides the best chance to fashion the combined political/ military pressure, an effective one-two punch, that will lead to her real objective -- the creation of a democratic opening that both removes Taylor yet, at the same time, prevents a similar personality from taking over. Jeter

FrontPage COMMENTARY EDITORIAL CODE OF CONDUCT BILL REMINISCENT OF

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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DR. SAWYER IS RIGHT, LEGISLATURE MUST PUT IMPORTANCE TO THE CODE OFCONDUCT BILL
APPEARING BEFORE the National Legislature this week, Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer, head of the Governance Commission hit the nail on the head of lawmakers when he reminded them of several nagging issues holding the passage of the crucial Code of Conduct bill which has been lingering in parliament for several years now. THE ISSUE OF GRATUITY, according to the Governance Commission chair is perhaps of several burning issues holding the key to the bills passage but probably the most difficult due to the enormous interests lawmakers attach to the passage. SAID DR. SAWYER: One such issue has to do with gifts customarily made to Members of the Legislature; another has to do with unfair advantage supposedly enjoyed by members of the Executive Branch of Government and Autonomous Agencies such as the Central Bank who might contemplate contesting political office. A further issue has to do with incentives allegedly expected, if not demanded, by the Legislators to ensure favorable consideration of bills. IN THE PAST few years, the national legislature has been viewed in the eyes of many Liberians as one of the most corrupt areas of government. ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY or cold water for confirmation passage has been dogging the body easily prompting many Liberians to lose trust in the system and those they elected to seek their interests. JUST LAST WEEK, eyebrows were raised when Senators made a 360-turn around to confirm Angelique Weeks, the embattled head of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority(LTA), whom the same body had rejected, seven days earlier because she was in violation of regulations of the Public Procurement Concessions Commission(PPCC). THE CONTROVERSY SURFACED after Weeks signed a controversial lease agreement with a Chinese Landlord for which the LTA had committed the government of Liberia to pay US$1.1 million over a three-year period. In the lease agreement, the LTA agreed to pay US$385,000.00 (Three Hundred Eighty Five Thousand United States Dollars) per year, with a three-year upfront payment to a Chinese Landlord totaling US$1,155,000.00 (ONE MILLION, ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS). In fact, further investigation by FrontPageAfrica uncovered that the LTA entered into a separate contract to cover cosmetics and maintenance of the building for the duration of the contract. THE LTA entered into the contract against objections from both the PPCC and the Ministry of Justice which raised concerns about the deal. The PPCC recommended that that LTA explore several options including the possibility of purchasing a piece of land to construct its own building from scratch or refurbish an existing government property. AT LEAST ONE LAWMAKER, Senator Nyonblee KarngaLawrence(Liberty Party, Grand Bassa) separated herself from the bunch when she suspected foul play. In my opinion, the integrity of the senate has been compromised, because there were sufficient evidences to indict madam weeks off misappropriation, serious credibility issue!! and two days after the rejection the committee on public utility had recommended an audit of Weeks' administration, after a public hearing. On what Basis was she confirmed?, the Senator declared. IN THE LOWER HOUSE, a scathing scandal erupted when Representative Edward Forh (CDC-district#16 Montserrado County) was caught on tape discussing how to steal funds from the County Development kitty. THIS IS WHY we agree with Dr. Sawyer that the Code of Conduct legislation is not panacea for addressing all issues of ethical values in our system of government, but 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. WE ARE EXTREMELY gratified that Dr. Sawyer brought up the issue of Clemenceau Urey, the former chairman of the Board of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) when he appeared before a house committee to declare that under his watch, several thousands of United States Dollars were demanded from NOCAL

CODE RED

Commentary TESTIMONY AT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON CODE OF CONDUCT

MANDELA LAWS OF THE APARTHEID ERA

Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer, Chair, Governance Commission, Liberia

Mr. Chairman Members of the Committees on Governance and the Judiciary Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

he mandate to have the Legislature enact a Code of Conduct emanates from the 1986 Constitution. Several efforts have been made since the adoption of the Constitution to have the Legislature enact a Code of Conduct. Progress has been halting, sometimes reversible, but always slow. Last year, the Honorable, the Liberian Senate deliberated and passed a Code of Conduct bill into law, a bill sponsored by Senator Gbehzongar M. Findley of Grand Bassa County and Co-sponsored by Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor of Bong County. We thank these senators for their sponsorship of the bill and we thank the Liberian Senate for passing it into law. The passage of the bill in the Senate came after years of public demand for the law. Civil society organizations, local people and also the authorities of other branches of government have in one way or another signaled the need to have a nationally applicable Code of Conduct as envisaged by the Constitution. The slow response of the Legislature in meeting this constitutional requirement backed up, as it has been, by the clear and loud voices of the Liberian people has been disappointing. Responding to the need to improve ethical values in governance, the Executive has issued several Executive Orders requiring Asset Disclosures on the part of senior officials of the Executive Branch of Government. These Executive Orders would not have been necessary had an implementable Code of Conduct been passed into law. And if they were required by the Executive, they would only augment a law of general application. Mr. Chairman, we have seen this body sit long hours, debate in extended sessions issues pertaining to contracts and concessions, authority relationships between the Legislature and the Executive and a range of important issues---and have enacted laws, supported regulations and taken action on these issues. We note with disappointment that the Code of Conduct has not risen to the level of importance and urgency on the Legislative Calendar as have many of these other matters. And yet the Legislature has on countless occasions instituted investigations into allegations of breaches of public trust by officials of government. It has closely guarded and protected its prerogative of oversightand rightly so! Yet one of the fundamental instruments which should guide the Legislature in performing its oversight of the conduct of public officials, the Code of Conduct, has languished in committee room since the 50th Legislature, I believe. We understand there are several issues in the draft Code of Conduct which are of concern to the Legislature and to others in society. One such issue has to do with gifts customarily made to Members of the Legislature; another has to do with unfair advantage supposedly enjoyed by members of the Executive Branch of Government and Autonomous Agencies such as the Central Bank who might contemplate contesting political office. A further issue has to do with incentives allegedly expected, if not demanded, by the Legislators to ensure favorable consideration of bills.
v

Mr. Chairman, while the Code of Conduct is not panacea for addressing all issues of ethical values in our 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 boardincluding the Legislature. It will speak to many of the challenges you, Members of the Legislature, are currently trying to grapple with. For example, last week the public listened to the testimony of a former Chairman of the Board of NOCAL when he appeared before one of your committees. The former Chairman stated that on his watch several thousands of United States Dollars were demanded from NOCAL by certain members of the Legislature as incentives for the passage of certain bills having to do with the business of NOCAL. This was a startling revelation and should claim the attention of this body as well as the LACC. We of the Governance Commission are in the process of sending a letter to the LACC urging prompt investigation of this allegation. It is difficult to ignore such allegation when it comes from such an authoritative source. Also in the news last week was a report that the Legislature has passed into law, at lightning speed, a Bill amending the Act Establishing the Central Bank of Liberia. This development has sparked concerns in many quarters: financial, legal, political as well as among ordinary citizens. To many, aspects of the Bill seem reminiscent of the Mandela Laws of the Apartheid era in South Africa, where laws of exclusion and discrimination were individually targeted to control the actions of a single individual, in that case Nelson Mandela. Such laws are typically designed to be retroactive in their effects. They also carry grave implications for the functioning of governance institutions and for 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 a far better, ethical, legal and democratic way of addressing concerns regarding unfair electoral advantages. Mr. Chairman, our government, including your Branch of Government, the Legislaturethe First Branch of Government, functions in the proverbial gold fish bowl. All of us in Liberian and people abroad are watching and listening to you. The same can be said of the Executive Branch as well as our Courts. The examples you set over time create the Legislative Culture which could impair and pervert your capacity for effective oversight as required by the constitution. Similarly, the examples set by the Executive could either strengthen the functioning of our institutions or enthrone an ad hoc style of informal governance. We desperately need the Code of Conduct as a fundamental tool that helps to lead us to adopt ethical values and enhance the integrity of our system of governance so that we can be able to establish processes of good governance that will strengthen our public service. This can become a legacy of this era and this generation of public officials. This Mr. Chairman is our challenge. Mr. Chairman, we thank you for your leadership in moving this bill through the Committee and on to the plenary of the House of Representatives. We hope this time, we will get a bill passed into law. Thank you.
far better, ethical, legal and democratic way of addressing concerns regarding unfair electoral advantages. WE SHARE DR. Sawyers disappointment that despite endless debates and extended sessions involving issues pertaining to contracts and concessions, lawmakers have not prioritize the passage of the bill. IT IS OUR belief that a Code of Conduct Bill is the single most important piece of legislation that the post-war legislature could ever attach seriousness to. It will help to eradicate or at least curb the level of corruption hurting Liberias development and put us on a path to economic reconstruction. MAY WE REMIND our lawmakers, that thirteen former officials of the Tolbert era were executed as a result of some of the very vices, still being exercised today. MAY WE remind our lawmakers that Liberia is all we have. We can either choose to work together as a people to make it whole again or decide to forget our rugged and painful past in our continued flirtation with the ills that led this nation to war.

by certain members of the Legislature as incentives for the passage of certain bills having to do with the business of NOCAL. This was a startling revelation and should claim the attention of this body as well as the LACC. We of the Governance Commission are in the process of sending a letter to the LACC urging prompt investigation of this allegation. It is difficult to ignore such allegation when it comes from such an authoritative source, noted Dr. Sawyer. DR. SAWYER ALSO took issue with the lightning speed at which a Bill amending the Act Establishing the Central Bank of Liberia sailed through both houses of the national legislature. This development has sparked concerns in many quarters: financial, legal, political as well as among ordinary citizens. To many, aspects of the Bill seem reminiscent of the Mandela Laws of the Apartheid era in South Africa, where laws of exclusion and discrimination were individually targeted to control the actions of a single individual, in that case Nelson Mandela. Such laws are typically designed to be retroactive in their effects. They also carry grave implications for the functioning of governance institutions and for 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 a

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Journey, is sufficiently detailed there.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

ENEMIES OF DEVELOPMENT L
Louisiana, Caldwell ess than a year after the Liberian government, through the Ministry of Public Works, embarked on the process of decongesting vehicular traffic in Monrovia by creating new alternative routes in the city through the township of Caldwell, the roads many are beginning to hail as a relief is rapidly becoming a deteriorating nightmare for commuters and residents of the area. The road construction was the first of its kind for the area since the 1950s. Prior to the asphalt pavement, the Caldwell Road was regarded as a dust-ridden route which cause serious problems for residents, especially during the rainy season. Today, nearly half of the Streets of the Louisiana portion of the Caldwell area, have been covered in mud by trucks moving in and out of the sand beaches, raising a lot of concerns from residents in the community. Ateam of FrontPageAfrica reporters who visited the community this week found a good portion of the road already consumed by dust due to the heavy trucks and trailer digging red dirt, white sand and crushed rocks.

RESIDENTS VOICE FRUSTRATION OVER ILLEGAL SAND MINING, ROCK CRUSHING ALREADY EATING UP CALDWELL ROAD

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VOICES

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Massa F. Kanneh\Staff Writer 0886848625

The dirt and mud from the sand beach are wasted on the coal tar and now we are in dry season and the mud still on the coal tar. When raining season comes, how will it be? The coal tar will be bad off. I want the government to come to see the area and decide what to do and fix the road to the sand beach.

Cornelia

Robert Chairlady of the Concern Women of Louisiana says the problem is with the mud the trucks bring on the road. When it rains, our children cannot pass freely on the road even motors. Everyday the trucks are coming for sand. So when raining season come, it will not be good again.

Eric Roberts Elder It is a problem that will no doubt affect us tomorrow, says Eric Roberts, an elder in the community. The best people to answer the question is the Liberian Government who got

to see the condition of the rivers before issuing these permits. They know citizens are here. Elder Roberts says the outlet from the beach, as the trucks come from the beaches they come with muds and those muds are wasted on the roads. But the management clear them but we dont know for how long that will continue. The advice I would give to those people who sit up there and sign these documents

personalities working on these beaches and have signed documents granting these miners the right to go ahead digging under rivers. I think these questions should be posed to them to see if they have even come

should visit these areas, study the environment and see what it would be like in the future. Peter Y, Herbert, a student says the illegal mining is already affecting the community.

Hawa Mulbah, a businesswoman says because of the sand mining now, life will be difficult for residents and commuters during the rainy season. When raining season comes the water come very close to our homes, and the little children cannot even be allowed to play outside. The way the people are digging is not good. The river has become very deep and who knows, it might even come on the road one of these days. The places have been undermined and the earth cracking too. I really want the government to take action now before it is too late.

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THE CBL ACT AMENDMENT:

THE FIRST MAJOR ANTI-POLITICAL CORRUPTION ACT IN LIBERIA
John Morlu, II, jmorlue@yahoo.com, Contributing Writer
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 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. Some have a problem with the three year after they leave office clause. But they forgot that the amendment will be meaningless if the Governor or a Board member resigns in August of 2017 to run for President. In such a case, the Governor would have already leveraged the use of his office to position himself, and worst, the Governor will concentrate his efforts on positioning himself rather than focusing on the job for which he is being paid. How would these opponents respond to Mr. Chris Neyor, who like many Liberians, believes that the quest to replace the President is undermining government functions. Mr. Rodney Sieh of FrontpageAfrica has also written more than 11 articles on this very issue from 2012 to date. Another Unknown Group, Nimba Youth Network, (NYN) and its Article 8 Argument In Citizens Reject New CBL Bill - Say It is a Town Trap, 14 February 2014, the Independent Newspaper reported that NYN said the unconstitutionality stands from the fact that the Liberian Constitution forbids the Republic from directing its policies against such legislation as mentioned in Article 8. Article 18 of the Liberian Constitutions reads, The Republic shall direct its policy towards ensuring for all citizens, without discrimination, opportunities for employment and livelihood under just and humane conditions, and towards promoting

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PERSPECTIVE

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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

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safety, health and welfare facilities in employment.

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Where in the amendments was anyone denied opportunities for employment and livelihood under just and humane conditions, and towards promoting safety, health and welfare facilities in employment? It seems that this group is arguing against Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) type regulationthan an amendment to the CBL Act. I believe this group should target its efforts at natural resources companies to ensure we have health and wellness in the workplace. Some Liberians, huh? Liberty Partys Senior Advisor and his Article 21 (a) Argument In Ball in Ellens Court: After 4G Passage, Prez Decides Jones Fate, 20 February 2014, FrontpageAfrica reported, Dillon said the lawmakers action contravenes the spirit and intent of several provisions of the Constitution of Liberia, and leaves him, wondering what was the rationale behind thrash and embarrassing act in which the lawmakers neglected to consider Article 20a) of the Constitution. Article 20 (a) states, No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, security of the person, property, privilege or any other right except as the outcome of a hearing judgment consistent with the provisions laid down in this Constitution and in accordance with due process of law. Justice shall be done without sale, denial or delay; and in all cases not arising in courts not of record, under courts-martial and upon impeachment, the parties shall have the right to trial by jury. FrontpageAfrica further reports, Dillon reminded the legislature that a persons desire to contest for any political office is a right guaranteed under our Constitution; and any action to deny a person or group of persons from exercising this right MUST be the result of a hearing, judgment consistent with the provisions laid down in this Constitution and in accordance with due process of law.The Legislature cannot pass a law that automatically denies any person or group of persons from the exercise or enjoyment of their constitutionally guaranteed rights without the benefit of a hearing judgment. First, there is nowhere in the amendments where the Legislature deprive anyone from running for public office. All the amendments have done is to alter the CONDITION OF SERVICE for the position of Central Bank Governor and the Board of Directors. I do not see anywhere in Article 20 (a) where it says the Legislature who created the Central Bank and defined the Condition of Service cannot at a later time change the condition of service going forward without a hearing before a judge. No one has denied thatit was the Legislature that created the Central Bank in 1999. The Legislature could have decided to dissolve the Central Bank and turn all the money over to EcoBank and empowered Ecobank to serve as the defacto Central Bank of Liberia, as Citibank did for Liberia for years until the 1970s when the first National Bank of Liberia was created. America has dissolved its National Bank in the past and turned the funds over to private banks to manage for the Federal Government, because the head of the Bank was engaged in political activities. Essentially, it was the Legislature that gave CBL Governor five year tenure and all the powers the CBL has today.It is only proper for the same Legislature to come back and review the Condition of Service and change the criteria prospectively, if they deemed it necessary. I have never joined a political party in Liberia. But when I was Auditor General and being attacked daily as being political and having a political ambition, in 2009, I met with the President of Liberia. I suggested that she asks the Legislature to amend the GAC Act so that the Auditor General of Liberia was forever banned from running elected position as it is the case in several countries. I invited the Auditor General of Zambia and we met with the President of Liberia and discussed this very issue of amending the law so that the Auditor General could never run for elected office in Liberia, as it is the case in Zambia. In USA, a lead auditor who audits a company is prevented from working for that company within a year. All of these things do not require hearing before a judge. It is a mere change in the CONDITION OF SERVICE of a position. Liberty Partys Senior Advisor and his Article 21 (a) Argument FronpageAfrica reported that the Libertys Senior Advisor argued that, to do so is a gross violation of Article 21 (a) as quoted above. Also, to demand that Governors of the CBL who may wish to aspire to political office/s will be required to resign three years prior to any election in which they seek to participate, or be denied participation three years after they retired. As grossly wrong as this provision is, it cannot be

applied to this current Board of Governors because it is expo facto.

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Article 21 (a) reads, no person shall be made subject to any law or punishment which was not in effect at the time of commission of an offense, nor shall the Legislature enact any bill of attainder or ex post facto law. Article 21 (a) is similar to U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 9, Clause 3. Both are more a guide against retroactive criminal punishment. I have not read anywhere in the amendments where the Legislature are punishing anyone or enacting any bill of attainment or an ex post facto law. It would be hard to make an argument that changing Condition of Service of a government agency is a violation of the Constitution. Quite recently, we saw this President and the Legislature create the Liberia Maritime Authority, giving more powers to the Commissioner and no one complain. TheMinistry of Rural Development and Ministry of Public Works merged. The Bureau of the Budget and the Ministry of Finance merged. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning have merged. All of these amendments and merging of ministries and agencies have affected the Condition of Service of other Liberians. It is likely the Liberty Partys Political Advisor will argue that it is a Bill of Attainment or Ex Post Facto when the Code of Conduct is passed and it says no more nepotism in Government. All those who have hired their wives and relatives in Government will cry and say it is ex post facto. The Code of Conduct, when it is passed, will change the Condition of Service for a lot of institutions and people in Government. Besides the President, Vice President and Legislature, it will force the resignation of people trying to run for elected office in Liberia, as well. The Code of Conduct is President Sirleaf and Dr. Sawyers proposed law. It is not Speaker Tyler or Pro Tempore Findley that proposed the Code of Conduct. Alien and Naturalization Act stripped Liberians of their citizenship if they acquired another citizenship. The law applies prospectively and retroactively to all Liberians who had already acquired U.S. and other citizenship before the Alien and Naturalization laws were passed. What does the Liberty Partys Political Advisor say to those Liberians who already had acquired other citizenships before the Alien and Naturalization Law? The Learned Lawyer and his Article 11 (c) Argument I have the highest regard for this learned lawyer. I have been with him up close and personal and he is, a Man of Honor and Integrity. We have agreed on a lot of issues, although we might have different strategies. But on this CBL amendment, we are on a different pathway. FrontpageAfrica reported that the learned lawyer stated that while it was true that Governor Jones has politicized the microloan scheme, the action taken against him by the Lawmakers was discriminatory and breached Article 11 section (C) of the Constitution. Article 11 (c) read, All persons are equal before the law and are therefore entitled to the equal protection of the law. Instead of defending on Article 11 (c) the learned lawyer suggests what the lawmakers should have done: He said: (1) Lawmakers should have done was to remove that portion of the Act that allows the Central Bank to provide loans from the countrys reserve since indeed the issue of loan given out by the Central Bank is causing uneasiness. And (2) Let us revamp the Agricultural Bank and mandate it to provide loans. I still do not know how all of this has to do with Article 11 (c). He is admitting that the lawmakers have the power to change the Act, except he does not like the part they have changed. And then he goes rhetorically: What will happen when the Maritime Commissioner announces that he will provide fishing boats to all fishermen in the country from Cape Mount to Maryland Counties? Will the Lawmakers say the Commissioner is politicking and amend an act creating the Maritime Authority? The simple answer is yes. If the Legislature felt that the Commissioner actions were because of a loophole in the law, they could choose to amend it to prevent the Commissioner from providing fishing boats. Is it even a better use of public funds for the Maritime Commissioner to provide fishing boats? In Liberia, LPRC donates free gas coupons. LTA built latrine in Representative Acarus Grays District. NOCAL sponsors football clubs. Even the Ministry of Finance has combined

with GSA, and Water and Sewer to rehabilitee 22 battered public latrines and 112 water kiosks in Monrovia .LTA and theMinistry of Finance are now in the latrine business. Further, FrontpageAfrica reported that the learned lawyer wonders whether the Lawmakers would take the same decision against the LPRC if the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) announced to give each petty trader selling gasoline 50 gallons each, and directly quoted the learned lawyer saying, Will the lawmakers claim that the LPRC Managing Director is politicking and amend the act creating the LPRC? Again, if the Legislature believes such action is only possible because there is a loophole in the LPRC Act, then yes. LPRC already doled donations in gas coupons. Read GAC Audit reports. But again, how do all these rhetorical questions have to do with the Article 11(c)argument that was raised. Absolutely nothing! Interestingly, the learned lawyer admits that Governor Jones has politicized the micro-loan scheme, which is clearly against the spirit of the act creating the CBL. The whole purpose of former President Charles Taylor, with pressure from World Bank and IMF, for creating the Central Bank of Liberia was to depoliticize the CBL, not for the Governor to make it political as the learned lawyer has admitted. In such an instance, should the Legislature not intervene to remedy the problem going forward once and for all? Wouldnt they be blamed for not performing their duties? If the Legislature amended only one aspect of the CBL Act, the Governor and Board of Directors could circumvent a new scheme within the law to still carry out political activities. In such a case, there will be constant amendments of the Act. Legislatures all around the world have dealt with Rogue Central Bankers in various factions, including USA when the lawmakers shutdown the First Bank of the United States in 1811 under President James Madison and 1836, President Andrew Jackson shutdown the Second Bank of the United States, accusing the head of the bank for engaging in political activity, by financing legislative and presidential campaigns. See the time line of central banking in the United States: 17911811: First Bank of the United States: 18111816: No central bank. 18161836: Second Bank of the United States. 18371862: Free Bank Era. 18461921: Independent Treasury System. 18631913: National Banks. 1913 Present: Federal Reserve System. The Liberian Legislature could have taken a more drastic step to dissolve the Central Bank of Liberia or like Andrew Jackson did instructs the Minister of Finance to take all Government funds away from the control of the CBL and put it in the hands of Ecobank or multiple banks. Better still, the Legislature could have stripped the CBL of all the privileges such as tenureship so that the Governor can be fired at the will and pleasure of the President. Further still, the Liberian Legislature could have also done like Germany, removing Discretionary monetary making powers from the Governor and making monetary decision making completely Rule Base, wherein they could set an inflation target at say 5% and then the CBL Governor loses his job automatically if inflation ever went above the 5% threshold. Or they could maintain the Discretionary powers of the Governor but empowered an oversight body such as the GAC to audit not only the financial accounts of the CBL but the Monetary Decision Making of the CBL. This was done in USA when the Congress realized the increasing powers of the Chairman of Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan. I remembered the bitter fight between Alan Greespan and the Congress, with the Comptroller General David Walker and later Gene Dorado caught in the middle of the fight. I know both Comptroller Generals and the people who were involvedin the Congressional battle with the Federal Reserve. In Ghana, the Legislature passed a law that requires the Auditor General to conduct quarterly audits of the foreign exchange payments and receipts of the Central Bank. In Liberia, the current CBL will not even allow GAC to audit the coins that it minted to determine how much actually minted and put in circulation wasand how much was taken out of circulation. Mr. George Nubo, who was COO at GAC at the time, repeatedly reminded me about that audit but giving the resistance by the CBL and my own concentration with completing HIPC requirements it was never done. As you can see, there are a lot a legislature can do to rein the excesses of the Central Bank. The Liberian Legislature has taken a less drastic, benign approach by just changing the CONDITION

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That said, the learned counselor came close to articulating his Article 11 (c) when FrontpageAfrica reported that, he said that the action taken by the Lawmakers should have been extended to all public institutions and not only the CBL. He, yet again, concedes that the amendment is good for Liberia. From the read of history, Article 11 (c)s equal protection clause is similar to the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The 14th Amendment, together with the 13th and 15th Amendments, are collectively called the RECONSTRUCTION AMENDMENTS. They were created after the U.S. civil war. The central principle in the 14th Amendment, which has been borrowed by nearly all constitutionally created democracies in developing world, was meant to ensure that black people or former slaves were treated equally before the law. It is now use as a standard application for all human beings. But in 1886, Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Company, U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporations are "persons" having the same rights as human beings based on the 14th Amendment. U.S. Corporations completely hijacked the 14th amendment. Up until the New Deal in the 1930s, the 14th amendment was invoked far more often on behalf of corporations than former slaves. But government agencies or officials of Government have never tried to hide behind the 14th amendment, especially in regard to the Legislature amending an act to change the Condition of Service for a particular position in Government. I stand corrected. But even if Article 11 (c) or a body of case law for the 14th amendment say it applies to Government agencies, how will it be applied since each agency of Government is created by the Legislature and giving different powers. Government agencies are not created equally. Some are given tenure, special powers, and privileges like the Central Bank. Others like the Ministry of Labor aregiven different powers. All Cabinet Ministers work at the will and pleasure of the President. They can be fired any day and at any time. The CBL Governor does not work at the will and pleasure in the same way as the Ministers. Also, the Governor has a five year tenure and the Auditor General has a 4 year tenure. The Executive Director of the PPC has no tenure. Since they are not all created equal by the Legislature, how can one make a legal or corporate governance argument that all public institutions must be treated equally. In America, all public institutions are not treated equally, either. The U.S. Hatch Act, 1939 In the U.S.A, there was high political corruption in 1938. The Senate Campaign Expenditures Committee instituted an investigation on political corruption. Although the findings were inconclusive, Democratic and Republican parties were fed up with people using public offices to advance their political agenda. The Democrats were the main culprit. Although his political party was the biggest beneficiary of the political corruption, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted to purge the Democratic Party of its more conservative members who were increasingly aligned with his Republican opponents and he saw the Hatch Act as the vehicle to do it. Roosevelt wanted to veto the Act or allow it to become law without his signature, fearing a backlash from his corrupt democratic political machinery. But he later signed it on the last day before it could expire. The Act was sponsored by Senator Carl Hatch, a Democrat from New Mexico. The Hatch Act of 1939 became thefederal law that prohibits employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except thepresident, vice-president, and certain designated high-level officials of that branch, from engaging in partisan political activity.It was later amended to apply to executive branch state and local employees who are principally employed in connection with programs financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the United States or a federal agency. The U.S. Supreme Court has twice upheld its constitutionality. In a 1947 case brought by the CIO, a divided court found that Congress had properly exercised its authority as long as it had not affected voting rights. In Liberia, the CBL amendment does not affect the voting rights of the Governor. The Governor can still vote for anyone in 2014 or 2017. Legislature limited it only to running for elected office. Our right to vote cannot be curtailed, except in some instances when we have committed such things as a felony. But our right run for elected office can be conditioned on the public office we hold. The current Governor is not required to be Governor. Being Governor is a choice. Hilary Clinton and the Hatch Act of 1939

In an article, Hillary's Job Forced Her to Miss Bill's Speech, US Foreign Policy , Author Steve Jones quotes Secretary Hilary Clinton: This is the first convention that I have missed in many, many years. For decades, secretaries of state have not attended political conventions because of the non-partisan nature of our foreign policy. "I think it's a good rule. It's one that I certainly accepted." Can our Liberian Minister of Foreign Affairs ever agreed not to be political while serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs? Anyway, Steve Jones disagreed with Secretary Clinton by it being a rule. He wrote, But it's not just a rule or tradition. It's a law. According to Jones, in its essence, the Hatch Act prevents high-level federal employees, like the Secretary of State, from lending their influence to elections, adding that the U.S. Office of Special Counsel says, "All civilian employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except the President and the Vice President, are covered by the provisions of the Hatch Act." Does the learned lawyer realized that Hilary Clinton like many Americans have a lot of integrity and respect for the law and good governance practices that she resigned her post nearly four years out to 2016 Presidential elections. OK, some would say Liberia is not America. I get it! Who is covered by the HATCH ACT? THE U.S. Office of Special Counsel enforces the Hatch Act and provides this information on its website:All civilian employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except the President and the Vice President, are covered by the provisions of the Hatch Act. Employees of the U. S. Postal Service, are also covered by the Act. Part-time employees are covered by the Act. Federal and District of Columbia employees subject to the Hatch Act continue to be covered while on annual leave, sick leave, leave without pay, or furlough. However, employees who work on an occasional or irregular basis, or who are special government employees, as defined in title 18 U. S.C. 202(a), are subject to the restrictions only when they are engaged in government business. Federal employees fall within two categories under the Hatch Act, Further Restricted and Less Restricted. The learned lawyer should know this: Although the Hatch Act applies to all, some agencies are singled out and further restricted, a situation that some Liberians will call discrimination but which is accepted under the best Constitutional Republican form government we have on planet earth and from which Liberia borrows its systems of central banking and government. Further Restricted Employees U.S. Office of Special Counsel states, certain federal executive branch employees are prohibited from engaging in partisan political management or partisan political campaigns; hence, these employees are Further Restricted under the Hatch Actmore specifically, Further Restricted employees include employees from the following agencies (or components) or in the following positions:

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May not take an active part in partisan political campaigns. For example: May not campaign for or against a candidate or slate of candidates.May not make campaign speeches or engage in other campaign activities to elect partisan candidates.May not distribute campaign material in partisan elections.May not circulate nominating petitions.May not take an active part in partisan political management. For example:May not hold office in political clubs or parties. May not organize or manage political rallies or meetings.May not assist in partisan voter registration drives.May not use their official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of an election. For example:May not use their official titles or positions while engaged in political activity.May not invite subordinate employees to political events or otherwise suggest to subordinates that they attend political events or undertake any partisan political activity. Any reader can find more of the prohibition on the U.S. Office of Special Counsels website at www.osc.gov and click on the Hatch Act. Federal Reserve and CBLCBL Getting a Free Ride in Liberia As showing in preceding paragraphs, the Federal Reserve Act was enacted by the 63rd United States on December 23, 1913Congress and it is Pub.L. 6343. The Board of Governors (Federal Reserve Board) prepares a budget report once per year for Congress. There are two reports with budget information: (1) Annual Report and (2) Annual Report: Budget Review. The Annual Report shows income and expenses, including profit and loss. The Budget Review part of the report is that Annual Report shows total number of employees at the Federal Reserve. The Budget Review is more comprehensive, providing detailed explanation for each expense line at the Federal Reserve. These two reports can be found on the Board of Governors website under the section "Reports to Congress. The Federal Reserves balance sheet (or balance statement) is one of the keys to understanding the Federal Reserve is the. In accordance with Section 11 of the Federal Reserve Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System publishes once each week the "Consolidated Statement of Condition of All Federal Reserve Banks" showing the condition of each Federal Reserve Bank and a consolidated statement for all Federal Reserve banks. The federal government sets the salaries of the Board's seven governors. The U.S. Government receives all of the Federal Reserves annual profits, after a statutory dividend of 6% on member banks' capital investment is paid, and an account surplus is maintained. The New York Times reported , The Fed is required by law to turn over its profits to the Treasury each year, a highly lucrative byproduct of the central banks continuing campaign to stimulate economic growth. The Fed made an average annual contribution to the Treasury Department of $23 billion during the five years preceding the crisis. In the years since 2007, the Feds average contribution has more than doubled to $54 billion. In 2010, the Federal Reserve made a profit of $82 billion and transferred $79.3 billion to the U.S. Treasury. In 2011 the Federal Reserve transferred $77 billion in profits to the U.S. Treasury Department. Who is setting the salaries of the Executive Governor and the Board of Governors of the Central Bank? They set their own salaries without much input from the President or Legislature. And the Central Bank has not returned a single dime in profits to the Ministry of Finance, as it is the case in the USA, a system we borrowed from to use in Liberia. I remembered when me, as Auditor General, and Madam Alfreda Tamba, a hardworking woman who was then serving at the Deputy Minister of Finance for Revenue, tried to have the CBL Governor account for the cents it is making on each dollar of checks it encashed for the Government. There are currently no coins in Liberia but checks are written in dollars of cents, such as LS$55.98. How is collecting and benefitting from the value of pennies? We also could not get any accounting from the CBL as to who is the owner of the foreign exchange gains and losses from the Liberian dollar transactions. Liberian Legislature did not go far enough in amending the CBL Act of 199. I can hear some say America is not Liberia but why borrow from America if you are not going to implement it? The amendment to the CBL Act is the beginning of the end of political corruption in Liberia. All well-meaning Liberians should move beyond personality and support sensible laws like the CBL amendment. --Virginia, USA

Federal Election Commission; Election Assistance Commission;Federal Bureau of Investigation;Secret Service;Central Intelligence Agency;National Security Council;National Security Agency;Defense Intelligence Agency;Office of Criminal Investigation of the Internal Revenue Service; and Persons employed in positions described under Sections 3132(a)(4), 5372, 5372 (a), or 5372(b) of Title 5, United States Code, including: Senior Executive Service [career positions described at 5 U.S.C. 3132 (a)(4)]; Administrative Law Judges [positions described at 5 U.S.C. 5372]; Contract Appeals Board Members [positions described at 5 U.S.C. 5372 (a)]; and Administrative Appeals Judges [positions described at 5 U.S.C. 5372(b)]. A visit to www. osc.gov will give you the entire list of further restricted institutions. Further Restricted EmployeesPolitical Restrictions and Prohibited Activities Employees of these Further Restricted agencies are not allow to even run for public office, although they can vote in all and any elections. But they cannot run for elected office, period. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel says, Further restricted federal employees are prohibited from taking an active part in partisan political management or partisan political campaigns. Specifically, these employees may not campaign for or against candidates or otherwise engage in political activity in concert with a political party, a candidate for partisan political office, or a partisan political group. Such employees:May not be a candidate for nomination or election to public office in a partisan election.

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After Nine Months Carrying A Pregnancy, Mother Laments Child Stolen In One Day

ONE-WEEK-OLD BABY VANISHES WITHOUT A TRACE

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NEW VISION NEWSPAPER BURGLARIZED

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AIMING TO REDUCE HUNGER

Several Vital Equipment, Items Stolen

Monroviat is one week since Caroline Wolo, 20, lost her one-week-old baby and there is still no trace of the infant yet. Caroline told FrontPAgeAfrica that it all started at the Redemption hospital on a fateful Saturday when one Shontelle befriended her (Wolo) after she gave birth to her baby girl. She explained to FrontPageAfrica that she was taking the child to the postnatal ward, when she encountered this lady who claimed her (Shontelle) sister had aborted a six-month-old pregnancy and was undergoing medical attention. I just give birth. I went during visiting hours and the girl came to me with a smiling face praising my baby, said Caroline. She asked me if she could buy some food stuff for me, because my table was empty. Caroline the mother in distress sitting in her home with tears dripping down her face narrated that since she did not have the money to buy food stuff to fill her table; she saw the ladys proposition as a timely gesture and therefore accepted. She said the next day, the so-called Shontelle returned to the hospital and asked her about her baby again and also inquired whether the hospitals plans to discharge mother and child would go on as planned. I was surprised that she knew that we were leaving the hospital that same day and I wonder who told her, because she not our nurse said Caroline. So I ask her how she managed to know, but she that my sister-in-law informed her. The mother of the stolen child said that the lady insisted that she wanted to know where they lived and offered to help her with the baby. She wanted to know our house and thats where all the problem started; she lied to me that she wanted to see the house so she could buy some baby materials and that she wanted the baby to be her namesake, said Caroline in tears. New babysitter The mother of the missing baby said while at the house, the lady who allegedly stole the baby offered to help in baby chores adding that the stranger spent the whole day with them. From morning she was at my house until everybody in the house were asking whether I knew her very well or where she lived, she said. She said she lives on 16th Sinkor, but she didnt want to go home. On that same day she stayed for a very long time at our house, when I asked her, she said she will be spending the night at the hospital with her sister, when she earlier stated that the place was stink. Caroline said her family and neighbors embraced the lady and became comfortable with her that she became friends with everyone in their house. She made friend with everyone in the yard. She said since shes spending the night at the hospital, she was going to spend more time with us, since there was no one for her to lecture with at the hospital. She even made friends with almost anyone who came to visit, so I did not take her to be that kind of person. Caroline said that night the lady had already decided to execute her mission of stealing the child and she asked her (Caroline) to sit outside with her but her (Caroline) mother-in-law advised her that it was cold outside, so she should sit in the living room instead. The mother said after few moment sitting outside, the lady told her babys dad to find a taxicab car for her since it was late. Caroline said while her boyfriend was on his way to get the cab, the lady told her that she was going inside the house to get her phone. She said the baby was inside the room. She told me that she was going to get her phone in our room where the baby was. And she entered coming outside, we only saw her with plastic bag and food basket, we thought since she said she came to someone in the hospital, those thing belonged to the person, said Caroline. All of a sudden, my mother in-law told the little girl living with us to go check on the baby, when the girl returned she told us the door was locked. I went for rock to break the door, when we broke the door, the baby was not there and the woman was gone. We ran all around looking for her but we did not see her. Caroline said after the incident she contacted the New Kru town police but they asked the family to check at various checkpoints. Caroline said she is in distress over her child and she is appealing to the police and all good people to help her find her missing child.

UDP Trial Results Show Improved Yields for Liberian Rice Farmers

Monrovia he USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia has released the results from its initial Urea Deep Placement (UDP) trials with Liberian rice farmers from Bong, Lofa and Nimba counties. During the 2013/14 rice planting season and harvest, USAID FED tested this innovative method of fertilizer application in rice production on 20 lowland rice sites and compared the results with other methods of fertilizer application. Over the past nine months USAID FED has worked side by side with Liberian farmers training them on the application of Urea Deep Placement, a more effective approach to assure that nitrogenureas key componentstays in the ground and reaches the crops, resulting in greater yields. When urea is surface broadcasted, it dissolves easily and the nitrogen quickly gets out of reach of the rice plants. Urea Deep Placement or UDP helps to reduce this nutrient loss. It is an important part of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM). The UDP trials show to our farmers that efficient techniques are critical to increasing yields and income, explains Boima Bafaie, USAID FED Deputy Chief of Party. In the 2014/15 rice planting season, USAID FED will scale up the demonstration of the UDP method to 100 new lowland rice production sites as well as 10 rice seed multiplication sites in Lofa, Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa counties. FED assisted farmers will implement UDP on a total of 140 hectares of lowland rice in a multitude of new communities. This initiative is expected to yield 193 metric tons of rice seeds and 482 metric tons of paddy rice. The USAID FED Program for

Liberia aims to reduce hunger and promote food security for Liberians through increased agricultural productivity and profitability in rice, cassava, vegetable and goat value chains. It is implemented in six counties: Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Grand Bassa, Margibi and Montserrado. The United States as the largest donor and closest ally is supporting the Liberian priorities to build sustainable local capacity, make a difference in peoples lives, and

move towards a shared vision of self-sufficiency and prosperity. For more information please visit. www.usaid.gov. USAID FED is Africas largest project under President Barack Obamas Feed the Future Initiative, which promotes a move away from subsistence and increasing food security by working with public and private bodies, including the Government of Liberia, the private sector, local NGOs and other key stakeholders.

Monrovia he Editorial Board of the NEW VISION Newspaper has expressed grave concern over what the Newspapers Management described as an organized burglary on its Carey Street main Offices by an Unknown Criminals. The paper main offices are located on the Third Floor of Garnett Building on 116th Carey Street in Central Monrovia. The criminals attack on the papers main Offices occurred on Sundays night, February 23rd without breaking through the two double steel doors and the various windows fortify by iron bar. The criminals broke into the offices of The NEW VISION Newspaper through the ceiling connecting to the adjacent apartments on the same floor of Garnett building. According to a Press Release issued by the Management of the Newspaper, the criminals took away several valuable essential materials and equipment worth several thousand United States Dollars. Among equipment and valuable items stolen include a two sets of dell desktop computers, HP desktop computer, one dell laptop, one medium size digital camera, one computers back-up equipment, two medium size tea cups, thirty-seven Newsprints, and HP ten GB, among other essential items. The HP desktop computer and computers back-up equipment are used to storage all essential documents including the various editions of the New VISION Newspaper published since the newspaper was established on November 16, 2004, following the cessation of the disbanded LURD rebels attacks on Monrovia and its surroundings. The burglary, according to the papers Management has greatly affected the NEW VISION Newspaper in its smooth operations and demonstrated commitment to promote peaceful coexistence as well as to adequately inform, educated and entertain the largest Liberian populace on issues of national and international concern that impact the livelihood of the people. Meanwhile, the Management of the NEW VISION has expressed its unfailing commitment to keep the Newspaper on the newsstand and remains steadfast, unwavering, undeterred and unbendable in its objectives to report the truth. The Management is urging the public to be mindful of the criminals whose apparently might want to use the paper past editions and documents storage in the stolen computers for unscrupulous intent. At the same time, the Management is calling on the public to be on the alert to report any unauthorized person found with properties including computers stolen from the newspapers offices. The Management has launched a complaint to the Liberia Nation Police Deport on Center Street in Central Monrovia and expresses confidence that the police will work over time to bring the culprits to book.

Page 12 | Frontpage

NIC GETS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NEWS EXTRA

LEGISLATURE TO FACE SUPREME COURT GAVEL

AS CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP SUES LAWMAKERS OVER THE AMENDED CBL ACT
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com

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LEGISLATIVE BEAT

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

T
P
MONROVIAresident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has appointed the following officials to positions in Government, pending confirmation hearing where applicable: Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment Mr. Peter Z. Kamei Chairman of the Board of Directors Liberia Telecommunications Corporation Board of Directors Cllr. Carlos Smith Member (replacing Dr. El Mohamed Sheriff)

Liberia Bank for Development and Investment Board Mr. Eugene Peabody Member (representing Liberian shares) National Investment Commission Mr. George G. Wisner Executive Director Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization Mrs. Asatu Bah Kanneh Deputy Commissioner for Immigration Drug Enforcement Agency Mr. Benedict O. Johnson Deputy Director for Operations Mr. Gwee K. Porkpah Deputy Director for Administration Ministry of Youth & Sports Mr. Henry B. Yonton Deputy Minister for Sports (replacing Mr. Dionysius Sebwe who is being reassigned)

PUSHING KUWAITI DEAL

SIRLEAF WANTS DEVELOPMENT LOAN AGREEMENT RATIFIED FOR THE REHABILITATION OF GREENVILLE PORT
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
also include service boats ramp, rehabilitation of the port buildings and utilities networks, and the installation of security system and navigational aid. The project is also expected to include the procurement of marines crafts and Cargo handling equipment consultancy service for design and supervision of the civil works and institutional support. In view of the above and with the aim of bolstering economic activities along the south eastern corridor of Liberia, thereby contributing to the economic and social development of our nation, I ask for ratification of the loan agreement, stated President Sirleaf in the letter dated February 17, 2014 and addressed to House of Representatives in session.

he supreme court of Liberia has summoned the National Legislature before them to answer to questions of constitutional violation. Though details of the Supreme Court communication to the Liberian Senate was not disclosed to the Press, it is believed that the courts action is a result of a recent passage into law the amended provision of the Central Bank of Liberia prohibiting governors of CBL from participating in politics while severing and three years after service at the country reserved. The bill since its passage by the House of senate and subsequent concurrence by the House of Representatives has been met with several public criticism and mix feelings. Civil society organizations including the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU), the Liberian market Association (LMA) and some lawmakers have described as selective, discriminatory, and unconstitutional the legislature. In some comments made by critics of the Legislature use as reference article 18 of the Liberian constitution that speaks about the rights of all Liberians to employment and opportunities regardless of sex, Tribe, religion and ethnic background. Though the communication from the supreme court was discussed in executive session

(secret session) at the level of the Liberian senate it is believe that the two houses will sent two person to represent them at the supreme court and those two persons are expected to be selected from the Judiciary committees of both houses chaired by Representative Gayah Karmo of Bomi County at the level of the lower House and Senator Joseph Nangba Sinoe county at the level of the Liberian Senate. Despite the level of criticism there are still some Liberians who support the Legislature action to amend the CBL act. Mr. John Morlu former Auditor General of the Republic of Liberia, on record for say

the government of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is three times more corrupt than past governments has described as the first major Anti-Political Corruption Act in Liberia the amended CBL act. Morlu said, the amended CBL 1999 act is broader in perspective than the narrow constitutional cherry picking that is being use to castigate the Legislature. Morlu said: I know some will say Liberia is not America but the same people boast of America education to get Jobs in Liberia. I make no apologies for using America repeatedly for the CBL is model after America; it is also benefiting

to use America as a responsible yard stick. Interesting the argument against the amendment have been less coordinated and scattered, as though these defenders of the status quo are in desperate mood to grab onto anything to convince the President not to take the final step by signing the amendment into law. It will be a big surprise if the president does not sign the bill into law because I know she and I have had numerous discussion on how to end political corruption.. The former Liberian auditor general also called on those fighting proxy war for Governor Jones to focus on

what he called the substantive issue and forget about motives which cannot be proven at this point. Those who are defending the CBL have argued that the CBL governor has not announced that he is a candidate for 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, he added. Like Morlu, another prominent Liberia Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe has supported the bill but want its to be holistic meaning it should cover all officials of government.

P
Monrovia-

resident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has written the Legislature to ratify the loan agreement between the Port of Greenville and the Kuwait Arab Economic Development barely two weeks after the appointment of her son as special envoy to the Arab nation to lead government negotiation efforts on petroleum product. The US$14 Million project involves the rehabilitation works required to fully re-open the port of Greenville, shipwreck removal, construction of the port roads, container yard and shoreline fence, according to the President in a communication to the legislature. President told lawmakers that the project will

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

LEGISLATIVE 73 MILLION LACKS SPECIFIC FOCUS Former lawmaker demands Priority on Roads construction

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LEGISLATIVE BEAT

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cross the length and breadth of Liberia, the need for feeder roads remains a major challenge facing the reconstruction drive of the country. Towns and villages around the country are cut off during the rainy season and even Monrovia and its immediate environs face the same problem. A former lawmaker at the 52nd national legislature of Liberia says in spite of projects and other development activities currently taking place in the counties of Liberia, better roads network is essential and must be given first priority. Gbenimah B. Slopadoe, I, former Representative of District #2 in Grand Kru County believes that good roads network will be a major economic empowerment for the citizenry of the country. We need roads that will connect the towns and villages in this country, once that is done, the people will be empowered. Roads will enhance empowerment. In the 2008 County development Agenda, people from all around the country said road is their number one priority, so why not we focus specifically on construction of roads which will stimulate economic growth, the former lawmaker indicated. Connectivity the former lawmaker says is a major way the government can empower the citizens as according to him, once people can easily move from one location to another, economic activities will boom and the citizenry will become employed individually without waiting for government. Legislative 73 million not specific A current budgetary proposal of US$73 million by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alex Tyler, the ex-legislator observes does not have specific focus as stated by the crafter of the bill that the money is intended for direct district development. To be economically productive, we need roads, lets be clear and do what the Liberian people want instead of pronouncing developments that will make little impact on the people lives. If you ask people in towns and villages across Liberia, they will not tell you we want electricity, or running water, though they need them but the first thing they will tell you is we want roads, so lets be specific and focused and do what the people want. He said taking clue from the Management of what he termed the failed County Development fund where projects were implemented not based on the need of the people, budgetary allotments for the counties must be in line with the need of the people. We do not want another budgetary allotment for blanket development, priority number one is road and so we can open and escrow account exclusively for road construction and construction companies can bid to construct our roads that will also create jobs. The management of the County Development Fund (CDF) has been a problem in several counties with projects remaining incomplete. Audit of several counties showed gross abuse in the expenditure of funds allocated for county development with counties that are already in need of development including south eastern counties feeling the pinch. In Grand Gedeh County for example, an audit by the General Auditing Commission of Liberia observed lack of projects implementation with money expended without project completion. During my review of the records of the Project Management Committee (PMC), I noted that 12 projects valued at US$329,746.22 were selected and undertaken in the County. I inspected the projects in March 2009. I noted that one (1) project (Gbarzon-Jarwodee Road Rehabilitation Project) was indicated completed, ten (10) projects were incomplete, and one (1) project (Sayuo Town Project) was not started at all, though the contractor, GCCE was paid the full contract sum. This indicates that 91.67 percent of the project remained incomplete or not started all. All of these projects were contractually agreed to have been completed by the contractors either in or before December 2008, the Auditor General stated in an audit on the administration of CDF in Grand Gedeh County. The lawmakers native Grand Kru County, one of the underdeveloped counties in Liberia also experienced mismanagement in the expenditure of County development Fund with the GAC audit also pointing a gloomy picture of projects implementation. Stated the GAC audit of Grand Kru County for the period 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 For the period under audit, the Grand Kru County Authorities undertook thirteen (13) construction projects and one (1) road rehabilitation project, and the purchase of equipment for road rehabilitation and construction, again bringing the total projects to fifteen (15) projects. Additionally, there was a scholarship program The GAC audit also observed As noted in the report, the Grand Kru County Authorities made nearly 100 percent payments on the fourteen (14) projects associated with construction of structures and road rehabilitation, but as my physical inspection revealed these 14 projects are yet to be completed. It is indicated in the report that Six (6) projects have not started, three (3) projects are at foundation Level, four (4) projects were incomplete and one (1) project with only sticks planted in the ground. Of the four (4) uncompleted projects, substantial works were done on the Barclayville Generator House Project and the Barclayville City Hall Project. The former lawmaker is a key individual behind the harmonization of laws seeking to protect Liberians aimed at helping to empower them economically. He disclosed that symposium sponsored the Governance Commission is expected to be held shortly where Liberians will brainstorm on harmonizing existing policies and laws and passing a bill that will seek to sustain and empower Liberians. During his tenure at the Legislature, he proffered bills seeking to empower Liberians including a bill seeking for projects around the threshold of US$ 1 million and below to be contracted exclusively to Liberian owned companies while far higher can be opened fro bidding form Liberians and foreign owed companies. In 2012, the former lawmaker also petitioned the House of Representatives for the allotment of US$45 million for all fifteen counties of Liberia, US$3 million each but House of Representatives is yet to act on his petition. He said he welcome the US$ 73 million proposal but is demanding specific focus on roads.

Page 14 | Frontpage

BEIRUT (Reuters) he head of al Qaeda's wing in Syria has given rival Islamist militants five days to accept mediation to end their infighting or face a war which "will terminate them", according to an audio recording posted on Tuesday. Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the Nusra Front, called on the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group to agree to arbitration by religious scholars to end more than a year of feuding which has turned violent in some areas in Syria. Heavy clashes between the two groups and other Islamist fighters in rebel-held northern and eastern Syria have led to hundreds of deaths and have undermined the wider military campaign against President Bashar al-Assad's forces. "We will wait for five days from the date of this recording for your formal reply," Golani said in the audio tape, released on an Islamist web site. "By God, if you reject God's ruling again and do not put an end to your plague against the Umma (Muslim nation), then the Umma will launch an assault against this ignorant ideology and will terminate it, even from Iraq," he said. The fighting broke out at the start of the year when several rebel groups launched what appeared to be coordinated attacks on ISIL fighters, who have alienated many Syrians in the areas under their control. Golani's Nusra Front, which has sworn allegiance to al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri, had until then avoided openly confronting ISIL, with which it shares a radical jihadi ideology, despite deep rivalry and tensions between the two groups. Al Qaeda has dissociated itself from ISIL. In his statement, Golani differentiated between ISIL and the Western-backed rebel Supreme Military Command and the opposition National Coalition, both of which he described as infidel groups. (Reporting by Dominic Evans and Mariam Karouny; Editing by Alistair Lyon)

IN BRIEF SYRIAN AL QAEDA GROUP GIVES RIVAL ISLAMISTS ULTIMATUM

KIEV (Reuters) kraine's parliament voted on Tuesday to send fugitive President Viktor Yanukovich to be tried by the International Criminal Court for "serious crimes" committed during violent anti-government protests in which scores were killed. A resolution, overwhelmingly supported by the assembly, linked Yanukovich, who was ousted on Saturday and is now on the run, to police violence against protesters which it said had led to the deaths of more than 100 citizens from Ukraine and other states. The Hague-based court said it would need a request from the government of Ukraine giving it jurisdiction over the deaths. With early elections set for May 25, one of Ukraine's most prominent opposition figures, retired world boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko, confirmed he would run for president. Yanukovich was indicted for "mass murder" on Monday over the shooting of demonstrators and is now on the wanted list, having last been seen at Balaclava in Crimea, near Russia's Sevastopol naval base. An aide said be on the run with Yanukovich was shot in the leg, his spokesman said. It was not clear where the aide, Andriy Klyuev, was, or whether he with the fugitive leader. The assembly resolution said former interior minister Vitaly Zakharchenko and former prosecutor-general Viktor Pshonka, who are also being sought by the authorities, should also be sent for trial at the ICC. "Parliament asks the

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WORLD NEWS

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

International Criminal Court to hold Viktor Yanukovich and other high-level people criminally responsible for issuing and carrying out openly criminal orders", the resolution said. Authorities under Yanukovich had systematically abused their power. Police tortured protesters, including holding activists naked in temperatures of 15 degrees below freezing, the resolution said. COURT JURISDICTION The Hague-based International Criminal Court, which since its

UKRAINE WANTS RUNAWAY PRESIDENT TO FACE INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE

founding in 2002 has handled only cases from Africa, said it could intervene if Ukraine requested it to. "A government can make a declaration accepting the court's jurisdiction for past events," said court spokesman Fadi El Abdallah, and it would then be up to the court's prosecutor to decide whether or not to open an investigation. Ukraine never signed the treaty that created the ICC, meaning the court has no automatic jurisdiction over recent events in the country. If the government formally invites it in, however, the court would
v

have the power to investigate. But a decision to invite the court in will not automatically lead to an investigation, and nor will Ukraine have any say over who might be investigated. The tribunal has jurisdiction only over serious international crimes, and then only if local authorities are unable or unwilling to deal with those crimes themselves. Acting interior minister Arsen Avakov said Yanukovich as wanted for the "mass murder of peaceful citizens". Yanukovich left Kiev by helicopter on Friday, heading for his power base in the east,

where he was prevented from flying out of the country and then diverted south to Crimea. Yanukovich's fall has revived fears that the former Soviet state of 46 million might split along the fault line that divides its pro-Western and proRussian regions. In a fresh warning to the European Union and United States not to try to shape Ukraine's future, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine must not be forced to choose between Russia and the West.

By Samia Nakhoul and Nick Tattersall

TURKISH PM SAYS TAPES OF TALK WITH SON A FABRICATION

NIGERIAN ISLAMISTS KILL 29 PUPILS IN BOARDING SCHOOL ATTACK

DAMATURU, Nigeria (Reuters) unmen from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram stormed a boarding school overnight, killing 29 pupils, many of whom died in flames as the school was burned to the ground, police and the military said on Tuesday. "Some of the students bodies were burned to ashes," said police commissioner Sanusi Rufai. (Reporting by Joe Hemba; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

ANKARA (Reuters) urkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused political enemies of shameless fabrication of a telephone tap of him telling his son to dispose of large sums of money on the day police raided houses in a graft inquiry into his government. In a dramatic session of parliament after posting of the 11-minute audio tape on YouTube, Erdogan said his political enemies had penetrated encrypted state communications. He did not name the opponents but made it clear he was talking of a network run by former ally, Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen. Supporters of Erdogan, locked in a power struggle with Gulen whom he accuses of contriving a graft scandal

to topple him, shouted "Tayyip, we came here to die with you", "stand tall, don't bow" and "time is on our side". "The people don't believe these lies," Erdogan called back to loud cheers and applause from the public gallery. Growing political uncertainty around the government and

its reaction to the tapes, which Reuters could not authenticate, hit Turkish assets amid broader weakness in emerging markets. Gulen, through his lawyer, has described the accusation of complicity as unjust and contributing to an atmosphere of "hatred and enmity" in Turkish society. Opinion polls taken before

Monday's posting show Erdogan's popularity little affected by the corruption scandal which broke on December 17 with the detention of businessmen close to him and three ministers' sons. Monday's tape will prove a further test of that resilience ahead of March local elections. Erdogan took over a country

in 2002 mired in political factionalism and economic crisis. Presenting the welcome face of a strong leader, he united a wide spectrum of forces, fired the economy, drove economic reform and tamed generals who had toppled four governments in the latter 20th century. The formal opposition remains weak and lacking leadership, the challenge coming however from Hizmet. "They went and made a shameless montage and released it," Erdogan told parliament. "They are even listening to the state's encrypted telephones. That's how low they are." "There is no allegation that we cannot answer." The "they" cited by Erdogan was a clear reference to those among the followers of U.S.based Islamic cleric Gulen he accuses of building a "parallel state" using influence in the judiciary and police. Gulen denies the accusation. "We will reveal one-by-one all the disgraces of the parallel organization and we will make those who walk with them so embarrassed they won't be able to go out into the street," Erdogan told parliament.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Sports

Frontpage

Page 15

FROM ARSENAL FLOP TO ZENIT TSAR: ARSHAVIN REVELS IN RUSSIAN REVIVAL

SPORT BRIEF

The midfielder endured a frustrating time in England but, reinvigorated by a return to Russia, the Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund offers him a chance for a swansong

By Andrew Wychrij

T
MonroviaLFA Kemayah,

Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Brown, John Allen Klayee, Samuel Y. wisdom of the elections commission and he Liberia the Football Karn and Matthew P. Smith while female (LFA) names in accordance with the [LFA] statutes Association released has football president Ciatta Bishop is the lone and electoral code that will be used to of candidate for the female representative qualify candidates for the March 22, 2014 elections, he stressed.

candidates ahead of the 19th to the executive committee.

ordinary congress to be held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County on March 22, 2014. elections committee FC Fassell president Cassell Kuoh, ex- One of the sticky issues that have split Invincible Eleven vice president Alfred stakeholders down the middle is the chairman Sayon and incumbent Adolph Lawrence, voting procedure for the nine executive Malcolm Joseph told a news conference who is also Small Town International committee members. on Tuesday that several persons applied board chairman, have applied for the for different positions. second vice president position. So, how is it going to be done was one of the questions posed to the chairman. Those who applied for one of nine Barrack Young Controllers president executive committee members slots Sekou Konneh and incumbent Musa were Watanga FC president Dee-Maxwell Shannon will contest the first vice Keitrace FC Beatrice Corpu Kpoto, ELWA president Musa Bility goes unopposed for a second Urias Glaybo, ex-LFA secretary-general term. Nyanqueh Borsay, ex-Fulani president Alieu Bah, Aries FC president Lemuel Smith, Monrovia Club Breweries Malcolm said the final list will be released Then the tabulations and calculations control processes. the highest second highest and until we get the nine persons will automatically Sherman, Georgian FC president Wilmot once the committee concludes the quality will be made and the candidate with president Samuel Ashley, LISCR FC president Wallace Weiah and put in commission is currently reviewing the administration Red Lions board chairman applications and in the course of the FrontPageAfrica, in the coming days, Ansu V. S. Dulleh. week, we will come forth in another will preview the electoral process and the forum or a press conference like this, to candidates chances of winning. Others are Rochell Woodson, Cyrus come-up with the list of candidates on Wrights, Adolphus Harmon, Doris Sheba the basis of the screening process in the All of the qualified candidates will be listed on the ballot and each electorate of the candidates. That is excluding the female representative, he said.

hen Andrei Arshavin reflects on a career in football, there will be few memories that cast a smile quite as fondly across his impish face as that of a June evening in Basel nearly six years ago. That night, the scene of Russia's Euro 2008 quarterfinal with the Netherlands, stands as the finest in the country's post-Soviet footballing history. The Russians were magnificent, sealing a much-deserved 3-1 win with a verve and a swagger they have seldom shown since, and the brilliant Arshavin was the architect of the triumph as he led his side to the semi-finals and a place in the Team of the Tournament.

NEYMAR IS LIKE MESSI'S ASSISTANT, SAYS RONALDO

The Brazil legend believes his compatriot will benefit from learning from the Argentine and has backed Zinedine Zidane to succeed Didier Deschamps as France boss

president president position while LFA president will have the opportunity to vote for nine

president Mustapha Raji, Earth Angels As I speak to you, the elections become executive committee members.

ormer Brazil star Ronaldo believes that Barcelona forward Neymar is the best his country has to offer at 2014, but is still only Lionel Messi's assistant. The 21-year-old moved to Camp Nou from Santos last season and, despite some injury problems, has scored 12 goals this season. However, Ronaldo, who represented both Barca and Real Madrid during his playing career, feels his compatriot is playing second fiddle to the Argentine. "After the Confederations Cup I am optimistic about Brazil," he is quoted as saying by AS. "They're a young team and Neymar is the best Brazilian and he has shown his quality. At the moment, he's Messi's assistant at Barclona, but he's worth a lot and is our great hope.

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VOL 8 NO.542

DONE DEAL FOR MUSA BILITY?

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014 PRICE L$40

Sports

LFA releases names of applicants ahead of congress in March as Shannon and Lawrence eye reelection.

Musa Shannon

Adolph Lawrence

Doris Sheba Brown

Musa Bility

GUIDE TO MONROVIA
Newest Edition of Visitors Map Unveiled

FrontPage

T
Monrovia -

Spot News

he newest edition of the Monrovia Visitors Map is now out, making wayfinding and navigating around the capital city a whole lot easier for business visitors and tourists in 2014. The first 5,000 copies of the 2014 version are available now throughout Monrovia. Seven full color maps of metropolitan Monrovia, including Congo Town and Paynesville, make up this pocket-sized essential guide, which features over 100 hotels, bars, restaurants, suppliers and shops, as well as Government agencies, hospitals, embassies, places of worship and other essential information for visitors. From bakeries to building suppliers to beach resorts, the Monrovia Visitors Map shows the best of the city. The 2014 edition is the biggest yet, featuring all of Bushrod Island for the first time, as well as Mamba Point and Central Monrovia, Sinkor, Airfield, Old Road, Congo Town, Paynesville, ELWA, and the RIA Highway. There are also detailed maps of the Broad Street business district and Tubman Boulevard in Sinkor as well. Produced in partnership with the telecom provider Cellcom, over 10,000 printed copies of the Map are given away for free in Monrovia throughout the year. Along with the printed edition, the Map is also available to download for free from the website: www.monroviavisitorsmap.com which has a both a high- and low-bandwidth version. The new high-bandwidth webpage now has a brand-new interactive feature with additional information on featured businesses. In addition, the Monrovia Visitors Map maintains a very active Facebook page: www. facebook.com/monroviavisitorsmap Both the Facebook page and website are updated frequently so the Map always shows the best of Monrovia and highlights the growth of Liberia's hospitality sector. "Over 10,000 tourists were recognized as visiting Liberia in 2013an increase of more than 70% over the past few years. Whether people are visiting for business or pleasure this map will help them find the best that the city has to offer" says Larissa Clark, Business Development Manager for the map. "It's an exciting new edition that reflects the growth of many fantastic service providers that visitors need to find easily whether it's a place to sleep, eat or shop during their visit to Monrovia - whether they stay a week or six months!" says Matthew Jones, producer of the Monrovia Visitors Map.