“So now is the time to send a strong signal that we are not content to sit on the sidelines. I ask and I hope that our colleagues in the Senate will help Tom Malinowski get on the job so that we can continue to lead in these very kinds of issues that I have just laid out here today. We are ready to lead, and that’s when America is at its best, and that’s the vision that has always inspired people. And it always will. And it’s with that understanding that we are committed to continue this important work to defend the rights of people all around the world. That’s how we became a nation, and that’s how we will stay the nation that we want to be.” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry “The law does not provide criminal penalties for official corruption, although criminal penalties exist for economic sabotage, mismanagement of funds, and other corruption-related acts. Officials engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Low pay levels for the civil service, minimal job training, and few court convictions exacerbated official corruption and a culture of impunity.” Excerpts From US State Department Report - FULL REPORT Monrovia – The United States Government’s latest Human Rights report on Liberia has once again cited corruption as a key problem for the administration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The report released Thursday by Secretary of State John Kerry cited a number of major impediments to post-war development, particularly, corruption. “The law does not provide criminal penalties for official corruption, although criminal penalties exist for economic sabotage, mismanagement of funds, and other corruption-related acts. Officials engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Low pay levels for the civil service, minimal job training, and few court convictions exacerbated official corruption and a culture of impunity. The government dismissed officials for alleged corruption and recommended others for prosecution.” In unveiling the report, Secretary of State Kerry said now is the time for the U.S. to send a strong signal that it is not content to sit on the sidelines. “I ask and I hope that our colleagues in the Senate will help Tom Malinowski get on the job so that we can continue to lead in these very kinds of issues that I have just laid out here today. We are ready to lead, and that’s when America is at its best, and that’s the vision that has always inspired people. And it always will. And it’s with that understanding that we are committed to continue this important work to defend the rights of people all around the world. That’s how we became a nation, and that’s how we will stay the nation that we want to be.” On Liberia, the report took aim on the government’s unequal justice system and observed what while the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the Ministry of Justice are responsible for exposing and combating official corruption, the LACC remained a weak option because of underfunding, understaffing, and judicial bottlenecks. “During the year the LACC received 25 cases, investigated 23 cases, and recommended four for prosecution, resulting in no convictions.” The report noted the dismissed or suspension of a number of officials for corruption. “Auditor General Robert L. Kilby and General Services Agency Director General Pealrine Davis-Parkinson were dismissed for conflicts of interest. Deputy Justice Minister Freddie Taylor, Deputy BIN Commissioner Robert Buddy, former solicitor general Micah Wright, and BIN Border Patrol Chief Wilson Garpeh were dismissed for alleged involvement in human trafficking. Deputy Public Works Minister Victor B. Smith was suspended for allegedly violating the law, but was reinstated a week later following an investigation. President Sirleaf dismissed the chairman and other board members of the Liberia Airports Authority amid corruption allegations. An assistant labor minister was also dismissed for issuing work permits to foreigners after allegedly taking bribes.” The report noted that in July 2012, over the LACC’s objections, the Ministry of Justice dropped charges against a former inspector general of police for irregularities in the procurement of uniforms. The LACC decided to prosecute and subsequently obtained a conviction; the case was under appeal before the Supreme Court. “Although an investigation continued into alleged irregularities in the Forestry Development Agency’s issuance of permits for timber harvesting, no indictments were issued against either private use permit operators or former Forestry Development Authority personnel. Despite the suspension of all private use permits, some logging companies continued to operate with other types of licenses.” frontpageafricaonline/index.php/politic/866-corruption-with-impunity-us-2013-human-rights-report-slams-liberia
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 13:14:17 +0000
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