Bryant to Settle Confusion at the Liberian Embassy in Washington Soon
On December 10, 2003, Abdoulaye Dukule wrote an article about the prevailing confusion at the Liberian embassy in Washington DC. He reported that, according to Aaron Kollie, Abdullah Dunbar was recalled by the Taylor government in May or June of 2003 but refused to go to Monrovia. After the departure of Taylor Mr. Dunbar traveled to Liberia at which time he was made chargé d'affaires at the embassy. We later learned that Deputy Minister Mr. Abel Massaley gave Mr. Dunbar two letters: one appointing him as the chargé d’affaires at the embassy and the other letter recalling Aaron Kollie.

An Appeal To Fellow Liberians At Home And Abroad
(A Statement Issued by Former Vice President Harry F. Moniba) Fellow citizens, about three months ago, our country installed another interim administration in keeping with the Accra Agreement that called for the establishment of a two-year transitional government to be headed by Chairman Gyude Bryant and Vice Chairman Wesley Johnson.

NTGL’s Chairman Charles Gyude Bryant visits the United States
Full-scale preparations have begun for the visit of NTGL Chairman C. Gyude Bryant to the United States for the pending Donors Conference slated to convene in New York from February 5-6.

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Rebels Must Not Be Allowed To Sabotage The Peace Process
(By Simon Reeves)
The recent call by rebels for the replacement of Chairman Gyude Bryant is yet another indication of their desire to prolong the suffering of the Liberian people. This call is timed to undermine the efforts of well-meaning Liberians and our international friends. It is geared toward creating doubts in the minds of our international partners and weakening their resolve to help Liberians out of this national darkness.

ULAA’s President Condemns LURD and MODEL
(By Winsley S. Nanka)
The president of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas has condemned LURD and MODEL for calling for the removal of Liberian Interim Chairman Gyude Bryant barely four months after his appointment by the two rebel groups and the remnants of the Taylor regime in Accra, Ghana. Charles Gyude Bryant was the choice of the rebels over veteran Liberian politicians Togba Nah Tipoteh and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf at the conclusion of the Accra Peace conference that ended the Liberian civil war.

Agnes Reeves-Taylor Responds to Pajibo’s "All Eyes on the Prize"
(A Letter by Agnes Reeves-Taylor)
I noticed in your story "All Eyes on the Prize" that you mentioned that the Former Government of the Liberia was calling on Chairman Bryant to maintain one of the several wives of the exiled leader as a paid employee at the Bureau of Maritime Affairs.

The Abukedee Mentality
(By Siahyonkron Nyanseor)
"Acres of Diamonds" is an old ancient tale made famous by Russell H. Conwell, the founder of Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Acres of Diamonds" is similar to an African proverb that says, "You have a sea in your backyard, you don’t have to wash your hands with saliva". Rev. Conwell used the "Acres of Diamonds" story as part of his lecture series to raise funds for the school.

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Gyude Bryant

Chairman Gyude Bryant to be Replaced?
By: Josephus Moses Gray
The two rebel groups-Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for democracy in Liberia (MODEL) on January 26 issued a major statement in Monrovia in which they called for the immediate removal and replacement of the country's leader, Chairman Gyude Bryant.

All Eyes on the Prize
(By: Ezekiel Pajibo)
The February 4-5, Donor Conference to be convened in New York continues to invite silence from civil society organizations. The reasons are not at all discernible to me but there have been a number of emerging issues, which need to be examined and responded to especially during this time in our history when we really do have an opportunity to recreate the Liberian State. What are the issues?

Experts: Vicious worm 'Linux war' weapon (CNN)
Anti-virus vendor: One in 12 e-mails infected
A sneaky e-mail worm continued to clog Internet traffic Tuesday, spreading faster than previous Web bugs by appearing as an innocuous error message.

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LIBERIA: Rebel factions want transitional leader replaced (IRIN)
The leaders of the two rebel factions in Liberia issued a joint statement on Monday calling for the immediate replacement of Gyude Bryant as the head of Liberia's three-month-old transitional government. They did not say who should replace him.

Liberia Need Bold and Confident Leaders
(By: Ezekiel Pajibo)
I have a confession to make. I am a news junkie and so on January 20 I went home early and got an early sleep so that I could be up around 1:00 A.M. in order to hear President George Bush State of the Union Address to the United States Congress. I am not at liberty to discuss my analysis of the speech but I can say that the language he used, his cadence, his intonation and presentation, his unequivocal demands and his assertiveness were indeed bold and confident. So I was led to wonder where are Liberia’s bold and confident leaders who can be definitive in what they believe, how they would translate those beliefs into public policy and what the anticipated positive impact would be on the general welfare of the Liberian people?

Quick Dialogue - A Sound Decision
(By G. Aagon Linford)
The rift within the rank and file of the rebel LURD has serious propensity to impede the already delayed D&D Programs in Liberia. There are eminent signs that the leadership crisis could have a backlash on the peace efforts. The sudden change in leadership in LURD does not augur well for both the group and other factions who are signatories to the Accra Accord, the bedrock for the process peace in Liberia.

Liberia's Interim Leader Marks 100 Days in Office (The Inquirer)
Liberia's interim leader, Gyude Bryant, has marked his first 100 days in office, saying Wednesday that whatever force is necessary will be used to make sure that peace is irreversible. Speaking to local journalists from the executive mansion in the capital, Monrovia, Mr. Bryant said he would deal firmly with any threat to the Liberian peace process.

More Liberians Returning to Their Homes (The Inquirer)
The acting humanitarian coordinator of the United Nations in Liberia has called for a quick response to address the humanitarian needs of thousands of war-weary Liberians who were returning from the bush in search of relief assistance.

Liberian Soccer Star Appeals to Warlords to Release Child Soldiers (IRIN)
Liberian international soccer star and UNICEF goodwill ambassador George Oppong Weah said on Thursday he would personally appeal to the leaders of the country's three armed factions to release an estimated 15,000 child soldiers serving in their ranks.

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The Way Forward In The Job Market
(By Leon Ledlum)
We have over the years concentrated on political issues, with very little attention on the economy of our nation. We all know why that has been the case, and I, therefore, would not attempt to justify or criticize it. My attempt with this piece, is to bring to the open, my view as it relates to Liberians' direct efforts in helping with the reconstruction of our beloved nation.

Liberia, Journey Towards Reconstruction: Part 1 (Postal Services Revitalization)
(By: George D. Yuoh)
There is an old saying that, "it is very easy to destroy, but very difficult to rebuild". This statement holds true for every aspect of life; be it mental capacity, physical infrastructures, or even the way of life of a people. Now that there are signs, though not very credible, that we are passing the destructive stage of our 14 years saga, we must now start to think about reconstruction and revitalization of every aspect of Liberia. The very sickening and inexplicable level of destruction brought down on our country by people who call themselves Liberians, ranks among the worst kind of carnage experienced anywhere else in recent world history.

Nationwide DDRR Information Campaign Launched (The Inquirer)
A nationwide campaign to inform commanders, combatants and communities about the disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration (DDRR) program was launched yesterday in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, headquarters town of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), located 50 kilometres northwest of Monrovia.

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The Need for Bureaucratic Reform In Liberia
(By John F. Josiah)
The concept of good governance is very much inter-linked with Institutional efficiency. Institutional efficiency is the hallmark for Public Service Management. With Public Service Management, government machinery becomes cost effective and performance oriented.

"The Guns are in the Bushes": Continuing Abuses in Liberia (Human Rights Watch Briefing Paper)
Despite significant changes in the political environment over the past six months, most notably the August 2003 signing of a peace agreement, the departure into exile of president Charles Taylor and the establishment of a newly-mandated United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping mission, the plight of civilians in Liberia remains dire. The deployment of West African forces followed by the first tranche of a 15,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force brought relative peace and stability to the capital, Monrovia. However, in most of the country outside Monrovia, where the peacekeepers only recently started to deploy, former government forces, and both rebel factions, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) continue to commit egregious violations of international humanitarian law against civilians

Africa, African-Americans and American Politics
(By: Joseph G. Bartuah)
Once again the quadrennial political pendulum has begun to swing across the United States, as Americans exercise their enviable power conferred on them by their time-tested constitution. So far, all eyes have been anxiously focused on Iowa where the eight contenders for the Democratic Party are hoping to gain some political leverage after the January 19th caucus in that state. This will be followed by the well-publicized New Hampshire primary, which will, to some extent, set the process in focus.

JPC Issues 2003 Human Rights Report
It is exactly one year today since, in keeping with our institutional mandate, we published our annual human rights situation report on Liberia for the year 2002. This exercise, which constitutes an integral part of the Commission's overall activities, is fundamentally intended to bring to the attention of the Liberian Government and its relevant functionaries concerned with the promotion and protection of human rights, rule of law and democracy their inadequacies as well as omission and commission in the execution of this sacred responsibility in the hope that that they would take corrective measures and improve on their performance.

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Holding Public Officials Morally Accountable
The undersigned organization observes with gratitude that the people of Liberia are experiencing the initial and tentative steps towards re-establishing peace and institutionalizing democracy in Liberia. The recent inauguration of the Interim Government and the manifested commitment of the international community to work with the Liberian people to resolve the dysfunctions of Liberia are encouraging for the long suffering people of Liberia.

The Impact of Politics and Neglect on the Delivery of Health Care Services in Liberia 
(A Presentation By Siahyonkron Nyanseor)
Recently, when I was asked by the organizing committee of the International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA) - USA to make a presentation regarding the Health Delivery System of Liberia, I asked myself whether such a system exists in Liberia.  If so, how did it function in the past and how does it function today? The answer I arrived at was not encouraging. Based on my findings, I decided to probe further in order to find out the reason why most African nations, more especially Liberia, have not made health care delivery a number one priority?

The Pending Donors Conference On Liberia - What Is At Stake?
(By G. Aagon Linford)
The slow pace of the of the Disarmament and Demobilization programs in Liberia could deny the country the most needed help from donors. The donor countries and organization are demanding the total and comprehensive disarmament and demobilization of all warring factions before any financial assistance to Liberia. As Chairman Bryant prepares a high-level Liberian Government delegation for the pending Donors Conference on Liberia scheduled to be held in New York early February

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Soccer Hero Woos Child Soldiers BBC
Amid tumultuous scenes, the star footballer George Weah arrived home in Liberia on Tuesday to campaign for the disarmament of child soldiers. The former Chelsea and AC Milan player - once seen as the world's best centre forward - is now a goodwill ambassador for the UN's children's charity Unicef.

Liberia's Troubled Disarmament Process
(Nim'ne E. Mombo)
The Liberian disarmament program has been plagued by a number of unexpected problems. By and large these problems appear to have resulted from inadequate preparation and even possibly a lack of the requisite expertise/experience. Below is an outline of the relevant issues along with helpful suggestions for corrective measures:

Lovebirds in the Buckeye State
(By: Theodore Hodge)
I have known Joe Blow for a very long time. When I was a student at T.R. Andrews Elementary School in Gedetarbo, he was an accomplished soccer star at Bishop Ferguson High School and a star player on the Maryland County team. His popularity extended way beyond Harper, he was popular around the country (at least in name) because he had demonstrated his soccer prowess while playing in yearly soccer tournaments in Monrovia - the county league.

China Promises 600 peacekeepers For Liberia (The Inquirer)
A prominent member of the United Nations has vowed to continue efforts that would promote the peace process in the country. The People's Republic of China says it will play an active role to promote peace in Liberia at the United Nations level and will not in the too distant future dispatch a record of 600 strong peace-keeping force to participate in UNMIL.

Donors Want Total Disarmament Before Financial Assistance For Liberia (The Inquirer)
International donors that are expected to provide technical and financial assistance to the country at next month's donors conference, have reportedly set a number of conditions for assistance to the country's reconstruction process.

Italian Catholic Peace Delegation, Mano River Relief Assess Plight of IDPs (The Inquirer)
A joint delegation from a sub-regional based humanitarian, relief and developmental group, the Mano River Relief and Development Network (MRRDN) a two-man high power delegation from the Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome, Italy, recently paid a one-day working visit to two internally displaced centers near Monrovia to assess the worsening humanitarian situation facing the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs.)

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The Donors Conference Delegates Row
(By Gbe Sneh)
The latest row between the Legislative and the Executive branches over the selection of the delegation to the Donors Conference marks the dawn of a new day in the life of "democracy" in our land. Even if it means that members of the lawmakers have rejected some names in favor of those within their ranks, howbeit former factional bosses to be rewarded a "cool-off" paid vacation, we could be seeing the death of the old "rubber-stamp" Legislature. Since when did we experience the exercise of "checks and balances" among the three branches of government? Good or bad, folks, we have to hail the essence of democracy embedded in this current exercise. Could we be on the road to democracy, finally?

Let's Hail The King: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
(By Alex Redd)
The American society is becoming more culturally diversified after years of racial discrimination and social injustice. Violence and racial segregation in transportation facilities, public accommodations, hiring practices and voting rights characterized past centuries. There were stringent laws in some states barring colored people from many activities.

Gyude Bryant

Chairman Bryant Carrying 32-Man Delegation to New York, But... (The Inquirer)
Assembly (NTLA), during last week session sharply disagreed with the composition and size of the GOL's delegation to attend the February Donors Conference in New York. Speaking in disagreement of Chairman Bryant's delegation in yesterday's plenary, the vote of 55 NTLA members called for the reduction of the 32-member delegation to twenty.

Chairman Bryant Reconstitutes University Board Of Trustees (The Inquirer)
The Chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL), C. Gyude Bryant has approved a four-court recommendation of a committee constituted recently to probe into complaints levied against the University of Liberia President, Dr. Ben Roberts.

Disarmament In Liberia Posponed Again (The Inquirer)
Following a meeting of the leadership of LURD, MODEL and ex-GOL, UNMIL, the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) and the National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (NCDDRR), on Friday at UNMIL Force Headquarters, the following agreements were reached:

Amnesty Wants Perpetrators in Liberia Brought to Book (The Inquirer)
Amnesty International is calling on the International Community including the UN Security Council to explicitly state to the National Transitional Government of Liberia that there can be no impunity for crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law.

Baltimore Prepares "Red Carpet" for Chairman Bryant's Visit
In an administrative notice issued on January 15, 2004, by Dr. Judy Orlinsky, Director of International Affairs, a cabinet of Baltimore's Mayor Martin O'Malley, the City of Baltimore was alerted to the up-coming visit of Liberia's "New Interim President", Gyude Bryant to the City of Baltimore on the 10th of February. "Obviously, this would be a red carpet visit of high importance", the notice asserted.

Liberian Newspaper Starts Celebrating anniversary (The Inquirer)
Employees of the independent INQUIRER Newspaper are today wearing blue jeans and while T-shirts to give thanks and praise to God for 13 years of existence as a newspaper. The jeans is to exhibit the level of hard work for which the newspaper has been successful.

"Fans Trouble" Surfaces Again (The Inquirer)
The usual fans disturbance that goes along the quarter finals and semi-finals stages of the Inter-Schools Sports Association Annual Basketball League, is once again raising its ugly head at the open air Sports Commission on Broad Street.

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Liberian Lawmakers Take Chairman Bryant to Task (The Inquirer)
Reports gathered by The INQUIRER and confirmed by some lawmakers, suggest that the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) has been requested by the Executive Mansion to select and submit two of its members to form part of the NTGL delegation to Washington DC, USA to attend the Donor Conference on Liberia

New Chairman of LURD Arrives in Liberia, But... (The Inquirer)
In spite of the weekend maneuvering and declaration that all was now well in the camp of the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy(LURD), an apparent split in the movement seems to have deepened with a call for the total replacement of the leader, Sekou D. Conneh, Jr.

Former Liberian President, Vice President fuss Over Dismissal (The Inquirer)
There appears to be a split within the former GOL relative to the nomination of individuals to its slots in the NTGL and dismissal from such slots. According to a release issued last night, the former GOL as a party to the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement, through its seven man committee to act on behalf of the former hereby calls on the Chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia to reinstate its nominees in persons of Mr. Ramsee Moore, Director of the National Security Agency and Madam Agnes Reeves Taylor, Liberia's Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization(IMO) with immediate effect.

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Africa and its Diaspora: Partnership Issues
(By Chinua Akukwe and Sidi Jammeh)
Africa and its people living outside the continent are united through blood ties, cultural affinity and shared history, and to some extent, a common destiny. Since the forced migration of millions of young and able bodied men, women and children of Africa to work in plantations and other early economic activities of the emerging Western frontier in the Western Hemisphere, the quest to establish strong partnerships and linkages between the same people separated by hundreds of years, oceans or environmental circumstances, have remained unabated, although with minimal degrees of success.

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A War Crimes Tribunal for Liberia
(By Ezekiel Pajibo)
Now that His Excellency Chairman Charles Gyude Bryant has indicated that acts carried out by militia persons in Monrovia are crimes against humanity and could therefore be brought before "a war crimes tribunal", Liberians have found a new recruit in the campaign to create a War Crimes Tribunal for Liberia (WCTL). The Chairman's statement was contained in a number of threats he levied against militia persons who had gone on a protest against the meagre incentive package the United Nations Mission In Liberia (UNMIL) provided to those who showed up to turn in their weapons on December 7, 2003.

Mano River Relief Identifies With 350 Displaced Liberian Children (The Inquirer)
Over 350 vulnerable and IDPs children under the age of ten were on the eve of New Year, recipients of several T-shirts and assorted toys from a United States-based relief and humanitarian organization, the Mano River Relief and Development Network (MRRDN).

Gansler Clears Diplomat's Son (Washington Post)
A Liberian diplomat's son who was among three people arrested on carjacking and robbery charges in Montgomery County will not be prosecuted because police found no evidence linking him to the crimes, authorities said yesterday.

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Rejuvenating the Liberian Economy
(By Ezekiel Pajibo)
From February 3-4 in New York, the international community will be meeting to discuss its role in jump-starting the Liberian economy. The meeting, according to press reports will be chaired by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan and the Secretary of State of the United States of America, General Colin Powell. This is a very important meeting because the contours of the Liberian economy will be discussed and debated. Given that our current government does not represent the vast majority of Liberians, the need to inform the Liberian Government's position at the Donor Conference is compelling.

Privatizing Liberia's public Corporations
(By John F. Josiah)
In a democratic society, the democratic government must be responsive to the changing needs and demands of its citizens, rather than be captive to an inflexible methods of providing social services to its people. For over a century, Liberia has been captive to public sector means of providing certain essential services to its people. This public institutional provision of goods and services has been a miserable failure.

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Liberia to Economically Shine in 2004?
(By Alex Redd )
When an opportunity has been lost, there is often the assumption which is commonly portrayed in the media that Africa is a risky investment. This, in reality, is simply not the case.

The Liberian Environment is in Great Danger - A 911 (Emergency Response Call)
(By Morris Koffa)
Environmental freedom and political liberty are intrinsically linked and holistically in separable. It is the responsibility of governments to simultaneously ensure equal engagement in the fulfillment of these iconoclastic and nationalistic goals. Neglecting one over the other can become dangerously problematic.

Moses Blah

Discontent In The NPP - NSA Director Replaced
The former president of Liberia and one of the key figures of the NPP, Mr. Moses Z. Blah, told local journalists that NPP appointed Assembly man, Sando Johnson of Bomi County, is insane and needs to see a psychiatrist. Mr. Blah promised to pay Johnson's psychiatry bill. The former president further warned Mr. Johnson that he (Blah) is not Archbishop Michael Francis and that the next time Johnson lies on him, he (Johnson) will be dealt with thoroughly.

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Financially Induced Disarmament - Implications for Reflection
(By Brownie J. Samukai)
The process of disarmament and demobilization in Liberia, as it now seems, may be characterized as financially induced disarmament (FID). FID may be characterized as a process by which cash-based incentives are provided to individuals, combatants, and/or armed groups (as part of a settlement) after a civil conflict, or conflict involving the use of war like materials, in order to demilitarize the society. It relies on the assumption of a batter system in which in exchange for combatants' brutal instruments of power, cash-based incentive is seen as the appropriate medium of exchange commodity on the market for peace.

Voluntary Disarmament: Silence Of The Authorities
(By Gbe Sneh)
Why is there silence on the part of the appropriate organs of the peace accord? This is directed at the office of USMIL, the Transitional Government, and the members of the governing council, i.e.. the factional bosses now sitting in the Legislative Branch. Obviously a clear violation of an important segment of the peace accord has occurred.

Club Versus Country: The Challenge For Africa And CAF
(By: George D. Yuoh)
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) in particular, and African football in general, are once again faced with the unending quarrel between European clubs and African countries ahead of this year's African Cup of Nations, scheduled to run from January 24, 2004 to February 14, 2004 in Tunisia. The crust of the chaos which has become even deeper due to the fine performances of African players in the various European leagues over the years, is that these clubs are unwilling to release their prized assets during the crucial point in their leagues...

Sekou Damate Conneh

LURD Dethroned Sekou Damate Conneh (The Inquirer)
The military high command and men and women of the armed forces of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), have issued a resolution removing the Movement's national chairman, Sekou Damateh Conneh as head of the rebel movement.

MODEL's Fighters threaten to go on Rampage (The Inquirer)
In spite of declaring to fully cooperate with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) with respect to the DDRR program and the deployment of the international peacekeepers in its controlled area, all seems not to be well within the camp of the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL).

Marylanders Resolved confusion Over Legislative Slot (The Inquirer)
After months of bickering and confusion over who to represent Maryland County in the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA), citizens of that county have resolved to allow Mr. Samuel T. Wilson to fill the one slot in the assembly.

Swedish Based NGO Constructs School In Liberia For Refugees (The Inquirer)
A school intended to cater to the educational needs of Liberian children especially the less-fortunate in society, is presently being constructed by the Liberia Dujar Association, a Swedish development assistance organization.

Liberian Refugees commend chairman Bryant (The Inquirer)
Liberian refugees in the Sub-region through the Liberia Refugees Network Committee in a press release have welcomed Chairman Gyude Bryant's call for all Liberians to reconcile their differences. "It is our expectation that Liberians show true patriotism and love for Liberia during this new year and avoid personal aggrandizement, vindictiveness, sectionalism, discrimination, social corruption, etc.

Liberia's Justice Ministry Planned Training Program For Attorneys (The Inquirer)
Justice Minister Cllr. Kabineh M. Ja'neh says the Ministry of Justice will shortly organize a training program for County Attorneys and City Solicitors who are trainable. Minister Ja'neh made the remarks yesterday during an acquaintance meeting with County Attorneys and City Solicitors from around the country.

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Overview of African Conflicts
(By Abdoulaye W. Dukulé)
The year 2004 comes with some light of hope for the continent. There are fewer armed conflicts and most existing ones are on a way to be resolved, thanks mostly to combined interventions of African regional organizations and the international community. From Sierra Leone to the Congo, from Ethiopia to Burundi and to the Western Sahara, regional efforts have been supported and seconded by the United Nations, the United States, France and United Kingdom. The negative effects of these conflicts would however linger on for time to come.

LURD's Chairman Plans to Hide Weapons
With two of Liberia's warring factions (LURD & MODEL)being reluctant to disarm to UNMIL, a startling revelation has shown that the head of the leading faction, Sekou Damate Conneh has all along been up to playing tricks in the disarmament process. Long before the U. N. took over the peace keeping mission in Liberia, the LURD Chairman instructed his military high command not to disarm to ECOWAS or the U. N. when the disarmament exercise takes shape. Mr. Sekou Conneh told his men that during the 1997 disarmament of former combatants, Mr. Charles Taylor hid some of his sophisticated weapons, which he had intended to use if he had lost the elections.

Charles Taylor

Why Most African Leaders Like Taylor Failed!
(By James F. Kollie, Jr.)
Greed for wealth, the quest for superiority and the unchecked power to crush opponents are the fundamental reasons why African rulers seek leadership of their countries. These reasons are not exhaustive. The African leadership history is replete with examples of African leaders who grabbed power either through coup, civil wars or even sometimes elections (please don't mistaken my use of election to means democracy because they are totally different and I have my doubts about democracy existing on the continent even though there are numerous elections) and have promised their people freedom, liberation or emancipation just to find out that the real reason is quite different from the nominal reason.

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Some Disturbing Voices Are Arising
(By S. Jabaru Carlon)
During the reign of one of our tyrants in Liberia I frequently cautioned some of my compatriots not to stop others from voicing their opinions; that it was necessary and healthy for us all to speak out about the ills of our society. I reminded them of what my late uncle used to tell us: a big and nagging sore deserves treatment using diverse medications. Liberia seems to be plagued by that old and nagging sore of violence, destruction and doom. And I still insist that we must all speak to it.

Putting to Rest the Matilda Newport Myth - Part 2
(By Siahyonkron Nyanseor)
Part I of this article ended with the natives (African Liberians) running helter skelter "for their lives", as portrayed in the novel written by Prince Massala Reffell, The Black Mayflower, 2000.  Part II will now address whether the Matilda Newport story is true or a myth, and I shall provide my findings on the subject in the conclusion.

Great News For The Fight Against Impunity On The African Continent
Paris, 7 January 2004 - The International federation for human rights (FIDH) is pleased to learn about the establishment of the African court on human and peoples' rights (ACHPR), which marks an historical step in the fight against impunity on the continent.

Can Sitting ULAA Officials Seek National Office In Liberia?
(By Siahyonkron Nyanseor)
Two senior ULAA officials, Mr. Ranney B. Jackson, Sr. Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Mr. Mohammed S. Kromah, National President, resigned their respective positions in ULAA late 2003 to work with the current transitional government in Monrovia. Messrs. Jackson and Kromah officially represented ULAA at the negotiations and signing of the Liberian Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Ghana last August that gave rise to the formation of the transitional government, and neither man resigned while seeking appointments in the transitional government.

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Mohamedu F. Jones

Factional Self-Disarmament May Not Be Good for Liberia
(By Mohamedu F. Jones)
On its face, news reports that factions are "disarming" their fighters appear to be very good for the peace process in Liberia. Disarmament is a core principle of the Peace Agreement; logically, self-disarmament seems like the right thing, especially with the chaotic initiation and then delay in implementing the United Nations disarmament program. On closer look though, "self-disarmament" may not be in the best interest of Liberia. There are several core problems with the so-called self-disarmament that is being undertaken in Liberia:

The Revitalisation Of The Association Of Liberian Students In Nigeria
As the wheel of history turns it becomes increasingly compelling for conscious men to provide the lubricant that keeps the vehicle of progress in action. This vehicle must involve sincere men that will synergize their abilities, positive will and resources inorder to keep active the continuum and to ensure the momentum of their onward drive to progress.

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Individual and Voluntary Disarmament: A Contravention to the Peace Accord
(By Theodore T. Hodge)
According to published reports from IRIN, a United Nations news organ, "...two of the three factions in Liberia said on Friday they had begun disarming their own fighters voluntarily, before the planned resumption of a UN-supervised disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation program this month". According to this report, "General Boi Blejeu Boi, the military commander of the Movement of Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), told IRIN on Friday that his forces had voluntarily disarmed all its fighters in the Sinoe, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties of Southeastern Liberia".

Victoria Sankarlay

SOS Call For A Dying Liberian Child (The Inquirer)
The worried parents of little Victoria Sankarlay, who is in a very critical health condition, are appealing to philanthropists, humanitarian organizations, religious bodies, and all other individuals and organizations to come and assist their daughter get urgent medical attention abroad.

ULAA's New Year's Message
Praises be to God for the strength, blessings and courage to have withstood that which we could not change during the activities of the UNION for 2003. We recognize the relative peaceful atmosphere at home and pay special homage to the departed as they are remembered. Also, we extend our gratitude to the international community for its help in bringing peace to Liberia.

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Envoy's Son Arrested in Carjacking (Washington Post)
The 18-year-old son of a Liberian diplomat was arrested Friday night on charges of carjacking and robbery and then released under diplomatic immunity, Montgomery County police said yesterday.

LIBERIA: Two factions disarm their own fighters, commanders say (IRIN)
Two of the three armed factions in Liberia said on Friday they had begun disarming their own fighters voluntarily, before the planned resumption of a UN-supervised disarmament, demobilisation and dehabilitation programme later this month.

Looking Back At The Year 2003
As we began the year 2003, the pariah regime in Monrovia stepped up its clampdown on the press and human rights defenders. As Hassan Bility, the journalist who had lingered in Taylor's dungeons was released, another journalist, Throuble Suah was severely brutalized by Taylor's dreaded ATU agents. Human-rights defender Aloysius Toe was in prison on flimsy charges. Meanwhile, the shocking murder of Fitzgerald Vampelt (allegedly killed by Chuckie Taylor, the dictator's son) rocked the conscience of the nation.

Happy New Year, Liberia
(By Abdoulaye W. Dukulé)
2003 was a great year, filled with drama and developments of all sorts. For Liberia, it marked the start of a new era, the end of the trauma that besieged this nation for the past two decades of violence and instability. To reach this far, the country slumped to the lowest level of humanity. The explosion of violence in the 1980s and 1990s was symptomatic of a society angry at itself. The compressed anger and frustration blew out, shattering everything that Liberians once depended upon.