The terror Liberians faced every day

ABC News' Tom Sawyer takes you into Liberia's brutal civil war. Click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DA7tZD2OLc&NR=1

A touching message for all Liberians

Liberian musical stars, Zack Roberts and Geebah Swaray, have a message for all Liberians. Click here to hear that marvelous song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-dSUUBkldw&feature=related

Harry Fumba Moniba Foundation Established

Philadelphia, 03/12/09 - A foundation honoring the late Dr. Harry Fumba Moniba, former Vice President of Liberia, has been established by the Moniba Family. The formal launching of "The Dr. Harry Fumba Moniba Foundation" is scheduled for Monday, March 16, according to his widow, Mrs. Minita Kollie Moniba.
Dr. Moniba died in a two-car accident on November 24, 2004 in Michigan while preparing to launch his campaign for the Liberian presidency in the 2005 election Ellen Sirleaf "won."

Mrs. Moniba told the Sloh Information Service today that although her late husband may not have driven his putting “Liberia First” campaign to completion, "he had a clear vision and tirelessly articulated it." She said Dr. Moniba "wanted to provide a leadership that is selfless, inclusive, and exemplary," adding, "He cared about Liberia and had a passion for putting national interest above his own."

She recalled that her father was "unwavering in his commitment to peace and respect for rule of law – a commitment which his few critics took for weakness, although many of his supporters and admirers see his non-violent stance as strength."
She said the Moniba Family and true friends believe that his dedication to a peaceful change was a major stabilizing factor in the successful creation of the multi-party system which today forms the basis for violence-free competitive elections even in post-war Liberia.
"In his home going, he did not only leave behind a lasting memory of a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother, he also left a legacy of national leadership with honesty and integrity which is to be admired and emulated. Part of his ever lasting legacy will be the shining example he set for his fellow citizens in that hard work, dedication and love for a country will drive a man to do great things, and, thus, a nation to do great things," she noted.
Mrs. Moniba demonstrated unwavering gratitude to friends of the Moniba family by saying, "I want to sincerely thank all those who have continued to identify with us during and after our period of bereavement. Your overwhelming outpouring of concerns and affections continues to remind us of the positive impact that Dr. Moniba made in the lives of those around him as well as in national and foreign affairs."
She concluded, "I want to ask that you join us in keeping Dr. Moniba's leadership vision alive in the years ahead by working to make our great country of Liberia a place where democracy, freedom of speech, and the liberty of its citizens exist for the greater good of all Liberians."

ULAA Inauguration Continues to Pull Big Names

...NEKTAA, SIS Boss accepts Kesselly invitation
...Who will be left out?

Philadelphia, 3/11/09 (SIS) - The National President of the New Krutown Association in the Americas (NEKTAA), Mr. Jay Nagbe Sloh, has received and subsequently accepted an invitation from the President of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), Mr. Anthony Varfilay Kesselly, to attend the Union's inaugural festivities scheduled for this weekend in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In his official invitation to President Sloh on March 7, 2009, President Kesselly said "This comes as a formal invitation to you and your Organization, the New Krutown Association in the Americas, to attend the Inaugural Dinner Ball of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, slated to take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, March 14, 2009."

President Kesselly informed President Sloh that he and his corps of officers were elected by ULAA's 34th National General Assembly held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 4, 2008, and that they were duly sworn into office in Chicago, Illinois, on November 15, 2008, in keeping with the Union's Elections Timetable. Now comes the inaugural ball, to which we humbly request the honor of your presence," President Kesselly noted.

In his official letter of acceptance to President Kesselly yesterday, President Sloh , who is also managing editor of the internationally acclaimed Sloh Information Service, said: “We present our compliments, and have the honor to officially acknowledge receipt of, and respond to, your invitation for us to attend the Union's inaugural Ball scheduled for March 14, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.”

He added: “NEKTAA notes, with thanks and appreciation, your track record of supporting its programs over the years. We also note, with interest, your assurance that our patronage of your program will assist foster some of your service delivery objectives. Additionally, we are gratified by the fact that your National Treasurer, Honorable Emmanuel Nimely Togba, is our own National Secretary-general.”

President Sloh further informed President Kesselly, “Based on the above, we gladly accept your invitation and will do everything within our powers and resources not only to attend this program, but mainly to ensure the overall success of your Administration.”

Sloh said NEKTAA, as a Liberian organization, looks forward to a productive partnership with ULAA in the two organizations' service delivery objectives.

“We wish you success, and avail our personal and official support as you begin the difficult task of rebuilding a ULAA that is much more responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Liberian people,” he concluded.

Liberia

Chea Cheapoo: "I Will Become Next Rebel Leader"
...Former chief justice calls on Liberians to resist rigged elections

By Jay Nagbe Sloh
Managing Editor

Philadelphia, Pa, 02/02/03 (SIS) - A former Chief Justice of Liberia has announced he will become the next rebel leader in war-ravaged Liberia if the country's current president, Charles Taylor, rigs the elections scheduled for October 14, 2003 and succeeds himself.

Counselor Chea Cheapoo, also a former Liberian minister of justice and attorney general, said judging from prevailing political conditions in Liberia, "it is clear that president Taylor is unwilling to make fundamental reforms to ensure a level playing field in the up-coming elections."

He called on the Liberian people to "become rebels if Taylor steals the election." The controversial lawyer made the remarks Saturday night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he served as guest speaker at programs for the installation of officers of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA), a grouping of Liberian journalists in the tri-state area of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

"President Taylor has no interest in rebuilding Liberia since he took office. Further, his regime is more repressive politically and unprogressive economically more than any other Liberian president I know or read about," he claimed. The former Liberian senator told his audience, which included LURD rebel leader Joe Wylie, that "unless the necessary reforms are made in Liberia, participating in an election arranged and controlled by an elections commission appointed by Taylor will only lend legitimacy to an already rigged election.

On the topic "Liberia: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," Cheapoo said Liberia's tomorrow is bleak with a tyrant sitting in the Liberian presidential mansion, terrorizing the entire sub region. He called on Liberians to "press for power and take control of their country from Taylor by staying away from any bogus election lacking fair play and masterminded by Taylor." He said "if Taylor goes ahead with a fake election in any event, Liberians must not recognize the results of said fake election as citizens but rather organize a provisional government to put in place the appropriate fundamental reforms for democratic elections within a year."

On Liberia's past, Cheapoo said Liberia's successive governments from 1822 to 1980 were politically undemocratic and repressive and economically regressive. He said even the overthrow of the settlers by the natives in 1980 did not introduce much change in the operation of government. He said when Doe seized power in 1980, he had no special abilities in identifying his enemies, thereby putting his trust in Charles Taylor who stole a million dollars from the government as director-general of the General Services Agency and later overthrew Doe by force of arms."

Also making remarks at the occasion, the National Chairman of the Coalition of Progressive Liberians in the Americas (COPLA), Mr. Bodioh Wisseh Siapoe, stoned the audience with a disclosure that his organization had credible evidence that ballot papers and boxes for the ensuing election had already been ordered, printed, and filled out in favor of Taylor's party, and were being hidden in the interior of Liberia.

Mr. Siapoe said the ballot boxes were recently removed from one location to another, after COPLA raised the initial alarm from credible information it had gathered from Liberia and outside the country where they were printed.

Journalist Hassan Bility, who was recently flown out of Liberia by the U.S. government after spending six months in various criminal cells and other detention places throughout Liberia, explained his ordeal to the audience.

He said when he was first arrested, he was taken to President Taylor's house in the middle of the night, where Taylor, flanked by his security chiefs, personally coerced him to confess to operating rebel LURD cells in Monrovia, and to also implicate Catholic Bishop Michael Francis and some prominent Liberian politicians in activities of LURD rebels.

Bility said during his six-month detention, he was held under horrible conditions at various points, including at the war front, by lawless Liberian government forces. The Moslem sent the crowd wailing when he disclosed that at one of his detention points, he was made to drink undiluted Dewar whisky while, at another point, he was detained for a week in a hole half filled with dirty water.

Bility expressed appreciation to the U.S. government, Amnesty International, ALJA, and other institutions and individuals who helped secure his release.
ALJA National President Cyrus Badio, in remarks, disagreed with calls for violence in Liberia. He said the guns that should have liberated us from one tyrant to another have always done the opposite, enslaving us.

Badio called for unity among politicians and ordinary Liberians in tackling the political problems of the country. He said other African countries have effected democratic changes by peaceful means, and Liberians can do the same.

Those installed by Mrs. Judi Bernstein-Baker, a prominent Philadelphia-based immigration lawyer, were Massa Washington, Chairman; Bentt Chea, Vice Chairman; Moses Sandy, Secretary-General; and Gardea Woodson, Treasurer.

Messrs. J. Nagbe Sloh and J. Kpankoi Jallah were also installed as members of the Administrative Board, the legislative arm of the organization.

Liberia

3 More "Presidents" Surface
...Who Will Win Liberia's Presidency?

By J. Nagbe Sloh
Managing Editor
Sloh Information Service

Philadelphia, Pa, 04/15/04 (SIS) - The date for Liberia's presidential and general elections remains uncertain, but the list of presidential hopefuls gets longer and longer while, interestingly, the country remains bankrupt for legislative candidates. The newest names in the presidential theater are former deputy Information Minister J. Milton Teahjay, former Foreign Minister Lewis G. Brown, and former National Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman Soko Brown.

Already, the three presidential hopefuls have reportedly organized exploratory campaign committees and taken other actions to enter the crowdy race to Liberia's Executive Mansion.

On Sunday, May 9, 2004, the budget committee of Mr. Teahjay's campaign met at 201 North Cedar Lane in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, to put finishing touches to a three million U.S. dollars budget they believe is enough to have him win the United People's Party (UPP) nomination and, eventually, the presidency. Reports say Teahjay has UPP's Gabriel Baccus Matthews and Marcus Dahn to beat if he must bear the party's standards.

At Sunday's budget meeting, Teahjay's campaign also displayed twelve toyota landcruiser trucks destined for Liberia to kick off his campaign effort. Mr. Teahjay himself was at the meeting. The head of the exploratory team, Y. Wloti Hne, told our reporter that the vehicles and other campaign materials should leave the Port of Maryland (USA) shortly for Liberia.

When our reporter cornered Mr. Teahjay and asked why he wanted to be president and why he thought he would win, he reserved comments, saying, he will speak to the press "at the appropriate time." On when he would be traveling to Liberia, Teahjay, chased out after falling from grace with Taylor in 2000, said "As soon as necessary and possible." He declined further comments.

In Monrovia, our reporter said Lewis Brown and Soko Brown are battling for control of Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Party. Lewis Brown is reported to be leading the polls of NPP members because he is the favorite of Charles Taylor and other party leaders.

The race for the Executive Mansion widens, the question remains: "Who Will Win The Mansion"?

Liberia

Willis Knuckles Confesses Participation in Group Sex

...But refuses to resign as Ellen's Presidential Affairs Minister

By Jay Nagbe Sloh

Managing Editor

Philadelphia, 02/19/07 (SIS) - Liberia's sex scandal hero, presidential affairs minister Willis D. Knuckles, has confessed to his participation in what has become an embarrassment to the Liberian government and people. A nude photograph widely circulated over the weekend showed Knuckles standing and having sex from the back of a lady who was simultaneously performing oral sex with another lady. And, contrary to the widely-held public opinion that the photo was super-imposed to embarrass Knuckles, the disgraced presidential chief of staff agreed the picture is genuine. He apologized for the immoral act, but refused to resign as many demand.

In a statement issued in Monrovia today, Knuckles shifted blame to a female legislator who, along with house speaker Edwin Snowe and his wife (Mardea), "masterminded the circulation of the photograph." He referred to the publication of the photograph as a blackmail by speaker Snowe to force Knuckles into fighting with Snowe to fend off attempts by some House members to impeach the speaker. Below is the full text of Knuckles' statement:

"A compromising photograph has been in circulation reaching serious proportions since the resignation of former Speaker Edwin Snowe, with distribution on the internet, among journalists and even on street corners. The purpose of this statement, therefore, is to give a clear perspective to the press and to the public as to how this situation has evolved.

"First, I must express regrets to my wife of 37 years, my children, my mother, and all my other relatives, my boss, the President, my pastor and my church, my co-workers in government and all my friends, associates and others in the general public to whom this episode has come as a pointless embarrassment.

"The perpetrators of this act along with a certain female legislator, have distributed copies of this photograph with the intent of embarrassing me socially and inflicting political damage to the government given my current political position.

"The photograph currently circulating was first brought to my attention two weeks ago by Mrs. Mardea White Snowe, who happens to be a cousin and her husband, Edwin Snowe. This happened through a mutual family intermediary. Exactly from where or how it was obtained was not explained and I am still at a loss to understand. Mrs. Snowe indicated that she had control over this photograph.

"They unsuccessfully attempted to blackmail me by offering me the photograph and if I would according to them, stop opposing Mr. Snowe and help find a way to resolve Snowe’s political difficulties.

"I rejected their overtures and suddenly, since his resignation as Speaker, copies have appeared everywhere.

"The public might want to know that in the 2005 elections, I vigorously opposed Mr. Snowe’s candidacy in the Montserrado County District elections. I informed Mrs. Snowe that I felt it my duty to oppose his election to the House of Representatives.

"Since that day, all Mr. Snowe troubles have been blamed on me.

"That people are prepared to go to such an extreme as what the perpetrators have done in an attempt to destroy another person’s character is regrettable.

"The accusation of two years ago of four people attempting to kill Mr. Snowe is still fresh in our memory. An NSA report later showed manufactured emails, arranged foreign trips to Ghana, etc. all part of a fraudulent make-up for which an apology was offered.

"Now for whatever political or other ends the perpetrator wishes to achieve, my private life is being drawn into the short and inglorious end of someone else’s public life.

"I sincerely hope that in dealing with the current difficulty that this situation has created, it should be noted I have forty years of service in the public and private sectors-one widely regarded as dedicated and efficient.

"In closing, I must thank all those who have offered me moral and other support in dealing with the crisis-Her Excellency the President, and other government officials, my family, my church friends at home and abroad of all persuasions, and Liberians in general.

"Willis D. Knuckles

Minister of State for Presidential Affairs
Republic of Liberia."