Liberia: Opposition ANC Condemns Use of Teargas to Disperse Protesters; Blasts Yekeh Frame-up
Had these logistical issues been discussed and agreed upon, the violence which occurred today may not have happened. Alternative National CongressDescribing the spraying of teargas on peaceful protesters as a clear trademark of tyrants, the ANC said the action by the Liberian National Police subjected protesters to fear, suffering, injury and risk of death. A number of protesters were picked up by police in the aftermath of the teargas incident Monday. The minister however said the government will not bend in performing its responsibilities to protect the peace and security of the state. The government bears full responsibility for inflicting harm and injury on its citizens who for hours remained peaceful during their protest.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 06, 2020 23:03 UTC
Liberia: Weah-Led Government Says Protest Provocateurs Triggered Use of Teargas
COP TRIGGERED TEARGAS USE, GOVT. “ Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Minister of InformationFrontPageAfrica reporters covering the protest did not notice any visible injuries but the protest which had been peaceful up to the point when officer began spraying teargas turned violent as many ran helter, skelter for shelter. A man was seen handcuffed by police and being taken away from the scene of the protest. The protest follows two mass rallies against the Weah-led government struggling to fight off allegations of corruption and rising prices. From what we saw today indicates that Liberia will reach a point for us to go to war again.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 06, 2020 18:45 UTC
Liberia: Police Use Teargas, Hot Water to Disperse Peaceful Protestors
The Police have not said they why they suddenly deicided to disperse the crowd that has been peaceful since this morning. However, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, posted to Facebook “Please, your right to ‘peaceful assembly’ does not include the right to light fires on Capitol Hill. Unacceptable!”After some minutes of standoff between the police and the protestors, the police succeeded in getting the people off the streets. The lead organizer of the protest, Henry Costa and Senator Abraham Dillon were not on the protest ground at the time began dispersing the crowd. Shortly before the crowd was dispersed, Rep. Kolubah informed the crowd that he had received intelligence that President Weah had ordered the arrest of the protestors.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 06, 2020 18:00 UTC
As Protest Numbers Swell, CoP Says, ‘We’re Not Going Anywhere’
Small beginningsIn spite of the initial low turn out of the protesters, even by-standers appear to be adding to the protest numbers. However, Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe has told the public that the government has agreed to allow the COP stage a peaceful protest just for a single day. On Sunday, Unity Party chairman and executive member of the CoP, Wilmot Paye, issued a statement effectively distancing the party from the planned protest. Next protest: the LegislatureHe said the LP political leader, Senator Karnga Lawrence, did not distance herself from the protests…. After today, the next protest that will be led by me will be among my colleagues.
Source:Daily Observer
January 06, 2020 14:37 UTC
Liberia: Protest against Weah’s Governance Gaining Momentum in Monrovia
Today’s protest was deferred from December 30 to January 4 after an initial January 5 was rejected by the Council of Patriots, the organizers. The protest is a sequel to the June 7 protest in which the Council of Patriots made several demands to the government through a petition. Representative Kolubah, ahead of Monday’s protest promised not to disrespect the international community regarding the protest. Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue told reporters Monday that the LNP will do all it can in providing security for the protestors. Inspector General Sudue, however, cautioned the protestors to respect the LNP’s directive on where to gather and to not gather during the protest.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 06, 2020 12:00 UTC
Liberia: Protestors Are Gathering Despite Warning from Justice Ministry
The Ministry of Justice had said any protest today would be considered illegitimate and culprits would be held liable. The Ministry had opted that the protest which was originally scheduled for December 30, 2019 be held on January 4, 2020. However, the organizers of the protest refused the date, arguing that the Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peacefully at any time. Police in Monrovia has instituted unusual security protocols, restricting the movement of vehicles and people on large numbers. Vehicles are also not being allowed to use to pass in front of the Capitol Building, except for authorized vehicles.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 06, 2020 10:16 UTC
Liberia: Ezzat Eid Debunks Facebook Post on His Alleged Collaboration With the Council of Patriots
Specifically, the Facebook posts alleged, among other things, that Ezzat Eid is “one of the key sponsors of COP Jan. 6 planned protest”. The Facebook posts also alleged that Ezzat Eid “was part of the COP meeting that was just held at the Tropical Beach Resort”. Ezzat Eid began private entrepreneurship in Liberia in 1976 when he established Capital Electrical Company at Buzzi Quarters. Ezzat Eid also says that he has no interest in the container scanning contract (CTN contract), which another Lebanese businessman has. This diabolical and malicious untruth against Ezzat Eid is not supported by any facts.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 06, 2020 00:56 UTC
Liberia: A Helter, Skelter Security Nightmare
TROPICANA BEACH AND RESORT, owned by Semir Kaidii, a Lebanese National is located at Thinker’s Village, outside Monrovia. COP HAD PREVIOUSLY vowed to stage a protest dubbed ‘Weah Step Down’ protest on December 30. IT SEEMS the country has failed to utilize the opportunities at its disposal – or learn from trainings and preparations for life after UNMIL. SEARCH AND SEIZURES such as what was done to the management of Tropicana Beach only serve one purpose and that is to scare potential investors away. INSTEAD, Africa’s oldest republic appear to have resigned itself to running in circles, helter, skelter for shelter and unable to guarantee a safe environment for its people to live without having to look over their heads.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 06, 2020 00:56 UTC
Liberia: ‘Deaths Hangover Legislature’? Clergyman Prophesies
In his prophecy, Evangelist Eboh revealed that the 54th Legislature will mourn the death of two of its members in the New Year. Evangelist Eboh made the revelation during the watch night of December 31, 2019 at his ministry in Chicken Soup Factory, Gardnerville. In his prophecy, Evangelist Eboh also revealed that God said there will be no war in Liberia as is being prophesied by some clergymen. “Contrary to most prophesies from different men of God in Liberia and out of Liberia that there shall be war in Liberia, the clergyman prophesied that there will be no war in so the citizens should not panic. “His Excellency, the president (President Weah) needs prayer because I saw health challenge being developed.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 06, 2020 00:45 UTC
The Enemies Remain: Ignorance, Disease and Poverty
After more than four decades and three successive Presidents and numerous interim governments, the trio enemies remain staring at Liberia, unveiled in full glare with the nation at the gallows of Ignorance, Disease and Poverty. Ignorance has invaded our National psyche with an alarming rate of illiteracy and poorly educated students who cannot read and write properly. About some 80% of the Liberian youth make no deliberate attempt to learn about the Country’s history through reading and research. The Nation owns no Public Library, thus inadvertently arming the enemy with the darkness of ignorance. There should be a synergy of forces and the right set of players to rid the nation of the foes of that fateful diagnosis made about some forty-four years ago by President William R. Tolbert Jr, that the nation’s top enemies remain Ignorance, Disease and Poverty.
Source:Daily Observer
January 06, 2020 00:45 UTC
Help Ease the Tension! Count the Money in CBL’s Vaults!
President Weah, above all, has the chief responsibility to prevent this from happening. Comments made by the Chairman of the Independent National Human Rights Commission on the conduct of state security forces on December 30 are troubling and the need for urgent remedial action to mitigate a potentially explosive situation appears to be lost on state security particularly the Liberia National Police. Again, the final word goes out to President Weah. And now USAID has once again stepped forward with big money to pay expatriates to conduct a similar exercise requiring expertise which is available locally. Counting the money held in the CBL’s vaults is the way to go and it will surely help to ease the current tension and restore some credibility to this government.
Source:Daily Observer
January 06, 2020 00:45 UTC
GoL Yields Jan. 6 for Protest with Caveat of Peaceful Conduct
We are not stopping anybody from exercising his or her constitutional rights but it should be peaceful. On the 6th or the 7th, any group that will peacefully assemble will be protected by the government,” said Min. Much to the pleasure of the CoP, the SDA’s position strengthened the protestors’ demand for January 6. These are some of the signs and symptoms of the results of an effective Peaceful, non-violent protest,” Chief Allen added. It is not known yet, considering what the COP sees as grave concerns, whether or not when they assemble the “Step-down” inscription and slogan will be absent during the protest.
Source:Daily Observer
January 06, 2020 00:39 UTC
‘He’s Not A War Criminal’-Former TRC Executive Come In Defense of Jefferson Koijee
Bestman wrote, “I must in this public manner apprise you with arguments defending the character and integrity of Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee. Individuals and groups resigning to these false assertions against an innocent Jefferson T. Koijee, falsely maligning his character seem to befoul the TRC war crimes investigative processes and the calls for war accountability in Liberia if not checked. I worked for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia (TRC) in various positions from June 2006 to September 2009. I worked with local and international interns, provided consultancy to international consultants, investigators, and researchers on the Liberian TRC process. I traversed remote towns and villages on foot, on motorbikes, in cars and over treacherous terrains conducting investigations of war crimes and other atrocities.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 06, 2020 00:33 UTC
Dugbe River Union of Liberia Writes U.S. Congressman Chris Smith for Recognizing ‘Worsening Situation’ in Liberia
Dugbe River Union of Liberia Secretary-General, Aaron MannehMonrovia – DRU, Dispatch: The Dugbe River Union of Liberia has written United States Congressman Chris Smith for speaking well on the current worsening political and economic situations in Liberia where the government has reportedly turn into mute and intransigent to deliver basic needs and wants of its own citizens and residents. The DRU’s Secretary-General, Mr. Aaron Manneh recently wrote US Representative Chris Smith (R- NJ), a ranking member of Foreign Relations Sub Committee on Africa, being praised for speaking well on the worsening political and economic situations in Liberia. These are “Making it difficult, if not impossible for the holding of free and fair democratic elections under such terroristic environment,” said Mr. Manneh quoting Congressman Smith. It can be recalled that Representative Chris Smith and others were again instrumental of getting former President Charles Taylor, a convicted war criminal from the backs of the Liberian people. Now that history begins to repeat itself and for those who failed to follow history become doomed to failure and disgrace.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 06, 2020 00:22 UTC
Terrorists Within the National Police?
The Liberia National Police (LNP), a state owned law enforcement institution, has become mixed with individuals believed not to be trained and legitimate members of the force but ones with the goals of harassing, terrorizing and robbing citizens. The public has overly accused the LNP of having some members in uniform carrying out robbery during night hours. The LNP also urged the public, upon coming across anyone performing a task in the name of Anti-Robbery Unit, to report same act by calling the cell numbers: 0770800911, 0770800428, 0770899420, 0770800413 and 0770800411. “Folks, I called the Justice Minister and the Police Director to inform them about the attack, but none of them picked my call. It means I do not have security in the country,” said Costa in a Facebook Live post.
Source:Daily Observer
January 06, 2020 00:22 UTC