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

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Twenty Years Charles Taylor: 1989 – 2009

Posted on 6 October 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Today I was reading the daily and weekly summaries of the Trial of Charles Taylor site, that excellent initiative and project of the Open Society Justice Initiative. Again I was fascinated by what is happening a few miles from where … Continue reading →

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Liberia and the Decolonization of the Mind

Posted on 24 September 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

This afternoon I went to the VU University Amsterdam to attend the inaugural speech of one of the recently appointed Desmond Tutu Professors of VU University Amsterdam. Four Professors were installed and presented during the launch of the Desmond Tutu … Continue reading →

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President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Independence Day speech

Posted on 27 July 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

In case you have not yet read the July 26 speech of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, which she presented during yesterday’s Independence Day celebrations in Bong County, you can read the full text here. The original text is also available … Continue reading →

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Controversial TRC report rocks Liberia

Posted on 8 July 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

One week after the publication of its impressive final report, the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) is at the center of a political storm which only seems to intensify. Its findings and recommendations have surprised many – both inside and … Continue reading →

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‘Let Justice Be Done To All’

Posted on 21 June 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

The booming economy of the 1950s and 1960s enabled the construction in Monrovia of (then) prominent buildings such as the Capitol (1958), the Executive Mansion (1964), the City Hall and the Temple of Justice. The inscription ‘Let Justice be Done … Continue reading →

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‘This Child Will be Great’ – Some reflections

Posted on 4 May 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Wow. What a book! What a woman! What a life! I just finished reading Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s autobiography, ‘This Child Will be Great. Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa’s First Woman President’ (HarperCollinsPublishers, 2009). The book amazes, the book … Continue reading →

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