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News Extra
VOL 8 NO.698
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES
LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of
the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The
rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the commercials
banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source:
Research, Policy and Planning Department,
Central Bank Liberia,
Monrovia, Liberia
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014 L$84.00/US$1 L$85.00/US$1
BUYING SELLING
L$84.00/US$1 L$85.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1 L$84.00/US$1
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2014
MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014
EBOLA - pg.11
UNLAWFUL
INTERFERENCE

p10
p7

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S
I
D
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Liberia Chief Justice Clarifes
Driver Quarantine
News Extra
I DO NOT
HAVE EBOLA
USAID CHIEF RAJIV;
NORWEGIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER BRENDE IN
LIBERIA TODAY
BEYOND
SACRIFICE
Liberian workers
divided over strike
action; Government
Remains on Edge
Article (87) which is often being misunderstood provides that emergency powers do not include
the power to suspend or abrogate the constitution. Your Honors, as you know better than us, the
suspension referred to in article has to do with the suspension of the entire constitution or the
abrogation of the entire constitution and not that the president cannot suspend certain rights as per
article (86), Cllr. Benedict Sannoh, Deputy Minister of Justice for Economic Affairs

CARP Slams Overturn of Fraud
Dismissals at PPCC
ACTING JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS PRESIDENT
SIRLEAF CAN SUSPEND CERTAIN RIGHTS
NO CONTRADICTION
Page 2 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com
Now, I have sympathized, I have been
trying very hard to ensure that I add
a voice to yours as far as salary and
payments are concerned. But I have
stepped on peoples toes but thats not a
problem with me because I have always
stepped on peoples toes.
- Dr. Anne Deborah Atai-Omoruto,
WHO Consultant
Monrovia
W
hen Dr. Anne Deborah Atai-Omoruto, a member of a
World Health Organization team of Ugandan medical
practitioners brought in to aid Liberias fght against
the deadly Ebola Virus; arrived back in July, she
knew that she was coming into a familiar territory.
Her country has faced multiple cases of the disease since the year 2000
and the experience was just what Liberia is lacking in its struggling
to contain the outbreak. To deal with this epidemic, she says, Liberia
would need to have good case management of patients, an effective
isolation area and community-based contact tracing.
Dr. Atai-Omoruto who comes with a load of experience has been
working wonders in training and supporting health workers and
doctors since her arrival in Liberia but it is her passion for the job and
care for struggling healthcare workers that has made her a familiar
and infuential face in a terrain similar to what she left in Kampala.
Her interview with Sky FMs Just Another Day morning show
last week in which she provided updates on what was being done to
address the nagging salary and hazard arrears of health workers as
well as calling on the national government to speedily address the
matter, brought the learned doctor in the line of fre.
Multiple reports have suggested that some offcials in the Liberian
government were unhappy with Dr. Atai-Omorutos input and may
have lobbied to have her replaced or removed from the Island Clinic
Ebola Treatment Unit, a report which did not go down well with
healthcare workers who threatened to walk off the facility if the
doctor was removed, a backdrop to their demand for hazard pay and
lingering issues which prompted their threat to go-slow on Monday.
Backed by healthcare workers, a spokesperson at the Island Clinic
gathering relayed a message, Dr. Atai-Omoruto told him a day earlier:
She said because of what I said, I feel my job is threatened. The
spokesman said he and others assured the doctor that, as long as we
are here as your staff, we will stand by you. If you condition is changed
we are going to put you in front of our demands for government.
Because what you said, you did not say because of you; but you are a
human being, you are somebody who is very much conscious. If the
WHO is saying that they want to change you than theyre going to
change everybody.
I Have Stepped on Toes, but
The reports came just days after the Liberian government banned
journalists from Ebola clinics and ignored numerous concerns from
rights campaigners who cautioned the government against muzzing
journalists who were denied access to the Island Clinic to cover a
nationwide "go slow" day of action by healthcare workers demanding
risk bonuses for treating Ebola.
The Associated Press reported last week that global aid agency
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, Doctors Without Borders), which
runs a unit of around 250 beds in Monrovia, said it would be writing
to the government to ask to be excluded from the ban. Liberia is
ranked 89th out of 180 countries in the 2014 press freedom index
produced by Reporters Without Borders. The Island Clinic, Liberia's
largest government Ebola treatment centre, is run by the World Health
Organization (WHO) and opened in September.
At a gathering with healthcare workers expressing concerned that she
was under pressure to leave, Dr. Atai-Omoruto addressed the reports
head on, acknowledging that her comments and style may have
stepped on a few toes, not that it is something that bothers her. Now,
I have sympathized, I have been trying very hard to ensure that I add a
voice to yours as far as salary and payments are concerned. But I have
stepped on peoples toes but thats not a problem with me because I
have always stepped on peoples toes.
Dr. Atai-Omoruto says her heart is with Liberia; and so is, her soul,
recalling the many sacrifces she and her peers are making to help
Liberia rid itself of the deadly and menacing virus. When we look
into our souls and into our hearts, when you have seen me, I sit here,
up to midnight, sometimes up to 1am, sometimes up to morning. It
is a lot of work; a lot of strength. I not only do management but also
patient care and what have you.
Liberia Must Help Herself
The Ugandan medical practitioner says nothing that has happened in
the past few days will keep her from the ETU or from Liberia. Now,
because of the burden on me, the World Health Organization and the
head offce here in Liberia has requested that we have additional hand
to help me with some of the work. Im not going anywhere; Im not
going anywhere until Ebola is over. I will remain here, I will remain at
the Island Clinic ETU until Ebola is over, she told a cheering crowd
of health workers showing signs of relief that she would remain in
their midst.
Thank you for the vote of confdence, I didnt know I was so popular
here, she quipped as she hammered home the goodwill international
organizations and nations are pouring in to fght Ebola in Liberia.
God loves you and God loves Liberia that is why God has sent so
many different people to Liberia at such a diffcult time like this. Very
many people from different part of the world has come including
Malaysia, including Japan, including Uganda. All parts of the world:
North America, South America, they are here, to help Liberia with the
situation but before Liberia must be help, Liberia must help herself.
We are here to add to Liberias own strength and Liberia is a strong
country, you are strong people, thats why youre here because you
feel for you fellow Liberians who are lying in the wards and Ebola
anywhere is Ebola everywhere.
Back in her homeland, Dr Atai-Omoruto is a practicing Family
Physician based in Kampala. She is a Chair of the Department of
Family Medicine at the Makerere University College of Health
Sciences and is also Chair of the Community Health Department at
the adjoining teaching hospital, Mulago National Referral Hospital.
At the College of Health Sciences, Dr Atai-Omoruto and team run
the postgraduate program in Family Medicine leading to the award
of M.Med Family Medicine and Community Practice, and supervises
students throughout the program. As well as being a founding
member of the Association of Family Physicians of East Africa, Dr
Atai-Omoruto is President of the Association of Family Physicians of
Uganda. She is also a direct member of Wonca.
Breaking Ebola Spell
The Ugandan has participated in various fora for the promotion
of the discipline of Family Medicine in the Medical Schools in
the Eastern and Southern African region in conjunction with the
Belgian Association of Family Medicine departments (VLIR) and
the South African Family Medicine Consortium (FAMEC). She has
also conducted research mainly in the feld of infectious diseases,
including tuberculosis, HIV and malaria.
At least two Ugandans have lost their lives so far while helping Liberia
battle the outbreak. In July, Samuel Muhumuza Mutooro lost his life,
becoming one of the frst casualties among health workers relating to
Ebola. Dr. Mutooro was assigned at the Redemption Hospital. Last
Thursday, Dr. John Taban Dada, a Uganda-born doctor, died from
Ebola at the ELWA II Treatment Center. He was immediately buried
Thursday in accordance with policy requiring quick interment of
victims. Dr. Dada reportedly tended to Rev. Napoleon Braithwaite,
a Special Assistant to the Chief Medical Offcer, Dr. Bernice Dahn,
who died from the deadly virus on September 24, 2014. Dr. Dahn
immediately placed herself under a 21-day quarantine. Braithwaites
daughter, Leona died on Sunday. Dr. Dadas death brought to four the
number of doctors who have died in Liberia since the outbreak. Over
ninety health workers, including nurses and physician assistants, have
also died.
Like Mutooro, Dada, served as the medical director of the Redemption
Hospital in Monrovia from 2008 to 2013 before moving on to take
up a new assignment at the country's largest hospital, the John F.
Kennedy Memorial Medical Center.
The outbreak has killed more than 3,800 people, according to the
latest World Health Organization fgures. The vast majority of those
deaths have been in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Dr. Atai-Omoruto appears undeterred by it all and poised to be in
Liberia for the long haul as she remains focused on ridding Liberia of
Ebola, no matter the obstacles or challenges. We cannot say were
going home and Ebola will not be there. That is why we have decided
that we are coming to the Ebola Treatment Unit so that we can try and
contained Ebola here as we try to break the spell.

Frontpage
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Page 3
Charles B. Russell, Philadelphia, Contributing Writer
FrontPage
v
v
Commentary
EDITORIAL
PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON-Sirleaf has made yet another
statement, renewing her vow to continue to respect the rights while
holding on to her characteristics of tolerance and understanding
peoples attitudes.
WE HEARD IT before in January 2006 when she declared in her
inaugural address: My Administration therefore commits itself to the
creation of a democracy in which the constitutional and civil liberties
and rights of all our people will be advanced - and safeguarded. While
ensuring the security of our nation and people, we will work tirelessly
to ensure that the writ of democracy is expanded, not constricted in our
land.
AND WERE HEARING it again.
THE PRESIDENT, according to the Executive Mansion made her latest
vow last Friday at the end of a prayer service for the country at the
Dominion Christian Fellowship Center on Tubman Boulevard.
THE PRESIDENT reportedly has promised to remain engaged with all
those who mean good for the country and no amount of disrespect to
the presidency will deter her from performing her constitutional duties.
You can be assured that whatever we do, we do it for the good of this
country and my own tolerance, understanding, and respect for the rights
of others will never change, the President is quoted as saying.
THE PRESIDENTS COMMENTS came on the same day that
members of the lower house of the National Legislature threw into the
dustbin, her request seeking a suspension of portion of the constitution,
limit on religious gathering and free speech.
THE PRESIDENT, in her request, sought emergency powers to suspend
articles 1, 12, 13, 15 and other provisions of the Liberian constitution
that relates to the fundamental rights of the citizenry including the
rights to freedom of expression, speech, protection against force labor,
the right to elect offcials, amongst other inalienable human rights.
THE PRESIDENT was seeking to alter Article 1 which would give her
the power by proclamation, to alter the period and manner provided for
under the constitution for elections, by which the people cause their
public servants to leave offce or to fll vacancies provided, however,
that no deviation from the constitutionally prescribed period shall cause
the extension or reduction of any term of offce therein prescribed.
ARTICLE 13 if altered, would give the president the power to limit the
movement of certain individuals, group, or communities, a provision
the President is seeking to use to prevent the further spread of the Ebola
virus by proclamation.
THE PRESIDENT is also seeking power from the legislature to restrict
certain religious practices, generally or specifcally, if he/she fnds that
such practice further endangers the public health and contributes to
the spread of the virus which will be an alteration of article 14 of the
Liberian constitution. Like the other provisions, President Sirleaf also
wants emergency power to restrict speech, which according to article
15 of the constitution is a right of all citizens.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, the president sought the power by
proclamation to prevent citizens or a group of any entity protected
under Article 15 of the constitution from making any public speech
which, according to her, may have the tendency to undermine the state
of emergency and restrict assemblies for any reason.
WE FIND IT TROUBLING that a sitting president, who has gone
through similar trials in previous regime would stoop to the level of
former presidents Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor, two rulers she is
noted for criticizing to drum up emergency powers she once fought
against, some of which landed her in jail and on the wrong side of both
former heads of state.
SHE EVEN documented them in her book, This Child Will be Great
when she slammed Tubmans 27-year iron hand rule described as a
political largesse and patronage, she claims was no longer suffcient to
keep people from being dissatisfed with the social order and its impact
on their lives.
SHE SLAMMED Tolberts 9 year reign (1971-1980), when the center
could no longer hold, when she writes: "The nation stood at the verge
of crisis, a crisis over which we might have no control. Tensions
were mounting--economically, socially and politically. They had not
extended the liberties they sought for themselves to indigenous people,
to all ethnic groups, and to women. But what was sad was that 125
years later we seemed unable or unwilling to change what was slowly
pulling us apart. Those who now make empty, sanctimonious claims
about rights are worthy of only our deep contempt."
SHE WROTE of Samuel K. Doe's tumultuous 10-year rule (1980-
1990), as one marred by greed: Doe got greedy and the people around
him got greedy too, and collectively they began to feed off the state's
largess like a pack of hyenas. Money poured out of the government's
coffers at an astonishing rate. Any attempt to formulate a vision for
moving the country forward was soon abandoned; what rose in its place
was a kind of copycatting of the past.
SHE WENT the distant, writing of Charles Taylors murderous
regime: "This ragtag band of (NPFL) rebels, who called themselves
the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, drew increasing support from a
nationwide population that neither knew nor necessarily trusted Charles
Taylor, but that desperately hoped the end of Doe's ten-year reign of
terror was fnally at hand.
THIS IS WHY we fnd it diffcult to believe the president when she
renews a pledge to uphold that which her friends and close family and
COMMENTARY
WEVE HEARD THE TALK
BEFORE, MADAM PRESIDENT,
NOW TRY WALKING THE WALK
friends keep pressing her to implement, when her close aides and circle of
friends continue to make public statements about going after journalists
who are perceived to be critical of the government, when the president
continues to accuse the media and opposition of playing politics with
the Ebola crisis and when those in the halls of justice make reckless
statements in defense of such overzealous emergency powers most likely
to be used as weapons against members of the press. When so-called
men of God take to the pulpit and declare that young Liberians were
now using the various radio talk shows to abuse free speech, calling on
them to have a change in attitude and declaring: If you wish to be a
national leader tomorrow, its time now that you gain respect from the
people by equally addressing the presidency and other national leaders
with respect and dignity, according to Bishop Isaac Winker, of the
Dominion Christian Fellowship Center on Tubman Boulevard, who
perhaps has forgotten to know that the sitting President once treaded a
similar path en route to the status she enjoys today.
LIBERIA IS AT a crossroads with sycophancy at an all-time high. It
saddens us that many have forgotten how Liberia became a post-war
country, how Liberia arrived at labels such as a failed and fragile state;
how Liberia became a nation now entrenched in a major Ebola outbreak
because its leaders have failed to come to terms with the realities of
yesterdays mistakes now hurting our post-war resurrection.
MADAM PRESIDENT must realize that none of her predecessors
survived trying to infict harm on Liberians, the media or activists, using
those powers, and neither would she or whoever comes after her. Liberia
has come too far and too many have lost their lives in the struggle to
attain freedom at the hands of dictatorship, to allow an ugly past to creep
on us again.
HOW SOON DO leaders forget the errors of their frailties; how soon
they forget the trappings of power that failed their predecessors. The
writings on the wall have been interpreted many times and in many
different ways. We hope for Liberias survival and post-war resurgences
sake, this leader will get it before those enjoying her access and benefts,
end up driving a willing horse to death.
I
n Galatians 6:7, the Holy Bible tells us, "Be not deceived;
God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall
he also reap. Liberia is heading for the worst leadership ever
under Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; should members of the
legislature grant her additional emergency powers. If granted, this
would make Samuel K. Doe and Charles Taylor the angels Liberians
missed. I see her request as an unscrupulous attempt to completely
crush oppositions, outspoken media institutions and to put an end to
the people questioning the Unity Party led government credibility on
transparency and accountability. From all indications, we should now
understand Ellen deceptive motive of going to meet with our so called
Law Makers and promised Special Package. My interpretation is
bribe by the executive to law makers to consider her request. It cant
get anymore simple than that. I therefore, call on our lawmakers to
unequivocally resist all temptations to accept the so called special
package to allow President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to subvert
democratically enacted laws to misuse and abuse our constitutional
rights.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf request for additional emergency
power is repugnant, diabolical and her sole intend is to rule Liberia as
themost powerful dictator, with the suspension of provisions within
the Liberian constitution. Ellen is aware that taking such unpopular
decision would be met with strong resistance from the many suffering
people of Liberia and that is why she brought in over 1,200 Nigerian
Army men to defend her should there be an uprising. Liberians are
aware that the Nigerian Army has such a horrifc reputation for
torture, murder and looting during the Liberia civil war. Let us not
forget the late President Tolbert took similar action by bringing to
Liberia Guinean Army to protect him.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf presidency greatest achievement is opening
corridor to allow the Industry of Corruption where she serves as the
CEO, Chief Executive Offcer and blindly back by few devotees
and benefciaries. Laws are openly violated by her friends and
family members and justice brazenly denied. A case in point, her
stepson, Fumba Sirleaf the head for the National Security Agency
stole US$247.500.00 from some Korean businessmen and Madam
President swept it under the carpet by asking Cllr, David A. Jallah
to investigate her son and not a grand jury for possible prosecution.
Another case, her buddy Minister Antoinette Weeks of failed Public
Works Ministry, intentional and willfully went into a House of God
during Sunday service and violently destroyed private property with
impunity. All Madam President said, touch not my anointed and she
will openly apology but, girlfriend refused to openly apology to the
church members or pay for properties destroyed. It is not hidden
secret that Minister Antoinette Weeks has woefully failed to execute
her functions and obligations at the Ministry of Public Works without
any physical justifcation as she continues to receive monthly salary
of US $ 16,000.00 including other benefts. This is how Ellen is
running Liberia.
When the people rights are constantly violated, the response is likely
to involve aggression and hatred against the government and do not
be surprised that Liberians are no longer afraid of civil disobedience
to make a corrupt government listen. This government is dangerously
and blindingly evading the root causes of the April 14, 1979 rice riot,
April 12, 1980 coup, the execution of the 13 government offcials and
the Liberian civil war. I honestly believe that Liberians will not want
another civil confict but, with Madam President has no desire for a
moral change and the people are facing the thunder storm of abject
poverty and massive corruption, I cannot rule out the possibility for
an uprising that neither the notorious Nigerian Soldiers can overrun.
99.9 percent of comments posted byLiberians on line newspapers,
accuses the president of being incompetent, pathological liar and
running a criminal government. Ellen did tell the world that she
would be a one term president and it was a lie told. Notwithstanding,
Ellen clearly stated that corruption was to be her major public enemy
number one and again told another boldfaced lie as sheis now the
head of the Industry of Corruption. Ellen went on to promise that the
entire City of Monrovia would be electrifed within six months and
has been in power for over eight years and many of our poor people
are now having hearing problems due to the loud noise of generators.
But frst, it will be useful to list the elements of bad governance
that have been so egregiously put on display by the Ellen Johnson
Sirleafs Unity Party led administration at every level of government
institution. Consequently, qualifed individuals who do not support
Ellen encouraging corruption are constantly resigning from her
administration and expressing their complete dissatisfaction with how
the Old lady is running the country. Example, Dr. Antoinette Sayeh
from the Finance Ministry, Samuel Kof Woods a lawyer and human
rights activist and recently Justice Minister Christiana Tah. Liberias
former Auditor General, John Morlu service came to an end when
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf could not accept the AG exposing
corruption in her administration. In the midst of the fght against Ebola,
the Liberia Anti- Corruption Commission discovered $25,000USD
disbursement that was made by the National Oil Company of Liberia
to the national legislature for what is referred to as payment for service
fees. As the Administration of Ellen Johnson is begging the world for
assistance in dealing with the deadly Ebola outbreak, US$5 million
to fght the deadly virus was mismanaged and to date, law makers are
awaiting the presidents report as self-appointed head of the Ebola
Task Force. Why can we not refer to Ellen as the CEO of corruption
in Liberia when she is the front runner? The Act establishing the
Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) gives the
credible institution an oversight responsibility to police and monitor
all forms of public procurement and concessions practices in Liberia;
but recounting on events in recent days has brought the institution
under serious scrutiny; revealing that the Commissioners of the
PPCC have recalled two corrupt former employees in the persons
of Joseph S.D. Suah, Sr. Director of Finance and Administration
and Anthony P. Tarbah, through the intervention of President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf. They are not only being reinstated but, receive pay
for the nine months they were sitting home.
Another corrupt activity demonstrated by this Unity party led
government was the lease agreement signed between the LTA and
a Chinese Landlord committing this government owned agency to
pay US$385 (Three hundred eighty fve thousand dollars) per year
and this government agency (LTA) will pay for three years upfront
totaling US$1,155,000.00 (One million, one hundred ffty fve
thousand dollars) to Chinese Landlord. It is a damn shame for the
Government of Liberia under the failed leadership of Ellen to become
a tenant on their own land with government dilapidated buildings all
over the city including the Executive Mansion that could have been
renovated. It will be unfair to my readers not to discuss another buddy
of EJS, racketeer Adelaide Gardner who used threat and intimidation,
using the President name to obtain a catering contract at the Liberian
National Police Academy even thou the contract was previously
awarded to a qualifed dietitian who charged far less than the US$1.2
million per year for this Ellen kitchen cabinet member, Adelaide.
Ellen is running Liberia on bribery, cronyism, nepotism, patronage
and embezzlement.
To be an active member of the Unity party led government, never tell
the truth, lies should be consistent, loot the country resources and do
not hesitate to take legal actions against media institutions. Therefore,
Liberia has become is a dangerous place to live in. Not because of
the people who do wrong things, but because of the people who let
wrong things happen are all members of the Ellen Johnson Sirleafs
Government. Despite tears rolling down from the eyes of the people
like a waterfall, Ellen continues to run the country on favoritism,
high unemployment, forgery, hypocrisy, indiscipline, ineffciency
and incompetence. Corruption has destroyed the legitimacy of Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf government and been written off as inept because
of the magnitude of corruption in the administration, and its lack of
policy direction. I add to the many voices for Ellen to resign.
All those who are saying Ellen is doing a good job in Liberia, may
God do for them exactly as she is doing for Liberia. Amen!
ELLEN J. SIRLEAF HAS BECOME THE CEO FOR
THE INDUSTRY OF CORRUPTION IN LIBERIA
Page 4 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
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DITORIAL TEAM
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
The Reader's Page
EDWARD ROYE TOP COMMENTER LIBERIA
COLLEGE
Madam Tah's resignation is wrongly timed. investigating the head
of the national security boss, I am not aware of the NSA being a part
of the justice ministry. the justice ministry controls and manages
the: national police, immigration bureau, DEA, national fre service,
NBI but not the NSA. the NSA head reports directly to the president
and not anybody else. that is statute that created it. the NSa boss is
subject to impeachment should there arise something questionable
about his/her activities. so, Cllr. Tah, I think u should have allowed
the Liberian senate to institute investigation about the NSA boss.
in this case, I think u made a mistake. the NSA and the former SSS
now EPS are not under the justice ministry. Cllr. Tah , u have never
been proactive in the execution of your duties and responsibilities.
countless audit reports were passed to u for prosecution but u
always said there was no evidence, u swept it under the carpet. only
the former boss of LTA(Bropleh) u arrested in his morning robe
and dragged to prison. Tell the Liberian people, your real reason
for resigning.
R_FILIPS (SIGNED IN USING AOL)
You are funny in that where the NSA takes on the function not
assigned its mission, the Justice ministry must step in to investigate
or indict. NSA's role is limited to data collection and coordination. It
cannot directly affect an arrest in a matter that is within the purview
of the Ministry of justice.
Please see below other responses:
1. The post of NSA director is not an elected post and serves at the
pleasure of the president of Liberia. Only elected offcials can be
impeached.
2. The constitution empowers the minister of justice to investigate
all reports of criminal activities. The NSA director is suspect of
converting or illegally seizing personal values of complainant - an
act inconsistent with the administration of justice.
3. one of the reasons Minister Tah resigned is the lack of cooperation
from the President. How sure are you that she was not undermined
by the president in doing her job? Do you expect the ministry of
justice to turn blind eyes?
JESSE FAHNGON TOP COMMENTER METROPOLITAN
STATE UNIVERSITY
Who determines a person right to resign, referenced, timing?
JAMES YONLY UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA
A sycophant infected with drum major instinct is waiting take the
Job. Any way. to many Liberians, holding a post in government
is about getting a pay check with fnger full of fringe benefts.
Then there they go, bullying their mother or father if the president
demands so. thank you Madam. You've made the difference
DEGAN BALLAYAN TOP COMMENTER CUSTOMER
SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT CURRENTLY WORK AT
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS, COLLEGE PARK - GEORGIA
Madam now former Minister of Justice, you probably did the right
thing, though sort of late. Having studied law in both the United
States and Liberia, even helped to re-write some of the laws on the
books in Liberia as I was informed or read, you should have kept
your integrity intact at all times, regardless of the fies that were
making noise in the market or in the political arena. Principles count
in every job or in appointed positions - especially in government.
To just sit there pushing paperwork, conducting legal businesses
of behave of the people in the same, corruption practices was not
reputable. In other words, the same more, same more, cancerous,
epidemic impunity continue to exist. This is unacceptable in the 21
century!! Why allow a mountain of cases go unresolved in a country
of 43,000 square miles.
HARRIS GBAHN TOP COMMENTER WORKS AT SELF-
EMPLOYED
Whom is Madam Tah accusing of preventing her from doing her
jobs? What I know is, it is only the Constitution of Liberia that can
prevent her from performing her duty when she is not in the right
direction, because no one, not even the President is above the Laws
of the Land. Moreover, her justifcation for her resignation here
is still not clear. The frst said resignation letter submitted to the
President was understood by the public to be her reaction to the
action of the Legislature by stopping her from practicing her career;
if there were any motives besides that, it is today we are getting to
know. Again, her present resignation letter will be considered by
Liberians as a deliberate and long-awaited plan so as to exit from
the government and fnd her way out to America because of the
fear of Ebola. What I believe is that if she loves her people and her
country, and as a cardinal government offcial, and even if she has
been encountering so many problems from her boss as alleged, this
is not the right time to resign. No matter what she explains now it
will be considered by the public as a point of cover-up for her fear
for Ebola.
DISTRUST, BETRAYAL PUSHED
TOUGH SKIN TAH OUT OF EJS GOVT
The Editor,
I
read Minister Lewis Brown's response to the Press Statement
by the former Justice Minister, and wondered what manner of
people are Liberia's leaders who are incapable of introspection.
Mr. Brown, as usual, was in full uninformed attack mode. Rather
than focus on the substance of the Madam Tah's statement, which has
resonated across the globe as a scathing indictment of the Government
and the government, Mr. Brown chose to be, well...Mr. Brown (see
Mr. Brown from the TV Show).
One would think, any response coming from an offcial government
source, would be based on deep introspection, reason, and judgment.
It is clear neither the government nor Min. Brown seem capable of
that.
In his very frst paragraph Mr. Brown deliberately misrepresents that
Madam Tah "fnally mustered the courage to exercise her prerogative
to resign."
Did Mr. Brown's boss, President Sirleaf, not inform him of the
Minister's resignation of March 31, 2014? Mr. Brown the Minister
resigned on March 31, while still under suspension. Your boss has
that resignation letter. It would be in the best interest of full disclosure
that she release to the Liberian public a full copy of the original letter
of resignation.
I, for one, am curious, as to why the President refused to accept the
original letter of resignation?
As several legal scholars have already written, the President did not
give any substantial weight to the precedent set under her by allowing
the Court to remove a member of the Cabinet from his / duties. I
continue to believe, the President colluded with the Court to orchestrate
the suspension, because
she wanted to accomplish other nefarious goals which the Minister
would not allow.
If one must listen to people opine about actions of the Judiciary, one
should listen to legal scholars who understand legal doctrine. As is
usually the problem in Liberia, people do not know how to "stay in
their
lane." In the case of Minister Brown, he should pull off the road
entirely.
Was Minister Brown aware, that Madam Tah returned to Liberia even
as the Ebola epidemic was growing, and the president already had
her resignation letter in hand? And he wants to talk about mustering
courage? What exactly did she have to gain? She could have demanded
then that the President accept her resignation.
Now, it is not clear to anyone why Minister Brown thinks that Minister
Tah will be angry when she has been magnanimous to return to work
and help this Government that is now spiraling into an abyss, without
complaining, after her rights were abused by the Judiciary with the
complicity and endorsement
of President Sirleaf. It is, rather, the Government that is angry and
embarrassed by the forthrightness of the former Minister, which it is
incapable of responding to.
Please tell us "what bigger interest" of the Liberian people is served,
when the Minister of Justice, cannot investigate allegations of fraud
against other government agencies? Or is it just the National Security
Agency, which happens to be headed by her son? You have the
audacity to talk about "teaching by good examples?"
Minister Brown, please tell us what "bigger interest" of the Liberian
people was served, when the President decided that the Security
services under the State of Emergency would be under the control of
the Minister of Defense, as opposed to the Minister of Justice where
it belonged?
Do you understand that is directly contributed to the death of a
Liberian citizen, Shaki Kamara. Apparently, it has not occurred to
you and your boss, that her decision to place command where it should
not be placed, had consequences for the Liberian people. I do not need
to remind you of the public beat down by the American ambassador
regarding the misuse of the Army.
How does it serve the Liberian people's "bigger interest" when a
president, in offce is so consumed by petty parochial interests that
her decisions lead to the death of a Liberian citizen, and international
rebuke?
I also fnd especially troubling is the misogyny and sexism you
demonstrate when you state "the former Minister may be deeply
beholden to the human emotions of bitterness and anger." What is it
about crude men like you that you would seek to dismiss the statement
from a Minister of Justice as "emotional?"
Minister Brown, let me suggest, that you resist the urge for your
natural tendency to be a fanatic, confer with the President and cabinet,
and decide what the government's offcial response is to the indictment
made by the former Minister of Justice.
You seem eager to tell us of your meeting on October 4, where the
President expressed concerns about corruption investigations, where
she stated there were no sacred cows. Perhaps then her son, the
Director of the NSA is a sacred sheep or goat. Because when it was
necessary to investigate charges
of fraud in his agency, the investigation was promptly sent to a private
party outside of the Ministry of Justice.
Mr. Minster please consult with the Minister of Finance, and provide
the Liberian people HOW MUCH money has been made available to
the Ministry of Justice for investigators and prosecutors? Please ask
the Minister of Finance to provide to the Liberian people the budgetary
allotment for LAWYERS, in other government agencies. How does
that compare with what is provided for the Ministry of Justice?
Will those fgures refect a commitment to investigating and fghting
corruption?
For a government, which has completely lost the trust of its citizens, it
should be evident that whoever speaks on behalf of the government, at
this time, should be a person of substantial credibility. The President
seems to prefer the face of her government to be a man singled out,
by the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission for economic crimes.(see Page 296 if the
TRC Final\ Report), and one forbidden to enter the United States.
Isn't this the very Lewis Brown who accused the President of
desecrating the offce of the Presidency, only a few years ago?
As for Deputy Minister of Information, Isaac Jackson, I will not
dignify his comments, as it is evident he lacks the aptitude and the
intellectual heft to understand the contents of Minister Tah's statement.
This President seems to have a penchant for losing women of great
credibility, Antoinette Sayeh, Olubanke King, and now Madam Tah.
At some point, you must look in the mirror, instead of looking in
the echo chamber, comprised of the likes of Lewis Brown, and ask
yourself: what am I doing wrong.
Finally, with regards to corruption cases, we have seen the President's
attitude towards her cronies, like for example, resubmitting names to
the Senate, in the face of brewing scandals. It does not take a rocket
scientist to conclude the Justice Ministry would have been pressured
by the President to forego prosecution of her cronies.
We are all waiting to see the government's performance on corruption
going forward. We will be watching.

George K Fahnbulleh
gkfahnbulleh@lakepiso.com
Mesa, AZ
CURIOSITY OVER PRESIDENT SIRLEAFS
RELUCTANCE TO ACCEPT EX-JUSTICE
MINISTER TAHS RESGINATION
Frontpage
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Page 5
F
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PAGE
LAW & ORDER
NO CONTRADICTION
Monrovia-
D
ays after the House
of Representatives
rejected a letter
written by President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to
the National Legislature
requesting the body to
grant her additional power
to suspend certain rights
and take major decisions
in dealing with the Ebola
outbreak, Deputy Justice
Minister for Economic
Affairs has defended that the
President has the power to
suspend certain rights in line
with Articles 87 and 86 of the
Liberian Constitution.
Delivering an address at
the opening of the October
term of Court at the temple
of Justice Monday, Deputy
Minister Benedict Sannoh
disclosed that under the
declared state of emergency
the president has the power
to suspend certain rights
noting that Article 87 of
the constitution is being
misunderstood by many in
the country.
According to him, article 87
provides that the President
cannot suspend the entire
constitution but can suspend
certain rights.
Said Deputy Minister
Sannoh Article (87) which
is often being misunderstood
provides that emergency
powers do not include
the power to suspend or
abrogate the constitution.
Your Honors, as you know
better than us, the suspension
referred to in article has to
do with the suspension of
the entire constitution or
the abrogation of the entire
constitution and not that the
president cannot suspend
certain rights as per article
(86).
Article 87 (a) of the 1986
Liberian constitution states
Emergency powers do
not include the power to
suspend or abrogate the
Constitution, dissolve the
Legislature, or suspend or
dismiss the Judiciary; and no
constitutionals amendment
shall be promulgated during
a state of emergency. Where
the Legislature is not in
session, it must be convened
immediately in special
session and remain in session
during the entire period of
the state of emergency.
Non issue
The Deputy Minister has
described as a non-issue
the arguments regarding
the power by the President
to suspend certain rights
guaranteed under the
Liberian constitution
during the current state of
emergency.
He urged Liberians not to
grand stand on the issue
and expressed that they
should rather understand the
constitution better.
There is no contradiction
and we urge our citizens
wherever they may be placed
to understand this and not to
grand stand on a non-issue,
said the Deputy Minister.
Sannoh who is currently
serving as Acting Justice
Minister following the
resignation of Cllr. Christina
Tah and the dismissal of
the Deputy Minister for
Administration averred that
as lawyers, they have the
challenge to explain the
articles relating to the state
of emergency.
The Deputy Minister legal
position on the issue could
raise new debates as the
House of Representatives has
already thrashed a request
by President Sirleaf seeking
additional powers to take
actions in dealing with the
Ebola situation.
Speaker Alex Tyler speaking
behalf of the House of
Representatives following
the bodys decision not to
grant the President request
said the body believes the
president does not need
additional power to deal
with Ebola describing it as
unnecessary.
Speaker Tyler described
the President request as
distraction from the ongoing
fight against Ebola but the
comments by the Deputy
Justice Minister could mean
the President has the power
to take some of the actions
for which she is requesting
legislative approval.
In the letter by the President,
she was requesting
emergency powers to suspend
articles 1, 12, 13, 15 and other
provisions of the Liberian
constitution that relate to
the fundamental rights of the
citizenry including the rights
to freedom of expression,
speech, protection against
force labor, the right to elect
officials, amongst other
inalienable human rights.
But with the legal argument
from Deputy Minister
Sannoh that the President
has the power to suspend
certain rights and that article
86 is only stating that the
President cannot suspend
the entire constitution could
indicate that the president
can go ahead and restrict
rights and take actions in
line with the declared state of
emergency once the Liberian
leader is not suspending the
entire constitution.
Dr. Bhofal Chambers
(CDC-District#2 Maryland
County) recently stressed
that based on the President
request it is an indication
that she does not have good
advisors recommending
that some of the President
advisors be dismissed for
allowing the President
to request suspension of
certain provisions of the
constitution.
We will not give power
to president Sirleaf that
she doesnt deserve. I also
want to urge the president
to dismiss some of her legal
advisers because I feel they
are not advising her properly
because it is not clear
whether the President is the
one who is a liability to the
Liberian people or those who
work around her, lawmaker
Chambers said recently.
Dep. Justice Minister EJS Can Suspend Certain Rights
Page 6 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Monrovia
T
he Complaints,
Appeals and Review
Panel(CARP)
of the Public
Procurement & Concessions
Commission(PPCC) says it
is troubled by a recent report
detailing the reversal of
suspension and subsequent
dismissal of the Messrs. Joseph
S. D. Suah, Sr. and Anthony P.
Tarbah, Directors of Finance &
Administration and Monitoring
& Compliance by an ad-hoc
committee set up by the Board of
Commissioners.
In a letter to Esther Paegar,
Acting Chairman of the PPCC,
Cllr. Beyan D. Howard, CARP
Chairman if proven true, the
commission would consider
the action on the part of the
board of commissioners as
unlawful interference with
the independence of the
investigative/hearing authority
of the CARP as provided by the
PPCA, 2010.
Cllr. Howard requested that
the commission corrects their
action and guides against the
reoccurrence of such practice.
Additionally, such a reported
action has the propensity to not
only sow seed of disunity within
the PPCC, but also undermines
the coordination and cooperation
mechanisms established between
the Board of Commissioners and
CARP.
FrontPageAfrica has also learnt
that President Ellen Johnson-
Sirleaf, acting on the concerns of
the CARP has also reiterated an
earlier call that the PPCC board
reverse its decision to overturn
an earlier decision by the board
to reinstate Messrs Suah and
Tarbah.
CARP said while it has no qualm
with hiring of any of its staff, it is
troubled when the commissioners
uses the review and reversal of
the CARPs decision as a basis
for the reinstatement of the two
employees earlier dismissed by
the former Executive Director,
especially so when such a
dismissal did not form a part
UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE
CARP Slams Overturn of Fraud Dismissals at PPCC
of the fndings of the panels
decision.
Citing Part II, Section 127(7)
of the PPC Act, 2010 provides:
The decisions of a designated
complaint and appeal panel of the
Complaints, Appeals and Review
Panel are fnal and binding
upon all parties, subject only to
review by a court of competent
jurisdiction. Any party to the
matter decided may bring an
action under the Administrative
Procedure Act to enforce the
decision and this right includes
the right of a prevailing party to
bring an action against the losing
party to enforce the decision
notwithstanding any defnitions
in the Administrative Act.
FrontPageAfrica recently
reported that contrary to
Part II, Section 127(7) of the
PPCC Act, 2010, the Board of
Commissioners set up an ad
hoc committee compromising
two of its members in persons
of Commissioners Benedict
Sannoh and B Miller Catakaw
to review and advise the Board
of Commissioners on the
suspension and subsequent
dismissal of Suah and Tarbah.
Both Suah Tarbah were
investigated by the CARP and
the Panel found them responsible
for wrongful issuance of Letter
of No Objection in the awarding
of the contract to Gardner, which
prompted their dismissal by
Meres. The CARP in an opinion
after the investigation found
Mr. Joseph S. D. Suah, Sr., and
Mr. Anthony P. Tarbah, Sr. of
fraudulent act by issuing No
Objection Letter on a contract for
catering Services at the LNPTA.
No Objection Letter
In the opinion of the panel, the
action of the two offcers of the
PPCC, Mr. Joseph S. D. Suah,
Sr., and Mr. Anthony P. Tarbah
by issuing the No Objection
Letter in the form and manner
as they did compromised
the independence of the
Commission. As the independent
arm of Government responsible
to ensure that all procurement
issues relative government
institutions are monitored and
regulated according to law, they
cannot get directly involved
with procurement documents
on behalf of government
institutions."
"If a party to such procurement

F
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NEWS EXTRA
process is aggrieved and fles a
complaint to the Commission
that was also involved in the
preparation of such documents,
how will the Commission
fairly handle such case when
its independence has already
been impaired? The actions of
the two men compromised the
integrity and fairness of the
commission, the CARP stated
after investigation.
But the Ad Hoc Committee of
the PPCC a 2-man committee
comprising, Commissioners
Benedict Sannoh - Chairman
and B. Miller Catakaw
Member set up by the Board
of Commissioners to review
and advise the Board on the
suspension and subsequent
dismissals of Messrs Suah, and
Tarbah, Directors of Finance and
Administration and Monitoring
and Compliance, respectively
recommended the reversal of the
CARP decision contrary to the
PPCC Act, 2010. According to
inside sources, the Commission
has already implemented the
recommendation of the Ad hoc
Committee undoing the decision
of the CARP and has reinstated
the two employees.
In the wake of the decision of
the Ad hoc Committee to reverse
the decision of the CARP, the
outgoing head of the Public
Procurement and Concession
Commission of Liberia who
resigned a while ago recently hit
back strong at a report produced
by the ad hoc committee of
the commission, cautioning
the transparent body against
practices that will undermine the
core business of the commission.
In a communication dated
September 18 and addressed to
Prof. Willie Belleh, Jr. Chairman
of the PPCC, Peggy Varfey
Meres indicated that she was
alarmed at the extent the Ad
Hoc Special Committee sought
to impugn on her integrity and
the discretion provided the
commission during her tenure
as Executive Director/CEO.
She described the fndings of
the Ad Hoc Committee as one
that contains misinformation,
falsehood and misrepresentation.
Returned With Full Pay
To this end, I fnd myself
compelled to respond to the
misinformation, falsehood and
misrepresentation of the factual
circumstances surrounding the
decision to dismiss the two
individuals as well as to defend
my name and the decision
I made while serving at the
Commission, stated Meres.
The Act establishing the Public
Procurement and Concessions
Commission (PPCC) gives the
integrity institution an oversight
responsibility to regulate and
monitor all forms of public
procurement and concessions
practices in Liberia; but a series of
events in recent days has brought
the institution under scrutiny
amid damning revelations
that the Commissioners of
the PPCC have reinstated two
corrupt former staffers Joseph
S.D. Suah, Sr. Director of
Finance and Administration
and Anthony P. Tarbah, Sr.
Director of Compliance and
Monitoring, who were linked to
a controversial catering contract
bidding of the National Police
Training Academy Procurement
Process.
FrontPageAfrica reported
recently that the PPCC
commissioners not only brought
back the dismissed pair, but that
they have, under the instruction
of the Acting Director, Ms.
Esther Paegar, being given their
nine months arrears for the period
under which they were sitting
home after their dismissals.
FrontPageAfrica reportedly
last week that President Sirleaf
had instructed the acting PPCC
chair to revisit its decision to
reinstate the pair. In a letter,
the President instructed that
the par be reinstated. Stated the
President letter Therefore, if
this were the basis to reverse the
decision of the former Executive
Director to dismiss Messrs Suah,
and Tarbah, you should revisit
the original decision and take
appropriate action as this will
serve as a deterrent to prevent
others from using the Presidents
name and consultations to
achieve their own objective.
Frontpage
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Page 7
F
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NEWS EXTRA
BEYOND SACRIFICE
Liberian workers divided over strike action; Government Remains on Edge
Wade C.L. Williams, wade.williams@frontpageafricaonline.com
Monrovia-
H
ealth workers in
Liberia are divided
over planned strike
action that was slated
for Monday. While some health
workers were seen abandoning
their posts Monday, others were
reporting to work. At the Island
Clinic Ebola Treatment Unit,
many directed their anger at the
government for not being able
to pay them during the deadly
Ebola outbreak but the welfare
of patients remains paramount.
Outside the ETU, workers were
seen pacing around as others
were inside carrying out their
normal duties.
Dominic Derick Doyen works
at the Island Clinic ETU as a
security offcer. Doyen like
many of his colleagues reported
to work but with a heavy heart.
Diplomatic Strike
Its not like an actual strike. Its
like a diplomatic strike that we
are on today. Some people are
refusing and others are going
on the ward, says Doyen. Dr.
Atai has talked to people to go
into the ETU to sacrifce and
work. Some workers also have
their family members in here
and they can come, wear the PPE
and go on the ward. Other people
are encouraging us to work and
forget about the government.
Doyen and others have decided
to make the ultimate sacrifce,
despite their government
failing them by not living up to
promises made to them. He said
the people affected by the deadly
Ebola virus need help and they
are ready to give that help no
matter what.
Let us do it for our country; let
us forget about the government
whether they pay us or not. Let
us sacrifce our lives for our
people, he said.
But Alphonso Williams, head
of the hygienists who work at
the center say they will hold the
pockets of resistance at the ETU
until the government can pay
health workers and as far as he
is concerned the strike action is
on course.
Defnitely as we told you, we
remain unbending. We are on
strike. As you know in every
society, you will fnd those that
will obey their leaders and those
that disrespect their leaders; but
as far as we are concerned, we
are on strike, says Williams.
The people in there are less in
number and the people on strike
are many. We are not joking;
we are serious. Many of our
colleagues are dying; they are
getting infected with the virus.
We want to know our status;
we want to know how much
we are working for. It is being
said by our government that the
salaries are on course but up to
now I dont know my terms of
reference.
He said all of the people who
work in Ebola Isolation centers
are making a huge sacrifce
but the government is taking
advantage of them and trying
to exploit the situation because
they think health workers will
not have the guts to strike during
the Ebola outbreak. This work
is not a normal hospital. This
work we do here is something
that is between life and death for
us that work in the ETUs. Many
of our friends are contracting the
virus, he says.
The government had promised to
pay the health workers but they
have not lived up to that promise.
Jerry Deywele also works
at the ETU collecting dead
bodies every day. He says the
government does not taking
health workers in the country
seriously. We signed for 500 and
they are giving us 300. But since
September we have not yet being
paid, he said. They told me I
would be making US$750 but
they gave me US$250.00. They
didnt pay me for September;
October is going to end, so what
will encourage me to work
For Matilda Wieah-Doe a nurse at
the center, she is unsure whether
she will see the government
make real its promise to pay
them as the job is a risky one and
that anyone can get infected at
any time.
Government employees will be
paid US$5000, in case anything
happens to them. We are still
alive but for one month I have
not received my salary. What if I
die now, my family will be left to
run around for my US$5000, will
they get it?
Williams believes health
workers should strike because
it will serve as a deterrent to the
government to stop taking them
for granted.
As a leader, my advocacy is not
about me, it is about the people.
We dont know how much we are
making until we see a contract
form, he says.
The truth about death is that we
all will die. Yes we took oath; the
government offcials also took
oath; even our president, we all
took oath to uphold protect and
defend. Are they not adhering to
their oaths?"
At the John F. Kennedy and
Redemption Hospital ETUs
workers were seen walking out
as some stayed to work.
The spokesperson of the health
workers at the Island Clinic
Alphonso Massallay says health
workers have decided to suspend
the strike because they have
been in negotiations with the
government and they do not
want these negotiations to stall.
Appealing to health workers
to return to work for the sake
of the sick people, District #
representative Saah H. Joseph
said Liberia is at war therefore
health workers should consider
themselves soldiers of the state.
We are appealing to health
workers to see the Ebola crisis
as total war Liberia is fghting
so if they say, they cant go
to the battle front because of
money, who will defend the
entire country? So we want them
to work while we discuss. The
money will be paid, he said.
What if they sit home and
hundreds of people die and the
money is paid later, how do
we make up for the deaths of
our mothers, sisters, fathers or
uncles. Let them work while we
talk, life is better than money.

USAID CHIEF RAJIV; NORWEGIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER BRENDE IN LIBERIA TODAY
Monrovia -
M
r. Rajiv Raj
Shah, the
Administrator of
the United States
Agency for International
Development(USAID) and
Brge Brende, Foreign Minister
of Norway are in Monrovia to
hold bilateral discussions with
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
Mr. Shah who has led Americas
humanitarian response to crisis
such as the earthquake in Haiti,
fooding in Pakistan, famine
in the horn of Africa, refugees
feeing Syria and the typhoon
in the Philippines is currently
embroiled in helping the U.S. aid
of Liberias Ebola epidemic.
Information Minister Lewis
Brown told FrontPageAfrica
Monday that the visits to Liberia
will give the two visitors and
opportunity to assess and
review community engagement
and ownership of the fght and
ongoing effort to revitalize
Liberias health system.
The visit comes in the wake of
increasing international attention
and support to the fght against
Ebola.
Mr. Shah in particular will be
visiting to review progress
of the overall response to the
outbreak, but especially the
American involvement in the
response. This is his frst visit to
Liberia since President Obama
announced that up to 3000 US
troops would be committed to
the combat the outbreak.
The Norwegian Foreign, Brende
will get a frst-hand look and
briefng on the outbreak and its
effect on the country.
He is expected to renew
Norways commitment to
assisting Liberia with Ebola,
and the Scandinavian countrys
partnership beyond Ebolam,
said Brown.
Foreign Minister Brende who
is also Councilor of State
presides over the Ministry
which is responsible for trade
foreign aid and cooperation
with international organizations,
among other things. He belongs
to the Conservative Party
and previously served in the
Norwegian government as
Minister of the Environment
and as Minister of Trade and
Industry.Administrator Rajiv
Shah began leadership of USAID
a few days before the earthquake
in Haiti in January 2010. He is
generally credited for leading a
very successful effort in assisting
Haiti recover through a very
swift and effective response. It
is expected that Administrator
Shah will bring the same vision,
and strategic response to the
fght against Ebola. Rajiv Shah
previously served as e Under
Secretary of Research, Education
and Economics (REE) and Chief
Scientist at the U.S. Department
of Agriculture.
Mr. Shah has previously served
as Under Secretary of Agriculture
for Research, Educaion and
Economics and Chief Scientist.
He was confrmed by the U.S.
Senate on May 12, 2009.
Before serving in this
administration, Shah worked
in a range of leadership roles
at the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation including Director
of Agricultural Development,
Director of Financial Services,
leader of the Strategic
Opportunities initiative and
manager of the Foundation's
$1.5 billion commitment to
the Vaccine Fund. Born in Ann
Arbor, Michigan, to immigrant
parents from India who settled
there in the late 1960s.
Brende served as Chairman of the
UN Commission on Sustainable
Development 2003-2004. In
2005 he took up the appointment
of International Vice Chairman
of the China Council for the
International Cooperation on
Environment and Development
(advisory board to the State
Council).
In January 2008, Brende joined
the World Economic Forum as
Managing Director, particularly
in charge of relations with
governments and civil society.
In 2009, Brge Brende joined
the Norwegian Red Cross as
Secretary General. He re-joined
the World Economic Forum
in 2011 as Managing Director
with responsibility for policy
initiatives and engagement
of the Forum's non-business
constituents. Brende is married
and has two sons.
Page 8 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, October 14, 2014

F
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PAGE
AVIATION NEWS
U
rgently needed work to upgrade the runway and address
safety at Liberias main airport in the capital Monrovia
will be backed by Europes long-term lending institution,
the European Investment Bank, following an agreement
signed in Washington D.C.
Amara M. Konneh, the Liberian Minister for Finance, said The
European Investment Bank has always been a true partner to the
people of Liberia. The airport rehabilitation project is another clear
manifestation of that partnership.
The twenty year USD 27.3 million (EUR 19.6 million) loan for
Roberts International Airport was formally agreed on the sidelines
of the World Bank IMF meetings in Washington at a ceremony
attended by Amara M. Konneh, Finance Minister of the Republic of
Liberia and Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia W.
Mills Jones. The occasion also allowed detailed discussion of issues
of pressing concern in Liberia, the governments economic recovery
plan and EIB engagement in West Africa.
The European Investment Bank stands side by side with Liberia at
this time of need. We will continue our engagement with Liberian
offcials, partner institutions and European Union Delegations in the
region and will ensure that any support we can provide will be of
best use. Upgrading Monrovias airport is essential for Liberia and
we are pleased to share experience from similar projects elsewhere
in Africa. said Pim van Ballekom, European Investment Bank Vice
President.
This is the frst European Investment Bank operation with the
Liberian Airports Authority and follows recent support for improving
electricity generation in Liberia through backing for rehabilitation of
the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant.
The runway work will also include improvements to runway
drainage and runway lighting and when complete will allow Robert
International Airport to comply with international civil aviation
standards. The project is being co-fnanced with the Saudi Fund
for Development and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in
Africa.
The European Investment Bank has experience supporting airport
investment around the world and has provided EUR 12.5 billion
for new airports and airport upgrading in the last decade. This has
included runway improvements in Maputo, upgrading regional
airports in Tanzania, air traffc control in Madagascar and West Africa,
as well as Heathrow Terminal 5, Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt and
Paris airports.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending
institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It
makes long-term fnance available for sound investment in order to
contribute towards EU policy goals.
RIA UPGRADE BOOST
European Investment Bank backs urgent
Monrovia airport runway upgrade
KONNEH GETS IMF AFRICA GROUP MANTLE
Washington -
T
he International
Monetary Fund
(IMF) African Group
Constituency Group
One has selected Liberias
Finance and Development
Planning Minister Amara
Konneh as the new Chairman of
the 24-member grouping for the
next two years. Minister Konneh
succeeds Malawis Finance
Minister Goodall Gondwe.
The IMF African Group One
Constituency gives African
countries the opportunity to
voice their issues to a panel
that helps in determining the
international policy objectives
for a group of nations.
Following his appointment, the
outgoing Chair immediately
passed on the mantle of authority
to Minister Konneh who traded
seat and began presiding over the
2014 Group meeting at the IMF
headquarters in Washington, DC
Thursday.
The new Chairman welcomed
his appointment and urged his
colleagues to lend him their
fullest supports and cooperation.
Minister Konnehs ascension
comes at the time when there
is an Ebola outbreak in Liberia
and its neighboring countries
including Guinea and Sierra
Leone, which has claimed
thousands of lives.
In brief remarks, the outgoing
Chairman Ginde described
Chairman Konneh as eminently
qualifed and experienced
to diligently and effectively
advance the interests of the IMFs
Africa Group One Constituency.
It gives me great pleasure to
announce Mr. Amara Konneh
as our new Chairman Gonde
announced as he traded seat with
his successor, amidst applause
from the audience of African
Finance Ministers and Central
Bank Governors.
In remarks before proceedings
started, Chairman Konneh
extolled his predecessor for his
commitment and competence
in leading the affairs of the
group over the past two years.
According to him, under
Malawis leadership, the
Constituency was able to resolve
outstanding administrative
issues. Under his leadership,
he told his fellow African
Governors, he would like the
constituency to focus on IMF
policy issues that could affect the
economies of member countries.
The new Chairman urged
member countries to hold
together and speak with one
voice to maximize their infuence
in the IMF. Our collective voice
will be bolstered if also work
together for a common goal to
maximize our infuence on the
policies of the IMF.
Mr. Konneh recognized the
diversity that exists in the
constituency, noting that group
members should see such
diversity as their strength that
will make them mould together
a voice for Africa.Each one of
our countries has demonstrated
considerable potential growth,
which we must tap singularly and
collectively. He emphasized
that economic growth is the most
durable source of recognition
and voice.
Meanwhile, Somalia became the
newest member of the Group.
The Governor of the Central
Bank of Somalia, Hussein A.
Halane and delegation attending
the meeting thanked the group
for accepting Somalias request.
In a related development,
MsChileshe M. Kapwepwe of
Zambia has been appointed as
the new Executive Director,
taking over from Mr. Momodou
BambaSaho of The Gambia while
Mr. Maxwell M. Mkwezalamba
of Malawi was appointed
as new Alternate Executive
Director. Mr. Armando Manuel
of Angola was appointed as the
Vice Chairman, a position held
by Minister Konneh prior to his
ascendancy to the Chairmanship.
LIBERIA ASSUMES CHAIRMANSHIP OF AFRICA
GROUP ONE CONSTITUENCY OF IMF

I DO NOT HAVE EBOLA
Monrovia -
C
hief Justice Francis
Korkpor had clarifed
that he is well, ft
and up to the task
to perform his duties as the
Supreme Court opens it October
2014 Term of Court to hear
appeal cases from the lower
Circuit Court across the country.
The Chief Justice clarifcation
comes amid media report that
one of his three divers wife
had fallen to the deadly ebola
virus which had struck the lives
of several Liberians including
medical practitioners since its
outbreak of the disease from
neighboring Guinea in March.
Driver Isaac Audrick wife is
reported to have died from the
deadly virus earlier last week of
an illness suspected of been the
Ebola virus while taking care of
her sick mother who had also
died of the illness.
Judicial Spokesperson Singbe
Johnson told FrontpageAfrica
last week when he confrmed the
death of Isaacs wife that while
it is true that the Chief Justice
week end driver wife had died
and the driver quarantine for 21
days poised no risk to the Chief
Justice because in the course of
the death Isaac had never had
any direct contact with the high
court head in the last two weeks.
Now Chief Justice Kor4kpor
had added his voice on the issue
when he told reporters Monday
shortly after the opening of
the October 2014 Term of the
Supreme Court that he is of no
Ebola risk due to the death of his
drivers wife.
He stated that while it was true
that Isaac is his driver, he only
used him suddenly and that for
the last two weeks before the
incident he had not had any
interaction with this driver and
that based on the danger the
virus posed the driver had agreed
to quarantine himself after the
death of his wife.
According to the Chief Justice
there was the need for the media
to counter check information
before publication as the story
that his driver had Ebola had
embarrassed him to the extent
where his children in the United
States and elsewhere have been
calling him to fnd out about the
status of his health
There had been many concerns
raised about this story let me
tell all of you that because my
driver wife died therefore I must
quarantine myself, I dont have
Ebola, I am well let the message
go forth said Chief Justice
Korkpor.
Chief Justice Korkpor went on
to say that his driver Isaac is
well and alive contrary to other
reports that he had also fallen
to this deadly virus adding that
Isaac is a nice gentlemen.
Other People has recommended
that I quarantine myself like
Chief Medical Offcer (Bernice
Dahn these are two different
scenarios alluding that for
Bernice it was her special
assistant who was always with
her while for him there is a
difference because he only use
this driver suddenly.
At the same time, Chief Justice
Korkpor had called on the
other branches of government
F
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NEWS EXTRA
Liberia Chief Justice Clarifes Driver Quarantine
including the Executive and
Legislature for a collective effort
in the fght against the deadly
Ebola Virus indicating that with
the present of the virus in the
country nothing tangible can be
done in the country.
As part of the Judiciarys
commitment in the fght against
the ebola virus Chief Justice
Korkpor announced that he
and his other colleagues on
the Supreme Court bench had
resolved to contribute and are
prepared to one month of their
salaries and allowances spread
over for a period of four months
and deduct from their incomes at
a rate of 25% per month.
According to the Chief Justice
consultation have been held with
judges of the lower courts and
senior support staff for similar
gesture which they have all
agreed but with them of their
monthly salaries and allowances
will be deducted while a meeting
will be convened with the
general staff of the Judiciary
to secure from them similar
commitment to contribute to this
national cause.
On the issue of the state
of emergency imposed by
government on August 6,
2014 as the means of fghting
the Ebola virus Chief Justice
Korkpor indicated that certain
constitutional as well as statutory
rights may be suspended but the
declaration is required to outline
the specifc rights that are or to
be affected
Quoting Article 26 of the
Constitution the Chief Justice
also indicated under that article
the law requires that where
anyone or association alleges
that any of the rights granted
under the constitution or any
legislation or directives are
constitutionally contravened
that person or association may
invoke the privilege and beneft
of the court direction and urged
Liberians to remain law abiding.
Kennedy L. Yangian kennedylyangian @frontpageafricaonline.com 077296781
Frontpage
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Page 9
ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI, daffae82@gmail.com
F
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COUNTY NEWS
BASSA PROBLEMS BEGAN WITH COOPERS
APPONTMENT -DEPUTY SPEAKER BARCHUE
Buchanan, Grand Bassa County -
A
s protest against
two of Grand
Bassa County
offcials intensifes
in Buchanan City, the Deputy
Speaker of the Liberian House of
Representatives Hans Barchue
has recalled that President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf did not consult
the legislative caucus of the
county before appointing Madam
Etweeda Cooper and Mr. Adonis
Greeves as superintendent and
Development superintendent
respectively.
Hon. Barchue revealed that ever
since President Sirleaf made
the appointments, members of
the caucus saw it as a problem
because they felt that whosoever
become leader of the county
would have to work with the
caucus as a team.
We had the problem at the time
when John Whitfeld (deceased
Senator) was chairman of the
caucus. We had a problem
with this because we felt that
whosoever came as leader of this
county if we had a say in their
appointment - they will respect
us and we will work together
as a team but this didnt happen
so the problem in this county
started from that point, Hon.
Barchue blasted.
The Bassa lawmaker was
speaking over the weekend when
a group calling itself Aggrieved
Bassa Citizens (ABC) presented
a 10 count petition to members
of the county legislative caucus
in Buchanan.
Hon. Barchue described the
Assistant Superintendent
for Development as an
irresponsible man and termed
president Sirleafs appointment
of Mr. Greeves as insult to Grand
Bassa County.
Considering all the educated
men we have in this country
with degree in development
initiatives, engineers; people
who know about development
and have years of experience, you
put them one side and take a little
boy and make him development
superintendent, its an insult to
Grand Bassa County.
Barchue continues: Look at the
county, go in the districts, all the
bridges are down so the people
in the villages cannot bring their
produce in the market because
theres no road. The county
equipment that were bought are
used for political reasons, this is
the problem we have here.
The lawmakers who looked
furious over the state of
development activities in
the county said he expects
the Assistant Superintendent
for Development to use the
local radio stations to discuss
development issues instead of
reigning insults at lawmakers
of the county, adding that the
level of arrogance and disrespect
exhibited by the development
superintendent has to stop.
Hon. Barchue stressed that
Grand Bassa County will not go
forward until the right people are
put in the administrative position
of the county.
NOT THROWING ROCK
AND HIDING HAND
Accusing fngers were been
pointed at Hon. Barchue and
LPRC boss T. Nelson Williams
for funding the protesters action
against the county offcials.
Recently, the LPRC boss
clarifed that he had no interest
in the protesters cause but rather
concentrating on the work of
his foundation, leaving Hon.
Barchue to do same.
But the vocal lawmaker told
petitioners over the weekend that
he doesnt hide his disagreement
about any public offcial.
I will not hide behind anybody;
if I dont want a superintendent, I
will not hide behind anybody.
I will not be afraid to announce it
if I dont want a superintendent.
If I want to bring 500 persons
from my district to Buchanan
I will bring them to protest or
I will call a press conference
and announced it. If I feel the
superintendent along with her
deputy are ineffcient I will
announced it, I will not hide, the
Deputy Speaker explained.
The lawmaker added that before
the call from the protesters
to attend the petitioning over
the weekend, he and his
colleagues had not received
any communication from the
two under-fre offcials or any
civil society organizations in
the county about the unfolding
unrest in the county.
He thanked the protesters
for being peaceful since the
beginning of their protest and
assured them that their concerns
will be discussed among the
caucus members and if it
becomes necessary discuss their
grievances with the president.
SPLIT CAUCUS
Hon. Barchue and other
lawmakers including
Senator Karnga-Lawrence,
Representatives Gabriel Smith
and Jeh Byron Browne have been
quite critical of the handling of
the Ebola situation in the county
by the county administration and
the Ebola Task Force.
Four out of the seven lawmakers
attended the petition while the
other three abstained and no
reasons have been given for their
absence. Senate Pro-Temp, Sen.
Findley, Representatives Mary
Karwo and Robertson Siaway
of Districts Two and Four
respectively were indisposed
while the caucus chair led the
other four to hear the protesters
grievances.
Sen. Karnga-Lawrence asserted
that there are two groups of
leaders: the leaders who agree
with suppressing their people
and leaders who do not agree.
I want to say that the leaders
that are here today are the leaders
who do not agree for their people
to be suppressed and thats why
we are here today, she said.
Observers are wary about the
possibility of the two opposing
sections of the Bassa Lawmakers
(Caucus)critically and candidly
analyzing the concerns of the
protesters to amicable avoid
stemming the protest.
The Aggrieved Bassa Citizens
(ABC), while presenting their
petition outlined the pivotal role
the caucus can play to ensure that
their demands are met.
Duben Cleon, the groups leader
pointed out the division amongst
the lawmakers and how it has
affected the county progress and
need for development.
The under fre county offcials are
yet to make any comments since
the protesters action claimed
the attention of Buchanan but
the administrations spokesman,
Eddie Williams had told FPA
that the administration has
been cleared by auditors of the
Internal audit section of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs after
a report on the US$100,000.00
was submitted.


Monrovia
P
resident Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf has
renewed her vow to
continue to respect
the rights of others and will
not change her characteristics
of tolerance and understanding
peoples attitudes.
She promised to remain
engaged with all those who
mean good for the country and
no amount of disrespect to the
presidency will deter her from
performing her constitutional
duties. You can be assured
that whatever we do, we do
it for the good of this country
and my own tolerance,
understanding, and respect for
the rights of others will never
change, she said.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, the Liberian
leader made the assertion at
the end of a prayer service for
the country at the Dominion
Christian Fellowship Center on
Tubman Boulevard on Friday,
October 10, 2014.
The Liberia leader said despite
the seriousness of the Ebola
fght, there were still some
elements of the Liberian
society playing politics with the
situation. But President Sirleaf
assured the congregation that
with her engagement with
PRESIDENT SIRLEAF PROMISES TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS,
ENSURE TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLES ATTITUDES
partners, there is now enormous
international support coming to
Liberia and if Liberians unite in
the fght, they will soon reverse
the situation.
She admonished all Liberians
to continue to pray and at the
same time observe all the anti-
Ebola measures as released by
health authorities and experts.
We have to follow their advice
because we want to make sure
that we kick this disease out
of our country, region and the
world which is concerned that
its beginning to also affect
them, President Sirleaf said.
The Liberian leaders
comments were in response to
a sermon delivered by Bishop
Isaac Winker in which he
spoke of total disrespect to the
presidency especially by the
young people of Liberia.
Bishop Winker said young
Liberians were now using the
various radio talk shows to
abuse free speech and called
on them to have a change in
attitude. If you wish to be a
national leader tomorrow, its
time now that you gain respect
from the people by equally
addressing the presidency and
other national leaders with
respect and dignity, Bishop
Winker told the young people.
According to him, Liberians
accused others of being paid
agents whenever they are
told the truth about the need
to respect the offce of the
President and by this, he said
did not have any regret for
saying this as he was mandated
by God to tell the Liberian
people.
Bishop Winker, during the
sermon, delivered a special
prayer for Liberia against those
he said are bent on preaching
war in the country as God has
and will always destroy their
plan.
War mongers, the Bishop
said, are destined for self
destruction as the church will
continue to pray and thank
God for the ten years of
uninterrupted peace that the
country recently celebrated
since its return to the rule of
law through Presidential and
Legislative elections in 2005
that brought President Sirleaf
to power.
The service was the seventh
edition of a national tarry
organized by the church
of Liberia and held at
the Dominium Christian
Fellowship Center of the Isaac
Winker Global Ministry.

Page 10 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, October 14, 2014

IN BRIEF
CYCLONE KILLS 24 IN
EAST INDIA, SPARKS
FEARS OF FLOODS


VISAKHAPATNAM India
(Thomson Reuters Foundation) -
T
he death toll from
a powerful cyclone
which battered
India's eastern
coastline rose to 24 on Monday,
as the storm weakened and
moved inland, leaving a swathe
of destruction and triggering
fears heavy rains would bring
fash foods.
Packing wind speeds of up
to 195 kph (over 120 mph),
cyclone Hudhud hammered
the coasts of Andhra Pradesh
and Odisha states on Sunday,
forcing tens of thousands of
coastal inhabitants to seek
safety in storm shelters.
In the port city of
Visakhapatnam, home to two
million people, government
workers began removing
uprooted trees which had
blocked roads, restoring
snapped power and telecoms
lines and clearing up debris
including sign boards and
corrugated iron roofs which had
been ripped off buildings by the
strong gusts.
F
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PAGE
WORLD NEWS
MADAGASCAR
ARRESTS EX-LEADER ON
RETURN FROM EXILE
SCUFFLES BREAK OUT IN HK AS
ANTI-PROTEST GROUPS TEAR
DOWN BARRICADES
Antananarivo (AFP) -
F
ormer Madagascar
president Marc
Ravalomanana was
arrested on Monday
shortly after his return from
exile in South Africa, aides
said.
Special forces moved in to
detain the former leader, who
has been in exile since his
ouster in 2009, shortly after he
returned to the Indian Ocean
island and made an impromptu
address to supporters at his
home.
The arrest was confrmed by his
aides, who said he was taken to
an "unknown destination by
Malagasy police who arrived at
his home in about 15 vehicles"
around lunchtime.
VISAKHAPATNAM India
(Thomson Reuters Foundation) -
T
he death toll
from a powerful
cyclone which
battered India's
eastern coastline rose to 24
on Monday, as the storm
weakened and moved inland,
leaving a swathe of destruction
and triggering fears heavy
rains would bring fash foods.
Packing wind speeds of up
to 195 kph (over 120 mph),
cyclone Hudhud hammered
the coasts of Andhra Pradesh
and Odisha states on Sunday,
forcing tens of thousands of
coastal inhabitants to seek
safety in storm shelters.
WHERE'S KIM?
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)
W
here is Kim
Jong Un? He's
nowhere to be
seen, and yet ...
he's everywhere.
From "Saturday Night Live"
spoofs to the wild theories of
journalists across the globe
trying to parse his fve-week
absence from the public eye,
the 30-ish leader of North Korea
has captured nearly as many
headlines as he did when he
threatened to nuke his enemies
last year.
This bewildering ability to
command attention by doing
nothing says a lot about the
North's mastery of a propaganda
apparatus that puts Kim at the
center of everything. Remove
for 40 days the sun around
which that propaganda spins and
the international media, both
traditional and social, explode
with speculation and rumors.
It also speaks to the fundamental
diffculties everyone outside
North Korea academics,
government offcials, reporters
faces in understanding what's
really happening inside a small,
poor, autocratic country that
jealously guards its internal
workings as it ignores demands
by the U.S. and its powerful allies
to give up its nuclear bombs.
It is no mistake that the world
obsesses about Kim's extended
time off from his usual, seemingly
constant series of inspection
tours of factories and frontline
military bases. Ever since 1948,
when Kim's grandfather, Kim
Il Sung, founded the country
as a socialist rival to the U.S.-
backed South, the Kim family
has successfully sold the notion,
at home and abroad, that they are
North Korea.
In the fve weeks since Kim was
last seen in the state media at a
Sept. 3 concert, he has missed
several high-profle events that
he normally attends. An offcial
documentary released late
last month then made a single
reference to Kim's "discomfort"
and showed video footage from
August of him overweight and
limping.
Many analysts believe that while
Kim may have some health
issues, he's probably not in
serious trouble. But many other
people wonder.
"Is Kim Jong Un brain dead?" a
South Korean lawmaker asked
Adm. Choi Yoon-hee, head of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during
a parliamentary hearing Monday.
Choi said no, and, without
elaborating, said Kim's health
problems "are not severe enough
to disrupt his status as the ruler
of the country."
There are many reasons to
believe that.
No unusual troop movements or
other signs of a possible coup
have emerged. Diplomacy at the
highest level continues: Three
members of his inner circle made
a surprise visit to the South,
something analysts say would be
impossible without the leader's
blessing. Foreign tourists and aid
workers still travel to the North,
and there have been no reports of
new restrictions or warnings for
diplomats.
There's also nothing particularly
unusual about North Korean
leaders laying low for extended
periods. Kim's late father, Kim
Jong Il, no fan of the limelight in
his later years, would disappear
at times; Kim Jong Un, who
seems to genuinely like being
at the center of things, took off
without a word for three weeks
in 2012.
But the apparent vanishing act
of a man long seen in foreign
media as a cartoonish, all-
powerful overlord sitting on a
nuclear arsenal while his people
starve has proven endlessly
fascinating. And while there is
plenty of informed analysis from
experts and frequent visitors
to Pyongyang, there seems to
be even more thinly sourced
speculation.
Kim is, by turns, reported
to be suffering from gout,
from diabetes, from a brain
hemorrhage, from a heart
ailment, from a leg injury that
required surgery from a French
doctor, from mental illness or,
according to a head-turning
British report, from a cheese
addiction.
North Korea's completely
controlled state media,
meanwhile, chug right along.
Kim is seen in dispatches as the
benevolent wellspring of all that
is good and powerful. Archived
footage of him plays regularly on
state TV.
"Within North Korea, the people
feel Kim's presence even when
he is absent," Scott Snyder, a
Korea expert with the Council
on Foreign Relations, wrote in
a recent blog post. "Externally,
North Korean propaganda has
made Kim's presence so critical
that international media regard
his absence as disquieting,
NO EBOLA CHECKS AT BRUSSELS
AIRPORT AFTER FLIGHTS FROM LIBERIA
BY CARLO ANGERER AND
BECKY BRATU
I
ts the classic airport
scene: a man hugs his
wife and two daughters at
arrivals. But in this case,
the traveler had just stepped off
a plane from the Ebola-stricken
Liberian capital of Monrovia
meaning that some might shy
away from such embraces. "I've
been screened before getting on
the plane," he pointed out before
heading for the exit.
The twice-weekly fight from
Monrovia to Brussels is now the
only air link from the city to the
European continent and is
the route most Americans would
likely travel on their way home.
Thomas Eric Duncan, who died
in a Dallas hospital last week,
traveled to the U.S. from Liberia
via Brussels.
Only a handful of passengers
from Brussels Airlines Flight
SN1247 actually collected their
luggage in the Belgian capital
on Saturday morning. Those
interviewed by NBC News
said they were screened before
boarding the fight, but not upon
arrival in Brussels.
Dennis Orbus, a retired fre chief
from Sacramento, California,
who had helped with the Ebola
response, said passengers had to
fll out a thorough questionnaire
and had their temperature
checked twice in Monrovia
when entering the boarding area
and then immediately before
getting on the plane.
It felt adequate to me, but Im
no professional, he said. Other
than the screening measures it
seemed like a regular fight to
Orbus. It was normal, people
Absent North Korean leader stirs wild speculation
were tired, sleeping, eating.
Nothing unusual on the fight,
he said.
Nevertheless, Orbus said he was
worried Ebola would eventually
spread through global air travel.
Its a big concern, he said.
Another passenger, Bassirou
Bashir Kante, a U.S. citizen
born in Liberia who now lives in
Maryland, shared such concerns.
He said that he felt the screening
process at Monrovia airport was
not enough.
I think we need a lot of medical
professionals because anybody
could be doing what theyre
doing, he said, adding that he
felt screening in Sierra Leone,
which he had visited two weeks
earlier, seemed more thorough.
After a fight to Switzerland for
meetings, Kante said he was due
to head to Washington, D.C., on
Saturday night.
European airports have not
begun screening arrivals from
affected countries in West
Africa, but the U.S. government
said fve airports will soon
begin to do so. Airport offcials
in Brussels said that they have
emergency measures ready to
put in place if someone develops
Ebola symptoms in fight or
upon arrival, but added that that
they have not yet needed them.
Authorities at Monrovia's
Roberts International Airport
stepped up screening procedures
in August in response to the
spread of the deadly Ebola virus
bringing in health workers to
monitor passengers' temperatures
and inquire about their contact
with infected people.
On his recent trip out of Liberia
to the United States, Benjamin
Sanvee, 33, said his temperature
was taken three times with a
remote infrared thermometer
once at the entrance to the airport
grounds, the second time before
he checked in for his fight and
the third time right before he
boarded the plane. Sanvee said
that each time, health workers
wearing masks and gloves
monitored the passengers for
possible symptoms and wrote
down their temperatures on
pieces of paper, which the
passengers have to carry over to
the next checkpoint.
At the second checkpoint,
passengers are also asked
to answer a questionnaire
comprised of several yes-or-no
questions, Sanvee said, including
a query about the last time the
passenger had a fever.
Family members or friends
accompanying the passenger
have to say their goodbyes
outside the fence surrounding
the airport grounds, as only
passengers and their drivers are
allowed beyond the gate, he said.
It was very stringent when
I left," said Sanvee, a senate
candidate in Liberia. Sanvee
landed in the United States on
Sept. 13 after switching to a
connecting fight in Brussels,
where he said he wasn't screened
by health workers.
Several international carriers,
including Delta, have suspended
their fights into Monrovia
following the outbreak, which
the World Health Organization
said has killed more than 4,000
people.
But Liberian offcials caution
that travel restrictions won't
contain what has become a
"global public health crisis."
"This measure will not stop the
disease, it will stop and punish
people already affected by the
disease," said Tolbert Nyenswah,
assistant health minister for
Preventive Services and head of
the Ebola Incident Management
System. "The countries affected
need all the international support
to stop Ebola not further
isolation."

even ... without supporting
indicators of instability or upset
in Pyongyang."
Maybe the speculation comes
from South Korean offcials
eager to undercut the Kim
family's legitimacy, Adam
Cathcart, a University of Leeds
history lecturer, suggested in a
recent online post he titled "North
Korea Misinformation Bingo"
that listed various "theories."
Maybe it's North Korea's attempt
to change the subject from its
human rights abuse? Maybe it's
"driven by cutthroat competition
in the online journalism sector"?
The source is anyone's guess,
Cathcart wrote, but two things
are certain: There are lots of
rumors foating around, and
"most of them are probably
wrong."
Part of the interest in Kim's
absence stems from worries
about what would happen to the
country if the leader died without
securing a succession.
Kim Jong Un emerged as
the anointed successor after
Kim Jong Il disappeared from
public view in 2008 by most
accounts because of a stroke.
The elder Kim died in late 2011.
Kim Jong Un's two older
brothers, for whatever reasons,
were deemed unft to rule by
Kim Jong Il, and little is known
about his sister.
Kim's disappearance from the
public eye "does not appear
likely to shake the regime, but
it reveals the vulnerabilities the
regime faces," Snyder said.
Kim reportedly does have a
direct heir who may one day
extend the Kim dynasty into a
fourth generation. Probably not
soon, though. She's believed to
be a toddler.
Frontpage
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Page 11
Sports
SPORTS
COURTOIS DEFENDS
CHELSEA'S TREATMENT
OF HEAD INJURY
WE WERE ALL SUFFERING FOR
COSTA, DEL BOSQUE SAYS
ROBBEN MORE COMPLETE
THAN MESSI & RONALDO'
London (AFP) -
C
helsea goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois
insists he has no
complaints about the
club's handling of the head injury
he suffered against Arsenal.
Courtois was left dizzy and
bleeding from one ear after
sustaining the blow in a collision
with Arsenal winger Alexis
Sanchez during Chelsea's 2-0
win at Stamford Bridge last
weekend.
The Belgium international was
initially cleared to continue by
Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro,
but was eventually replaced by
Petr Cech
more than 13 minutes later after
his symptoms worsened.
LUXEMBOURG, Oct 12
(Reuters) -
S
pain coach Vicente
del Bosque predicted
Diego Costa would
be a key performer for
Spain in coming years after the
Brazil-born forward ended his
long wait for an international
goal on Sunday.
Costa's 69th-minute strike in a
4-0 win away to Luxembourg in
Euro 2016 qualifcation Group
C was his frst goal for La Roja
on his seventh appearance and
broke a duck lasting more than
500 minutes.
His lack of goals for the
European champions was all
the more perplexing as he has
been on electric form for new
club Chelsea with nine goals in
as many matches this term.
F
ormer Netherlands
boss Bert van Marwijk
says he would rather
have Arjen Robben in
his team than Lionel Messi or
Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Dutchman was in sublime
form for his country throughout
the World Cup as Oranje
made the semi-fnals, but
was pipped to the best player
of the tournament award by
the Barcelona forward, who
fnished second with Argentina.
However, Van Marwijk says
that his former charge is
superior to both the 27-year-
old and the Ballon d'Or winner,
who has started the season with
a bang for Real Madrid.
"If I'm a coach and I could
choose Messi, Ronaldo or
Robben, I'd choose Robben,"
he told AD.

KOBE BRYANT HAS A NEW LEADERSHIP
PHILOSOPHY, AND THE LAKERS LOVE IT

I
t was basically a defense
of his reputation as a
"villain" who doesn't get
along with his teammates.
"It's pushing them to fnd their
inner beast, even if they end
up resenting you for it at the
time," he wrote about how he
treats his teammates. "I'd rather
be perceived as a winner than a
good teammate. I have nothing
in common with lazy people
who blame others for their lack
of success. "
Over the course of his career
Kobe has gotten into public
feuds with his point guards,
scared the daylights out of
rookies, and generally regarded
his teammates with a healthy
level of disdain. When asked to
describe Kobe in three words,
Steve Nash picked, "M------ f--
---- a------."
Kobe is completely aware of
his reputation, and has talked
openly about the virtues of
being an "a------" in interviews.
That's why it's such a surprise
that the biggest story to come
out of Lakers training camp
is this: Kobe is being nice to
everyone!
Both ESPN's Arash Markazi
and the OC Register's Bill
Oram wrote stories about how
helpful Kobe has been to his
rookie teammates going into
the 2014-15 season.
Kobe told ESPN:
"My style is a little different
with his group. Its a little
more nurturing. Theyre so
much younger, so its a little
different. The important thing
with this group is learning how
to think the game all the way
through, which is different
than on teams that we have
had in the past. We had a lot


PISTORIUS SHOULD GET HOUSE ARREST,
COMMUNITY SERVICE, SOCIAL WORKER SAYS
PRETORIA (Reuters) -
S
outh African track
star Oscar Pistorius
should serve three
years of partial house
arrest and community service
for the negligent killing of his
girlfriend, a witness said on
Monday at the frst day of the
athlete's sentencing.
The 27-year-old Paralympic
and Olympic star, whose lower
legs were amputated as a baby,
was convicted of culpable
homicide last month for the
shooting of 29-year-old law
graduate and model Reeva
Steenkamp on Valentine's Day
2013.
The case has riveted South
Africans and gripped millions
around the world, shocked
by the fall of a man widely
admired as an inspiration for
disabled people and a symbol
of triumph over adversity.
of veteran guys who had been
around. So my teaching style is
different."
His teammates are raving
about it.
Lakers center Robert Sacre
who said Kobe didn't even
speak to him for two weeks
when he was a rookie says
the team is closer because of
Kobe's new outlook.
"I believe hes been more
helpful during this whole
process and the preseason. Hes
been really vocal as a leader.
In the past, he hasnt been as
vocal. But this year hes really
been trying to communicate
and help guys out. This year
has made an effort to push guys
but at the same time give them
advice to make them better."
Oram reports that Kobe and
coach Byron Scott sat down
with 1st-round pick Julius
Randle and told him he could
be an All-Star if he worked
hard. After Randle struggled
through two preseason games,
Kobe threw him a lifeline when
he may have criticized a rookie
in the past:
Byron Scott even made a Kobe-
is-old joke when describing
how great this kinder Kobe is:
"I think hes getting soft in his
old age. But seriously, hes
been really good with all the
guys, to be honest with you.
Hes done a heck of a job of
taking guys to the side and
teaching them little things
about the NBA. Hes done the
same thing at practice."
The best line comes from
Markazi, who wrote about
Kobe's philosophical change,
" His teaching style is
different in the sense that hes
actually teaching instead of
tormenting."
The big question is whether
Kobe maintains this new
style when things start to go
downhill this season.
Sports
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
FrontPage
PRICE L$40 VOL 8 NO.698 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
COACH UNDER PRESSURE
Abuja (AFP) -
P
ressure is mounting on
Nigeria coach Stephen
Keshi, with growing
unhappiness about his
handling of the team and as the African
champions risk elimination from next
year's Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles, who won the
competition in 2013, are currently
bottom of Group A after a shock
1-0 defeat away to Sudan and just a
single point from three games in the
qualifers.
Nigeria host Sudan, who are now third
in the standings with three points, in
a return fxture on Wednesday in the
capital, Abuja.
Next month, they travel to second-
placed Congo, who defeated them 3-2
in September, before the arrival of
group leaders South Africa.
Nigeria have to win all three matches
and hope other results go their way
if they are to stand any chance of
qualifying for the fnals in Morocco
in January.
Keshi, whose position has been the
subject of repeated speculation, has
apologized for the defeat to Sudan but
at the same time claimed there was a
conspiracy to ensure that he fails.
"There is a sabotage by some people.
I won't mention their names but they
know themselves. They want to run
this team down," he claimed.
"Some people are ready to sell this
country for a dime. They want to
sabotage the Super Eagles.
"It's a shame. They don't want this
team to get to the AFCON (Nations
Cup), they want this team to lose
outright. But they are not God.
"And this is not Keshi's team. Keshi
is a professional coach and after this
(assignment), he will get another job
elsewhere."
- Boos and brickbats -
Nigeria fans awaiting the team's
return from Sudan at Abuja airport
on Sunday roundly booed the players
and question marks about Keshi's
future dominated the country's media
on Monday.
The 52-year-old does not have a
contract with the Nigeria Football
VISIT UNCLE ZEH'S LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING SERVICE ON CROWN
HILL, BROAD STREET WHERE THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST
As Nigeria stutter in qualifying
Federation (NFF) after his initial
three-year deal ran out following
the World Cup fnals in Brazil.
He led Nigeria to win a third
Nations Cup last year and guided
the Eagles to reach the World Cup
knockout stage.
But he has lost the support of many
players after much-publicised
rows with the likes ofEmmanuel
Emenike
, Peter Odemwingie and Ikechukwu
Uche.
His record of fve defeats, fve
draws and just one victory in
the last 11 matches has only
compounded dissatisfaction.
"The boys did not play for their
coach (against Sudan) and he
(Keshi) should now know what to
do," said Larry Izamoje, owner of
Nigeria's all-sports radio Brila FM.
Most fans have equally demanded
for the dismissal of the coach.
One Nigeria supporter in Lagos,
Mike Johnson, said Keshi has
nothing more to offer.
"After watching Eagles against
Congo and South Africa, I
concluded that Eagles are going
down," he said.
"But when I watched them against
Sudan, I know that is the end of
Keshi era because I saw no touch
of technical input in the team.
"The performance of the team was
an eyesore. Keshi should be sent
away."
The NFF's new president Amaju
Pinnick also criticized the defeat
in Khartoum but maintained that
they will not rush a decision over
Keshi's future and would act in the
country's best interest.
"It is embarrassing that as reigning
champions, we are struggling in
the qualifying series, with only one
point out of a possible nine. It is an
awful output," he said.
"However, we want our people
to be patient and not stampede
the federation to take knee-jerk
decisions that will backfre in the
end.