UNMIL daily newspaper summary

UNMIL daily Newspaper Summary

War Crimes Court Advocate and several others arrested, charged with Criminal Conspiracy
(The Informer, The Inquirer, National Chronicle, Democrat, The News, The Parrot, Heritage)

· Police in Monrovia on Saturday arrested several protesters including the head of the Forum for the Establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia, Mulbah Morlu, for attempting to stage an ‘unauthorized’ demonstration.
· The men have been charged with criminal conspiracy and are detained at the Monrovia Central Prison pending prosecution.

Deputy UN Envoy Says Joint UN Office Will Boost Teamwork
(The Parrot, The Informer, Heritage)

· The opening of a joint United Nations office in a provincial capital of Liberia will boost cooperation in international support to the West African country, which is recovering from a devastating 14-year civil war, a UN official said today.
· "We have done a lot of planning and lot of work together. It is time for us to change from 'plenty talk' to 'plenty work now,'" said Jordan Ryan, the Deputy UN Envoy in Liberia at the inauguration of the joint UN-office in Zwedru, the capital of southeastern Grand Gedeh County.
· The second such office in the country - the first one was opened in June last year in Voinjama, Lofa County - brings together five UN agencies and the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
· The five agencies are the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Liberian Senate Saddled with Financial Malpractices
(National Chronicle, The News, Heritage, New Democrat)

· The Liberian Senate appears to be saddled with financial malpractices as most dailies continued to reflect persistent claims of corruption at the Senate. The latest claim concerns the alleged misapplication of US$71,000 allocated for the removal of Senate Pro Tempore Isaac Nyenabo. The development has drawn the Chairman of the Senate’s Ways, Means and Finance Committee, Richard Divine to the centre of controversy.

UNMIL Chinese Contingent Provides Medical Services in Grand Gedeh County
(The Parrot)
· [sic:] With Liberia now enjoying relative peace, the UN Mission in Liberia(UNMIL) has now shifted into providing humanitarian services such as medical, road construction, assisting in the training of Liberians in vocational and other disciplines. The Chinese Contingent of UNMIL based in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County is among one of the contingents of UNMIL that is rendering great deal of services to the people of Grand Gedeh, a county that lacks medical facilities. The Chinese have a medical clinic that is involved with providing treatments for illnesses, performing medical operations, HIV/AIDS testing and treating malaria and other sicknesses.

Radio Summary
Local Media – Radio Veritas (News monitored today at 9:45 am)
Three Political Parties Want Population Threshold Bill Passed

Three political parties, the National Patriotic Party, Liberia Unification Party and the Free Democratic Party have called for the passage of the Population Threshold Bill.
The Parties said the threshold bill is crucial to the sustenance of democracy in the country saying any attempt to change could spur a constitutional crisis.
They want lawmakers to maintain the proposed 45, 000 population threshold which has sparked controversy in the House.
A spokesman of the House said he was hopeful the bill would be passed shortly.
(Also reported on Star Truth F.M. and ELBC)

UNFPA Donates Vehicles, Motorbikes to Health Ministry

· The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated four vehicles, 14 motorbikes and medical supplies valued at over US$800,000 to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
· Presenting the items to authorities of the Ministry, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director, Mari Simonen said the donations were intended to help the Ministry address the high maternal mortality rate in the country.
· Dr. Simonen said Liberia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world saying it was “unacceptable”.
· In response Health Minister, Walter Gwenigale commended UNFPA for the continuous support to the Ministry citing the Fistula project as one of such areas. The Fistula project is being funded by the UNFPA.
(Also reported on Star Truth F.M. and ELBC)

Police Confirm Arrest of Over a Dozen Inter-Con Security Guards

· Police authorities have confirmed the arrest of over a dozen security guards of the American-run Inter-Con Security Firm.
· Police spokesman, Lewis Norman said the men were arrested for allegedly posing threat to their fellow officers who breached an ongoing go-slow action.
· He said the men were seen in the vicinity of UNMIL logistic base known as “Star Base” on the Bushrod Island outside Monrovia stopping their colleagues from going to work.
· Earlier, in an interview a group of women claiming to be wives of the arrested men said their husbands were arrested for no reason.
(Also reported on Star Truth F.M. and ELBC)


Deputy House Speaker Wants Re-negotiation of Agriculture Concessions

· In a release, Deputy House Speaker, Togbah Mulbah has called for the re-negotiation of concession agreements with agriculture companies in the country.
· Representative wants the Executive summit to the Legislature concession agreements for forensic ratification and identified the agreements to be reviewed as the Liberia Agricultural Company (LAC), Cavalla Rubber Company (CRC) among others.


Truth F.M. (News monitored today at 10:00 am)
President Sirleaf Launches National Action Plan for Implementation of UN Resolution 1325

· President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has launched the National Action Plan for the implementation of United Nations resolution 1325.
· Speaking at the launch, President Sirleaf called on women to take advantage of the new opportunity to advance their education and develop their leadership skills.
· She called on female lawmakers to push for more women participation as well as supporting the Fairness Bill currently being championed by other women.


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