Name:Anthony LoganFrom: USA Homepage: Sent: 2/10/2010 5:26:25 AM
Dear Editor,
I express my thanks to you for giving us good information about Liberia and other countries. Your recent article about the arrest of former rebel leader George Boley was right on time. It is time that he and his likes face justice.
I am pleased to present my compliments and acknowledge our government's engagement with her international partners which has resulted to the level of progress that has been obtained thus far in Liberia. I also wish to commend the Legislature for the timely enactment of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission. I strongly believe that this singular enactment will go a long way in aiding our collective fight against the public menace of corruption that is eating every socio-economic, societal and moral fabric of our society.
My Fellow Liberians, I feel nationalistically motivated to draw your kind attention to Article 27 (b) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia. My motivation stems from the election and subsequent inauguration of His Excellency Barack H. Obama, the first African-American to be elected to the Presidency of the United States of America. Article 27 (b) states: “In order to preserve, foster and maintain the positive Liberian culture, value and character, only persons who are Negroes or of Negro descent shall qualify by birth or by naturalization to be citizens of Liberia”.
I feel strongly that this provision promotes and encourages racism. The 11th Edition of the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines racism as “racial prejudice or discrimination”. The reasons for which the Framers of our Constitution inserted the said protective provision is understandable; “to preserve, foster and maintain the positive Liberian culture, value and character”. However, one tends to wonder whether those reasons are consistent with current realities.
You will agree with me that indeed our “culture, value and character” have been ‘invaded’, accepted, practiced and or adopted by some people of non-negro descent. People of non-negro descent do not have any constitutional rights to become citizens; yet, they are allowed to enter into intermarriages with citizens of Liberia. Some of these unions bear children whose fathers or mothers are denied the rights to become citizens of Liberia because of this racial clause. People of non-negro descent are denied the rights to become citizens; yet, they are allowed to engage in investment activities with very huge and lucrative profitable returns. This, in my opinion, encourages “capitol-flight” and is one of the contributing factors leading to the backwardness of our country in terms of technological, infrastructural and other developments. People of non-negro descent are denied the rights to own property (Lands) in Liberia; yet, they are allowed to enter into lease agreements that last beyond a whole life spam and enter into generations. In some cases, some citizens aid these very people of non-negro descent to acquire lands by 'fronting' for them. Moreover, some of these people bear children in our country. Throughout their lives, most of these children grow up and live here, are schooled here; some even learn and speak our local vernacular. They know no other country as their home but Liberia. Yet, our law denies them the rights to become citizens even if they wish to take up Liberian citizenship, etc, etc. This, in my humble view, is unfair and discriminatory.
My Fellow Liberians, there is a maxim that says: “a man’s heart is where his treasury is”. This maxim is true for all purposes and intents. For instance, people who are denied the rights to citizenship by this clause in our constitution hold no loyalty, nationalistic and patriotic allegiance to our country. Some of these people engage in wealthy business investments in our country and are constrained to transfer the huge and lucrative profits back home to their respective countries because our law denies them the rights to make Liberia their home.
In consequence of the above and other factors, I, by this communication, hereby humbly entreat my fellow Liberians to join me to petition our Legislature to urgently consider the conduct of a constitutional reform with specific reference to Article 27 (b) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia. The objective of said reform will be to remove the racial and discriminatory clause contained therein in order to give rights to people of non-negro descent to become citizens of Liberia by birth or naturalization.
Thank you ever so much for your work. I read the story about Chuckie Taylor on your site. I think it is time for people who did bad things in Liberia during the war to face punishment.
Please keep up the good job and fill us in on what will be going on during Charles Taylor trial in Holland.
Once again thanks very much.
Name:Solomon HarrisFrom: USA Homepage: Sent: 12/23/2008 10:45:52 AM
I want to thank Dr. Somah for his article on Population which I read on your comments' page. It is a very good one that touches the heart of the matter when it relates to some of the needless wars being fought on our beloved continent. It is time for all Africans, everywhere to wake up to the fact that it is only us that can protect our own interest, not foreigners.
Dear Editor, The coup plot allegation against Gen Julu and others is nothing but a witch hunt aimed at President Sirleaf’ perceived enemies and a maneuvering to Silence the pposition.
During a gathering of Liberians in the city of Dover, Delaware, the subject of who will be the best person to serve as president of Liberia came up, since this gathering was taking place at the time when elections were being held in Liberia. Some people, including myself, said that Ellen will be the best choice giving her credentials and her international connections.
But a participant of the discourse told the gathering that electing Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during this point in time of our country’s history will be one of the biggest mistake that many people will later regret.
He said since our country was just emerging from war and there are still many fresh wounds, we need a person who has been neutral during the time of our upheavals and under whose leadership no one will live in fear of reprisal or intimidation because of their ethnic, political, and religious affiliation.
He said that Ellen did not meet this criteria and electing her as president will be a recipe for hatred, marginalization, witch hunting, and economic disparity, since she will try to pay back all of those who have contributed financially to her adventures of becoming president during the years.
He said Ellen was a power hungry and vindictive person who will do everything she can to get power, keep it, and silence all those that disagree with her.
At the time of the discussion no one took him seriously, but more than two years later and after careful analysis of the events in Liberia after the inception of the current government headed by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, everything that was said by this young man is taking dimension and is beginning to make sense to me.
It all started when officials from the National Security Agency boarded an international airline and disrupted the flight that was already taking off on the ground that opposition party leader George Weah and members of his entourage traveling with him were using diplomatic passport to which they were not entitled.
To me the hand writing on the wall was clear that a precedent was being set and if nothing was done to curb the harassment of peaceful and law abiding citizens by over zealous members of the security forces, which as been the trend in past government, Liberia was once again heading into the dark ages of political repression that we thought we have put behind us. The government said that it was investigating that incident but as of now nothing has come out of that investigation.
Later on down the line, President Sirleaf and other members of her government, including then justice minister Francis Johnson Morris, started to make utterances that elements within the opposition were plotting to subvert the government. When members of the opposition and the general public demanded that government provide evidence to justify such grievous claims no evidence could be provided because such evidence does not exist.
As time went by and more and more people started to pressurize the government for proof of the coup plot allegation, the government found itself in a very precarious situation.
The government knew very well that if the proof that was being demanded was not provided the general populace will start to doubt it’s credibility and that anything said by the government in the future will not be taken serious. And so after searching for a long time one fine day out of the blue sky there was the proof of the coup plot. The Government went to a great length to make sure that they should include people whose names will make it easier to sell the coup plot story to the Liberian public. And who else do you think will be the best candidate for government to use as a scapegoat if not Gen Charles Julu.
First of all, Gen Julu is a Krahn man and not that many Liberians have a soft spot for Krahn people at the moment because most people unfortunately have made it a habit of bunching all Krahns and the Samuel Doe regime together and tying them in the same bundle.
Secondly, Gen Julu has a track record of coup plots and so many people will believe that he is again trying to do what he knows best, plot coups.
But based upon events leading to the trial and during the trials, any level headed person should be able to see by now there was no coup plot and that government has falsely accused, arrested, tortured, and imprisoned law abiding Liberians either because according to George Borteh of the Analyst, “…tends to stir questions whether the trial could therefore be a witch-hunt or another reprisal scheme intended to instill fear in the suspects, based on their historical roles?” or silence the opposition.
I was prompted to write this piece after reading an article on allafrica.com “Liberia: Government Lacks Evidence- Rep. Forh Calls For Release of Suspects”. In the article, Montserrado County representative Edward Ford said that, “the government has demonstrated that it lacks sufficient evidence against treason suspects Gen. Charles Julu, George Koukou and Col. Andrew Dorbor.”
The honorable member of the house went on to say that the trial of the alleged coup plotters has been marked by the prosecution providing false evidence and that the recent video clips provided at the hearings are mockeries.
The representative did not stop there as he went on to say, “… the state in presenting its evidence against the accused produced video clips in court, which were shown for two hours to later be realized that the clips were false, meaning that the real clips were not the ones screened.”
According to the article, the representative “noted that the clips screened were those of investigations conducted with the defendants at the National Security Agency (NSA), while the suspects were already at its headquarters in Mamba Point. He said these clips do not link the suspects to coup plot as alleged by the government.” “The lawmaker then warned the Ellen led administration not to take Liberians for fools and dumbs, adding that the defendants are being tried by their own confessions made during 'investigation' carried conducted by the NSA.”
"You played tape recordings for two hours before you realized that they were not was not the real tapes. We are not fools and dumb in this country. You bring the right tape and it turns out to be your own 'investigation' of the suspects, which you want to convict them on their own confessions," he warned.”
While I am not surprised by any of the things say by Representative Ford and that I agree with him whole heartedly, my astonishment after reading the article was why has it taken so long for someone to come forward to say the truth.
Where are our human right organizations and lawyers? Where are the clergy and international organizations that have been speaking against human right abuse in the past? Where are the members of both houses who are suppose be representing the interesting of the people that elected them? Where are the members of the Grand Gedeh County legislative caucus?
While is it that no one is standing up to remind this government that was elected on the premise and promises of respecting the rights of all individuals and operating within the frame work of the law that they are grossly deviating from those principles?
Is it that we lack the courage or is it because the accused are Krahns and so the government can do whatever it wants with them?
If we allow the government to get away with this gross misconduct how sure are we that Charles Brunskin, George Weah, or any other person for that matter that the government dislikes, will be next?
Are so blind that we can not see that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will do everything she can to get back at her perceived enemies? Why is it that her government is vigorously prosecuting Gyude Bryant and members of his government for corruption but as of now no one in the current government has ever been charged with financial wrong doing? Does this means that since the inception of this government, no one has ever carry out any financial malpractice?
If the contrary is true, when are they going to face the law? Or is it only past officials that can face trial and that incumbent are immune?
I want to take this time to congratulate Representative Ford for being brave enough and doing what should have been done a long time ago.
I want other members of both houses to take a cue from this and wake up from their long slumber and start doing the things for which they were elected. I also want to call on the government to go ahead and release the so-called coup plot suspects since everybody now knows that there is no case against them.
The continuous detention of these people will be a violation of their rights and will increase the tension which according to Representative Ford is building up in the country. I think it is about time we put the past behind us to build a better Liberia.
I would just like to congratulate you and the Nordic Africa News team about your magazine. This is a wonderful work and initiative.The news in the magazine are well diversified and rich in content. Some news on some scandinavian countries makes it very much interesting.
I think Africans and all the people in the scandinavian region, who like news will enjoy the reading of "N.A.News". Its links in different languages gives it a special character. Once again Congratulation!
As French people say : " L' Union fait la force",if united we will make progress and be successfull. Reggae music singer, the late Bob Marley, used to encourage african in his music: "Africa unite".
This is to conclude with my wish that the magazine N.A. News will be a forum of Union for Africans in Nordic Countries and the voice of Africa in Scandinavian, also an afro-scandinavian forum
Congratulations! This is different, articulate, and an astounding concept. Its unique and showcases best perspectives from Africa, and the Scandinavia. Keep up the good work.
Congratulations once more.
Best Wishes, Uchechi Eluwa
Name:Lorpu JohnsonFrom: Sweden Homepage: Sent: 9/1/2007 7:23:27 PM
Dear Publisher,
My complements for the new website. Keep up the hard work, and I wish you all the best.
Name:Khaliil HssanFrom: Sweden Homepage: Sent: 9/1/2007 7:19:25 PM
Dear Publisher,
I would like to join your editorial staff. Please send me more detailed information.
I am a Liberian journalist residing in my country. I just viewed your website. It is interesting, what a good beginning.
I think it would ba a good thing were you to cover stories in Liberia where the highest number of UN peacekeepers are assigned.
The is country just emerging from 15 years of war which left thousands dead. And the UN peacekeepers are securing the peace.
With a new government elected in January this year, interesting stories are here.
A. Abbas Dulleh
Name:Alice GboglyFrom: Sweden Homepage: Sent: 8/20/2007 4:55:53 AM
Dear Mr.Editor,
I would like to thank you for this wonderful website. Please keep up the good job. Nordic Africa News is simply the best in the Nordic Countries. Your news coverage is superb, we are getting all the lastest news from Africa and the entire world.