Liberia's vainglorious President, Gen. Samuel K. Doe, may not care a whit about American protests over his five-year record of repression. But he plainly cares about the Reagan Administration's suspension of $25 million in economic aid, which those protests triggered.
To placate Washington, he has now ordered the release of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and 16 jailed students, evidence that financial pressure works.
Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf had returned recently to Liberia to challenge General Doe in a presidential vote next month. She was clapped in jail, charged with sedition and drew a 10-year sentence from a military tribunal. Her case attracted attention because she is a Harvard-trained economist and vice president of Citibank, unusual credentials for a seditionist.
But her plight also drew attention to General Doe's erratic despotism. Having promised elections, he eliminated rival parties, altered his birthday so that he will be 35, the required age, and jailed opposition journalists. Still in custody are Momolu Sirleaf, a relative of Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf, and Klon Hinneh, both on the staff of Footprints Today, Liberia's only remaining independent daily.
Until all such prisoners are freed, and newspapers are unmuzzled, why free that suspended aid money?
Source: New York Times
Sunday, September 29, 1985
Tuesday, September 17, 1985
Marshals Seeking Ex-Official Of Liberia After His Escape
Federal marshals today joined a search for a man awaiting extradition to Liberia who escaped from jail with four other inmates by sawing off a bar on a window and sliding down sheets. The man, Charles Taylor, 37 years old, is the former director of the Liberian General Service Agency, according to Bill Steely, chief deputy of the United States Marshal Service in Boston.
Chief Steely said Mr. Taylor was arrested May 24, 1984, in a Somerville apartment on a warrant charging him with embezzling about $1 million while he served as director of the agency. The other escapees were identified as Anthony C. Rodriques Jr., 18, of Fall River, Mass.; Thomas Devoll, 21, of New Bedford, Mass.; Carlos Guilbe, 22, and Frederick O'Connor, 23, both of Brockton, Mass.
Source: New York Times
Chief Steely said Mr. Taylor was arrested May 24, 1984, in a Somerville apartment on a warrant charging him with embezzling about $1 million while he served as director of the agency. The other escapees were identified as Anthony C. Rodriques Jr., 18, of Fall River, Mass.; Thomas Devoll, 21, of New Bedford, Mass.; Carlos Guilbe, 22, and Frederick O'Connor, 23, both of Brockton, Mass.
Source: New York Times
Sunday, September 15, 1985
FORMER LIBERIAN OFFICIAL IS SENTENCED TO PRISON
A former Liberian Finance Minister was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday night after a military court found her guilty of sedition. The former official, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, 46 years old, an international banker who at one time represented Citibank in Nairobi, Kenya, was quoted by the Liberian press agency as thanking the military court for the manner in which the trial was conducted. She also pleaded to the military leader, Gen. Samuel K. Doe, for mercy, saying Liberia needed all its resources to tackle the many problems it faced.
Miss Johnson-Sirleaf, who served as Finance Minister under President William Tolbert in the late 1970's, called members of the present military-led administration "idiots" while on a speaking tour of the United States last July. She told the tribunal Friday night that she had spoken out of frustration because her political party at the time faced problems in getting legal recognition.
Source: New York Times
Miss Johnson-Sirleaf, who served as Finance Minister under President William Tolbert in the late 1970's, called members of the present military-led administration "idiots" while on a speaking tour of the United States last July. She told the tribunal Friday night that she had spoken out of frustration because her political party at the time faced problems in getting legal recognition.
Source: New York Times
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