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 The
Liberian Embassy Independence Day Statement Delivered By Aaron
Kollie
The Liberian Association of Metropolitan Atlanta (LAMA) celebrated
Liberia's 154th Independence Anniversary on Saturday, July 28.
The activities of the day included a Town Hall Panel Discussion
with the theme: "Settling Our Liberian Palaver: In Search
of a New Vision." Serving as panelists at the Town Hall
discussion were: Dr. Sakui W. G. Malakpa, a Liberian educator,
of the University of Toledo; Mr. D. Conmany Wesseh, Executive
Director, Center for Democratic Empowerment (CEDE); Mr. Aaron
B. Kollie, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Liberian Embbasy in
Washington, DC; Dr. Marcus Dahn of the Movement of Democratic
Change in Liberia; and Mr. Mathu Gibson of Liberia Contemporees
United Patriotic & Strong. Click the link above for the full
text of the statement delivered by Aaron B. Kollie - representative
of the Liberian government at the Town Hall Discussion:
Liberia is a Victim of a "well-contrived
International Conspiracy," Says Kollie
Addressing a Town Hall meeting organized by the Liberian Community
Association of Metropolitan Atlanta (LAMA), on Saturday, July
28, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia in commemoration of Liberia's Independence
Day, Mr. Aaron B. Kollie, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy
of Liberia in Washington, DC, presented what amounts to a Liberian
government position on the crisis in Sierra Leone and the West
African sub-region, recently imposed UN sanctions on Liberia,
reconciliation, and a host of other issues in which the government
has been embroiled. He said Liberia is a victim of a "well-contrived
International Conspiracy."
Sinoe County
Association Holds Second National Convention
Professor Edmund Nah Kloh of Langston University in Oklahoma,
and Zac Taylor Major - the latter a former student of the professor
is president of the Sinoe County Association in the Americas.
Both of them seemed to be riding on the same plane when they
spoke about unity, and the dire need to rebuild and revitalize
basic services in their county. Citizens of that county came
from almost all areas of the United States and met in Charlotte,
North Carolina during the week of July 13 -16, 2001, to discuss
issues affecting Sinoe County.
Liberian
Children's Health At Risk
The state of health of Liberian children ranks among the worst
in the world, says UN Report. This statement came as a result
of a study released last Friday by the United Nations at the
close of a three-day national symposium on improving Child Well-being.
Liberia - The
Meaning Of Independence
Like many nations around the world, the Republic of Liberia,
in West Africa, this past July 26, observed its 154th "independence"
anniversary. For many nations, this is the most appropriate time
to pause, seriously, and think (or rethink) about their present
course in relation to the past.
Soccer,
Nationalism and Political Crisis
The on-going saga of the Liberian football is an interesting
one and I am tempted to look at the whole issue from another
perspective. Not long ago, the Lone Stars lost by a goal to Ghana.
ULAA Issues
Independence Day Statement
The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) extends
hearty congratulations to all Liberians at home and abroad on
the 154th anniversary of our national hegemony and declaration
of political independence.
Happy
Birthday, Liberia!
Liberia celebrates this week its 154th independence anniversary.
This calls for celebration. The very existence of Liberia as
an independent state in the midst of colonial conquest of the
rest of Africa by French, British and Portuguese must be seen
as a miracle.
Weah's Security
Not Guaranteed, Says Nigerian Official
The build-up to the Nigeria VS Ghana match this Saturday, July
29, in Port Harcout, Nigeria, which determines who qualifies
in Zone B for the 2002 World Cup tournament in Korea/Japan is
generating intense passions in communities of African football
lovers.
HIV/AIDS Global
Trust Fund: A Proposed Organizational Structure
In an earlier article in the Foreign Policy in Focus Journal,
we had argued for an efficient and equitable governance structure
for the proposed HIV/AIDS Global Trust Fund.
Taylor Grants "Clemency"
to Three Krahn Prisoners
Liberian history is replete with stories of how Liberian rulers
treat opposition politicians who differ with them or who prefer
not to shut their mouths. The opponents are either murdered,
charged with treason, imprisoned for time indefinite, or chased
out of the country. S. David Coleman, Henry B. Fahnbulleh, Didho
Twe, and S. Raymond Horace are examples of these practices during
the reign of the late President William V. S. Tubman, the mentor
of President Charles Taylor.
 Arms
Proliferation Increases Repression
The proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Africa and
other third world countries have been eminently stamped as channel
that increases repression and the capacity by which those who
govern repressively become more repressive against their civilian
populations.
The Poor Credit
Performance of Commercial Banks
A country's financial system, including its banking institutions,
is the oil that greases the engines of its economic growth. Banks
provide the vital function of mobilizing savings from those who
have it and allocating such savings to those who wish to borrow
to invest in economic development.
Liberian Journalist
Decries Press Clampdown
A Liberian journalist, Ms. Musue Noha Haddad, currently a Hubert
Humphrey fellow, has spoken about the difficulties journalists
encounter in Taylor's Liberia. Ms. Haddad is a journalist from
The News newspaper in Liberia and a contributor
to this newsmagazine.
What to Make
of the New African Union?
Recently, the Organization of African Unity heads of state announced
the changing of the organization's name to African Union, yet
its principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of
member states remains in tact, a move that can be easily categorized
as old wine in new bottle.
The Liberian Community
of Washington DC Reacts to MICAT Press Release
Liberia's Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, & Tourism
(MICAT) recently issued a press release in which the ministry
said that the Chairman of the Liberian Community Association
of the Washington, DC, area stated in an interview during his
visit to Liberia that the dissident forces fighting the Liberia
government in Lofa county were being bankrolled by Liberians
in the United States.
LAMA Plans Independence
Day Activities
As Liberia continues to remain embroiled in crisis and caught
in the throes of stagnancy, Liberians in the Diaspora continue
to maintain a tradition of commemorating their country's independence
day in spite of the fact that there is nothing to celebrate about.
Danish Timber Trader's
Links Exposed
A Danish-owned corporation - a major exporter of logs to Europe
- Dalhoff Larsen and Horneman (DLH), has been called upon to
stop dealing with Liberian logging companies implicated by the
United Nations in arms trafficking.
George "Oppong"
Weah Delivers... Yet Again!
Just a fortnight ago, we expressed in the strongest language
possible, our anger and outrage about the way in which our "beloved"
Lone Star and particularly its star striker, George "Oppong"
Weah, were treated by a group of so-called "frustrated"
Liberian soccer fans following their country's 2 - 1 defeat to
Ghana's Black Stars on July 1 in Monrovia.
Liberia
Still Eyes World Cup
Liberia has once again shown its competitive streak when it defeated
the "Leone Stars" of Sierra Leone by 1 - 0 on Saturday,
July 14,2001, in Freetown. Liberia's defeat of Sierra Leone makes
her a leading contender once again in Group B with Nigeria, Sudan
and Ghana.
Hint to the Wise....
Observers of Liberian politics may have read two news items in
the past two or three days. The first one to surface was a press
release by the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas
(ALJA). With its customary brilliance and nonpartisanship, the
Liberian journalists put forward a series of recommendations
to advance the cause of peace in Liberia.
Liberia's
Lone Star - For Love Of Country
As Liberia continues to struggle daily with its many problems,
some of which have now become very chronic, Liberians from all
walks of life would be challenged from time to time to make whatever
sacrifices they could to pull their country through one of its
most difficult periods.
Milosevic Arrest:
A Dictator's Nightmare
In a rapidly changing world, the rights of humankind and the
sanctity of mankind is not only interwoven and inseparable, but
are the cornerstones of what the world expects of those who shall
govern it. The old millennium was noted for its pogroms, holocaust,
genocide and mass killing, but the new millennium seems destined
to end thess horrible human tragedies and create a better world.
"The
News" Newspaper Suspends Publication
One of Liberia's independent daily newspapers, The News,
is reported to have suspended its publication for an unspecified
and indefinite period of time. The decision to suspend publication
was taken by its Board of Directors. The news of the paper's
suspension was greeted with dismay by the editorial staff since
there had been no prior or advance notice given the staff.
Is President
Taylor Ready for Reconciliation?
It has recently been reported that Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh has
been making efforts to bring about reconciliation between Mr.
Taylor and opposition politicians and former factional leaders
in the Diaspora. This initiative launched by the former presidential
candidate of the Liberian People's Party may sound good and Dr.
Tipoteh must be commended for trying.
ALJA Makes
Peace Proposals for War-Torn Liberia
We, the Officers and Members of the Association of Liberian Journalists
in the Americas (ALJA), are becoming increasingly alarmed that
Liberia is drifting back into another round of brutal and bloody
civil war, as fighting between government and rebel forces spreads
from Liberia's northern territory of Lofa.
Liberian Refugees are
not Dangerous
According to the July 3, 2001, issue of This Day, a Nigerian
paper, Nuhu Ibrahim uttered some incredulous remarks after a
courtesy visit with President Olusegon Obasanjo in Abuja. The
paper quoted Nuhu as saying that "some West African leaders
habour sinister motives against Nigeria in spite of the posture
of the government to promote peaceful co-existence and harmony
in the sub-region."
Liberia's Love
for Soccer is its Silver Lining
Of its many pastimes, soccer has always been not only near and
dear, but has served as a rallying point and center of gravity
for bringing Liberians from all walks of life together. Other
less popular sports such as basketball, tennis, volleyball and
kickball for women, have been important but soccer has been the
"people's sport."
West African
talks at the White House: The Ghost of Charles Taylor
As the presidents of Mali, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria met with
Mr. George W. Bush to discuss the future of the sub-region and
tackle issues such as democratization, regional integration and
security, the name of one man might have and should have come
up over and over again.
MICAT: The Perils
of a "State-Run" Media Institution
In April of 1998, The Perspective in an editorial captioned:
"The Need For A Fresh Start" advanced a set of proposals,
which the editorial board believed, was appropriate to streamline
the bloated Liberian bureaucracy that existed before the civil
conflict. The Perspective called on President Taylor to
take advantage of the collapse administrative structure made
possible by the civil war by eliminating and consolidating certain
ministries.
Five Principles
of Good Governance
Liberia today is a country with all the superficial trappings
of a nation state. It has a flag; a national anthem; a constitution
guaranteeing all the familiar rights and freedoms typical of
a modern, democratic state; a republican form of government patterned
after the United States, with an Executive headed by a popularly
elected president, a bicameral Legislature, and a Supreme Court,
each branch of government designed to provide a check on the
other. It is a member of many international organizations, including
ECOWAS, the OAU the United Nations.
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