Liberian President to get Indira Gandhi peace prize

INDIA’s coveted Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development will go to Liberian president and Nobel laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf this year, local media reported Tuesday.An international jury, chaired by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, nominated Sirleaf for the award -- set up by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust -- for being an “inspiration” to women and ensuring return of peace and democracy in Liberia, the Times of India newspaper reported. “President Sirleaf took over office as president of Liberia in 2006 acquiring a legacy of distrust, disharmony and mismanagement. Restoring financial health to a country on the verge of fiscal breakdown was a singularly successful achievement. Her determination to provide for the healing touch through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been successful,” the jury said in a statement. It added: “Hers has been a story of indomitable courage, strong determination and the yearning to achieve.”Indira Gandhi was India’s first woman Prime Minister and the award has been constituted in her memory and contribution to world peace.The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace is accorded annually by India to persons or organizations in recognition of their efforts in promoting international peace, development of new international economic order, ensuring scientific advances are used for the larger good of humanity, and enlarging the scope of freedom.