горячие либерийские парни

[avva]

In order to preserve, foster and maintain the positive Liberian culture, values and character, only persons who are Negroes or of Negro descent shall qualify by birth or by naturalization to be citizens of Liberia.

Это отрывок из конституции Либерии (спасибо bbb за ссылку). Круто, ничего не скажешь.
Ещё там последняя, 97-я, статья тоже примечательна:

a) No executive, legislative, judicial or administrative action taken by the People's Redemption Council or by any persons, whether military or civilian, in the name of that Council pursuant to any of its decrees shall be questioned in any proceedings whatsoever; and, accordingly, it shall not be lawful for any court or other tribunal to make any order or grant any remedy or relief in respect of any such act.  

b) No court or other tribunal shall entertain any action whatsoever instituted against the Government of Liberia, whether before or after the coming into force of this Constitution or against any person or persons who assisted in any manner whatsoever in bringing about the change of Government of Liberia on the 12th day of April, 1980, [...]

Я не смог найти в сети текст конституции 1847-го года, которую эта сменила. Вот, правда, есть THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF LIBERIA (1839); но это ещё конституция колонии, а не суверенного государства.

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World War II and after
The new significance of Liberia became apparent after the outbreak of World War II. During the war Liberia's rubber plantation was the only source of natural latex rubber available to the Allies, apart from plantations in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). In 1942 Liberia signed a defense agreement with the United States. This resulted in the undertaking of a program of strategic road building and the construction of an international airport and a deepwater harbour at Monrovia. U.S. money was declared legal tender in Liberia in 1943, replacing British West African currency. In 1943 William V.S. Tubman was elected to his first term as president. Liberia declared war against Germany and Japan in January 1944 and in April signed the declaration of the United Nations. In December 1960 Liberia became a member of the UN Security Council and from that time took an active part in African and international affairs. In 1963 Liberia became a member of the Organization of African Unity at its inception.

In 1963 Tubman was elected to serve his fifth term as president. In May 1964 the United States and Liberia signed an agreement to transfer the free port of Monrovia to the government of Liberia. Tubman was again elected president in 1967, the only candidate for the office. Tubman died in London on July 23, 1971, shortly after his election to a seventh term as president. He was immediately succeeded by Vice President William R. Tolbert.

A decline in world prices for Liberia's chief exports, iron ore and natural rubber, brought financial hardship to the country during the 1960s and early 1970s. Foreign loans helped sustain the economy during that period.

On April 12, 1980, Tolbert was killed in a coup led by Master Sergeant (later General) Samuel K. Doe, who became head of state and chairman of the People's Redemption Council (PRC). The PRC promised a new constitution, which became effective in 1986, and a return to civilian rule. Elections were held in 1985 with the participation of several parties but were widely criticized as fraudulent. Doe was inaugurated as the first president of the Second Republic in January 1986. His rule ended in 1990 after civil war—primarily between the Krahn and the Gio and Mano peoples—erupted. A multinational West African force, the ECOWAS Monitoring Group, attempted to restore order, but the leaders of two rebel groups, Charles Taylor and Prince Johnson, contended for power after Doe's downfall and execution. The war dragged on for seven years as new factions arose and neighbouring countries became enmeshed in the strife. The toll on the civilian population and the economy was devastating. After a series of abortive attempts, a truce was achieved in 1996. In elections held the following year, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia Party, led by Charles Taylor, achieved a clear majority. As Liberia's 21st president, Taylor faced the daunting task of rebuilding and reuniting the nation and restoring its credibility abroad.



Donald Rahl Petterson

Svend E. Holsoe



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