A human rights group has written President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, calling her attention to what it believes runs contrary to aspirations of the Liberian people.

Liberians and Associates based in Bern, Switzerland under the banner “The Black Eagles” a Liberia Human Rights Mediators, has challenged President Sirleaf to remain more determined in fighting vices that have the tendencies to cause set back to the nation’s development agenda.

	• Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf

The Black Eagles in an open letter to the President stressed that years of horror, abomination an disgrace of Liberians have gone, but that the nightmare of corruption and embezzlement still haunt the peace loving people of Liberia.

The Black Eagles in a press release maintained that though steps have been taken against these features, more needs to be done to discourage dishonesty in the society.

The group has accordingly called on President Sirleaf to listen and respond through pragmatic actions because “the issue raised is the collective conscience of the Liberian people, especially the ordinary citizens”.

The Black Eagles in its press release noted that the election of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf through a democratic process has nurtured in daughters and sons of Liberia the hope of better future.

“Imposters” At Legislature

Reports emanating from the National Legislature speak of imposters roaming the corridors of the National Legislature, using the names of some lawmakers to exploit money and other economic resources from some business houses and individuals across the country.
 Even though the reports are still being investigated, a release from the House’s Press Bureau quoting the Speaker of the House of Representatives Alex Tyler, discloses that an organized syndicate designed to use the names and positions of lawmakers to extort money and materials from companies and business houses is on going across the country.
According to the release,  House Speaker said  those ‘419ers’ are using anonymous cellular phone calls to dupe their targeted businesses and companies using the names and positions of some members of the national legislature.
The release maintained that the scammers recently called in the name of the Speaker of the House, Alex Tyler, to the Coco-Cola Factory and the manager of a local company in Harper, Maryland County, requesting for several cases of soft drinks and asked for the name of the Comptroller of that company.
Another case in point the release said is the attempt by another impostor who tried to exploit the good will of the House Deputy Speaker, Tokpah J. Mulbah, by telling a lie saying Gospel Musical Ambassador Marion D. Cassell had sent him to collect fuel oil from Mr. Mulbah to assist her host a concert.
As several lawmakers have fallen victim to this blackmail; House Speaker, Alex Tyler is using this medium to call on the Business Community and the public in general to be mindful and on the alert against such insidious and deceptive swindle of criminals who are on the rampage calling on phones as lawmakers for exploitative purposes.

500 Children In Captivity
By Edwood Dennis

Over 500 children abducted by former fighter of the defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) Mango Manlor, are reportedly living in captivity in Nimba County.

	• Cllr. Jerome Verdier

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Chairman, Cllr. Jerome Verdier told a news conference last Thursday that the institution was able to discover the children in captivity in Nimba County recently when the Commission through the Ministry of Justice launched an investigation and search for a former NPFL fighter Mango Manlor.

He said the inquiry was able to reveal that Mango Manlor abducted the over 500 children in 1990 and distributed them to his family members, friends as either domestic or manual laborers on their farms or as foster children.

The research, Cllr. Verdier said was launched after Gladys Arthur appeared before the TRC Public Hearings in January to explain her ordeal. She then disclosed that her twin brother was captured by a former fighter of the NPFL and taken to Nimba County.

After almost years in captivity, the children are said to be reunited with their relatives. The TRC Chairman Cllr. Jerome Verdier told journalist has expressed delight over the success of the work.

Prior to discovering little Arthur, the Ministry of Justice arrested Mr. Mango Manlor and later released him after he (Manlor) agreed to cooperate with whatever efforts intended to ensure the release of the children.

Citizens of those Counties at some point in time were at loggerheads with each other over the captivity of their children. Back in 2002, the Talking Drum Studio launched a campaign aimed at breaking the two groups together to iron out whatever differences there were in the wake claims and counter-claims over abduction and captivity.