Author Archives: Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Is debt relief the solution?

Posted on 10 July 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

When in 1926 Firestone gained control over Liberia’s public finance through a new – and according to some unnecessary – US $ 5 million loan which replaced all existing foreign loans of Liberia, there was a public outcry. Some people … Continue reading →

Posted in Liberia, Liberian Economy | Leave a comment

THINK Liberia – Touching Humanity In Need of Kindness, a new web site

Posted on 27 June 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Earlier this month a new web site and related blog was added to the many sites and blogs devoted to Liberia and Liberians. On June 7, http://www.thinkliberia.com/ was launched. THINK Liberia or ‘Touching Humanity In Need of Kindness’ is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Liberia, Ordinary Liberians | Leave a comment

TPS and money transfer

Posted on 31 May 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

The meeting between the President of perhaps the most powerful nation in the world and the President of maybe one of the weakest states on earth was historic. On May 27, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was received by President Barrack … Continue reading →

Posted in Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia, Ordinary Liberians | Leave a comment

Gus Kouwenhoven on trial again – Dutch Supreme Court orders

Posted on 20 April 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Two years ago – on March 10, 2008 – I commented on the acquittal of Gus Kouwenhoven, also known as Guus van Kouwenhoven, a Dutch timber trader and business partner of Charles Taylor, accused of illegal arms trade for his … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Gus Kouwenhoven, Guus Kouwenhoven, Liberia, Liberian History | Leave a comment

April 12, 1980 – 2010

Posted on 11 April 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

I can’t help but think of April 12, 1980 when the anniversary of Samuel Doe’s bloody coup d’état approaches. I happened to be in Monrovia on that historic day, en route to Burkina Faso, then still called Upper Volta, where … Continue reading →

Posted in 'April 12', Charles Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Famous Liberians, Liberia, Liberian Economy, Liberian History, Samuel Kanyon Doe | Leave a comment

Ritualistic Murders, Voodoo and the Rule of Law

Posted on 4 April 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Eleven days ago, March 24, I wrote about ritual killings in Lofa County, Liberia, as well as in a number of other countries and the involvement of high ranking people, politicians and rich businessmen. Two days later a high profile … Continue reading →

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Ritual killings. Will it ever stop?!

Posted on 24 March 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

I was struck by a recent article: ‘Concerns of ritualistic killings: Sirleaf meets with citizens’ On March 18, more than one hundred inhabitants of Zorzor District, Lofa County, residing in Zorzor and Monrovia, staged a peaceful demonstration in the capital … Continue reading →

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Coups and constitutions

Posted on 21 February 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Recent developments in the West Africa sub-region provided inspiration for this cursory view of events in a number of West African states during the past five years. The main question I asked myself was whether democracy was a right or … Continue reading →

Posted in Coups in Africa, Elections in Africa, Liberia | Leave a comment

LRoc: a famous Liberian living abroad

Posted on 10 November 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Forced to stay inside with a contagious flu, I was watching CNN this morning when an interview with a Liberian artist from Atlanta, Georgia, was announced. Music producer LRoc – since it was him – is the son of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Famous Liberians, Liberia | Leave a comment

Kimmie Weeks and The New Liberia

Posted on 20 October 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Over the weekend I stumbled upon Kimmie Weeks, labelled Liberia’s young hero by CNN. Honestly speaking, I had never heard of him – thought undoubtedly that says more about me than about him. He is famous, not only in Liberia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Famous Liberians, Liberia | 1 Comment