Taylor's former General, Benjamin Yeaten

Elections have come and gone, Liberia is slowly returning to its full state; but the security remains fragile. Then we are again hearing of Benjamin Yeaten.

Defense Minister Bronee Samukai, last week told reporters in Monrovia that the "feared General" is roaming about somewhere in Africa plotting to re-enter Liberia, and you bet, under the cover of darkness. According to the minister, Yeaten is plotting to assassinate some senior government officials. Samukai, relying on intelligence reports, said the Gen. is armed and dangerous and needs to be tracked down.

From all of these developments, it can now be seen that while the security forces have a lot of work to do, Benjamin Yeaten himself has his hands full. He may not only be busy plotting to return to Liberia to assassinate officials, he may also be escaping capture. But as silent as he has been for three years, he ought to be a man to face his accusers.

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Although public corporations have been a part of our national life, they remain basically unproductive and obscure in the general policy approach toward national development, a status they no doubt find convenient. While toiling in obscurity, they manage communication, power generation, airport and seaport, petroleum, agriculture, housing and insurance. Public Corporations remain an important partner in reconstituting Liberia’s economy and in many ways the bedrock for economic stimulus. I am confident that Six Sigma can play an important role of reducing variations and defects in various processes and improve operational excellence at all levels. 

Although public corporations have been a part of our national life, they remain basically unproductive and obscure in the general policy approach toward national development, a status they no doubt find convenient. While toiling in obscurity, they manage communication, power generation, airport and seaport, petroleum, agriculture, housing and insurance. Public Corporations remain an important partner in reconstituting Liberia’s economy and in many ways the bedrock for economic stimulus. I am confident that Six Sigma can play an important role of reducing variations and defects in various processes and improve operational excellence at all levels. 

Although public corporations have been a part of our national life, they remain basically unproductive and obscure in the general policy approach toward national development, a status they no doubt find convenient. While toiling in obscurity, they manage communication, power generation, airport and seaport, petroleum, agriculture, housing and insurance. Public Corporations remain an important partner in reconstituting Liberia’s economy and in many ways the bedrock for economic stimulus. I am confident that Six Sigma can play an important role of reducing variations and defects in various

 

Posted October 18,  2006


The Yeaten Run: A Man Must Face His Accusers


By Our Editor

The word has been out for three years that the most "trusted and feared General" of  jailed former Liberian president Charles Taylor has been somewhere around the globe, and God knows what he is gearing up for, after sneaking his way out of Liberia during the height of the LURD-led military onslaught which helped to depose Mr. Taylor and forced him into exile.

Benjamin Yeaten was not just a "trusted General" of Charles Taylor; he was, and perhaps still is, in many ways a fugitive, a felon and a mastermind who could be  a major source in the rebirth of chaos and anarchy in Liberia. And if Liberia, Africa and the rest of the civilized world do not exert all efforts to track him down, they will have a major 'mathematical' problem to solve. It could very well lead to another round of enormous deaths and destruction in the West African sub-region.

Yeaten, who it is believed, should take responsibility for the death of prominent Liberians during the course of the civil war, sneaked out of Liberia at just about this same time under the cover of darkness to a place that was not readily known. Eye witnesses said he was escorted by some of his trusted associates and bodyguards, and it all happened through the Roberts International Airport. At the time, the government, under the then leadership of Moses Blah, was under intense pressure to have him arrested and turned over to law enforcement for his alleged involvement in the arbitrary arrest and murder of two officials of government, Deputy National Security Minister, John Yormie and Deputy Public Works minister Isaac Vaye.

Yeaten is also accused of killing a prominent Nimba County politician, Sam Dokie and his family. That was in 1997. No wonder how many more people believe Benjamin Yeaten is linked to the death of their relatives and friends.

When journalists broke the news of Yeaten's disappearance, it became clear that he did not just flee under the cover of darkness, he was covered by some of his long time pals and surrogates including the then Acting President of Liberia, Moses Blah and then Defense minister, Daniel Chea. Chea's excuse for Yeaten was that he had gone to attend family matters in Ghana. One source quoted Yeaten as saying, Moses Blah gave him a leave of absence. But the leave of absence has been well over three years now and there is no sign of the "feared Taylor General."

But of course, in the course of these three years, Benjamin Yeaten was once arrested in Togo after suspiciously entering there, again under the cover of darkness. He was detained, investigated and released.

 

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