Political News

(When we left you,) A year had gone by and the first anniversary of the April 14 demonstration-turned-riot was approaching. An ominous specter loomed; on the ground, a mysterious miasma---clearly non-benevolent---swirled, casting a hypnotic spell over Monrovia and, perhaps, most of the rest of the country. It placed a temporary hold on things; people seemed to be moving around at a pace that at once was tentative…halting…yet unrelenting---almost zombie-like`. Quietly and suspiciously, they waited…as though…for something to happen! The waiting grew palpitating---like the thumping of one's own heart---that Edgar Allen Poe took to extraordinary heights in his Tell-Tale Heart!

A few days ago, on the 8th of this month, to be exact, the official opening of the March term of court was scheduled for midday, at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia. It proceeded---as scheduled---marking the 30th anniversary of those exercises since the Liberian Military took control of the country in 1980!
Not too long before the coup d'état, at what might have been the final opening-of-court under civilian authority, a number of incidents that on the surface seemed unconnected---yet turned out to be interrelated---were recorded:

Five Ambassadors-designate from Europe and the African Union will this week, Thursday, March 11 and Friday, March 12, 2010, present their Letters of Credence to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf will Thursday, March 11, 2010 receive in audience three Ambassadors-designate namely, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden, Mrs. Carin Wall; Ambassador Extraordinary ad Plenipotentiary of the African Union, Mr. Akin Fayomi; and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of The Netherlands, Mrs. Gerben Sjoerd De Jong.
On Friday, March 12, 2010, the Liberian leader will receive in audience two Ambassadors-designate, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir V. Barbin and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy, Mr. Giancarlo Izzo.
Meanwhile, the presentation ceremonies will take place in the Office of the President at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Capitol Hill.

MONROVIA – Labor Minister, Tiawon Gongloe, who has the statutory responsibility over the country’s labor sector and related activities on behalf of the Government of Liberia as prescribed by a 1981 Act of the National Legislature, says his ministry has the legal mandate to increase alien work permit fees without the involvement of the Legislature.

MONROVIA – The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has threatened tough action against one of its own in the Upper House of the National Legislature for her failure to pay party dues.