The Battle for Freedom!!

The 2011 Liberian Elections!!

The 2011 Liberian general election will be held on October 11, 2011, with the resulting runoff elections held on November 8, 2011. The presidency, and all seats in the House of Representatives and half of the seats in the Senate, will be up for election. The election will be monitor by the Liberian National Elections Commission (NEC).

The country of Liberia has had its share of sorrow and tragedy. A 20 years civil war forced more than a million people from their homes. Tens of thousands of Liberians sought refuge in neighboring countries and refugee camps. Many today are still living in terrible conditions and terrify to return back home because of the scars and wounds that the war left on them. The deafening silence on the part of the international community regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity in Liberia has given a cause for concern. The 2011 Presidential election will be a very important election for Liberia. Not only does it represent the fight for democracy for the country but it also represents the struggle for human rights in a war torn country.

2011 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CANDIDATES!!

In 2010, the Harvard trained economists, and current Liberian President, (The Iron Lady of Liberia) Madam Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, announced that she would indeed be running for a second term in office. Sirleaf was re-nominated by her party (The Unity Party) as their presidential candidate for 2011. Her current vice president Joseph Boakai was also nominated and confirmed by delegates to be the Unity Party’s vice presidential candidate for 2011.

On May 1, 2011 The CDC Party nominated Winston Tubman, the nephew of former Liberian President William Tubman, who is a Harvard trained lawyer. He has degrees from the London School of Economics, Cambridge University and Harvard University. A member of the bar, he founded his own law firm in 1968 and served as legal adviser to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs during his uncle's administration. A legal expert, he has extensive United Nations experience. His running mate and Vice-Presidential candidate will be George Weah who is well known for his amazing soccer abilities. Weah is a formal Liberian and worldwide footballer. He left his mark on the game with his amazing footwork on the field. Mr. Weah has been given the nickname “King George” by his teammates because of his athletic abilities and the recognitions he received from the football world.

Liberty Party leader, Charles Brumskine, also announced his plans to run for president in 2011. His running mate and Vice-Presidential candidate will be Senator Franklin Siakor. The most scandalous candidate by far Prince Johnson, the former war lord leader during the first Liberian Civil War and also the senator from Nimba County has also announced his candidacy.  Nathaniel Barnes, leader of the Liberian Destiny Party and Liberian Ambassador to the United Nations have also confirmed that he will be running for the presidency office. Newly added to the list is Reverend Kennedy Sanders. Well known in Liberia and the United States where he lives. Rev. Sanders announced in the U.S that he is going to indeed challenge President Sirleaf in the presidential elections.

This election will be a crucial one for the Liberian people. Liberian writer T.Q Harris Jr, said that it will be “an all-out battle between the forces of good and evil! It’s a fight for the heart and soul of the nation! This is a defining moment! Therefore no true son or daughter of the soil can afford to stand idly by and watch. I must agree with his statement. We can’t stand idly by and allow our country to fall into the hands of the wrong leader. Mohandas Ghandi India ideological leader once said “A country’s culture lies in the soul of its people”.  It’s time for change, a new visionary thinking, the old ideologies of corrupt leaders has to be thrown outside the window and we must give change a chance to lead our country to progression. It’s time to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery and free ourselves from corruption. We must stand together as one to make this change happen for our country and children children’s!! Only we can liberate ourselves. MAY THE BEST CANDIDATE WIN!