As Nigerian Police Receives Honor, UNMIL Police Boss Urged Them to do More, Says Nigerian Police Contribution is Critical To Peace In LIberia

Monrovia, Liberia – United Nations Police Commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Alhassan, has said that the deployment of Nigerian Police peacekeepers in Liberia is a vital contribution to the success of the UNMIL’s mandate. Mr. Alhassan was speaking at a medal ceremony on 23 January, where he decorated eight Nigerian civilian police and two Immigration officers with UN peacekeeping medals on behalf of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Alan Doss.“As Police and Immigration officers, you assist and support the Liberia National Police in escorting, patrolling, recruitment, training, crowd control, and criminal investigations,” the Commissioner said. “You are also actively involved in the reform currently underway with Liberia’s Immigration Bureau. You are the foundation of our principle objective of maintaining law and order and public safety.” He praised Nigeria for being an important member and strong ally of the United Nations for many years, with a steady commitment to the ideals, principles and objectives of the United Nations. “You have shown the world how deeply you value international peace and security. The award of medals is a symbolic token of the gratitude the international community owes you, the peacekeepers of the United Nations, for your commitment and dedication to duty,” the UN Police Commissioner pointed out. Mr. Alhassan then reminded the Police and Immigration officers to always strictly abide by the Secretary-General’s policy of zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse: “We must always be on our best behaviour and work towards maintaining the respect and trust of the Liberian people.” He paid tribute to the Contingent Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner Mustapha Muhammed, for his excellent leadership, and the Police and Immigration officers for their spirit and determination. Nigerian Police, Immigration and Corrections officers are currently deployed in Monrovia, Bo-Sinje (Grand Cape Mount County), Barclayville (Grand Kru County), Salala (Margibi County), Toe Town (Grand Gedeh County), and Gbarnga (Bong County).Nigeria began contributing peacekeepers to United Nations peacekeeping missions as far back as 1960 starting with the first United Nations Mission in Congo. Since then Nigerian civilian Police officers and Formed Police Units have been serving in missions in UNTAG Namibia, UNTAC Cambodia, UNPROVOR Yugoslavia, UNAVEM I,II,III Angola, UNISON Somalia, UNMOZ Mozambique, UNMIR Rwanda, UNMBIH Bosnia-Herzegovina, UNTAET East Timor and UNAMSIL Sierra Leone. The medal award ceremony was attended by the Deputy Head of Mission of the Nigerian Embassy in Liberia, Mr. Folu Ogunbanwo, the Inspector-General, Liberia National Police, Ms. Beatrice Munah Sieh, Liberia’s Immigration and Naturalization Commissioner, Ms. Abla Williams, and other senior officers of the UN and Liberian Police.

THOUSANDS AWAIT MERCYSHIP TO LIBERIA

The humanitarin medical ship, Mercyship is expected to arrive in Liberia soon, to cater thousands of medical cases. During its stay here last year, J. Cholo Brooks featured its works as the story seen below:

"The hospital ship which arrived in Liberia for the first in March of last year with a crew of over 370 professional medical staff is said to be making a tremendous strive in rescuing thousands of Liberians who have been victimized by various illnesses, including the restoration of their deformities.The Mercy Ship Anastasis which is currently being docked at the Free Port of Monrovia is providing free specialized surgeries, development assistance, and educational programs, given thousands of Liberians the opportunity to benefit from its humanitarian programs and services.When our Liberia Correspondent visited the Ship at the National Port of Authority in Monrovia to witness its numerous humanitarian medical services on board, hundreds of children and the elderly were seen trooped aboard the ship to seek proper medical treatment, some of which could not be handled by local medical practitioners due to the lack of modern technology and the professional medical know-how.Taken our Correspondent on a tour of the ship, its Media Liaison Officer, J. Todd Sorrell said the ship grouped 31 nationals from around the world who are voluntarily contributing their humanitarian services to the Liberian people who are drowning in the health situation, especially in the health sector of countries visited over the years.He said Mercy Ship Anastasis global humanitarian services is not only limited to health care services; its highly skilled surgeons perform thousands of operations to remove tumours, correct cleft lips and palates, align crossed eye, repair fistulas, give sight to the blind, as well as provide a wide range orthopedic operations.Stressing further Mr. Sorrell said the following professional medical checkup such as eye surgeries, eye laser, eye consultation, plastic surgeries, dental care and the distribution of prescription of glasses were also been looked at, others include Church empowerment; renovation of schools, training of teachers, workshops, the distribution of Bibles, HIV/AIDS awareness and the holding of church leadership conference.Speaking further on board the Ship, the Executive Director of the M/V Anastasis (Mercy Ship), Madam Solfrid Quist said the mission of the crew to Liberia did also focus on training; the training of traditional birth attendants, baby feeding education, Community Health care education and the training of local surgeons.“Presently we are carryout a renovation of one of a school in the Royesville area, and also we are involve in water and sanitation; the drilling of 4 wells, the construction of 20 latrines and the constructing of bridges in rural Liberia”, the Mercy Ship Executive Director stressed.During the tour of the ship several persons were seen making effort to receive the “free medical gift” from their visitors, the Mercy Ship professional medical crew who were also seen humanitarianly taken care of their Liberian patients, “Mercy Ship provides medical care, relief aid, community development and long term-sustainable change in developing nations”, the ship promotional leaflet handled over to our Correspondent on board the ship read.Also speaking to our Correspondent, the Program Officer of the M/V Anastasis (Mercy Ship), Chris Guilebeau, an American said they were overwhelm of the reception being accorded them from the Liberian leadership headed by Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who praised the entire management of the ship during her visit on board the ship, followed her visit, the Vice President of Liberia Ambassador Joseph Boakai also made a brief visit.Many of the patients interviewed by our Liberia Correspondent praised the staff of this global medical ship, “ words are inadequate to express, these guys are indeed good, can you imagine I have been suffering for over fifteen years with swollen face and crossed eye, but since I came over on board this ship my problem has been solved. Thank God for Mercy Ship,” a lady who just finished with her operation prior to our Correspondent’s on board the ship said.This lady was among 100 others who had gone on board the ship for treatment, some of the patients said they were being isolated in their communities due to severity of their illnesses, “With God being on my side, Mercy Ship is my savior, I will never forget them”, expressing her joy, one of the ladies, perhaps in her late 40s speaking to our Correspondent on board the ship said.The patients including elderly and children were seen on the ship with deformities, seeking the professional medical assistance of the Mercy Ship crew, “My child has been suffering from swollen eye, many in our community rejected him because of his condition, but as God could have it, I brought him over to the Mercy Ship people, he has gone through the operation, everything is okayed with him”, another Liberian in a joyous mood following an eye operation on her nine years old son.The work of the medical crew of Mercy Ship was indeed amazing as our Correspondent glanced at some of the patients mostly kids some of whom in their early teens, the smiling faces of most of the workers on board this ship impressed him as he went on with his tour on the ship. “Everyone here are God fearing people who belong to a God believing Church; as volunteers we put God first in our doing”, one of the girls on board ship, perhaps in her early twenties from the United States said."

OFFER BY CONTE FAILS TO END GUINEA STRIKE

BBCNEWS

The general strike in Guinea is continuing despite President Lansana Conte's offer to name a new prime minister - a key union demand.
Thousands of people have held protests in the eastern town of Kankan, reports the AFP news agency.
Talks are also continuing, focused on how much power the president would hand over to the prime minister.
Almost 60 people have died in 16 days of protests, organised by unions who say Mr Conte should step down.
Officials now say that at least 49 people were killed in the capital, Conakry on Monday - 16 more than were previously said to have died.
AFP says the authorities did not try to stop the Kankan march, while there are fewer police than in previous days on the streets of Conakry.
The talks are attended by trades union leaders, members of the Supreme Court and religious leaders.
Action
The trades unions said they wanted first to see concrete action from President Conte before ending the strike.

Strongman feels the heat
"The people of Guinea do not want any more promises. They want something concrete," said Abdoulaye Sow, one of the leaders of the Syndicated Union of Workers of Guinea (USTG).
"It is an agreement in principle. Now it is necessary to put it into practice," he said.
There is no word from the government on the outcome of the talks.
Mr Conte seized power in a 1984 coup but has since won three elections.
The strikers accuse Mr Conte, who is his 70s and suffers from diabetes, of mismanaging the economy and personally securing the release from prison of two men accused of corruption.
This is the third general strike in a year.

MAN WHO RAPED 50 WOMEN BREAKS JAIL IN LIBERIA

A renowned women rapist who reportedly raped 50 women in the Western Liberian Provincial City of Tubmanburg, Bomi County has broken jail in that County. Varney Gararmah broke jail at 9:30 Tuesday Night along with six other inmates. Due to the seriousness of this notorious criminal’s action, a team of police investors has left Monrovia for the County. Varney Gargamah was reportedly tried and convicted for ten years on charge of rape. He was due to have been transferred to Monrovia today. Thousands of Women in the County are said to be calliung on the Central Government to speedily re-arrest Varney Gargamah

Crisis In Guinea: President Conte Accepts Demand, Agrees To Name Prime Minister

BBCNEWS

Monday's clashes left at least 33 people deadGuinea's President Lansana Conte has agreed to name a new prime minister - one of the key demands of trade unions to end a general strike, mediators say.
They say he made the concession at talks attended by trade union leaders, members or the Supreme Court and religious leaders.
But the trade unions say the strike, that began on 10 January, will continue until all their demands are met.
On Monday at least 33 people died in clashes between police and protestors.
Etienne Leno, one of the religious leaders who met Mr Conte on Wednesday, told Reuters news agency that the president was ready to listen to the people.

"He is even in agreement that, if the people want one, there should be a new prime minister," Mr Leno said.
"Now we must find a credible candidate."
But the trade unions said they wanted first to see concrete action from President Conte before ending the strike.
"The people of Guinea do not want any more promises. They want something concrete," said Abdoulaye Sow, one of the leaders of the Syndicated Union of Workers of Guinea (USTG).
"It is an agreement in principle. Now it is necessary to put it into practice," he said.
There is no word from the government on the outcome of the talks.
Mr Conte seized power in a 1984 coup but has since won three elections.
The strikers accuse Mr Conte, who is his 70s and suffers from diabetes, of mismanaging the economy and personally securing the release from prison of two men accused of corruption.
This is the third general strike in a year.

GNN Gives Top Liberian Investment Companies International Exposure

The Management of the Global News Network (GNN), publisher of one of Liberia's informative news magazine, THE STAR Magazine has begun profiling major companies in Liberia regarding their services to the Liberian people.

According to the CEO of GNN, Mr. J. Cholo Brooks, the objective of this exercise is to help promote these companies that are helping to restoring Liberia's economy image after years of civil strive.

Mr. Brooks said targeted companies the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC), the Salala Rubber Corporation, Weala Rubber Corporation, the Liberia Beverage & Bottling Company, the MANCO and several other more.

Meanwhile, Mr. Brooks and his team of journalists are today leaving Monrovia to Tubmanburg, Bomi County to start the project, looking at the newest company, the Liberia Beverage & Bottling Company which is producing for the first time in Liberia a natural mineral drinking water in they country.

LIBERIAN LAWMAKER WANTED BY U.S. FBI FOR RAPE

Honorable Kettehkumu E. Murry of the House of Representatives and Chairman on Executive is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his alleged involvement in sexual activities with a minor in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA in 1996.
According to a notice published in a local daily in Monrovia, the U.S. Government charged Murry with "indecent liberties with a child, and attempted rape."
According to the published notice, the warrant was issued by the United States Government on April 15, 1997.
Murry is among his fellow lawmakers that opted the removal of the House Representatives Speaker, Edwin Snowe for what the House termed his inability to lead them.
Since the notice was published in the paper, the Liberian lawmaker has disappeared amongst his colleagues at the Unity Conference Center where they are meeting regular for sessions. Last week, 46 members of the house, led by its chairman of the Executive Committee, Kettehkumeh Murray, voted to remove the speaker on grounds that he is incompetent to lead the legislative body.
Last Thursday, It was announced on radio in the Liberian capital Monrovia that the Speaker was removed by 46 members of the legislature following days of controversies over the constitutionlaity of their venue.
The lawmakers cited Snowe's lack of leadership. They said the image of the House of Representatives has been severely damaged by the notoriety of his pariah status as manifested by the continuous UN travel ban and asset freeze placed on him.
Edwin Snowe was also accused of taking an interpreter on a trip without permission and meddling in Liberia's diplomatic policy on China - for which he apologised and received a parliamentary pardon.
Legal scholars in Liberia have argued against the action of the 46 lawmakers, terming it a violation of the constitution.
Human Rights advocates argued that Mr. Snowe has not been allowed due process by his pears, and was therefore being ejected unconstitutionally. They say they could not endorse the removal action based on mere allegations by a renegade group of lawmakers who were already tussling over a venue for the House to convene.
Mr. Snowe and his supporters have accused the office of President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of masterminding the efforts to have him removed. But Presidential press secretary, Cyrus Wleh Badio denied the claims and said the president, under no circumstance would do such. He challenged Mr. Snowe to produce evidence of the president's involvement in his removal.
Prior to the vote to remove Speaker Snowe, two lawmakers admitted receiving a bribe of US$5,000. each to spearhead the removal of the Speaker. They fell short of saying the Executive Mansion was involved

NAGBE SLOH UNDERGOES 6 HOURS OPERATION AT U.S. HOSPITAL

A Liberian Journalist based in the U.S. , J. Nagbe Sloh who has been ill for the past two weeks is expected to undergo a six-hour mediacl operation iat Marcer Hospital in Belview, New Jersey, the USA.

According to a dispatch from the Liberia Media & Advertising Services (LM&AS), Mr. Sloh who has been admitted at the hospital on January 15, 2007 is suffering from dead and swollen arm.

The six hours operation to revive the left hand of Mr. Sloh is experted to be perform by or four well trained United States medical doctors who are expected to perform the surgery.

Anyone wishing to get in contact with Sloh at his hospital room must call: 001609-394-4570

KOFI ANNAN MOVES FOR GHANA PRESIDENCY

24/01/2007 09:39 - (SA)

Mawusi Afele

Accra - Ghana's illustrious son, former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan, arrived back home on Tuesday to a rousing welcome upon his retirement as UN chief, and already he was being mentioned as a presidential candidate for the West African country. His fans suggested he should do for Ghana what Nelson Mandela did for South Africa after 27 years in prison under apartheid: become president and lead the country out of a period of turmoil. But many Ghanaians also admitted that Annan deserved a good rest after serving at the helm of the world organisation for two terms, ten years that ended on December 31. A welcoming party of hundreds waved flags, led by President John Agyekum Kufuor, to meet Annan, 68, and his wife at Kotoka International Airport, where traditional drummers and dancers extolled his virtues.

Ghanaians waved flags

In the city, workers feverishly added finishing touches to several large billboards being erected in Accra welcoming Annan back home. Politicians, traditional and religious leaders and the general public waved miniature Ghana flags of red, gold and green with a black star in the middle. Annan was to deliver a lecture on Thursday as part of Ghana's golden jubilee celebration, and meet with Kufuor and other leaders through the week. Annan thanked the welcoming throng for "the support and encouragement" he received throughout "these 10 years". Without it, he said, his work would have been "much more difficult". He said: "This has been a wonderful homecoming. We are happy to be home. When my wife and I looked out of the window and saw that you are here in your numbers to welcome us home, we were really, really moved. "It's been a long journey and today I complete the circle and I am really looking forward to sitting down with my compatriots, men and women of Ghana, discussing some of the issues."

Annan encouraged to contest

Annan brought home honours including the Nobel Peace Prize as the second African in 60 years to head the UN after Egyptian Boutros Boutros Ghali, and many of his compatriots were encouraging him to put his experience to work at home. The draftannan2008 campaign team for example wanted Annan "to come and lead us as a nation" and contest the 2008 presidential elections as an independent candidate. One group said: "We need to consolidate and amplify our democratic and economic gains, focusing on sustainable poverty reduction, given his academic qualifications, global experiences and understanding of the causes of poverty and strategies to address them." However, others believed that he needed and deserved a rest. James Victor Gbeho, Ghana's former ambassador to the UN and foreign minister, said Annan should not be given a special role, but should be made to rest.

Annan 'should be allowed to rest'

He said: "I don't think that Mr Annan himself when he comes is coming to look for another job. He has earned the rest, which he must be allowed to take. "He does not have to be given an official appointment in Ghana to be useful ... I think they should allow him to rest. "He probably would be settling down now to write his memoirs and be writing on some issues that are of importance to him. I am quite certain that the academic institutions in America and Europe would be pursuing him to deliver lectures." Annan, whose second term as head of the UN ended December 31, was reported to have turned down suggestions that he should run for president. The draft-Annan movement conceded that Annan deserved an "extended period of rest with his family" after a "gruelling" 10 years at the UN. The group said: "But, there are few opportunities for a nation like Ghana to have a child of his calibre as head of state, just as Nelson Mandela emerged from 27 years of abominable torment to lead his people for one term during the transition from the evil apartheid era."

For Crisis In Guinea, President Conte Began Talks with Union Leaders

Conakry - Guinea's President Lansana Conte began emergency talks on Tuesday with labour leaders, a day after 30 people were killed in a crackdown on demonstrators demanding he quit power, said a union official."The main union leaders are currently meeting President Conte and the first lady, Henriette," said Ousmane Wora Diallo of the Syndicated Union of Workers of Guinea (USGT), one of the two labour confederations behind the protests.The talks came after thousands of people peacefully rallied against Conte's rule in several towns across the west African country, which has been paralysed since January 10 by a general strike called by the USGT and the other main labour confederation.Security forces in Conakry were on high alert all day to prevent protesters from volatile suburbs reaching the heart of the capital, after Monday's bloody crackdown by riot police and soldiers on protestors armed with no more than stones, which took the death toll in two weeks to 40.Authorities threw a tight security cordon around the presidential palace and a military base where the ailing Conte, who first came to power in a bloodless 1984 coup, was in residence.

Missing relatives

Presidential guard soldiers manned the key November 8 Bridge, the main access route into Conakry's city centre, where a few vehicles entering were subjected to security searches.
Rabiatou Serah Diallo, secretary-general of the National Confederation of Workers of Guinea, and her USGT counterpart, Ibrahima Fofana, went into talks with the president after the union leaders met to decide on the next step, said the USGT's Diallo.At a city hospital morgue, scores of people file past blood-soaked bodies laid out on reed mats, seeking to identify missing relatives."We heard rumours that my younger brother was in a group which was killed by soldiers yesterday in Hamdallaye," a district on the outskirts of the capital, said Mohamed Amine, 39. "The soldiers, who are our brothers, shot at unarmed youths, we really did not expect this."African Union (AU) commission chief Alpha Oumar Konare expressed particular worry at "the aggravation of the situation in recent days and condemns the repression of demonstrations that led to the deaths of several people?.Konare urged all parties to the troubles in the former French colony to hold talks and thoroughly to investigate the violence that has marked two weeks of political confrontation. For the United Nations, the secretary-general's special envoy to west Africa, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, on Tuesday left Dakar on a flight to Conakry to "assess the situation on the ground," said a UN source.

Conte too sick to rule

In the central town of Dabola and at Kundara in the northwest, residents said that thousands, most of them women demanding that Conte steps down, poured out into the streets.Punctuated by anti-Conte chants, the demonstrations continued peacefully in the towns without any police intervention.A doctor at Donka Hospital, one of the country's largest, said seven more people had died overnight from gunshot wounds received during demonstrations on Monday.
Most of the deaths were recorded in Conakry where police fought running battles with demonstrators in a mass action called by labour unions, whose leaders were arrested on Monday but set free hours later.The strike protest, backed by 14 opposition parties, began due to widespread corruption and interference in the judiciary by Conte after he freed two associates facing trial for fraud.After meeting Conte near the outset of the protest, strike leaders demanded that the 72-year-old head of state be constitutionally removed by the Supreme Court on the grounds that he is too sick to continue in office.

Conte suffers from chronic diabetes.

Conte, who is rarely seen in public and was twice admitted to hospital in Switerland last year, has so far dismissed demands made of him and called on the military to back his government.