Friday, March 26, 2010

Defendant Was ‘Inconsistent’ & ‘Contradictory’


Says Judge Dixon; Pronounces Death-by-Hanging Sentence
Among other things, trial Judge A. Blamo Dixon says the testimonies of Co-defendant Hans Caphart Williams, Sr. during the Angel Togba’s murder trial against him and his fiancée Mardea Paykue “were inconsistent, contradictory and at variance with one another” the Judge of the Criminal Court “B” at the Temple of Justice, A. Blamo Dixon has ruled.

The Judge and Jury de facto who brought down guilty the co-defendants and pronounced “death-by-hanging’ sentence upon the couples to-be noted that co-defendant Mardea Paykue whose testimony should have corroborated that of Hans waived her testimony, thus, disenfranchising herself in the case.

The Grand Jury for Montserrado County, on August 22, 2008, indicted Hans C. Williams and Mardea Paykue for the alleged commission of the crime of murder, which the indictment said was in contravention of section 14.1 of the New Penal Code of Liberia.

According to the indictment, the convicts did jointly connive and conspire with pre-meditation and malice aforethought intentionally, knowingly, purposely and wickedly killed and murder 13-year-old Meideh Angel Togba on November 30,2007, who was their warden, with out any justifiable reason and with extreme indifference to the value of human being.

The indictment further alleged that co-defendant Paykue, out of malice, aforethought and being of the conviction that co-defendant Williams had sexual intercourse with the decease, thereby prompting her to strangulate and choke her to death.

After accomplishing her wicked act, they jointly connived, conspired and clandestinely took the lifeless body of the late Togba to the bathroom in their house and tied a cloth/belt around the deceased neck and hanged her lifeless body to the bathroom rod under the pretense that she hanged herself, the indictment indicated.

After series of legal technicalities, the case finally took off for hearings on Monday, December 14, 2009 at the Criminal Court “B” at the Temple of Justice, sitting in its November Term during which trial the defendants were represented in court by Cllr. Francis Garlawolo, F. Musa Dean and Pearl Brown Bull, while the state was represented by M. Wilkins Wright, Solicitor General of Liberia, Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah, Theophilus C. Gould, T. Dempster Brown among others.

During the course of the trial, the state produced nine witnesses while the defense on the other hand produced ten witnesses along with several species of evidence by the two opposing legal teams. The trial was characterized by public sentiments against the co-defendants thereby propelling a robust media coverage which drew huge local and international attention. Consequently, law students, human rights organizations and practitioners, students – the peers of Little Angel and other advocacy groups took interest in the case from start to end, and swarmed the Temple of Justice ground

Women groups and the students were carrying placards reading – “We want justice,” converged mainly at the Capitol Bypass flank of the Seat of Judiciary where the Court is hosted; some sinking “Tomorrow, tomorrow what you will say”. Based on the tension that characterized the scene of the ruling, the well-armed officers of Emergency Response Unite of the Liberia National Police, UNMIL civilian police and correction officers were all on high alert, while the courtroom was not spacious to accommodate everyone that throng the scene.

‘Death by hanging’ – Judge Dixon

It was at that occasion that the Judge gave detailed analysis of the trial, the evidences adduced before him, testimonies of witnesses and rebuttal witnesses and at the end hand down a ruling that was thunderously applauded by the crowds.

Judge Dixon told the jam parked court that as far he was aware and in keeping with the law, prosecution lawyers overwhelmingly established a prima facie case against the defendants to warrant their conviction for the crime of murder as charged in the indictment drawn up by the grand jury beyond every and all reasonable doubts.
The judge described the issue on which judgment was based as being “Whether or not the state has proved the allegations and averments contained in the indictment drawn against the Defendants to warrant their conviction for the crime of murder beyond all reasonable doubt,” to which he answered in the affirmative, changing the countenance of the accused.

The judge said there was a missing piece of rope that could have shown on given the clued to suicide and described the missing of a piece of the rope/belt that was used for the alleged hanging from the other piece marked by the court as P/1 in-bulk; the missing parts of Angel's body prior to the conduct of the second autopsy by the Cuban Pathologist; the finding of the said parts before the conduct of the third autopsy by the team of American Pathologists on behalf of the Defendants; tampering with the evidence in the case and also the missing of torn panties of the Little Angel Togba testified to by one of the witnesses ; coupled with the secrete attempt by the Defendants to bury the deceased before the conduct of the first autopsy and the hanging of the lifeless body as 'elements of malice aforethought and premeditation'.

Judge Blamo continued that the funeral wreath-pass attested to by the Defendants and their son on Friday, November 30, 2007 cannot be used as an alibi to project suicide as the cause of Angel’s death as the Defendants left the occasion and were present at home along with the other occupants of the house where the deceased was murdered.

The judge furthered that three autopsies were conducted on the body of Angel. The first by Dr. Anthony Quaye on behalf of the Homicide Department of the Liberia National Police, the second by Prof. Dr. Josefa Jimenez Hernadez, a Cuban Pathologist assigned to the Ghana Police Hospital in Accra and the third by an American team of Pathologists from the Nebraska Institute of Forensic Sciences Incorporated of the United States of America.

All the three reports state the cause of death as Asphyxia, but Dr. Quaye and the Cuban Pathologist stated that it was Asphyxia secondary to strangulation while the American Pathologist said it was Asphyxia secondary to hanging, the latest of the autopsy which he discredited, overruled and threw in the trash can when he said the first two were the best autopsies that have proven the case.

He defined 'asphyxiation' from the Dorland's Pocket Dictionary. The judge said, “It is worth noting that in those rare instances of death by asphyxiation that there is normally a sexual element to the investigation and this is something that forensic Pathologists and Police alike will seek to confirm or deny at the beginning of any enquiry where asphyxiation is used as a means to bring about death.”

According to him, “The Cuban pathologist reported that the deceased was sexually assaulted and violated; strangulated before hanging. At the time of the death of the deceased, she was 13 years old and could not have given sexual consent at that age and anyone who allegedly had sexual intercourse with her committed the atrocious crime of rape.”

This fact, the judge said, was also confirmed by the prosecution's first witness Dr. Servillano B. Rituallo, III, and the second rebuttal witness David M. Kpardeh, after the allegations of sexual intercourse were denied by defendant Hans C. Williams Sr. with whom the deceased had very serious sexual relationship …”

Judge Dixon added that it was a visiting medical doctor from the USA who lifted the skirt of Angel at the JFK hospital on the night of November 30, 2007 and discovered that her panties had been torn. It was because of the torn panties that the doctor advised Hans Williams to report the case to the police, he indicated.

“The court is convinced that hanging took place; but the deceased did not hang herself and did not commit suicide. She was killed and murdered by the defendants as laid down in the indictment,” the judge maintained.

Surprisingly, none of the evidence produced by the defense 10 witnesses was upheld. According to the judge, Hans Williams took the stand on his own behalf and supposedly on behalf of co-defendant Mardea P. Williams but failed to traverse the allegations and averments spelt out in the indictment but rather accused several persons who did not live in his household at the time the death occurred.

“All species of evidence admitted into evidence by the prosecution and testimonies of witnesses for the state are sustained and upheld by the court, unlike those of the defendants,” the Judge continued.

He accentuated, “The burden of proof rest on the party who alleges a fact except that when the subject matter of a negative averment lies peculiarly within the knowledge of the other party.” “The averment is taken as true unless disproof by that party. It is sufficient if the party who has the burden of proof established his allegations by a preponderance of the evidence,” Judge Dixon stated.

He named some of the species of evidence admitted into evidence as P/1- In – Bulk up to and including P/9- In – Bulk, noting that “The best evidence, which the case admits of, must always be produced; that is, no evidence is sufficient which supposes the existence of better evidence” as he pour into his mouth a sip from the mineral water bottle that was on his desk.

Judge Dixon further stated that nobody 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 provision laid down in the constitution and in accordance with the “Due Process” of law.

He said justice shall be done to all without sale, denial or delay, pointing out that to convict in a criminal case not only should there be a preponderance of evidence, but also the evidence must be so conclusive as to exclude every reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused.

“Wherefore and in view of the foregoing facts and attending circumstances and the laws controlling, it is the considered final verdict/judgment of this Honorable Court that Defendants Hans C. Williams, Sr. and Mardia P. Williams, are hereby adjudged Guilty…” Judge Dixon, overlooking his spectacle standing reading the verdict and judgment on his throne could not land when a thunderous big applause get the court uncontrollable while cameras of journalists were all fixed at him focused.

Soon after he discovered that the court bailiff could not bring silence to the court with a pounded gavel, the trial judge continues amid the noisy court room shouting on the peak of his voice, “…it is the considered final verdict/judgment of this Honorable Court that Defendants Hans C. Williams, Sr. and Mardia P. Williams, are hereby adjudged Guilty of the crime of murder with immediate effect in keeping with section 14.1 of the NEW PENAL CODE of Liberia.”

In his judgment, Judge Dixon ordered the convicted persons to be hanged on Friday, March 26, 2010 at the Monrovia Central Prison from 6 A.M to 6 P.M until death, and also ordered the clerk of the court to communicate with the Liberian leader, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf so as to effect the final verdict.

He further ordered the clerk of the court to issue a commitment upon conviction for death by hanging and have same placed in the hands of the Sheriff for service on the Superintendent of the Monrovia Central Prison as notification for the order.

Accordingly, the Judge further ordered the Clerk of Court “to issue a commitment upon conviction for death by hanging and have same placed in the hands of the Sheriff for service on the Superintendent of the Monrovia Central Prison Compound. And it is hereby ordered.”

Defense runs to high court

As the Judge downed the Microphone of the speakers at the court, Cllr. Francis Y. S. Garlawolo sprang from the bar of the defense and excepted to the ruling. “To which ruling of Your Honor, defendants excepts [e-x-c-e-p-t-s],” he spelled it to the clerk, saying, “and defense announced an appeal to the Honorable Supreme Court sitting in its October A. D., 2010 Term of Court, and submit”

As though it was a drama, Judge Dixon grasped the microphone back, stating, “exception noted, matter suspended….”, soon after which dramatic ruling that security forces whisked Hans and Mardea from the Court to the Prison van from where the piloted back to prison as Hans was seen sobbing while others identified as his children and family broke down tears at the court.

By the appeal, it is apparent that the convicts, Hans and his fiancée Mardea will only hanged provided the Supreme Court, the final arbiter of justice, upholds the ruling of the Criminal Court “B”, but if this should be the case, it would be after the October term of the Supreme Court and not on March 26, 2010, as ordered by the Judge of Criminal Court “B”.

Hans’ ‘inconsistent’ testimonies

Taking the witness’ for him and his fiancée Mardea, Hans testified to the court with tears: “I never slept with my daughter; we loved her so much; she was an honest girl.” He said the accusations against him and his beloved Mardea were master-minded by former Justice Minister Philip A. Z. Banks and others, even though a rebuttal witness brought into the case to the effect of Hans’ testimonies openly told the court that the he saw Hans on several occasions with little Angel kissing in Hans white car at different locations in Old Road, Sinkor.

“Co-defendants Hans C. Williams, Sr. took the witnesses’ stand … he failed to traverse the allegations and averments laid down in the Indictment drawn against them, but rather he accused several persons who did not live in his household at the time the death occurred for being responsible for the plight,” the trial judge said in his ruling convicting Hans and Mardea.

Co-defendant hans C. William, Sr., Judge A. Blamo Dixon maintained, made several sweeping statements in court that do not have any bearing on the case. “He testified that at one point he was fatigue; at the other he was asleep and later awakened by a phone call and back to sleep and finally awakened by the alarm of Hans C. William, Jr.,” Judge Dixon quoted the co-defendant Hans in his testimonies.

The Judge furthered, furthering that the testimonies of Co-defendant “were inconsistent, contradictory and at variance with one another”, noted that Mardea whose testimonies should have corroborated Hans’ waived her testimony in the case while the entire defense team, he found, failed and neglected to produce before the court the security guard in person of Patrick Kollie and Oldman Oscar Paykue, the both of whom that allegedly assisted Co-defendant Hans to cut the robe belt from Angel’s neck in a bathroom at the Williamses residence.

The indictment of the case

Hans Williams and Mardea Paykou were arrested in January 2008 by the Liberia National Police (LNP) after the death of 13-year-old Angel Togba, who until her death was living with the couple as a foster daughter. Angel was related to Mardea Paykou.
Defendants Hans Williams and Mardea Paykou claimed that they discovered the body of Angel suspending to the curtain rail in their guest bathroom in November 2007.

According to them, they tried all they could to resuscitate her and at the same time rushed her to John F. Kennedy (JFK) Medical Center but their efforts proved futile. The state, however, charged the two for murder and consequently indicted them.

In the indictment, defendant Hans Williams was accused of sexually abusing the 13-year-old girl while his wife was accused of strangulating Angel to death after she (Mardea) had discovered the sexual relationship between her husband and Angel.

The defendants pleaded not guilty of the charges brought against them. After the discovery of the body, a team of Liberian police investigators constituted by government to investigate the mysterious death of the 13-year-old girl said in their findings that the investigators could not derive any clue to link the accused to the crime. The team, in consultation with Dr. Anthony Quaye - the Liberian medical doctor and pathologist who conducted the first examination on the corpse of little Angel Togba, found that Angel committed suicide.

But the state disregarded to Dr. Quaye’s findings and those of the first police probe thereby commissioning a second investigation undertaken by Ghanaian homicide investigators from the Ghana Police Service.

This second investigation was done along with a Cuban pathologist from the Ghanaian Police Hospital in Accra, who concluded that Little Angel Togba was strangled to death. The Ghanaian homicide investigators found that there was no way Little Angel could have hanged herself, considering the measurement of the alleged crime scene in relation to the height of deceased.

Case history

When the case was called for the second time at the Criminal Court “B: thios time under the gavel of Judge A. Blamo Dixon, Dr. Quaye’s testimony in open court went at variance with his autopsy report. The Liberia medical doctor testified that although his autopsy report stated that Angel died as a result of suicide, he was bullied by the LNP officers to make derive a suicide report against the deceased. He said he had a double mind while compiling the report, telling the court that he knew Angel died of Asphyxia secondary to strangulation.

A team of American pathologists were also invited from Nebraska Institute of Forensic Sciences in the United States of America (USA) by the defendants in 2008 to conduct autopsy on the remains of Angel Togba, and said Angel died of Asphyxiation due to suicide.

A third person who testified to provide technical explanation of Angel’s death, Dr. Thomas L. Bennett told the court that one could commit suicide even by lying on the floor. Dr. Bennett said for strangulation to be determined, there should be a breakage in the hyoid bone which is located in the neck of every human being. He further stated that the hyoid bone does not break in the case of Angel’s alleged suicide.

The was clear in his testimony in Court how none of the previous pathologists made mention of the hyoid bone in their reports, but concluded that Angel died of asphyxia secondary to strangulation.

Disclosing that his team located the hyoid bone and took a microscopic look at it and realized that it was not broken which indicated that Angel was not strangulated.
Notwithstanding, the state produced a rebuttal witness, Dr. Rituallo, a Philippine pathologist who is currently serving as the head of the JFK Pathology Department and also serving as a professor of Pathology at the University of Liberia, whose testimony nullified Dr. Bennett.

The Filipino doctor, explaining from photos of the corpse of Angel Togba disclosed that a careful review of some of the photos had established that Angel did not hang herself. Agreed with Dr. Bennett that the hyoid bone is often broken during strangulation, the Filipino medical practitioner however said such is highly uncommon in children.

The state produced 15 witnesses including rebuttal witnesses while the defendants produced 10 witnesses. Even though the state produced 10 witnesses and five rebuttal witnesses, none of the witnesses linked anyone to the commission of the crime directly, but circumstantially.

Massive jubilation

The court doors and gates were unusually closed for the arrival as the public sentiments seem to be flaring on the matter and discussions amongst separate groups of various categories in and outside the fence of the Temple of Justice were dominated by sentiments expressed against the defendants, while a few disagree and argued that it the law that can convict them and not the sentiments.

Amidst the tensed atmosphere and high security alert were the women and students groups sitting and singing The hot morning sunrise meant nothing to then as long as they were yearning for ‘justice’ in the case.

Traffic around the Temple of Justice was at a standstill for several hours as the women, children, uniformed students, individuals; security personnel had taken over the street at the entrance on Capitol By-pass into the Alphonso Caine Police Headquarters just adjacent the trial court at Temple of Justice.

The ruling finally came, bringing down guilty the accused on whom death by hanging sentence was passed, massive jubilations seized the area and the judge was overwhelmingly cheered by the crowds, even when he was escorted from the Temple of Justice by a Police siren vehicle.

US Ambassador, Speaker Tyler In War of Words

Over Lawmakers’ Agriculture Break






By: Bill K. Jarkloh

www.theperiscope.com / www.panwhanpen.com
Email:bill_ksolborjarkloh@yahoo.com
Call: +231(0)-6-468-244 or : +231-(0)77-468-244

Minutes after the United States Ambassador, Linda Thomas Greenfield criticizes elected officials for reneging on their fundamental responsibility to their people to ensure their development needs and welfare are met, House Speaker Alex Tyler quickly responded, saying there is no restriction on how members of the Legislature should observe their annual or agriculture break.

Speaking Wednesday to reporters in reaction to Ambassador Greenfield assertions against the lawmakers, House Speaker Tyler has clarified that there is no restriction on how and where members of the Legislature should spent their annual or agriculture break. Speaker Tyler further said the annual Legislative break usually taken by Legislators can be spent anyway.

The Speaker argued that an individual lawmaker may choose to either spend the Legislative break on travel or with constituents, conceding however that the annual Legislative break is intended for lawmakers to get to their people, something he said is being done.

But the United States Ambassador, Madam Greenfield disagrees. She said earlier that lawmakers are required to spend their break with voting constituents. Speaking at the formal program Wednesday when she turned over to the Liberian government the newly constructed Headquarters of the National Elections Commission (NEC) in Sinkor, Ambassador Greenfield indicated that instead of legislators visiting their constituents, they instead choose to spend their break to the United States under the canopy of traveling to meet their constituents abroad.

The United States envoy, in her disagreement asked, “How many of you Liberians know your senators, your Representatives? How many of you Liberians see the legislators at their constituencies often to ask the people what are their development needs? Ambassador Greenfield reasoned that the people of Liberia deserve visitation of elected officials who are responsible to them and who see them as their constituents to discuss development issues.

The Ambassador was speaking to the backdrop that Legislators often use their Agricultural break to either stay in the Capitol City with little concern of the development needs of the peoples of their respective constituencies, or at times run to the United States in the name of meeting non-voting members of their constituencies in the diaspora.

It is said that lawmakers are entitled to some gains accrued from the Agricultural break, but it equally often noted that the purpose of the multiple agricultural breaks of successive regimes have not achieved the requisite developments initiatives that could justify the breaks.

Today, Liberia remains one of the least developed country, a resident of Neezo Community in Paynesville remarked openly, having listened to the Truth FM’s morning breakfast show of Thursday on which the interplay of the Greenfield-Tyler actualities were aired.

Analysts have viewed that the United States Ambassador has right to speak to bad governance practices here in Liberia, considering that Liberians look up to the United States for rescue in time of trouble such as the past civil war and subsequently criticize the US Administration upon failure or delay by the U. S. to intervene.

The US Ambassador observed most Liberian lawmakers do not spend time with the people during their regular legislative breaks. She said these lawmakers are instead seen at the US Embassy collecting visas to visit the United States where they have no constituency

In her view, the United States Ambassador said that those in the diaspora are not voting constituents, and that the legislators need to visit the voting constituents who enthroned them into their legislative offices through their votes than the non-voting ones who are not feeling the actual lack of needed development projects at the constituency levels.

Ambassador Greenfield said from recent travels she has made around the country, most people complained of not having access to their lawmakers. She said elected officials especially lawmakers need to visit their people to discuss with them developmental and other issues.

The U. S. Ambassador also said meaningful democracy requires that all Liberians become involved and engage each other and their leaders with honesty, respect and candor. The US envoy urged Liberians to participate in the democratic process of their country to make sound decision that would promote good governance.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield noted that the NEC that will sit in the new office structure is one of Liberia's most important government institutions. “It is the starting point for the democratic process in Liberia because it ensures that the leaders who run Liberia's democracy are selected by the people in a politically-neutral impartial manner.”

The Ambassador said the completion of the building does not mark the end of the US government's commitment in helping to make sure that Liberians are able to choose their leaders in a free and fair election. “We are committed to supporting the right of Liberians; the key democratic right to decide who runs their government. So, in addition to renovating this building, we are also providing US$17 million to build the NEC's capacity to prepare for and carry out the 2011 elections which will and must be free, fair and transparent,” Ambassador Greenfield announced.

She expressed confidence that the new NEC Headquarters will become symbol of the strength and durability of Liberia's democratic process. A monument depicting a woman her casting ballot has been erected at the new NEC Compound. The ambassador said the woman depicted in the statue will always reminded Liberians that democracy and good governance are ensured by citizens' active participation in the electoral process and the dialogue that follows between elected officials and their constitutions.

“This woman, like many Liberian women before her, is struggling, against all odds, to submit her ballot and vote. I am proud to say that, since arriving in Liberia nearly two years ago, I have seen men and women, young and old, travel worn roads and brave rainstorms in order to cast their ballot. And I have also seen those people ask their politicians hard questions and demand accountability from them after the people put them into office.”

Ambassador implored the NEC that the commission works for the people of Liberia, and that the new building was built for the people of Liberia. “In 2011, Liberians will again go to the polls to exercise their right to vote. This time, it is the NEC alone, without international support that will bear the trust of the Liberian people as it oversees the nationwide elections,” she said

USAID Liberia Mission Director Pamela White, who also addressed the occasion, said true democracy will require effort by all Liberians, and the American. Madam White hopes that the grandeur of the building will inspire the NEC to grasp its mandate with both hands and ensure access to democracy for all Liberians.

“We also hope that this new structure, situated so close to Tubman Boulevard will be a daily reminder to Liberians of the promise of democracy and the vital importance of free and fair elections,” she further said.

Liberia’s Nightmare Is Over!

…President Sirleaf Tells ECOWAS; Says the Country Is On The Move




The President of Liberia, madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, says Liberia is on the move after decades of economic mismanagement and fourteen years of brutal civil war. The President also declared that the country’s national nightmare is over.

Madam Sirleaf spoke recently when she addressed an ECOWAS conference in Monrovia. She said the country has been at peace since 2003. Two rounds of free and fair elections in 2005 led to the inauguration of a new government in January 2006.

The economy, she observed, is expanding rapidly with growth accelerating to over 9 percent in 2007. Roads and buildings are being rebuilt, health clinics and schools are re-opening and agricultural production is increasing.

The Government is introducing a broad set of policies to foster peace, accelerate reconstruction and development, and build strong systems of governance. There is a long way to go, but Liberia has launched its recovery and is poised for rapid, inclusive and sustainable development in the years to come, the President indicated.

She told the African leaders that on this course, “we have embarked on the four pillars Poverty Reduction Strategy which addresses peace & security, Economic Revitalization, Strengthening Governance and Rule of Law, Rehabilitating Infrastructure and delivering basic Social Services.”

“We are grateful for the all round support from our West African, American, European, and Asian nations; the United Nations and the entire international community. I now have the honor and pleasure to declare the conference open and wish you all fruitful and rewarding deliberations,’ she added. Below is the full text:

Before proceeding, I ask that we stand and observe a moment of silence in memory of the peacekeepers, partners of Liberia, and the thousands of Liberians who perished during the bloody civil war in this country. Thank you.

I wish to welcome all of you who are visiting Liberia for this Conference. I particularly welcome home to Liberia those who labored so tirelessly for peace in this Country. I wish you a most pleasant stay as you deliberate on the achievements and challenges of two decades of peace processes in our nation, and as you chart a course for an even more profound peace in the future.

By an Act of the Legislature, August 24 is set aside each year as national holiday, in commemoration of the national insignia of Liberia, its flag. It was on this day, in 1847, when the Lone Star was hoisted over the first independent African Republic in sub-Saharan Africa. But on August 24, 1990, there was addendum to our history. The Lone Star had difficulty unfurling because a bloody civil war was being waged. The country was partitioned into spheres of control among three warring factions. Fortunately, up the Atlantic Ocean came a ship laden with peacekeepers, from neighboring countries in West Africa, to intervene in ending the era of violence in Liberia.

The Peacekeepers raised a white flag to signify peace, friendship and neutrality. However, their friendly gesture was greeted with hostility, for upon landing on Liberian soil, they were greeted by a firestorm of mortar shelling. Although they sustained casualties, they were brave and courageous, and determined to execute their mission of separating the warring factions, ensuring a ceasefire and, eventually, holding a democratic election.

At the height of the war, there was a popular slogan, which we still passionately believe and acclaim: “Thank God for ECOMOG”. So again, on behalf of the grateful people of Liberia, I salute the men and women of valor - the compatriots of spine and courage who made daring sacrifices for peace to reign in Liberia. I pay special homage to the men and women who paid so dearly for the peace and stability we enjoy today. We thank the succeeding Chairmen of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government represented by you in this room, the Force and Field Commanders of ECOMOG; the gallant soldiers in the field and the diplomats who endured sleepless nights in the pursuit of peace in Liberia, the Executive Secretaries of ECOWAS.

I must single out those leaders of West Africa at the time in 1990 who took the critical decision that helped save our Country: President Dawda Kariba Jawara during whose Chairmanship of the Authority of ECOWAS the decision to constitute and deploy ECOMOG was reached; General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who, as Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provided the largest force and bore the logistical brunt of the intervention; President Jerry John Rawlings, who commissioned one of his best soldiers to serve as head of the ECOMOG Force; President Lansana Conte, and President Joseph Momo who demonstrated good neighborliness and spite of their difficulties deployed their troops to Liberia. Let me also acknowledge Dr. Abbas Bundu, under whose stewardship as Executive Secretary of ECOWAS a decision guaranteeing peace in Liberia was made, and also General Arnold Quainoo who led the first contingent of 4, 000 peace keepers to Liberia to begin an epic military operation that would prove to be enviable, exemplary and worthy. Liberians continue to have fund memories of the heroism and military leadership of Generals Joshua Dongayaro and Adetunji Olurin. To all of these patriots for peace---and to the countless others I say a big thank you.

You have left indelible footprints on the Liberian landscape. Indeed, you have written your names on the tablets of our hearts.

The record is clear that the root causes of civil conflicts in Africa are bad governance, lack of respect for human rights socio-economic and political inequity and grinding poverty. Liberia is no different. The origins of our conflict can be traced to two broad factors. First, significant portions of our society were systematically excluded and marginalized from institutions of political governance and access to key economic assets. The over concentration of power bred corruption, restricted access to the decision-making process, and limited the space for civil society participation in governance processes. Second, economic collapse helped to propel the crisis.

We descended into war. The tragic consequence of violence was not confined to Liberia alone. Like a cancerous virus, it soon spread widely, slowing the process of democratization that was progressing in West Africa.

When the request for assistance to end the crisis was made--first by Liberia, and then by ECOWAS--to our influential partners, they refused to intervene on grounds that it was an African crisis requiring African solution, meaning that Africans should handle the situation. It was Nigeria which led the bold step to encourage intervention to halt the slaughter and genocide being perpetrated in Liberia.

Excellencies: Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

The establishment and deployment of ECOMOG represented the first credible attempt at a regional security initiative since the erstwhile OAU attempted with an international African force to intervene in Chad in 1981. The West African operation was generally successful because ECOWAS member States were united in removing armed violence from politics. They wanted peace, security and stability. They recognized that a state of insecurity was completely counterproductive to socio-economic advancement, the main purpose for the establishment of ECOWAS.

Today as it was in Liberia twenty years ago, we call for robust international support for the efforts of ECOWAS to accelerate the political processes in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Niger. We are confident that this conference will produce the desired result and that at the end of this exercise, West Africa and the people of the region will be even more proud of the success of ECOWAS and that the ECOMOG model will be a trademark for West African progress.

Liberia is on the move. After decades of economic mismanagement and fourteen years of brutal civil war, Liberia’s national nightmare is over. The country has been at peace since 2003. Two rounds of free and fair elections in 2005 led to the inauguration of a new government in January 2006. The economy is expanding rapidly with growth accelerating to over 9 percent in 2007. Roads and buildings are being rebuilt, health clinics and schools are re-opening and agricultural production is increasing. The Government is introducing a broad set of policies to foster peace, accelerate reconstruction and development, and build strong systems of governance. There is a long way to go, but Liberia has launched its recovery and is poised for rapid, inclusive and sustainable development in the years to come. On this course, we have embarked on the four pillars Poverty Reduction Strategy which addresses peace & security, Economic Revitalization, Strengthening Governance and Rule of Law, Rehabilitating Infrastructure and delivering basic Social Services. We are grateful for the all round support from our West African, American, European, and Asian nations; the United Nations and the entire international community. I now have the honor and pleasure to declare the conference open and wish you all fruitful and rewarding deliberations.

Thank you. God Bless you, God bless Liberia and God Bless West Africa.

Pres. Attah Mills Contributes US$10,000 to Clinic Projact in Liberia

Ghanaian Ambassador Ground for the $265, 000 Project

By: J. Baitermeayea Hilton II/
Cell 077219227


The Ghanaian community and Descendants Union in Liberia has broken grounds for the construction of an eighteen bedroom clinic in the Logan Town Community on the Bushrod Island.

The clinic, according to insiders, costs $265, 000 covering the inclusion of laboratory facilities, doctors’ quarter and other medical equipments. Already, the President John Attah Mills has contributed US$190,000 towards the project, the Ghanaian Community and Descendants Union in Liberia, Sam Ashley told the NEW VISION. He along With Ghanaians Ambassador to Liberia, Kenneth Asare Bosompem, has broken grounds for the construction of the clinic.

Mr. Ashley confirmed that the clinic, when constructed, would include a laboratory, doctors’ quarter and other modern medical facilities. The Ghanaian Community President said for the past four years the Ghanaian community have been planning to construct a modern health facility as a way of helping Liberia’s Health Sector, following years of civil unrest in Liberia which has damaged the Health infrastructures and development of the country.

Mr. Ashley pointed out that the clinic project is also intended to assist residents of Logan town and its surrounding communities who were gravely affected during the 14 years of civil conflict. Ashley said due to the lack of Health facility and medical supplies in the community, residents were taken in wheel barrows to the only government hospital near the area, the Redemption to seek medical attention, in the event of serious health attacks.

On their way to the hospital in some instances, Ashley said the sick people died on the way or give up the ghost upon arrival. Mr. Ashley told this paper on Saturday during the ground breaking ceremony program that the clinic will help to reduce the many health problems and the number of sicknesses in the community and amongst the vast majority of people living on the Bushrod Island.
He furthered that the initiative will also cement the long standing brotherly relations between the two countries, indicating that when the clinic is completed it will serve both Liberians and Ghanaian.

Performing the ground breaking ceremony, the Ghanaian Ambassador Kenneth Assure Bosomed praised the Ghanaian community for clinic project. Ambassador Bosompem described the initiative as important to the health and survival of the people on the entire Bushrod Island region. The Ghanaian envoy also promised his financial and moral supports, saying he is committed to seeing the clinic project’s start and final completion before his turner can expire in Liberia. The Ambassador said further said the decision to construct a community clinic is an attestation that the residents have valued their health, adding that Health is wealth.

Ambassador Bosompem lauded President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for the level of friendship and cooperation subsisting between Liberia and Ghana, wishing that these friendly ties continue to flourish among peoples of the two countries.

Meanwhile, Ghanaian Ambassador Bosompem made a contribution of 500 USD towards the project and admonished residents of Logan town and its environs to work towards the completion and success of the clinic project.

Also speaking at the program was the commissioner of the Township of Garworlohn on the Bushrof Island in Monrovia, Madam Willametta Gooding Carlos, who commended the Ghanaian community in Liberia for the bold step taken to build a community clinic in the area. The Commission reasoned that the clinic would help to alleviate the many health problems that the people of Liberia are faced with in the country. She said the project is a good move by the visionary people of Ghana resident in Liberia, who have the dream of the construction such the clinic.

Commissioner Carlos also urged the residents of the areas to take great interest in supporting the project with all their little resources for the construction of the US$265,000 clinic.

PYJ Starts to Campaign for Presidency


…As NEC Clears NDUP to Canvass for Members

Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) has authorized the proposed National Democratic Union of Progress Party (NDUP) of Senator Prince Johnson to canvass for membership in Liberia.

The former leader of the defunct Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) threw his bid into the ring of the 2011 presidential contest of Liberia after President Ellen Johnson announced a second term during the State of the Nation address to the National Legislature on the second working Monday of January.

In a letter, NEC mandated the proposed National Democratic Union of Progress to seek 500 members each in six of the country’s 15 counties. The authorization is part of a requirement to ensure the registration of Senator Johnson’s party as a full fledged political institution in Liberia.

At a mass rally Saturday, Senator Johnson told his followers, the authorization marked the beginning of a victory battle for his party will win. He urged his followers not to be deterred by the misrepresentations of his character, declaring he is the Jacob Zuma of Liberia.

The Nimba Senator said his decision to contest the 2011 Presidency is to rescue Liberians from the ‘bondage of political and economic prison’.

Meanwhile, an executive member of Senator Prince Johnson’s proposed National Democratic Union of Progress Party has reported an attack on his home.

Former Nimba County lawmaker Benedict Bartuah said 15 men armed with AK-47 riffles broke into his house early Monday morning and raped his daughter. Mr. Bartuah said the men told his nineteen year old daughter to take responsibility for whatever they had planned to do to her father.

Mr. Batuah said he had gone to a relative’s house on the Old Road after an interaction with Senator Prince Johnson on Sunday when the men attacked. He believes the armed men had gone to his house for what he called political assassination.

Mr. Bartuah who claims to also be the Chairman of the Nimba Branch of the proposed NDUP said all attempts to contact the police or UN security failed. Although he claims to have nearly thirty-two years of military experience, Mr. Bartuah said he was still nervous and called on the government for protection.

Despite Massive International Support: Problem Sighted for 2011


Fromoyan Sees Threshold Passage A Prerequisite to Elections

The Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Cllr. James Fromayan says the prerequisite to the conduct of the 2011 elections is the passage of the Threshold Bill which is still languishing at the National Legislature; reports Bill K. Jarkloh.

The NEC boss indicated that his commission is mindful of the challenges facing the commission. “Some of these challenges include constituency delimitation; a comprehensive voter registration and the conduct of the 2011 presidential and Legislative Elections,” he told the audience that has gathered at the turning over ceremony of a new headquarters of the NEC in Sinkor, Monrovia.

“It is a pity that close to two years now we are still at square one with respect to the Threshold bill, I honestly do not see how the NEC can be expected to conduct a national referendum to address key constitutional issues under severe time constraint.” Mr. Fromayan, indicated further.

He said election requires massive planning and time is an essential factor noting that the commission cannot perform miracle. The construction of the NEC headquarters is a result of a US$2 million grant provided to the commission by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The modern building will provide offices for NEC staff, foreign observers and the media. It is the first time since 1847 that the NEC has its own headquarters in which to operate. USAID-IFES Announce New Support to NEC

In essence, Mr. Fromoyan has been contending on a referendum before 2011 polling possibility. At the end of last year, the NEC Chairman released a statement in said earlier plans by the National Elections Commission (NEC) to conduct a national referendum, before running into the 2011 general and presidential elections, has been thwarted.

NEC had intended to hold the referendum to make some "important changes" in the Liberian Constitution, indented to make the electioneering process less burdensome, which would eventually cut down an astronomical overhanging cost.

The National Political officer of NEC, Joseph A. Yarsiah at the time told the Truth FM, a popular radio station in Monrovia, Tuesday morning that the Commission can no longer hold the planned referendum due to the "unwarranted delay" in the passage of the threshold bill by the National Legislature.

The threshold and other electoral bills have been before the National Legislature for nearly two years, but they have failed to pass it, despite incessant local and diplomatic calls. NEC has repeatedly warned that failure of the Legislature to pass the threshold bill on time will seriously hamper the conduct of pending elections-considered all-Liberian-affair elections.

Article 80 (d) of the Liberian Constitution mandates the National Legislature to set a new threshold (number of persons that constitutes an electoral constituency) immediately after the conduct of a national census provided that the total number of constituencies in the republic does not exceed 100.

"We thought by now constituencies would have been set in place, voter's registration on course, and probably a national referendum..., but all of these are held by the unwarranted delay of the thresholds bill by the National Legislature," Mr. Yarsiah sounded frustrated yesterday.

He said a study by NEC found out that the 2005 voter's registration was to some extent non-inclusive, and NEC had designed programs to address this problem and many others before the 2011 polls, but these efforts are being frustrated.

The referendum, Yarsiah added, it requires at least one year (about 18 months) conducting a referendum, and with a year left to go, it has become impossible to hold a referendum even if the bill was passed now. This is indicative that elections could be delayed beyond 2011 if corrective measures are not taken in the direction of the Threshold legislation.

The bill was passed on two occasions but was vetoed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The referendum is intended to change the constitutional provision of "absolute majority" to win an elective post.

Absolute majority means that a candidate must attain 50% +1 vote in any election to be declared winner, otherwise a runoff-as witnessed in the recent Montserrado County Senatorial by-election-is scheduled in two weeks.

Senate Pro Tempore Cletus S. Wotorson recently lashed at NEC and others who say the 2011 elections are tied to the threshold bill, describing the claim as "untrue". He said 'no one will pull the Legislature by its nose or force the august body to act or not to act on the controversial bill'.

Electoral officials and experts have opined that credible elections can not be held without a defined threshold, for doing so would render electoral result unconstitutional. At Present, Liberia’s current population of the country at 3.4 million, the threshold of stands 20,000 in spite of the population growth from 2.5 million to 3.4 million.

On the other hand, there is no provision and reason for special elections as was done in the past as was occasioned by the transition from war to peace, especially when the full force of the Constitution is being employed as of January 16, 2006 when President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took office.

The National Legislature few months ago passed threshold bill, setting the threshold at 40,000, but with a condition that no county gets less that two seats. President Sirleaf vetoed the bill on grounds that it had "condition" attached, and recommended the Legislature to increase the threshold to at least 45,000. The House has since acted on the vetoed bill, removing the "condition", but keeping it at 40,000 with two representatives each county across the board, which was again vetoed by the Present.

The Threshold Bill is presently stranded before the National Legislature after the second veto, a situation which has influence the statement of the NEC chairman during the turning over of the new NEC Headquarters.

Prior to the turning over of the, Frank Vassallo, Director of the Liberian office of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), said there although there are steps to be taken regarding voters' registration, the transportation and delivery of ballot boxes, training, office space, equipment and other logistics amongst others but noted that the delay has not stopped the National Elections Commission from doing its planning; it has been plodding on and has done some excellent work.

Mr. Vassallo told a local outlet that already, there is a voter's registration expert in the country who has begun the groundwork for that part of the process. Liberians cannot ask anything more of this Commission.”

The head of IFES was addressing himself to questions raised about the smallness of offices built by his organization in southeastern Liberia, especially, those in Grand Kru, Zwedru, and River Gee, as compared to those they built in Lofa and Bopolo.

Most lacked a conference room, training space, storage (for ballot boxes, etc.) and bathroom facilities, among other things. Just back from a tour of the southeast, NEC Chairman James Fromoyan agreed that an earlier group of IFES operators might not have used the funds (provided by USAID) wisely in their bid to get that set of offices in place for an earlier election.

He hoped that something else could be done to correct the situation concerning the offices mentioned above as well as a few others with some special needs.
IFES, through Country Director Vassallo and his deputy Jared Hayes, pointed out that their mandate involves mainly logistics and technical support and are prevented from engaging in rebuilding or expanding structures. However, they promised to do all they could in mobilizing some extra funds from either UNDP or USAID to help expand or rebuild the offices mention, in time for the upcoming 2011 elections.

Recently, United States Aid for International Development (USAID and the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) have announced new support for Liberia's National Elections Commission.

USAID-Liberia has awarded a five-year US$17.5 million grant to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) for the conduct of the 2011 Liberian residential and general elections and beyond to 2014. The grant will support programs whose overall goal will be to build sustained election management capacity and operations in Liberia.

The programs will consist of multiple types of support to Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) to conduct complex election-related exercises such as setting constituency boundaries according to the 2008 population census, conducting referenda on constitutional and electoral laws, voter registration, and civic education over the next couple years leading up to 2011.

The new programs also include comprehensive capacity-building for all NEC officials in every department, including the 19 electoral magistrate offices throughout Liberia. This award affirms US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's announcement of support for the NEC during her recent visit to Liberia.