Shelby Grossman (SG): Before starting graduate school, I worked with human rights organizations in Liberia and Nigeria, and with a foundation in the US. Additionally, for more than 6 years I have maintained a blog on West African politics.

CT: The growing usage of the internet and social media in Liberia is certainly a progressive trend. Having worked in Liberia, can you briefly tell us how the internet and social media are viewed by the cross sections of the Liberia population?

Shelby Grossman. Image used with permission.

SG: My sense is that Liberians who use social media use it mostly to connect with people outside of Liberia. They might use email and Facebook to communicate with the large Liberian community in the United States, and share and view pictures about life on both sides of the Atlantic. A friend of mine who started an internet cafe made most of his money by offering internet phone calls to the US. More and more, however, Liberians in Liberia seem to be using Facebook to share photos and life events among themselves as well.

CT: Liberia is a post war nation which currently lacks reliable electricity and sufficient human resource in the IT related careers. How does this state of affair affect the overall impact and growth of social media as well as Internet access?

SG: Poor infrastructure is a huge obstacle for social media use. My friend who started the internet cafe had to shut it down after several months, as the costs of running a generator to power the cafe were prohibitively high. Smart phones are an increasingly popular way to access social media sites, but they are not conducive to creating and maintaining blogs. I think this can partly explain the dearth of active blogs by Liberians in Liberia.

CT: Are social media platforms a significant public sphere in Liberia?

SG: Social media in Liberia is a significant public sphere for a certain Liberians – namely urban, educated Liberians.

CT: Can social media in the long run increase civic engagement in Liberia?

SG: There are competing predictions about the ways in which social media could affect civic engagement. On the one hand, Twitter can spread information about where a protest is taking place and encourage more people to participate. On the other hand, if an incentive for civic engagement is to obtain information (e.g. I go out to the protest because I want to see how bigit is, and hear what the protest leaders have to say, and then tell all my friends about what I saw) social media might decrease civic engagement as this information can be accessed without leaving your home.

CT: 2011 pre-electoral activities and violence created an ‘unfavorable’ and fragile electoral environment, in what ways did social media help improve the situation following the relatively peaceful 2012 General Elections?

SG: Ushahidi-powered platforms allowed Liberians and foreigners to text in incidences of ballot fraud and hate speech and violence, facilitating more rapid responses to these incidences. It is possible that this made the elections more peaceful.

Ushahidi-powered map of election-related incidents from the 2011 Elections in Liberia:

CT: On Thursday 26 April 2012, the former Liberian president Charles Taylor was convicted by the the Sierra Leone Special Court in The Hague on 11 counts of crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone, in what significant manners did social media usage among Liberians affect discussions and coverage of trial?

SG: I doubt social media affected the trial, but social media certainly affected the degree to which Liberians could obtain information about the trial and engage with trial controversies.The Trial of Charles Taylor blog, run by the Open Society Justice Initiative, provided daily summaries of trial events for six years, along with analysis of legal issues and occasional commentaries from international law experts. Posts on this blog frequently sparked 40 or more comments and technical legal questions, which OSJI staff responded to promptly. It is difficult to determine what percent of the comments came from Liberians and Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora or at home, but there was certainly a good share of both. Further, Liberian newspapers frequently reprinted these blog posts, making them accessible to Liberians without internet access. The Trial of Charles Taylor blog deserves a huge amount of credit for what engagement there was with the trial.

CT: You followed and sampled the reactions of Liberians on Taylor’s verdict, what are your key findings?

SG: Liberians seemed largely disengaged with the trial over the past six years. The Taylor trial received far less local media coverage than the Truth and Reconciliation Commission proceedings. It’s not completely clear why. One possibility is that the lack of media coverage prevented Liberians from engaging further in the trial, but this seems unlikely.My sense is that the lack of coverage reflected the lack of interest. The Taylor trial was in The Hague, while the TRC hearings were in Liberia, so that’s one possible explanation. The Taylor trial was about one big fish, whereas the TRC hearings took testimony from hundreds, so that’s another possible explanation.But the lack of engagement remains a puzzle to me. If a former US head of state was tried for war crimes Americans would be glued to their TVs watching the trial.

CT: What are the major challenges social media and the internet growth that Liberia faces?

SG: Liberia needs reliable, accessible, and affordable electricity throughout the country. This would make internet cafes cheaper and more accessible to a larger percent of Liberians.

CT: Finally, what message do you have for Liberia’s netizens and other friends of Liberia?

SG: Start a blog ! It is shockingly difficult to find original, reliable reporting about domestic Liberian politics. If a Liberian were to start a good blog about politics and update it regularly it would quickly aquire hundreds of readers.

CT: Shelby, it was really nice having you share your resourceful experience and insights with us. I wish you all the best in your endeavors. Thanks.

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The report states that almost 5% of Africa's agricultural land has been bought or leased by investors since 2000, and emphasizes the fact that this is not a new issue, yet points out that the number of such land deals has increased tremendously in the past five years.

Many observers are increasingly worried that these land deals usually take place in the world's poorest countries and that they impact its most vulnerable population, the farmers. The benefits seldom go to the general population, partially because of a lack of transparency in the proceedings of the transactions.

An additional report by Global Witness, entitled Dealing with Disclosure, emphasizes the dire need for transparency in the making of land deals.

World's poorest nations targeted 

The Global Witness report lists that 754 land deals have been identified, involving the majority of African countries for about 56.2 million hectares.

Target countries of land deals from the Land Matrix Project

The nations targeted are usually some of the poorest in the world. The countries with the most deals in place are Mozambique (92 deals), Ethiopia (83), Tanzania (58) and Madagascar (39). Some of those deals have made headlines because they were conducted to ensure control over food imports, when the targeted regions faced major food crises.

The NGO GRAIN has already explained in detail the gist of their concerns in an extensive report released in 2008:

Today’s food and financial crises have, in tandem, triggered a new global land grab. On the one hand, “food insecure” governments that rely on imports to feed their people are snatching up vast areas of farmland abroad for their own offshore food production. On the other hand, food corporations and private investors, hungry for profits in the midst of the deepening financial crisis, see investment in foreign farmland as an important new source of revenue. As a result, fertile agricultural land is becoming increasingly privatised and concentrated. If left unchecked, this global land grab could spell the end of small-scale farming, and rural livelihoods, in numerous places around the world.

In Malawi, land deals have grown increasingly prevalent to the detriment of the local farmers. A report from Bangula explains the challenges faced by Malawian farmers, Dorothy Dyton and her family:

Like most smallholder farmers in Malawi, they did not have a title deed for the land Dyton was born on, and in 2009 she and about 2,000 other subsistence farmers from the area were informed by their local chief that the land had been sold and they could no longer cultivate there. […] Since that time, said Dyton, “life has been very hard on us.” With a game reserve on one side of the community and the Shire river and Mozambique border on the other, there is no other available land for them to farm and the family now ekes out a living selling firewood they gather from the nearby forest.

Land construction in Madagascar. Photo by Foko Madagascar, used with the author's authorization

Farmers in Madagascar share similar concerns because they do not own the rights to the land they farm and an effective land reform is yet to be implemented. The Malagasy association Terres Malgaches has been at the forefront of land protection for the local population. They report that [fr]:

 Les familles malgaches ne possèdent pas de document foncier pour sécuriser leurs terres contre les accaparements de toutes sortes. En effet, depuis la colonisation, l’obtention de titres fonciers auprès de l’un des 33 services des domaines d’un pays de 589 000 km2 nécessite 24 étapes, 6 ans en moyenne et jusqu’à 500 dollars US. (..) .  Face aux convoitises et accaparements dont les terres malgaches font l’objet actuellement, seule la possession d’un titre ou d’un certificat foncier, seuls documents juridiques reconnus, permet d’entreprendre des actions en justice en cas de conflit.

The association also reports on the practices of a mining company Sheritt, in Ambatovy, which have created a buzz in the local blogosphere because of environmental concerns for the local population and business malpractices (via MiningWatch Canada):

Sherritt International’s Ambatovy project in eastern Madagascar – costing $5.5 billion to build and scheduled to begin full production this month – will comprise a number of open pit mines (..) it will close in 29 years. There are already many concerns about the mine from the thousands of local people near the facilities. They say that their fields are destroyed ; the water is dirty ; the fish in the river are dead and there have been landslides near their village. During testing of the new plant, there have been at least four separate leaks of sulphur dioxide from the hydro-metallurgical facility which villagers say have killed at least two adults and two babies and sickened at least 50 more people. In January, laid-off construction workers from Ambatovy began a wildcat strike, arguing that the jobs they were promised when construction ended have not materialized. The people in nearby cities like Moramanga say that their daughters are increasingly engaged in prostitution.

Video of a worker's testimony in Ambatovy.

Solutions for the local population? 

The plight of Madagascar's farmers' plight may be slowly changing though. Land reform discussions are in progress, according to this report:

 According to a paper presented at the 2011 International Conference on Global Land Grabbing, about 50 agribusiness projects were announced between 2005 and 2010, about 30 of which are still active, covering a total land area of about 150,000 ha. Projects include plantations to produce sugar cane, cassava and jatropha-based biofuel.
To prevent the negative impacts of land grabbing, (The NGO) EFA has set up social models for investors, with funding from the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The goal is to help investors negotiate with the people in the area where they want to implement projects, as a way to prevent future problems.

Joachim Von Braun, formerly  of the International Food Policy Insitute (IFPRI), wrote the following regarding land deals:

 It is in the long-run interest of investors, host governments, and the local people involved to ensure that these arrangements are properly negotiated, practices are sustainable, and benefits are shared. Because of the transnational nature of such arrangements, no single institutional mechanism will ensure this outcome. Rather, a combination of international law, government policies, and the involvement of civil society, the media, and local communities is needed to minimize the threats and realize the benefits.

The need for transparency in land deals is further emphasized by  Megan MacInnes, Senior Land Campaigner at Global Witness:

Far too many people are being kept in the dark about massive land deals that could destroy their homes and livelihoods. That this needs to change is well understood, but how to change it is not. For the first time, this report (Dealing with Disclosure)  sets out in detail what tools governments, companies and citizens can harness to remove the shroud of secrecy that surrounds land acquisition. It takes lessons from efforts to improve transparency in other sectors and looks at what is likely to work for land. Companies should have to prove they are doing no harm, rather than communities with little information or power having to prove that a land deal is negatively affecting them.

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The verdict has drawn mixed reactions from Liberians. According to Liberian Observer Online, even nature reacted to the verdict:

During the reading of the verdict against former Liberian President Charles Ghankay Taylor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague, a dark cloud surrounded the sun, as seen in Liberia, encircled by a rainbow. In Liberia, when this happens, it is believed that a great personality has fallen. Then there's a distinct red “eye-like” object lingering within the dark cloud. What could it be?

Lorenzo Gartorr, a Liberian living in the Diaspora, thinks the trial was a “theatrical performance by the court”:

Kangaroo Justice verdict according to Lorenzo Gatorr. Photo courtesy: Lorenzo Gartorr.

What a beautiful theatrical performance by the court, if true verdict is based upon argument and evidence then the court proves itself another ‘Kangaroo Court', cuz the prosecutors shot themselves in the legs on many occasions during the trail. I am not saying Taylor is guilty or not, but the defense did much better job in this whole case then the prosecutors. I believe the judge read from a prepard transcript that existed even before Taylor's arrest in the first place.

Unlike Lorenzo Gartorr, Elias Shoniyin supports the verdict:

The world through the ICC has once again reawaken the conscientiousness of nations, secured justice for the victims of war, and sent a strong signal to reigning dictators that their days of oppressing the weak are numbered. It's a verdict that not only bring justice, but also hope to the weak and oppressed.

While welcoming the verdict, Liberian musician Robert Black Diamond, reiterates the need to have other major political players in the Liberian civil crisis brought to justice:

The evening sun in Liberia after Taylor's verdict was announced. Photo courtesy: Y.L.Gortor.

Ellen [current president], PYJ [former warlord senator Prince Y.Johnson] and the rest will go down as well. Just wait and see. What some of you folks don't understand is that these folks are planting more seeds and hatred for future conflict under the false pretense of justice when infact this is not justice because we still have a killer gvt rulling our people. It is with great shame that some of you will celebrate your former president being sent to jail for crimes in another country and not for crimes in your own country and what makes it worst is that you worship the assistant assassin who provided the finance to kill her own people and you have no problem with that. This is why many people are having problem with the entire Taylor and the ICC saga. Selective justice is no justice. Ellen must have her day in court!!

Emmanuel M.Liu sees the verdict as a victory for both Sierra Leonean and Liberian victims of war:

Finally justice for the people of not only Sierra Leone but also for the almost 200,000 of my fellow Liberias who died in Charles Taylor senseless war. I for my part cannot wait for the day George Boley, Alhaji Kromah, Sekou Conteh, and Prince Johnson all join this fool in the Hague to face war crimes charges. Most of us Liberians who saw these men and their barbarian armies at work during the war will never forget what these people did to our country, I hope they all burn and rot in hell where they all belong.

Massa Dopoh vividly remembers Taylor's brutality:

A victim of Sierra Leonean civil war. Photo shared under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC 2.0) by Flickr user Travlr.

Yes I can still remember how taylor boys make me,my little brother and friend to pump tire and run on that Airfeild why enroute to my anuty house.I can still remember when he send his numerous rockets on the bushrod island and precious lives were taken in a second including my cousin cuz those rockets fall in my uncle house near my daddy' house.Yes his presence in jail is not about me nor the war in Liberia but I can relate and rejoice that Justice was Well Served for those dead and living victims in S.Leone. Massa is singing Thanks be to God…. CASE CLOSED

Elisabeth Karnley is not impressed by the court:

Really ICC? There are horrendous crimes being committed against humanity right now! All you're worry about is getting even with Charles Taylor? Not only are you partially and incompetent, the purpose for which you were established is defeated!

Mohamed Kamara reacts with a sense of humour:

LIBERIANS rewarded him for crimes and SIERRA LEONEANS indicted him for crimes…….WELL DONE SIERRA LEONEANS !!!!!!!

The actual sentence of Charles Taylor remains unknown until 16 May 2012.

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Lusina from Kenya is one of the interviewed mothers for IMOW

Mama to Be is the section on the expectations around motherhood and pregnancy, and how the different women, some not even out of their teens reacted and faced their impending motherhood.

How many women in the world actually have an opportunity to decide if, how, and when to create a family? What are the reasons that women today are choosing – or refusing to choose – motherhood?

In Healthy Mama, Healthy Baby, the stories these women share on their birthing experiences serve to illustrate how different cultures view birthing and health.

Every day, thousands of women worldwide give birth to new human life. While many of these women will have happy and successful deliveries, hundreds will die in childbirth. How do things like geography, income, and age affect your chances of a safe delivery? What is being done to improve upon the world’s maternal mortality rate, and how can you get involved?

In the Featured Voices section, stories were submitted by the audience and six stories were selected by an international jury for the Community Choice Awards. One of them is this excerpt of the hard situation in the Colombian hospital maternity wards by Jorge Caballero for Gusano Films.

In Birth Journal Maternity Excerpt, a mother of six arrives to a checkup and then to deliver a baby. During the checkup, her story comes out through the questions asked by the doctor, and his attitude towards her changes, ending up with a suggestion for a tubal ligation and a curt farewell. During delivery, there isn't even time to move the lone woman to the gurney and into the maternity room, she gives birth on her hospital bed.

One-on-one interviews in Meet the Mamas focus the conversations around the woman and her personal story, for example, it helps contrast the different situations between a teen mother in Liberia, living what she calls in Critical Condition, and a teen mother in the United States, who through family support is able to move on ahead and continue her studies.

This exhibit in the International Museum of Women aims to get more people informed on the state of Women's Maternal Health, on their Get Involved page they suggest different ways in which readers can participate in improving the statistics and raise awareness themselves on these important issues.

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Homosexuality is outlawed in 38 African countries and it can be punishable by death in Mauritania, Sudan, and northern Nigeria.

Writing about Liberia's anti-gay bill, Melanie says:

Expressed many times on my blog, is the fear that David Bahati’s Kill the Gays Bill, currently before the Ugandan Parliament, could well spread to other parts of Africa , as it is accompanied by the promotion of much anti-gay rhetoric and myth. It seems that the Kill the Gays idea is indeed spreading, even though it has met with great criticism around the world. In conversations last year, David Bahati told Warren Throckmorton and me that other African nations had expressed interest in his Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which we have come to know as The Kill the Gays Bill.

A map showing penalties targeting gays and lesbians in Africa. Image source: http://ilga.org/

Warren writes:

No date has been set for debate or vote. Both Houses of the legislature would need to pass the bill to send to the President for signature or veto. I wrote about this bill and a companion bill in their House last week.

As far as I can determine, in Liberia penalties for a First Degree Felony can range from 10 years in prison to death. The amendment is short and without definitions.

Evan wonders why the Nobel prize winner and president of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf remains silent:

If convicted, such a crime would warrant punishment ranging from 10 years in jail to death.

And Nobel prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has remained silent on the issue.

The issue continues to heat up owing to the pressure of the U.S. and the U.K. to consider gay rights as human rights over the past year.

Should the U.S. cut back aid to Liberia?:

The U.S. gives quite a bit of aid to Liberia. The question is whether we will put our money where are mouths are and actually cut back assistance because of this issue, even as American influence on the continent wanes in the face of massive Chinese investment. Would such a stance fly well with the American electorate? There may be mixed support for gay marriage, but I’m pretty sure that a healthy majority of Americans would recognize death-for-sodomy as a massive human rights violation…

Liberia‘s former first lady's letter to the Liberian parliamentarians regarding anti-gay bill. Image courtesy of http://sebaspace.wordpress.com/.

Sebaspace thinks the former first lady is not genuine:

It would appear that Ms. Jewel Taylor has learned one or two things about how campaigns of this sort have come a-cropper in other parts of Africa. So, she is covering her flank by disguising her anti-gay sentiments in language that suggests that she is trying to prevent “gay marriage.”
—-
Really? In a country where the language of the law is against same gender loving, Ms. Taylor’s only concern is gay marriage? Why do I find that hard to believe?

Boima J. V. Boima cautions:

But the law, if passed, could have economic implications for Liberia since western powers including the US and UK are tying gay rights to foreign aid to third world countries, including Liberia.

The draft bill surfaced following repeated calls by UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon and western powers urging African leaders to legalize same sex marriage or risk being deprived of foreign assistance for development.

Gay rights activists and sympathizers can sign a petition to protest Liberia's “Kill the Gays” bill:

Target: Liberian Senator Jewel Haward Taylor

Goal: To urge Senator Taylor not to push this bill, which would allow judges to punish homosexual acts with the death penalty in Liberia.

In the west African country of Liberia, LGBT couples have been struggling to gain legal recognition. But Senator Taylor, who recently introduced a bill that would make homosexual acts punishable by death, could serve as a huge roadblock to equality. Senator Taylor must stop advocating for the passage of a bill that would essentially take the lives of some LGBT Liberians.

Many African leaders claim that homosexuality is un-natural and un-African. South African is an exception with a constitution, which provides the most comprehensive protection of gay rights in the world.

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The inaugural ceremony was graced by the oppositions Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) which initially threatened to stage a demonstration and carry out a parallel inauguration ceremony.

Liberia's President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Vice President Joseph N.Boakai during the ceremony. Photo courtesy of http://frontpageafricaonline.com.

In her inaugural address titled “The Values of a Patriot”, President Johnson-Sirleaf challenged the nation to answer the patriot's call of duty:

Let us go forth from this Inauguration Day to roll up our sleeves, to make the sacrifices necessary for our continued growth and development: economic, educational, moral and spiritual.

let us resolve that our pride in our Liberian nation, and in our tradition and heritage, will be manifested in a new commitment to the democratic processes that we mark on this solemn occasion.

She further stressed:

A victim of elections violence ahead of Liberia's presidential run-off. Image courtesy of @liberiaelection.

True reconciliation means a process of national healing.  It means learning the lessons of the past to perfect our democracy.  But above all it means economic justice for our citizens and the spread of progress to all our people.  It means creating jobs, opportunities and giving our young people the skills they need to prosper and create the life they choose.

The youths of Liberia are our future, and they sent us a message.  They are impatient.  They are eager to make up for years of conflict and deprivation. They are anxious to know that their homeland offers the grounds for hope.  Let me say to them: We heard that message and it is our solemn obligation to ensure that their hope will not be in vain

Oldman Nagbe, a reader at Frontpage Africa, reminds the government to save the Liberian people and not their families:

Congratulations to all Liberians for providing a peaceful atmosphere for the hosting of the inauguration.

Congratulations to all political parties for participating in the inaugural process. This is an indication that we can put our differences aside and work for the common good of our nation.

To the new government that will be put into place soon, please remember, you will be working for the Liberian people and not for you and your families. We will therefore be looking forward to seeing you working with us to build a better Liberia. You will be there to serve your people and not your people serving you. Do not pay any blind loyalty to your party or the president. The President wants you to be straight with her. You will her advisors, please tell her the truth.

We as Liberians, let be our pledge to work along with government in rebuilding our Country. Nobody can for us, but we ourselves.

CONGRATULATIONS MADAME PRESIDENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A NEW LIBERIA.

LIBERIA, FORWARD FOREVER AND BACKWARD NEVER!

At Liberia Elections 2011 Media Monitoring Group, J.Forkpayeah Akoi Tellewoyan, a Liberian software development engineer, highlights his favorite part of the address:

My favorite part -Pres. Sirleaf: Patriotism does not mean blind Loyalty to power, indeed sometimes the highest demonstration of patriotism may well be seen, when citizens peaceful and respectfully express their oppositions to particular policies propose by those elected to government. Patriots freely and openly and even passionately disagree about what is best for the Nation they love.

Lorenzo Gartorr, a Liberian Behavior Therapist residing in the United States, reflects:

Today was a fulfillment of what is a common trend in a democratic society(Where the incumbent is 75% of the time elected ),also in a democratic society there is an unwritten law of the main opposition taking power after the ruling party 2nd term. As we all know that election is won base on popularity, assuming that Winston Tubman will not be on CDC ticket in the next election and with no one as popular as Weah in Liberia in the absent of Ellen. Can we assume that Liberia will be lead by a Weah's Presidency after Ellen ?

A Liberian who humorously refers to himself as Crazy Man opined quite sanely:

To our youths: Let’s us put our nation first! As a wise leader once said, “Free speech is the first requisite of freedom and a viable, functioning democracy. The exercise of it cannot be at the option of those who think the right to dissent includes the right to destroy.” This wise saying implies that our youths should not mistake freedom of speech as their democratic right to vandalize, to loot, and to have no conscience for the rule of laws that governs us as a Republic. May God grant our political leaders and youths the wisdom to disagree but to use tolerance for the rule of law to settle disputes through dialogue, and non-violence means! Liberians, let’s give peace a chance! May God bless our Republic.

The ceremony had some embarrassing moments.

Liberia's famous Robot-man sending out message of national unity. Photo courtesy of tlcafrica.com.

But in the midst of the pageantry of President Sirleaf’s inauguration with several world leaders and dignitaries in attendance, major blunders and errors in protocol overshadowed the fanfare as the audience and observers  noticed  kept murmuring.One of the most embarrassing and perhaps a constitutional headache and gaff in the  administering the Oath of  Office to the Liberian President in keeping with the constitution…
–
As the Chief Justice administered the Oath of Office to the Liberian President, rather than raise her right hand in confirmation to taking an oath and as the country’s constitution dictates and followed by all Liberian President before the 24th Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, she instead was given a microphone through which she repeated the oath as the Chief Justice, Johnnie Lewis administered the oath of office to her and neither did she place her hand on the Holy Bible and kiss it at the finish of the reading of oath as the normal and usual ritual of all Presidents, including President Sirleaf when she was inaugurated the first time in 2006 to her first term of office.

Here is the solution:

…the Liberian President did not take her oath office since it was not done properly and needs to be re-administered just as president Barrack Obama Oath of Office was re-administered the next day by Chief Justice John Roberts the next morning in the White House because the Oath of Office was mistakenly read by the Chief Justice.

Wade Williams describes this moment in Liberia's political history as “Rebirth of Democracy”:

My best dressed Liberian at the inauguration. Photo courtesy of tlcafrica.com.

Cooper Kwame reminds the government in this fashionable narrative:

I just read the President's inaugural speech. It is a hopeful speech and it recognizes the urgent need to pay serious attention to those President Tolbert referred to as his “precious jewels.”

Six years ago the talk was about “papa na come.” People were highly hopeful and expectations were very high. Papa did come home, day after day, after venting his frustration for six years! Papa did not bring home money to feed his family, but he came home knowing that no one was following him to arrest him or to harm him and his family.

For six long and excruciating years papa and his family endured the many hardships in a free, democratic, and peaceful society. Papa has shown his loyalty and patriotism and it is time for him and his family to reap the benefits for helping to secure a free nation.

The majority of the people of Liberia have suffered for too long: No electricity, no pipe-borne water, no paved roads, few high schools and universities, few clinics and hospitals, few jobs

Reacting to Wade's post, Taynue says:

I like president Sirleaf but, she's not honest when she says Liberia is no longer a country of conflict and deprivation. Unemployment is above 70% that deprives people. Opposition dropped threats of demonstration just hours before inauguration. Some of our fellow citizens died during post elections violence. Isn't that conflict? Several liberians were involved in the conflict in the Ivory Coast. They are our neigbor. I think they scare us.
Madam president, you've got a lot to do just be honest and ask the liberian people to help you steer this nation. Stop white washing stuff good leaders don't do that.

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Rep.Edwin Melvin Snowe of Liberia. Photo courtesy of liberiapolitics.com

Snowe was removed from his position as Speaker in January 2007 following a vote of no confidence. However, on January 29, the Supreme Court ruled in Snowe's favor, describing his removal as unconstitutional.

The controversy arose when a lawyer and other advocacy groups revealed that Snowe's cash prize offered at a party hosted at his house had wooed a lady to strip naked and swim across his swimming pool.

‘Snowegate' has been stirring up real interesting reactions from both the home and diaspora fronts despite the fact that the lady at the center of the allegation denying that she was naked when she swam:

The lady who admitted receiving US$1,000 from Montressado County District Six Representative Edwin Snowe to dance naked at the bachelor’s eve of a Liberian journalist has denied reports that she paraded stark naked at Snowe’s residence last Friday night.

Appearing on a local radio talk show yesterday afternoon, the lady, only indentified Tracy, said she wore a brown swimming suit when she paraded in the presence of invited guests.

Women groups have added their voices to the call fo Snowe's resignation while the lawmakers were busy electing their leadership at the Capitol Building. Mother Hallowangah one of the leaders of the women protesters who described Hon.Snowe's action as “a heavy sin committed by a leader” had this to say:

we are here to tell our Representative Snowe to step aside and repent of his sins as David did in the Bible. He cannot lead us while he is polluted.I am telling Providence Baptist Church if they are not lover of money, to take the lead and tell Snowe to step aside if they are serving the true and living God. They should see reason to tell Snowe to step aside from the positions in the church and repent of his sins regardless of how much money he spends in the church as father of the year or the higher tithes payer in the that church.

The political political activist, Jurah M. Sanoe wrote:

Edwin Snowe is not a private citizen, but a public servant who has served in many capacities, including the present one as lawmaker. He has made fortunes for himself from public service which is the source of his wealth.
If the alleged incident is true, it is condemnable and Snowe must publically apologize to the Liberian people and especially residents of District 5. If not, those who elected him can also start an impeachment proceeding against him. Though this may not work in our gullible society, it will serve as caveat. To influence someone to naked herself in a gathering is a public nuisance,which is condemned under our laws, especially if done in the presence of foreign nationals

Getrude Williams was much more liberal in her reaction:

God does not like ugly neither does He care too much for pretty. I do not see where Snowe went wrong. Why are you people not blaming the firl also? She was not forced into doing what she did. If she was a decent girl she would not have done this. These are some of the things that happen at a bachelor's party, that's why it is called a bachelors party. Strippers are all over the world. Speaking of Clinton's blow job, it was done in the White House and not in his private home - where can the comparison come in? And, speaking of gays, Wow, Liberia has always had gays. From the days of Tubman to now, gay men and Lesbian women are infesting the Liberian society.Edwin, let it Snowe, let it Snowe

Alston C.Armah, a student at the University of Liberia, satirically added his voice in a very classical manner by going down historical lane to unearth another scandal known as the Knuckles-gate. Knuckle-gate is a sexual scandal that rocked Liberia and inevitably ended the political career of a top government officer:

Liberian women calling for Snowe's resignation at the Liberian Capitol Building in Monrovia. Photo courtesy of fpa.com

I write not to disprove what is being reported about Representative Edwin Melvin Snowe, but I write to say what I do know. Unlike some of my colleagues who have chosen to denigrate and condemn this honorable man, I choose to applaud and pay homage to him for his noble deeds.

Representative Snowe is an honorable man. He is a noble man who walks on the path of uprightness. So noble is he that he is reported to have dropped from 11th grade at the onset of our civil war, and, without completing high school, enrolled at the University of Liberia and graduated in record time.

Thanks to our porous educational system. Representative Snowe is so noble that, backed by his honestly gotten wealth, he paved his way to the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives. But, like all historical charades, he descended the post just as he had ascended.

Like Snowe like Knuckles, what’s strange? They are all, all honorable men.

Please tell the public to leave the honorable Snowe alone; let him continue with his honorable encounters. His life is worthy of emulation, and he is setting good examples from which wise young men would learn great lessons.

Even President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who had just signed the Code of Conduct for Executive Bill at the Executive Mansion had her view aired through her Press Secretary Cyrus Wleh Badio on the Snowegate issue:

The president seriously frowns on any act of immorality and she has in fact expressed that to individuals who may have been involved because she thinks it doesn’t speak well of some of the values we stand for as a country and so she frowns on it in a very serious manner

A.Darius Dillion, a political analyst, a friend and former subordinate of Snowe reacted in a more diplomatic fashion:

Firstly, I take cognizance of the fact that whether this story or incident is true or not, and even though this may be an acceptable norm at such occasions in other ‘open societies’, ours is not ‘open’ enough to stomach or embrace any news about a woman being requested or induced to “strip naked” in public for any form of reward;. Secondly, this was not a planned or generally agreed agenda item for the night. The offer put up by Mr. Snowe was something initiated and done unilaterally at his own volition, considering that it was a social event of adults. This has turned to be what we have on our hands. 

In consideration of the above, and since I was not physically present around the swimming pool at the time to have personally witnessed the incident, coupled with the fact that I have seen no such tape or photo to safely counter “Tracy’s” version or concur with Mr. Dan Saryee’s information, I come neither to out rightly condemn Mr. Snowe nor praise or prop him up. I must admit that I am not only worried but deeply disappointed over his prolonged silence on this matter which may make true the maxim that says “Silence means consent”. I therefore call on him to muster the courage to issue a public statement and apology to the women of Liberia and those who felt and still do feel offended by this story; especially the manner it was told. I also call on him to extend similar apology to all his friends who have been maligned as well as those who attended the bachelor’s party held at his home. I hold the view that had Mr. Snowe taken into consideration the sensitive feelings and reactionary attitude of our society to such stories, he would have thoughtfully avoided the embarrassment we all now face. I can only hope this will serve as lesson learnt, not only to Mr. Snowe as a public official, but to all who hold or aspire to public office in our land.

Tom Monboe, a humanitarian Liberia worker, boldly pointed out the human rights dimension of the issue:

The issue involving Rep Snowe is not just a morality issue but also a human right issue. Every high-quality human being who puts premium on the dignity of another person, should be concerned that no matter one’s social or economic status, their integrity should not be mortgaged with such a degree of pomposity. When two consenting adults meet and do what they want to do privately, that's fine. But when a financial offer is made for one to nude in the company of others mainly public officials, then it translates into a blatant mindless display of arrogance of resources. And this is why those involved should get the proportional public reprimand. For posterity sake, let others who were at the event join the likes of Dan Saryeh to be the witness of public conscience to redeem themselves from this sacrilege which is a scandal of an unimaginable proportion.

After almost two weeks of enduring the scorns from different sources, the embattled politician had his say:

Representative Snowe pointed out:I am deeply troubled by the manner in which a gathering intended to celebrate the holy matrimony of a brother and friend is now being transformed into degradation of womanhood; for this, I expressed deep regrets.I have never and will never do anything to bring womanhood into disrepute, no matter their status in society.I am deeply saddened that this unfounded allegation is being sustained in the media. I have spoken to my mother who has expressed dismay over the manner in which womanhood is being brought into disrepute and disdain by this unfounded allegation. I have also spoken to my pastor and some members of my church as well as other eminent women in our society who have all expressed deep concern over this falsehood.

When quizzed to give clarification on the exact details of what occurred on the night in question, the lawmaker cleverly survived the question with these words:

I have not come to tell you people what happened that night. What I have come to say is that all that is being reported in the media over the last few weeks is false and misleading

 

The stage is set, echoes of reactions are popping up from every angles. There are even claims of death threats made to journalists.

Will this scandal lead to the resignation of the lawmaker or will he “walk away like Craig Davids” ( a local expression in Liberia that means walking away with impunity). Liberia's respect for morality, cultural values and norms is at a crossroad.

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While the year 2012 is already well on its way, the translators of Global Voices in Dutch look back on 2011. Which posts stood out and what makes Global Voices so special?

Marjolein Snippe writes:

A while ago I had been translating a short documentary on the Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant and the arguments of indigenous people opposing it. Then I saw this report on Global Voices. I was glad the issue is still receiving attention and that the (mainly) indigenous people opposing it are getting their voices heard in Brazilian courtrooms, by the Brazilian government and by worldwide sympathisers and supporters.

I was very much touched by an article about Syria I translated back in March. All the personal stories and deep worries made the impact the struggles had on the people living there so much more visible and “tangible” than most official newspaper reports!

Mieke Tulp writes:

Being asked which GV posts from last year made an impression, it seems inevitable to come up with something about the Arabic Spring. One article that struck me was a report about day-to-day life on Tahrir Square. It focussed on the positive attitude and feelings among the protesters. Little Utopia amidst explosive surroundings

Another story from an Arab country that touched me was the arrest of Razan Ghazzawi. The article was translated into virtually every language Global Voices covers, and rightfully so. She was released on 18 December.

Something that had an absolutely negative impact on me: Troy Davis’ death. He was executed in September. I do not know what to say about it. It should not have happened.

And an interesting story about children who have to work. In Bolivia the working children formed unions to ensure better wages and working conditions. It is a story about strong children who work and go to school and are determined to create a better future for themselves.

Percy Balemans writes:

Last year I translated a lot of stories about the Arab Spring, a subject that was also covered extensively by regular media. But they mainly showed images of huge crowds. This is why I was touched by the story about Egyptian Nadia El Awady who took her 73-year old father to Tahrir Square. What a wonderful way to get a taste of the atmosphere and to read how a 73-year old experiences it all!

I also enjoyed translating the article “African Women Striving to be Heads of State“. A perfect example of the kind of subject you won't read about in regular media, but which is covered by Global Voices.

Saskia Bliemer writes:

I found “North Korea Threatens to Disclose Recordings of Talks with South“, written by Lee Yoo Eun, very interesting to translate. Though we have seen lots of images from North Korea on the news lately, the country remains a mystery to me. The good thing about Global Voices is that you can read the opinions of the local population, making it possible to get a more complete idea of the situation.

A huge thank you to all Global Voices in Dutch translators [nl] for their contributions in 2011! Would you like to contribute as well? Contact us.

This post is part of our special coverage Global Voices in 2011.

Written by Percy Balemans · Translated by Percy Balemans · View original post [nl] · comments (0)
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Written by Ndesanjo Macha · comments (1)
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President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had earlier mandated the Monrovia City Corporation to design a scheme to get some 3,000 students employed under the auspices of a vacation job scheme. A program that was intended for 3,000 students turned out to be a chaotic 20,000 or more student vacation job program that soured the relations between the students and the Liberian government .

The riots are said to have erupted after the students who reportedly worked for around a week or so doing sanitation related works in Monrovia turned out for the promised $35 but could not get their pay in time and thereafter ran out of patience.

Liberian police battling to quell rioting students. Photo courtesy of Earnest Garbleejay Smith Facebook page.

The violence has left so many with hundreds of unaswered of questions regarding the path of national development. Did the future leaders of Liberia behave like decent people with integrity? Nathan Patio Charles lamented:

@NathanPatio: for the second time vocation job students in # Liberia have gone on the rampage in Monrovia , burning gov't and private #cars,

Svaye saw the problem from a spiritual perspective:

@beSassic: Sending prayers to my sweet #Liberia

Samuel Herring weighed on the other side of the coin:

@theboyfromlib: Heard its not really the youth who worked. It those tryna get paid and can't provide identification. #Liberia

Le Patron Vonk quickly diagnosed the problem and recommended a remedy:

The hungry man is an angry man…Pay the students for the job they did…No curfew will solve this problem…blame it on Mary Broh.

Commenting on Le Patron Vonk's observations, Massa Johnson noted:

ur know we liberians are full off corruption.ur hired ppl with out proper id i myself if i was in lib i will be standing on line with my family.

Clarence Pratt wondered why will the students who will eventually get paid want destroy their country:

@Arsenalistical: They going to get pay so why are they overreacting and destroying homes, business and cars. Come on # Liberia

John Kantan, a victim of police brutality. Photo courtesy of Liberian Observer Online.

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The admission of Palestine as a full member of UNESCO on 31 October 2011 has prompted an intense debate, with people taking very different stands.  Africans from the continent as well as the diaspora have also taken an active part in the debate online.  However, whether they agreed or disagreed with Palestine's admission to UNESCO, the different sides have often projected the debate onto the internal problems of their own countries.

UNESCO admits Palestine. Photo by Salaam Shalom on Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

The site ouestaf.com reveals which African countries abstained from voting:

Trois pays ouest africains figurent dans le lot des abstentionnistes : Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Togo. Ils constituent avec le Cameroun, l’Ouganda, la Zambie et le Rwanda les seuls pays africains à n’avoir pas voté en faveur de la résolution faisant de Palestine un Etat membre à part entière de l’Unesco.

Each of the countries that chose to abstain gave its official reasons, which bloggers then quickly tore apart. The site amaizo.info published an article giving valid reasons for most of the countries:

En réalité, ces pays ont en commun d’assurer une partie de leur sécurité rapprochée jusqu’au niveau des gardes présidentielles avec Israël sans compter les aides économiques.

Ces « neutralistes » se cachent derrière l’obligation de réserve au lieu d’expliquer qu’ils sont tous directement ou indirectement tributaires du soutien des pays qui ne veulent pas entendre parler d’un Etat Palestinien pour le moment. Nommons Israël, les Etats-Unis, le Canada et la Colombie, etc. La France a voté en faveur de l’adhésion de la Palestine à l’UNESCO, mais annonce qu’elle s’abstiendra au Conseil de Sécurité.

Explaining the position of Ivory Coast, the only African country run by a Muslim president to have opted for abstention, S. Débailly writes in an article entitled “Palestine in UNESCO / Ivory Coast abstains from voting - Why Alassane Ouattara didn't say yes to Nicolas Sarkozy”, published by abidjan.net:

Une source au ministère d’Etat, ministère des Affaires étrangères reconnaît que la pression a été forte. Mais, ajoute-t-elle, elle est restée fidèle à sa nouvelle ligne de conduite dictée par la recherche de la paix par la négociation et la volonté de préserver les amitiés avec tous les Etats du monde. Un peu comme la philosophie diplomatique du père fondateur [Félix Houphouët-Boigny], à savoir : ‘’la Côte d’Ivoire, amie de tous, ennemie de personne’’.

But Roch Tieh, a resident of Sétif in Morocco, commenting on that article, has quite a different explanation, more personal, for President Abdourahmane Dramane Ouattara (ADO):

Loin de partager l'avis de la plupart des frères qui sont intervenus sur ce sujet, j'ai une autre vision de la chose. Je risque de choquer certains, mais pour ceux qui me voient souvent prendre position pour ADO, je dirai ici (Sans en avoir la preuve) que le vote de notre Pays a été influencé, par la Première Dame (Que je respecte beaucoup). Elle serait d'origine Juive et donc comme le dit l'Agade: Ce qui Femme veut, DIEU le veut aussi. Notre Président a demandé que notre Pays s'abstienne, si on ne peut pas voter pour l'adhésion de la Palestine à l'Unesco, il faut rester neutre. C'est sage de sa part et il n'y a pas de Palabres inutiles à la maison.

A story written by Alain Noah Awana of the journal Le Messager (The Messenger) on cameroon-info.net agrees with the  previous analysis on why Cameroon also abstained:

Joint sur son téléphone portable alors qu'il se trouvait à Paris, le Pr. Messanga Nyamding donne les trois raisons qui, selon lui, ont poussé le Cameroun sur la voie de l'abstention….En filigrane, on peut comprendre que le pays a choisi la neutralité pour ne pas attirer les foudres de la communauté internationale, notamment celles des Etats-Unis. Deuxièmement, il se pourrait que le Cameroun ait voulu éviter de «frustrer» un pays ami. Là, le professeur parle d'Israël, qui était formellement opposé à l'admission de la Palestine à l'Unesco. «Le Cameroun a de très bonnes relations avec Israël, sur les plans économique et militaire. C'est un partenaire privilégié que nous n'avons pas voulu frustrer», argue-t-il. Enfin, et c'est la troisième raison, la position du Cameroun tient lieu du fait que c'est un pays très attaché aux groupes du tiers monde et des non alignés. «Nous avons donc choisi la voie du milieu, en attendant qu'il y ait visibilité. Et c'est d'ailleurs ce que le chef de l'Etat a toujours prôné», appuie-t-il.

These explanations don't seem to convince Massaknowall, who makes the following remarks in the comment section:

La garde rapprochée de Biya est formée par les israëliens ceci explique peut-être cela tout simplement

In a comment on a story by Justin Daboné, entitled “Palestine in UNESCO:  Those American anti-democrats”, which appeared on the online site for L'Observateur Paalga in Burkina Faso, a reader named Osiris wrote, addressing President Obama:

vous devez user de votre influence pour amener les durs d' Israel à mettre un peu d'eau dans leurs vins§ beaucoup d'Israeliens ont payé de leur vie et idem pour les palestiniens ! Il est temps de donner un état à ce peuple.

Clive Chanda finds another reason for Zambia's abstention [en]:

… in 1991, several Jewish Rabbis, came to Zambia, and held a press conference at one of the top hotels in Lusaka, I forget which one. At this conference, they said that God Almighty had told them that there was a lost tribe of Jews in northern Zambia.

Another comment by Yambayamba published on zambianwatchdog.com draws conclusions [en] which sum up the point of view of many Africans:

Palestinians have suffered long enough. Telling Israel this truth does not mean, or should it ever be interpreted as being ANTI JEWISH. Good friends tell friends the truth. Sometimes truth is hard to hear, but it is the truth nonetheless. Because for how long are the Israelis going to sustain the current existing “status quo” between them and their neighbors, the Palestinians? The earlier they deal with this issue, the less physical and psychological damage it is going to cause to future generations in that part of the world.

Written by Abdoulaye Bah · Translated by Patricia Worth · View original post [fr] · comments (0)
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The stations were forced off the air following a complaint filed by Justice Minister Christiana Tah and Information Minister Cletus Sieh.

However, Judge James Zota ordered the re-opening of the closed media outlets arguing that though the respondents action is being punishable under the law yet the court thought it befitting not to impose punishment against the respondents in an effort to guarantee press freedom in Liberia.

Giving a summary of the ruling on Liberia Elections 2011 Media Monitoring Group, Mohammed Ali wrote:

The Criminal Court A has just rule in the case putting the media institutions in the wrong on the basis of the pieces of evidence provided by Government. The Court said that the pieces of evidence provided by the government proved that the 3 media institutions were actually engaged in preaching hate messages. However, the Court has said that since this was a conference between the 3 Media Institutions and the government and not a trial, the media institutions should be reopened with the strongest warning that they will be closed permantly if they should ever repeat those hate messages again.

Reconciliation is the way forward: Two members of main politican parties in Liberia shaking hands. Photo courtesy of Photos of Liberia Elections 2011 Media Monitoring Group.

A commentary posted on African Election Project blog dismissed the “cowboy style” closure and kangaroo style “pardon”:

Perhaps it wouldbe more honourable to begin by first joining others to categorically decry, condemn and reject both the cowboy style closure of three local media entities and the rather bogus and kangaroo process that attended their “pardon”. It is shameful and troubling that Liberia, having endured a cataclysmic civil conflict due to political tyranny and elective justice, would be forced to down the dark paths.

Why did the government turn a blind eye to “a magazine without known editorial management” which “dropped from the sky”?:

A day or so before the November 7 inferno, a magazine without known editorial management dropped from the sky and distributed free of charge describing some Liberians as trouble mongers, charlatans and risky. The Government made no single shriek about it. It was patriotic Journalism. During the campaign and even today, the government's “dangling media” continue to demonize some parties and politicians. Those publications are neither “handate messages” nor ” anti-peace”…

A Molotov cocktail was thrown at Love FM in post-election violence. Photo courtesy of the Press Union of Liberia.

Vote4Africa an advocacy group summarized the case in the tweet below:

@vote4africa : #Liberia: 3 media outlets found guilty of inciting hatred, no penalty given:

R.S.W. Chea, a Liberian advocate, educator and clergyman chose to address the issue on Cafe L.I.B social network from its root while discussing Liberia three-fold problems facing Liberia: corruption, ignorance and illiteracy [Cafe L.I.B is a global networking platform for Liberians & friends of Liberia, which requires login]:

In light of the current destruction of private and public properties, this problem should be the concern of every Liberian beyond politics and party lines.  In light of development, we are already way underdeveloped, and how much more undeveloped can we get?  All these burning down of media outlets, buildings and government vehicles are only setting us back economically, socially, and psychologically.  This is part of the reason we are where we are.  We have many issues in Liberia and they all result for the absence of nationalism, but on top of the list are three major problems, namely corruption, ignorance and illiteracy.  However, I will only address ignorance and illiteracy very briefly and continue on the issue of our non-nationalistic attitude and behavior.  Note that the two (ignorance and illiteracy) are not synonymous, but distinct, yet they compliment each other.

@africareview summed up the case in a few, yet meaningful words:

Court gives # Liberia broadcasters second chance

@Leo_Johnson, a young and emerging Liberia progressive tweep said:

Media found guilty of spreading hate messages in Liberia

Even before the court ordered the re-opening of the media entities, Liberians in the Diaspora voiced out their views from different standpoints. Jerome Gayman of Fort Pierce, Florida, United States (US) wrote:

When I went to work that Tuesday morning the first thing my boss asked was ‘What happened to the freedom of the press? What happened to the human rights? “This time around I was leaning towards Ellen’s re-election because she has done a lot of good stuffs in that country like the kind of developments under her that we had not seen in our times. And I was impressed under her administration on three issues that I had given her very high marks on: freedom of the press, economic development and women’s right. But I was shocked when I heard what happened that Monday.

The protestors have the right to protest. That reminded me of the April 14 Rice Riot and I couldn’t believe that could happen under her. I mean of all people, how could that have happened under her?

Unlike Jerome, Moses Dolo of Tigard, Oregon, United States, clarified and chose a different path:

We regret the death of any Liberian, but the government has the responsibility to protect the majority of the Liberian people. Politicians and media should not incite our people to violence for their own selfish objective.

Kadiatu Henry, a Liberian lady residing in Pennsylvania, US, was far more elaborate:

In my mind, the government over-reacted. The police needed to be a bit tolerant and even if provoked to shoot, should have only shot in the air and not into the people especially after they had used tear gas. For the media houses closed down, it is difficult to maintain a balance between freedom of the press and misuse of that freedom. While it may have been wrong to shut them down, the government too may have sensed much danger coming out of their frequent playing of those ugly scenes over and over again, especially where election was slated for the next day.

Trouble Sayeh of Columbus, Ohio, US, suggested that this could be a sign of more troubles ahead:

In my mind, those two actions of police brutal killing and clamp down on media only convinced me now that Ellen was only soft during first term to pat the Liberians. Now with a second term, she might show her worst since she will no longer need the Liberian people’s vote. “

“Honestly, I’m surprised but again not because she is just another African leader who is capable of any change at any time even if it means from better to evil. Let’s watch her second term. It could be a sign of more troubles.”

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