Liberia Ledger

Last Post Ever

2007-10-28T15:20:00.000Z

After 16 months we're leaving on the Astreus flight tomorrow. The experience of Liberia has been crazy, and not always enjoyable, but we've seen a lot of positive change in a short time; Liberia's getting better all the time. The city has started paying people to clean up trash, electrical poles are going up all over the place, and soon they're going to start repaving Tubman Blvd. Heck, you can even get cinnamon rolls in the morning now!

I can't wait to see this place in ten years' time. The other day a friend showed us an old postcard of Monrovia from the 1970's and the place looked downright beautiful. Hopefully those days are coming back again. It really depends on the desire of individual Liberians to live in peace with each other. And a lot is riding on the willingness of the diaspora to come home and contribute.

Yesterday out on Old Road I got stuck in a mud bog and couldn't move my company jeep even with the 4WD engaged. I was immediately surrounded by a mob of 20 young men. To be honest, I was a little concerned for my safety. But instead of doing me any ill, without a second's hesitation, the guys volunteered to wade through the mud and push me back to dry land.

When I told her the story, my ladyfriend said, "This country's really changing."

Here's hoping!

Thanks for reading,

Josh

Good Sign for the Economy?

2007-10-24T15:55:00.000Z

Yesterday morning in the heavy commuter traffic we inched along beside the employee bus from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the whole staff was singing together joyfully.

CNN Covers the Female Peacekeepers

2007-10-22T18:27:00.000Z

Just got this email from our friend Angela who works for one of the big INGOs in Liberia:

I thought that you might be interested in a story shown last night on the CNN International Series “World’s Untold Stories.”

The show aired last night and is largely about the experiences of women and girls during Liberia’s war.

Additionally, India’s female peacekeeping police are prominently featured for their role in training the Liberian police force (men and women).

If you have installed the appropriate software, you can download and view the two parts of the piece at this website: http://www.cnn.com/untoldstories. Then go to the piece on Liberia’s Female Peacekeepers! Please feel free to share with all who are interested – it’s a ready made advocacy piece for women and girls in Liberia!

NYU Liberia Event TOMORROW

2007-10-22T17:10:00.000Z

The NYU Master's Program in Global Public Health presents:
The New National Health Plan & Policy in Liberia: Opportunities
and Challenges in the Reconstruction of a Post-Conflict State

featuring

Minister Tornorlah Varpilah
Liberian Deputy Minister of Health for Planning, Research, and Human
Resource Development

and

Mr. Alexander S. Preker
Lead Economist for Health, Nutrition, and Population, The World Bank

"The vision of the Ministry is a nation with improved health and
social welfare status and equity in health.
We wish to become a model of post-conflict recovery in health and
social welfare." - Minister Tornolah Varpilah

Tuesday, October 23, 2007
12:00 - 1:30pm
NYU Kimmel Center for University Life, Room 910
60 Washington Square South, NYC
Free and Open to the Public

To Change the Culture of Work

2007-10-16T09:37:00.000Z

Liberia is a country where begging someone for money is one of the most common forms of social interaction, and is not looked down upon. People have traditionally looked to government for their daily cup of rice, mainly in the form of civil service jobs, where extra-legal fees can be charged on transactions and whole extended families are fed from the proceeds. Institutions (govt, NGOs, businesses) are commonly seen as fair targets for the extraction of resources for personal gain, and every man's goal is to build or belong to a strong patronage network.

This is all well and good as long as you don't mind perpetual poverty and periodic civil wars. So, in recent days, government ministers and the presidency have been making statements designed to change the way people view their own roles and the role of government. At least in words, they're trying to encourage a culture of entrepreneurship and a rejection of dependency.

Speaking at the graduation exercise of the party's sponsored computer training program, Vice President Boakai said, "Unity Party did not necessarily come to power to provide jobs for the whole country."

However, he maintained that the UP government came to power to provide quality leadership.
He disclosed that there were lots of misunderstanding in Liberia when people vote for a party that wins elections.
He said some of them (voters) can be frustrated over jobs allocation and provision.

Here's more of the article. And if you're interested in this topic, don't miss this short book.

Bednets for Malaria, Yes. But How?

2007-10-10T12:04:00.000Z

Social marketing, for the uninitiated, is the practice of packaging and selling necessary public health stuff like condoms and essential drugs to change people's behavior for a social good. It was conceived as a way to increase coverage at the margins by targeting those who'd rather buy something than get a handout.

In recent years, groups have been experimenting with social marketing of bed nets, which are seen as an effective way to combat malaria in places like Liberia. Now the WHO is suggesting that it's not working:

Recently, Dr. Arata Kochi, the blunt new director of the World Health Organization’s malaria program, declared that as far as he was concerned, “the debate is at an end.” Virtually the only way to get the nets to poor people, he said, is to hand out millions free.

“The time for social marketing of bed nets in a big way is over,” Dr. Kochi said in an interview. “It can become a supplemental strategy for urban areas and middle-income countries.”

NYT link.

And here's an interesting discussion of the issue at our favorite econ blog, Marginal Revolution.

Call to Write the IMF on the Liberia Debt Issue

2007-10-10T11:55:00.000Z

Center for Global Development is at it again, sticking up for Liberia in Washington:

And what of the foreign debt? Most was borrowed by Samuel Doe in the early 1980s, and has not been paid since 1984. With penalty interest, Liberians today are stuck with the bill: $4.5 billion, equivalent to a massive 3,000 percent of exports, the highest ratio in the world. The major creditors all have pledged to forgive Liberia’s debts, but the process is stuck at the IMF, where the Board has been debating for a full year how to share the costs of the write-off. A solution seems at hand, but it isn’t done yet, and meanwhile Liberia must wait (if you feel so moved, write this week to the Managing Director of the IMF (email publicaffairs@imf.org) and ask for fast action to resolve Liberia’s debt crisis).

Thanks Sarah and Paul for the link.

$5.7m in New Aid from Germany

2007-10-08T11:44:00.000Z

MONROVIA (AFP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised Liberia four million euros (5.7 million dollars) to rebuild the country ravaged by civil war as she wrapped up her first sub-Saharan Africa trip on Sunday.

Govt Signs $65.7m Agreement With USAID

2007-10-02T11:57:00.000Z

Meanwhile, the United States government has assured the Liberian government that, "it is estimated that, subject to the availability of funds, USAID will provide an additional US$75,611,000 in fiscal year 2008 for a grand total of US$141,352,441."

UN Cuts Back Liberia Peace Force

2007-09-25T08:46:00.000Z

The United Nations Security Council has extended the UN peacekeeping force's mandate in Liberia for a year. But the council decided to reduce the 14,000-strong UN Mission in Liberia (Unmil) by almost 20%, and also to cut back the 1,000-strong UN police.

Thanks again for the link, Nicolas. They will continue to extend on a year-by-year basis. I wonder how long they'll ultimately stay. We were just talking about this the other day; I'm hoping for another three years at least.

Congress Rejects Bill to Seize Taylor's Assets

2007-09-24T14:18:00.000Z

MONROVIA (AFP) — Liberian lawmakers have shot down a bill to allow the seizure of the assets of former president Charles Taylor -- standing trial for war crimes -- and his aides, a parliamentary official said Sunday.
Isaac Red, spokesman of the House of Representatives said the proposed bill was unconstitutional.
"The parliament had so many problems with that bill," Red said.

Thanks Nicolas for the link.

Nice Web Media Project

2007-09-19T13:03:00.000Z

The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting has a great new blog with lots of human interest stories about Liberians here and abroad. Their team is currently on the ground in Liberia.

Don't miss their short movie about soccer players in Staten Island.

And let me take this chance to thank the Pulitzer Center for getting these important stories out. In an era where most media outlets say they can't afford cover international news in depth, the Pulitzer Center steps in and provides the funding to get reporters into the field, without even demanding any editorial control. If you're a reporter and you have a good international reporting project for funding, check out their guidelines.

Staten Island Liberians Story in the NYT

2007-09-18T14:30:00.000Z

Thanks for the link, Paulo.

NYC TRC Sessions

2007-09-10T17:38:00.000Z

In New York; The Staten Island Liberian Community Association, Inc. (SILCA), and The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Diaspora Project will present a Workshop with the Republic of Liberia TRC Commissioner Massa Washington. The organizers are encouraging all Liberians and Friends and Liberia within the Staten Island and Tri- State areas to attend.
PLACE: African Dance Hall
(Opposite CitiBank on Bay St.)
568 Bay St., Staten Island, NY 10304
DATE: Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007
TIME: 11am - 5pm
Admission Is Free! Refreshment Will Be Served!
CONTACTS: Telee Brown 718-496-7492; TRC 1-800- 799- 3688; R. Arkoi 917-365-7903

Link.

P.S. I talk once in a while to expats who work with the TRC, and they all reluctantly admit that there seems to be little public support for it in Liberia. We in the international community are all for the TRC idea, and many consultants and lawyers are shipped over to make it happen, but Liberians themselves aren't real enthusiastic, as far as I can tell.

First Post-War Diamonds Shipped

2007-09-10T17:35:00.000Z

A shipment valued at about $222,000 left Liberia last week, government spokesman Laurence Bropleh said. He declined to name the exporting company or give details on the shipment's destination. The Liberian government received a royalty of about $6,000 from the shipment, said Gabriel Williams, a deputy government spokesman.
"This amount may look small but we have to start from somewhere," Williams said.

A Night Club in Monrovia

2007-09-10T11:18:00.000Z

Thanks to DJ Alex.

More Charges Against Chuckie

2007-09-07T08:36:00.000Z

MIAMI: The son of former Liberian president Charles Taylor now faces five counts of torture after a U.S. grand jury added four counts related to his alleged activities in Africa.

U.S.-born Charles McArthur Emmanuel, also known as Chuckie Taylor, was charged with one count of torture last year. Now he also faces related charges, including a count each of conspiracy to torture, use of a firearm in a violent crime and conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime.

Millennium Villages Coming to Liberia

2007-09-06T18:02:00.000Z

I have it from an unimpeachable source that the controversial Millennium Villages project is coming soon to Liberia, probably first to Kokoya District, Bong County, and later to somewhere in the Southeast, per the president's request. The proposal is still in draft form.

Here's an excerpt from a blistering critique of the MV project that appeared recently in Harper's Magazine. And here's discussion from one of the greatest econ blogs, Marginal Revolution.

Ban on Child Street Sellers: Good or Bad?

2007-09-06T14:29:00.000Z

BBC radio this AM had a story about the EJS government announcing it will now start to enforce a ban on underage street sellers. In Monrovia, many busy corners are clogged with kids selling gum, candy, socks, pillows, brooms, whatever, and it's really depressing to see. But my first thought was, "Uh-oh. What will be the social costs of this decision?"

Let's start from the assumption that we all believe that children should be in school, and should not out on the street, working or otherwise. Then let's try to get into the heads of the policymakers, consider the options before them. My goal here is pure harm reduction.

Givens: People are extremely poor, school is supposed to be free but there are always unaffordable hidden fees for uniforms and such, unemployment is 80% or more, and for a variety of reasons children are the main breadwinners in many families.

Now, should the government choose to enforce a ban on child street selling?

Pros:

Might reduce rural-to-urban migration of youth, an important national goal.
Might get more kids into school by forcing the hand of parents who favor income over education.
Gets kids off the street, or at least some of them.
Shows that the government is serious about education.

Cons:

Hurts kids who can't afford school; might increase child hunger and mortality.
Government has no capacity to enforce the rule that school is supposed to be free.
Might increase the crime rate. [I have no doubt, here.]
Cops will go nuts and start beating and stealing from kids left and right.

If you can wade through all the nonsense, this story in The Analyst gets to some of the gray areas.

Thoughts?

Oh, and apparently EJS is also backing that ridiculous ban on wigs at school.

Government Builds Wall Around Palm Grove Cemetery

2007-09-05T18:05:00.000Z

I' m sure it was a cost issue, but it would have been much prettier if they could have put a fence around the cemetery. Suddenly one of the most interesting features of the Monrovia cityscape is hidden behind a big ugly concrete wall [and since the photo was taken], topped with razor wire. Chris Herwig photo.

Surfing Liberia Story in Time Magazine

2007-09-05T14:39:00.000Z

Link here. Thanks Johnny.

Bad Idea: Executive Wants to Appoint Mayors

2007-09-04T17:46:00.000Z

I can't find much online, but BBC radio says that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf wants to be able to appoint the mayors in towns across the country.

[She] has been lobbying with the legislature to allow her [to] appoint local government officials for now because [she argues] there is no money for elections. [Opposition parties say] the attempt to appoint municipal and chieftaincy officials violated the Liberian constitution.

It's true there's no money for elections, but this is madness. It goes against the whole decentralization effort. Talking about it the other night, our French friend said, "They tried that in France, and that's when we had a revolution."

Road Show in Monrovia

2007-08-31T10:16:00.000Z

From an email:

UNMIL Public Information/Community Outreach is launching a new initiative - Boutini Road Show - a mixture of music, comedy and dance to be held at densely populated spots in Monrovia weekly or bi-weekly. This Show will be launched by the Liberian Deputy Minister of Defence at 16-00hrs on Friday, 31August at Monco Business Centre.

"Dialogue for Democracy" in Monrovia: Sept 5th 2007

2007-08-30T18:16:00.000Z

Liberia Democracy Watch and the National Endowment for Democracy (US NGO) are holding a 7^th edition of the “Dialogue for Democracy” series, under the theme: “Towards an Effective Criminal Justice System: Law Enforcement versus the Protection of Civil Liberties”.

Venue: Conference Hall, Ministry of Gender & Development

Gurley Street, Monrovia

Date: Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Time: 10:00 AM -2:20 P.M.

Thanks Shelby for the tip.

Electricity Event at US Embassy Thursday

2007-08-28T16:42:00.000Z

HIV Prevalence Lower Than Feared...Maybe

2007-08-27T15:55:00.000Z

According to the new report, "Of the 1.5 percent national prevalence rate, there is high percentage among females, which stands at 1.8 percent, while males accounts for 1.2 percent. There is a higher prevalence rate in urban areas, especially Monrovia, [the capital] than the rural zones."

Less than 2% prevalence is low compared to neighboring countries. But there's considerable doubt about the results.

Call For PeaceCorps to Return

2007-08-25T08:55:00.000Z

Thanks Callista for the link to this pretty convincing argument for the US PeaceCorps to come back and assist in shoring up the education and health systems:

Liberia was one of the first Peace Corps countries and one of the most successful programs for 27 years.
More than 3,000 Peace Corps volunteers and staff members served in Liberia.
Liberians, especially the new president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, consider Peace Corps one of the most effective development groups ever to work in Liberia.
Peace Corps educators helped to make Liberia’s schools some of the best in West Africa, from primary through university.

...etc.

Cabinet Reshuffle Details

2007-08-25T08:52:00.001Z

The new foreign minister is Olubanka King Akerele, a former minister of commerce and United Nations diplomat with 20 years' experience, a statement said.

The country's Justice Minister Frances Johnson Morris has been moved to the ministry of commerce, while the former foreign affairs minister George Wallace becomes special adviser to Johnson-Sirleaf.

And something happened at the Ministry of Gender and Development, too. Anyone know the details?

AP Story.

Wow This is Stupid

2007-08-25T08:52:00.000Z

MONROVIA, Liberia: The attempt to bring normalcy back to this war-recovering West African country was extended to girls' hairstyles Friday with a nationwide ban on weaves or hair extensions for students, education officials said.

"Things are rapidly going out of hand and we have to arrest the situation," said Education Minister Joseph Korto. "Girls wearing weaves and attachments pay more attention to their looks than to their lesson."
The penalty for breaking the rules is a US$1,000 (€735) fine.
Full story.

World Bank Gives $37m for Ag & Infrastructure

2007-08-23T12:32:00.000Z

The World Bank has agreed to finance Liberia's $37 million Agriculture and Infrastructure Development Project, which will entail the rejuvenation of the country's infrastructural capacity and agricultural development initiatives. According to Liberian finance minister Antoinette Sayeh, the project will also cover other initiatives, such as improving the management of the National Port authority, the rehabilitation of a water treatment plant in Monrovia, and the reconstruction of and maintenance of major roads and bridges in the region. The grant was given to Liberia in response to the nation's call for emergency funds, largely for the reinstatement and repair of war-damaged infrastructure. (Source: World Bank gives U.S. $37 million for old bridge, others/The Inquirer)

Breaking: Reshuffle!

2007-08-23T10:01:00.000Z

BBC radio says there's been a big cabinet reshuffle in the Johnson-Sirleaf Administration.

P.S. NPR radio has a feature story this morning on the end of Temporary Protected Status for Liberians in the USA.

Liberia and the 'Resource Curse'

2007-08-23T09:20:00.000Z

According to this BBC piece, there's a new report by something called Partnership Africa Canada, urging the government to use this historic moment to unshackle Liberian resource exploitation from Americo-Liberian minority control.

The government feels pressure to get industries up and running immediately. But there is a danger, the report says, that many of the elite "see the return of peace as simply a chance to return to business as usual, an opportunity to recreate the Liberia they and their forebears knew, and exploited, for more than a century".

Amputee Soccer Video at Wall Street Journal

2007-08-23T09:06:00.000Z

The Amputee Football Federation of Liberia is a single, small answer to one of the most intractable questions in postwar Liberia: what to do with 100,000 former militiamen, many of whom started fighting as boys and grew up thinking that the unspeakable was acceptable.

IMF Will Triple African Countries' Voting Rights

2007-08-22T12:23:00.000Z

International Monetary Fund director general Rodrigo Rato has promised to triple the voting rights of African member states after acknowledging that their existing voting rights were inadequate. "We are conscious of the fact that current voting rights of African countries are insufficient and not representative enough", Rato said, adding that there was a possibility of appointing an African deputy director general. Although the African nations once enjoyed 11.2 percent of voting rights, their share has plummeted to a mere 2 percent over recent years. African countries have been protesting against calculating these rights according to financial contributions alone, and have implored the IMF to consider other factors, such as population and economic development. (Source: IMF promises to triple voting rights of African nations/AFP)

Snowe Gets Out on Bond

2007-08-18T14:09:00.000Z

Disgraced House Speaker finally had his bond request honored yesterday. Accused of stealing a million bucks or so, I guess the court saw him as kind of a flight risk.

Mr. Snowe and some other ex-officials of the erstwhile National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) are in court for allegedly stealing from national coffers while in power.
He has been charged with "Theft of Property" for allegedly misappropriating over US$1M from the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) during his stewardship as Managing Director.

Blacked Out Charles Taylor Billboards

2007-08-18T12:28:00.000Z

This happened about a month ago. As far as I know, these were the only pro-Taylor billboards in town.

Wheelbarrow Story Rolling Along

2007-08-17T17:26:00.000Z

This stupendous photoessay by Chris Herwig is featured in two glossy magazines this month: a (pricey!) Dutch design mag called DAMN, and the magazine of the Royal Geographical Society of the UK, Geographical. Text by me!

New CD of Old Liberian Classics

2007-08-17T17:07:00.000Z

Songs of the African Coast: Cafe Music of Liberia
A collection of unique popular music recorded in 1948 in Liberia by ethnomusicologist Arthur Alberts. The music is a mix of genres echoing Calypso and early jazz (and includes songs made famous during the folk scare of the 60s like "Chicken is Nice," "Gbanawa," "Woman Sweeter Than Man" and "Hold Me Tight"), played by small ensembles (usually piano, guitar and bass, occasionally some hot horn work, too), and sung in English. Includes detailed notes and interesting photos. The 18 recordings, along with the accompanying commentary, showed the intricate connections between African and American music.

Link.

Speaking of which, I just won this item on eBay. I already have a promo copy of the record with no cover, but I wanted to read the liner notes. Apparently Gayflor lives in the US and still tours cultural festivals all over the world. The record has one really nice dancefloor jazz track like something you'd hear on Gilles Peterson's show. Cool you can see the Masonic Lodge in the background of the cover pic.

Very Slow Drawdown of UN Peacekeepers Announced

2007-08-17T17:01:00.000Z

I like the slow pace of this planned drawdown, as announced yesterday:

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recommended on Thursday the more than 14 000 peacekeepers in Liberia be reduced by about 5 000 over the next three years, starting in October.

But Ban said it was "too early to determine" when to withdraw the entire peacekeeping force, which would depend on the state of the domestic police and army in the West African nation, which has been beset by years of large-scale corruption and warfare that spilled into the region.

Liberia Doc Makes it to Toronto Film Festival

2007-08-16T16:53:00.000Z

Chris writes:

Did you hear that the film "Iron Ladies of Liberia" made it into the Toronto Film Festival? Heard there is a big screening at the opening of the UN General Counsel this fall as well...will be good PR for Liberia and Ellen.

The festival starts in 3 weeks. Here's a blurb on the documentary:

With the exclusive access, African director Siatta Scott Johnson and Daniel Junge follow President Sirleaf and her closest aides behind the scenes during their first year in office.

And here's a clip, where the filmmakers had access to a cabinet meeting. I wish we had footage of cabinet meetings in the US!

Three Thoughtful Expat Liberia Blogs

2007-08-15T17:10:00.000Z

Emily, Rupert, and Molly from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government are working for the summer inside various government ministries.

Surf Movie about Liberia

2007-08-15T16:56:00.000Z

"Sliding Liberia" [trailer at YouTube] follows a group of young surfers to Liberia in search of more than perfect waves. As they travel through the West African country, devastated by decades of brutal civil war, they record the stories of people they meet along the way----people like Alfred, a young boy who became Liberia's first surfer after finding a bodyboard while fleeing from rebels. Besides rediscovering a world-class point break that could be the best-kept secret in the surfing world, the surfers find something much more important----a way to travel responsibly in the 21st century.

Website coming soon.

In other Liberia cinema news, another crew was here recently making a movie out of this book.

And to continue the thread, you know that movie "Lord of War" with Nicolas Cage? Was it actually filmed in Liberia? I haven't seen it since before coming here.

Youth Peace Conference in Monrovia, Sept 20th, 2007

2007-08-15T12:05:00.000Z

Registration is already past, but this looks like a worthy event (wait, read the comments! -Ed.):

The 2nd African Youth Peace Conference is a follow –up to the first Edition held on September 20 – 21, 2006 at the World Bank Country Office, Abuja, Nigeria, organized by Centre for Advocacy and Development in Africa (CADA Nigeria) in Partnership with West African Youth Network, Clean & Green Cities Foundation, Peace Corps of Nigeria, and with support from UNHCR Nigeria, UNDP Nigeria, World Bank Country Office Nigeria and Universal Peace Federation –IIFWP to Commemorate the WORLD PEACE DAY.

The focus of the 2nd Edition is to assess the contribution of the Youth in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa, with particular emphasis on the four issues identified at the first Edition as the root causes of Youth Restiveness in Africa, (i) Poverty (ii) Weak Governance (iii) Development choices (iv) Unemployment.

Link, with contact info.

Big Int'l NGO Stops Taking US Food Aid Funding

2007-08-15T10:04:00.000Z

CARE, one of the world's biggest charities, is walking away from about $45 million a year in federal funding, saying American food aid is not only plagued with inefficiencies, but may hurt some of the very poor people it aims to help.

Fascinating story from the International Herald Tribune. This issue is important in Liberia, where local farmers can't hope to compete with US food aid imports. But it's a thin line; Liberia still has no food security, so at what point should food aid stop? The story really gets to the heart of the issue, that of the international NGOs perverse incentive to continue the practice in the interest of their own jobs. And don't get me started about that horrendous US Farm Bill.

M.I.A. Track About Liberia

2007-08-15T09:33:00.000Z

I haven't heard it, but Sri Lankan/Brit singer M.I.A. has a song called "20 Dollar" on her new album, which she says is about her recent visit to Liberia.

The New AFL

2007-08-15T08:57:00.000Z

The Wall Street Journal has an informative piece about the training and the trainers of the New Armed Forces of Liberia.

Thanks MarietotheD for the link!

Taylor Trial Delayed Yet Again

2007-08-14T10:53:00.000Z

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been postponed again after his new defense team asked for a delay until January 2008 to prepare fully, a court spokesman said on Monday.

Bong County Arms Cache Myth Busted

2007-08-14T10:48:00.000Z

I've been out of the country for several weeks, but I heard on the BBC this AM that Gbarnga, Bong County had a tense few days recently when someone found a big cache of what were supposed to be illicit arms, which had rival tribes pointing fingers. Turns out the stuff was a bunch of scrap.

Former General Accused of Coup Plot

2007-07-20T15:06:00.000Z

I just heard a version of this story on NPR online:

MONROVIA, Liberia, July 19 (UPI) -- A former Liberian army commander has become the first in the country to be arrested for "subversive activities" since the country's 2005 elections.

Former Gen. Charles Julu, who led the presidential guard under former Liberian leader Samuel Doe and planned a 1994 coup attempt, was arrested and accused of planning another rebellion, the BBC reported Thursday.

"There is hard evidence that this man was trying to plan a coup," Liberian Information Minister Laurence Bropleh said.

Bropleh said investigators have video evidence to back up the government's accusations of coup plotting. He said authorities in Ivory Coast are assisting in the investigation.

Sombody Blacked Out the Pro-Taylor Signs In Monrovia

2007-07-18T16:27:00.000Z

As previously mentioned here, and often mentioned in articles by visiting international reporters, for about six months now there's been a pro-Charles Taylor billboard posted at the corner of 20th Street and Tubman Blvd, behind a high wall with razor wire on top.

Not long after the sign was posted, it was defaced with acid, but you could still read it. Then a few weeks ago, just in time for the start of the trial in the Hague, two smaller signs were added in the same location, one of them reading "God willing, I'll be back." Just the other day, someone got over the wall and painted them all over with black paint.

BBC: US fans 'adopt' Liberian players

2007-07-18T14:13:00.000Z

Players from Liberian champions Mighty Barrolle are breathing a sigh of relief after the club's fans in the USA agreed to help pay their wages.

Thanks, Nicolas!

Saving You Some Work

2007-07-18T12:17:00.000Z

If you need to contact SN Brussels Airlines office in Monrovia, this is the main number:

+231 06 520 777

It took me half a day of calling everyone I know before I finally found a working number!

Liberia Movie in DC Today

2007-07-16T16:08:00.000Z

Our friend Matt in DC found this on the AP daybook:

12:30 p.m. LIBERIA-FILM _ Infoshop and The World Bank host a screening of highlights from the upcoming documentary ``Iron Ladies of Liberia,'' with a discussion by the filmmaker, Siatta Johnson, a Liberian born journalist and a founding member of Omuahtee Africa Media.
Location: J1-050, World Bank J Building, 701 18th St. NW

Liberian Football Fans Shouldn't Despair

2007-07-14T12:09:00.000Z

Liberians were pretty depressed a couple of weeks ago when the Lonestar lost a home match to little ol' Equatorial Guinea. But if it makes them feel any better, this comes from a friend who's a citizen of Equatorial Guinea:

"I am not impressed. There are so many Brazilians and other foreigners playing in the EG team that it is hard to tell what country is being represented."

Hold your heads high, Liberians!

Crappy Liberia Coverage in Time Magazine

2007-07-13T12:28:00.000Z

This story is annoying. It's supposed to be a scary warning about the West African country of Guinea-Bissau as the newest narco-state.

Interesting premise, but even as it mentions Liberia only once in a list of countries, somehow more than half of the pictures they used (I'm talking about the print version) were taken in Monrovia. Are they suggesting that Liberia is some kind of narco-state as well? Or were they just too lazy to find a photographer in Guinea-Bissau?

Imagine if Time Magazine did a story about New Jersey being the car theft capital of the USA, and then half of the pics were taken in Massachusetts. Would that make sense? No. Would people in Massachusetts have the right to be offended? Yes. Time's editors are just assuming there's little chance that their audience will notice or draw the distinction between the various countries in deep, dark, scary Africa.

Furthermore, they print a picture of a pile of alleged cocaine cash, all in Liberian dollars, and I guess the reader is supposed to think it's a huge stash of filthy loot. But to the educated eye it looks like an amount of LD worth about US$8. Come on! I have that much LD on my dresser after changing a ten dollar bill!

Freeport Fracas the Other Day

2007-07-12T10:09:00.000Z

This is a couple of days late, but I was out of town:

Monrovia - Allegations that Liberia's seaport police were stealing fuel shipments sparked a brawl between national and port forces that sent dozens to hospitals on Monday, authorities said.

The skirmish broke out early on Monday when members of the national police force tried to arrest the suspected port officers, said National Police spokesperson Alvin Jask. He said the fighting shut down the port and only abated after United Nations peacekeepers were called in.

Speaking of the port, I met a guy at a party the other night who works for a gigantic shipping company. He says something like 30,000 containers come into Liberia every year, and about 4,000 containers' worth of goods are exported. His company maintains a staff of 40 persons to shadow the port workers and make sure everything gets done.

Taylor Finally Appears In Court

2007-07-04T10:28:00.000Z

The trial has been postponed until August 20.

Here's a blog that's been set by George Soros' OSI and others to monitor the proceedings in a neutral way:

http://charlestaylortrial.org/

Trash is Greatest Public Health Threat in Monrovia

2007-07-04T08:30:00.000Z

The UN Environment Programme has called on the government and private sector to repair the country's broken system for collecting trash.

The message is important, but oh the irony in the UN Mission, with its budget of 9 times the size of the government budget, calling on the government to do something about it.

Alleged Baboon Man Denies Transforming into Baboon

2007-07-02T10:51:00.000Z

From The Analyst:

The man who was arrested recently by officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP), for allegedly transforming himself into an animal “Baboon” to terrorize the people of Po-River Township in Montserrado County has been sent to court to face prosecution. Police preliminary investigation conducted at the National Police Headquarters in Monrovia said the defendant transformed himself into a baboon on numerous occasions.

He told this paper in an interview yesterday at the National Police Headquarters that at no time did he transform into a baboon to terrorize and assault people in the township.
“The people lied on me; I am a farmer, who is currently doing my farming business. I never did what the people say I do”, said Quoi in an angry mood.

Taylor Trial Delayed Again

2007-07-02T10:32:00.000Z

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands -- The war crimes trial of Charles Taylor has been postponed again with judges now ordering the resumption of the case against the former Liberian president August 20, the court said Monday. "A decision was taken last Thursday [June 28] and the reason will be explained in a hearing tomorrow [Tuesday]," spokesman Solomon Moriba of the Special Court for Sierra Leone said. A week ago the resumption of the prosecution case was put off until Tuesday this week because of Taylor's ongoing problems in assembling a defense team.

Census

2007-06-29T09:56:00.000Z

MONROVIA, June 28 (Reuters) - Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf launched the country's first census in 23 years on Thursday to assist reconstruction after a devastating 14-year civil war and improve future elections.
The last census, in 1984, registered 2.5 million people in Liberia. Up to 250,000 people were killed in the civil war that began five years later and hundreds of thousands of others fled abroad, many never to return.
"For more than 23 years, there has been no accurate data on the demographic variables of the country," Johnson-Sirleaf said.

Big News Day

2007-06-27T09:04:00.000Z

The Acting Registrar of the Special Court for Sierra Leone at The Hague has instructed the Principal Defender to find a new Lead Counsel for former President Charles Taylor's request for a new defense team. And the UN is investigating a claim that he's been hiding his wealth.
The G8 says they're going to finance Liberia's debt.
The US Department of State has removed its travel warning on Liberia.
An Assessment Team from the US Peace Corps is evaluating potential programs and sites for Crisis Corps Volunteers, a program with the Peace Corps that mobilizes returned volunteers to provide short-term humanitarian services.
Oh, and here's more on the potato greens prophesy!

News Roundup

2007-06-25T14:07:00.000Z

Charles Taylor is boycotting his trial again.
The CDC political party is severing ties with George Weah.
The big cabinet reshuffle that was supposed to happen has been postponed or cancelled.
A new UN report says millions are being lost to tax evasion.

Random Pics

2007-06-25T11:45:00.001Z

Potato Greens Prophesy Pt. 2

2007-06-23T14:15:00.000Z

Conversation with a guy I met last night:

Me: Hey have you heard of this prophesy about eating potato greens?
Guy: Yes I have.
Me: Are you eating potato greens, then?
Guy: No I am not.
Me: So you don't believe in the prophesy?
Guy: No I don't believe it.

Dude's taking his life into his own hands!

UN Cops Beat Up Two Local Journos, Others

2007-06-22T14:49:00.000Z

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has launched an investigation into reports that its troops beat and assaulted two journalists covering student protests this week, the UN said in a statement received Friday.

I know a guy who knows one of the victims, a photographer. I have also heard from two separate expat sources--one of them an UNMIL employee--that UN cops helped beat the crap out of some unruly people before, during, and after the Lonestar v. Cote d'Ivoire game a few weeks ago. But I haven't seen that story in the papers.

UN Panel Calls for Probe into Flouting of Sanctions

2007-06-22T14:41:00.000Z

The Security Council yesterday called on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to set up a panel of financial and diamond experts to renew investigations of whether UN sanctions against Liberia are being broken after learning of “credible allegations” that the notorious former president Charles Taylor may still have access to considerable wealth. UN The panel report also noted allegations “of a large sum of money being with Charles Taylor at the time of his arrest in Nigeria” last year and his continuing ties to a cell phone company in Liberia. It added that the Nigerian Government had not allowed the panel to pursue the allegations and Liberia has not adopted laws authorizing a freeze.

More here.

That phone company is the one that I use, namely Lonestar. Lonestar is the most popular phone company in Monrovia, if not the country. The US embassy refuses to do business with them, and I saw a newspaper editorial this AM calling for a boycott.

Speaking of boycotts, UL professors are still not working.

Potato Greens Prophesy

2007-06-22T12:21:00.000Z

I had this conversation with one of my Liberian colleagues this afternoon:

Him: Are you eating your potato greens?
Me: No, why?
Him: There's a rumor going around Liberia that you have to eat potato greens for three days, or else you will die or something bad might happen to you.
Me: Huh?
Him: It's a prophesy. I don't know.
Me: Are you eating potato greens?
Him: Yeah! I don't want to die!

Sierra Leone Convicts 3 of War Crimes

2007-06-21T15:16:00.000Z

The ruling marks the first time an international court has issued a conviction on the conscription of child soldiers -- a practice made notorious by images of drugged elementary-school-age boys wielding automatic weapons in the regional conflict.

The Liberian Professional Self Image

2007-06-21T14:42:00.000Z

Question: why is it that over a period of 6 months, one by one, nearly all the Liberian staff at the NGO where I work have printed pictures of themselves working at their desks and taped the pictures to the wall behind their desks? Even the woman who works the security counter sits next to a picture of herself sitting at her workstation. One guy even has a picture of himself working on his laptop set as the wallpaper on that same laptop! I guess this is a cultural difference; if someone did that in the US, I would just assume it was some kind of ironic joke.

Swamp Fishing in Gbolokai

2007-06-20T11:19:00.000Z

Chris Herwig pics.

Palava at UL

2007-06-19T16:10:00.000Z

Our Operations Manager at work says we're not allowed to go downtown today. Some kind of demonstration of university students and faculty. Ma Ellen was warning against hooliganism this morning on the radio. She had an angry conversation with UL professors yesterday behind closed doors. They were threatening to lay down their chalk over pay and benefits issues.

Update: Check out the first comment on this post for a sober and informed take on the situation.

How to Write About Africa

2007-06-19T14:03:00.000Z

From Granta, a wickedly sarcastic guide to writing about Africa:

Never have a picture of a well-adjusted African on the cover of your book, or in it, unless that African has won the Nobel Prize. An AK-47, prominent ribs, naked breasts: use these. If you must include an African, make sure you get one in Masai or Zulu or Dogon dress.
In your text, treat Africa as if it were one country. It is hot and dusty with rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates. Don't get bogged down with precise descriptions.

Thanks, Shelby.

And speaking of writing about Africa, here's another expat Liberia blog by Eve, who's with ARC for the summer.

And unrelated to anything, here's a funny map of the countries that have not yet adopted the metric system. (I doubt that Ma Ellen will choose to tackle that issue in her first term.)

Mass Graves Discovered

2007-06-19T08:34:00.000Z

The TRC is taking testimony among Liberians in the USA:

In Lofa County, northwestern Liberia, over 100 mass graves have been discovered. The shocking disclosure was made by the Chairman of Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, TRC, Counsellor Jerome Verdier on Saturday, June 16th at a town-hall gathering of Liberians in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.

More.

And since we're on this gruesome topic, I have read that the area at the end of the airfield at Tubman and Old Road is another mass grave site. There are probably many others around the country, which we'll only hear about small, small as the TRC proceeds.

Int'l Stability Study Rates Liberia "Most Improved"

2007-06-18T18:30:00.001Z

In the third annual "failed state" index, analysts for Foreign Policy magazine and the not-for-profit Fund for Peace said that Liberia was the most improved, partly because an election in 2005 brought stability after more than a decade of civil war.

Lone Star Loses to Equatorial Guinea?

2007-06-18T18:26:00.000Z

Oh man, that's gotta hurt. Oh well, my man Tutu will be happy.

Yesterday's result means that Liberia has lost all hopes of reaching next year's African Cup of Nations final in Ghana, despite still having a game against Rwanda. Just a fortnight ago, the Lone Star lost 2-1 to the Indomitable Lion of Cameroon at the same Antoinette Tubman Stadium in front of hundreds of anxious fans.

Liberia Debt Issue at the G8

2007-06-09T19:39:00.000Z

On the second day of the G8 summit, leading international debt cancellation advocacy groups issued a strong call that the debt deal G8 leaders negotiated two years ago has not solved the debt crisis of Liberia. The advocacy groups called on the G8 to take immediate action to cancel Liberia’s debt.

Refugee Returns from SL Reach 100,000 Mark

2007-06-06T12:00:00.000Z

To date, since the start of the Liberian repatriation operation in October 2004, more than 150,000 refugees have returned to Liberia. In addition to 100,000 returns assisted by UNHCR – half of them from neighbouring Guinea – another 50,000 Liberian refugees returned home on their own over the past few years, encouraged by the restoration of peace and the inauguration of the democratically elected president and government.

Nice Slingshot!

2007-06-05T18:02:00.000Z

Gbolokai, near Totota. Another Chris Herwig photo.

Govt Ban on Newspaper Finally Lifted

2007-06-05T14:33:00.000Z

You'll remember that the government banned the Independent for printing the nude photo of Presidential Affairs Minister Willis Knuckles, Jr. having sex with two women. Well, now they've lifted the ban.

The paper is not satisfied, saying they hoped that the case would make it to the Supreme Court. I'm inclined to agree. I think the government acted badly in this case, even as I acknowledge the pressure that must have come on them from the churches.

Judge in The Hague: Taylor's Got a Point

2007-06-05T11:48:00.000Z

I heard on the BBC this AM that the judge in the Charles Taylor trial in the Hague actually agreed with Taylor to some extent, admonishing the court administration for failing to provide adequate resources and logistics to the Taylor team to mount an adequate defense.

This is interesting because last month I attended a public information session with the various lawyers and court administrators, where they explained in detail all the resources that have been provided to the Defense team. They seemed to be anticipating this kind of accusation, making sure the public was aware of all the trouble they were going to in order to make the trial a fair one.

So who knows? The judge may simply be playing to the gallery of Taylor supporters in order to ease any tension on the ground in SL or Liberia. BTW, there's no tension to speak of here. On local radio, they were all but ignoring the story this AM.

Charles Taylor Boycotts Own Trial

2007-06-04T19:34:00.000Z

He didn't show up for the opening arguments. His attorney read a statement from Taylor claiming that he wasn't afforded the proper resources to mount an adequate defense.

Defense lawyer Karim Khan said Taylor had fired him and wanted to act has his own attorney. Khan walked out even though the presiding judge repeatedly directed him to continue to represent Taylor, if only for the opening day.

Apologizing and defying threats of contempt of court, Khan gathered his files and left.

"This is not defense counsel making some cheap trick," Khan told The Associated Press outside court. Taylor "thought this was a railroad to a conviction and in those circumstances, he exercised his right to terminate my representation and to represent himself."

Next step: months of pathetic courtroom rants from Taylor about how the court is biased against him. I guess this tactic is really all he has left. The case against him is devastating, the international community thinks he's pure evil, and his country is moving on without him. He must be afraid that a normal trial would be too boring an end for a man of his stature.

Adding insult to injury...

Samuel Eto'o scored the winner for Cameroon to beat Liberia 2-1 on Sunday and stay top of Group 5 in African Cup of Nations qualifying.

But hey, Cameroon is no joke, ranked at 13th in the world. And Liberia is ranked, um...lower than that. I heard that Eto'o's FC Barcelona fans in Monrovia were lined up to catch a glimpse of him along the road from the airport.

Financial Autonomy Act Vetoed

2007-06-01T18:45:00.000Z

Thanks to Anonymous for reminding me, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has vetoed the Financial Autonomy Act of the Legislature. That was the one that would have made lawmakers exempt from paying taxes on their incomes.

And Lone Star hosts Cameroon on Saturday. Go team!

Happy Birthday to Us

2007-06-01T17:59:00.000Z

Today is the first anniversary of Liberia Ledger.

It's pretty amazing the changes in this country after just a year. I guess I pay most attention to the smallest microeconomic developments, since unemployment is still the biggest threat to stability. In the markets you see a much greater variety of goods for sale than you could ever find a year ago, including giant-sized cookware, fancy soccer and hip-hop t-shirts, handbags sewn from old bluejeans, hand-thrown clay pots, lots of hand-tailored clothing and "luxury" goods like fancy new shoes.

Houses are being built and rehabilitated everywhere you look. The cellphone companies finally reached Gbarpolu county yesterday. Ecobank has just established branches around the country. And the number of small businesses on Tubman Boulevard seems to have about doubled in the last six months.

But my favorite sign of change in all these 365 days came just today. A roadside market stall had a few locally-made percussion instruments, shakers constructed of gourd and beads. Maybe that doesn't seem like such a big deal, but in a region that's famous for its music, it's kind of eerie how little of the Liberian musical tradition seems to have managed to survive the war. At a workshop I attended for village leaders this AM, the facilitator had a hard time finding people in the room who could remember the traditional work songs from their tribes. Meanwhile young people can recite the lyrics to any R.Kelly or 50 Cent tune. Seeing those shakers on sale today made me think there could be something more joyful bubbling under the surface.

The Other Taylor Trial

2007-05-31T17:34:00.000Z

Lest we forget, the trial in the Hague is not the only pending Taylor trial. Johnny tells me that the trial of Chuckie (not Charles the father, but Chuckie the son) Taylor in the US is being watched closely by human rights groups. Apparently Chuckie is about to be the first US citizen to be tried for some kind of torture offense, and if he's found guilty, it would set an important precedent for cases relating to Guantanamo, etc.

Woman Use

2007-05-31T17:30:00.001Z

Any of our Liberian readers know anything about "woman use"? Apparently if a man lives with a woman, and he puts her out of the house after a time, she is entitled to financial renumeration for "woman use". Men complain that this causes some women to go from man to man hoping to cash in.

Charles Taylor Trial Starts Monday

2007-05-31T17:23:00.000Z

...and Monrovia is knee-deep in journalists.

From a press release by Human Rights Watch:

Drawing on the experience of the trial of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Human Rights Watch said that conducting trials of former leaders involves significant challenges. These challenges include ensuring the trial is scrupulously fair, including the presumption of innocence, while managing sensitive and high-profile proceedings effectively. They also include giving appropriate focus to evidence of chain of command while providing evidence on crime scenes.
"We have seen that trials of former presidents are difficult business," said Keppler. "The Special Court's judges must guarantee Charles Taylor a fair trial, and also conduct proceedings efficiently."

After Lunch in Tubmanburg, Bomi County

2007-05-24T12:10:00.000Z

Showdown Looming?

2007-05-23T12:45:00.000Z

As previously reported here, the House of Representatives has voted to exempt itself from paying income taxes, as part of something called the Financial Autonomy Act. The President has hinted that she may veto the bill, and some lawmakers have threatened to override a veto. Interest groups are backing the president.

Mural in Zarmeyan, Senjeh District, Bomi County

2007-05-18T17:53:00.000Z

UNMIL Quarterly Report on Human Rights Situation

2007-05-18T16:24:00.000Z

Focused mostly on prisons and the justice system.

BET Guy Gives $100k for Liberia Education

2007-05-17T08:46:00.000Z

"Liberia deserves American support, and African-Americans especially must come forward to reestablish the historic bond between our nations. The Sirleaf government is working tirelessly to create a better and more prosperous future for citizens. We bear a special responsibility to ensure that she succeeds." [More]

Press release from his company.

Refugee Repatriation Ends June 30, 2007

2007-05-17T08:40:00.000Z

UNHCR acting on an MOU between the governments of Ghana and Liberia is offering the last opportunity for Liberian refugees to come home and contribute to the reconstruction of their country.

Report Card on Legislators Job Performance

2007-05-11T12:00:00.000Z

Not so good.

National Exam Cancelled After Leaks

2007-05-10T11:39:00.000Z

The Liberian ministry of education has postponed this year’s West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams. The exams are given each year to sixth, ninth, and 12 graders in five English-speaking West African countries – Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. But according to the Liberian ministry of education, this year’s exams, which were printed in Nigeria, were characterized by massive fraud. The leakage has brought into question the credibility of WAEC and the overall security of the regional exams.

Ginger Wine, Duala Market, Monrovia

2007-05-10T10:34:00.000Z

Squirrel Trap, Moore Town, Bomi County

2007-05-10T09:44:00.000Z

The squirrel sees the fruit inside, touches the little cross bar and releases a tightly bent-over stalk. The wire loop closes and he's left hanging for the trapper to collect in the evening.

Me: "But what if someone steals your catch before you come back for it?"

Trapper: "Nobody steals your squirrel here."

Amputee Soccer Story

2007-05-05T13:13:00.000Z

We see these guys practicing all the time.

Lawmakers Show Little Shame

2007-05-03T13:56:00.000Z

The House of Representatives has voted to reject a proposal that would have brought outside investigators to find the "ghost names" on its payroll. Apparently there are hundreds of redundant and non-existent persons on the House staff.

This follows a story last week where the House voted to remove itself from a requirement to follow anti-corruption financial guidelines set up by the government and its partners in the international community, the program known as GEMAP.

Analysis: Diamond Ban Lifted

2007-05-02T16:30:00.000Z

The UN Security Council lifted the ban on Liberian stones last week. The Center For Global Development blogs on the Liberia diamond issue today:

This is potentially great news for Liberia. In particular, diamond revenues could be used to fund much-needed post-conflict reconstruction programs and create jobs in a country with an unemployment rate hovering around 85%. However, as my colleague Todd Moss and I have noted, the Kimberley Process can only do so much. And the transition from blood diamonds to “development diamonds” is much harder in a place like Liberia which has a high concentration of alluvial diamonds. Unlike Kimberlite diamonds (which require intensive, centralized operations), alluvial diamonds lend themselves to artisanal, decentralized mining, which leaves the Liberian diamond industry relatively open to smuggling and grey market transactions. This could threaten to rob Liberia of much needed revenues and undermine fragile state institutions.

Thanks again, Sarah.