Posted January 11, 2007
Democracy At Work In Liberia
By Thomas Kai Toteh
Senior Staff Writer
tnyantk@yahoo.com
The nearly one-year old government of President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf is slowly but surely achieving the ultimate goal of the
Liberian people. Blood, sweat, and tears for democracy, were shed in Liberia
since that country was founded. Basic fundamental rights, which include
freedom of the press and expression, are indeed gaining ground-to the extent
that it is becoming comparative to that of the US.
“One year is enough for an African leader to show their
true color-by begin putting oppositionists behind bars-and closing
newspapers down while their editors and reporters run into exile,” says
Alvin Roberts a senior student at the University of Liberia.
President Sirleaf addressed the issue of intolerance
among a list of other important national issues, which according to her are
major factors responsible for Liberia’s tragedy.
During her inauguration address, President Sirleaf
said:
My Fellow Liberians, Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are committed to advance the spirit of inclusion, I
assure all Liberians and our international partners and friends that our
Government will recognize and support a strong democratic and loyal
opposition in Liberia. This is important because we believe that our
democratic culture and our nation are best served when the opposition is
strong and actively engaged in the process of nation building.
The tendencies of intolerance of each other’s opinion
rooted in parochial and selfish considerations - and greed - have driven us
into our descent into recent tragedies and paralysis as a nation and people.
These negative national tendencies have, in the past, bred ethnic suspicion
and hatred, led to injustice, social and political exclusion. They have also
weakened our capacity to peacefully co-exist as a people with diverse
socio-cultural, economic, and political backgrounds and differences.
Consequently, we have witnessed needless generalized conflicts that have
profoundly affected the Liberian family, the foundation of our society.
“President Sirleaf vowed to make so many changes to
take Liberia to a civilized standard among world of nations. To me what
hinders government’s activities is lack of freedom of the press and speech.
With these ensured, the rest would materialize,” James Peters, an instructor
of St. Phillip High School in Gardnersville told runningafrica.com
Erasmus Gayflor, a clerk at the Free Port of Monrovia,
said, “She’s doing well. Free expression has no limitation these days.”
“Dr. Sirleaf is the first president in Liberia whom
people are openly criticizing without retribution. Who could tell late
Samuel Doe, I want to impeach you-ah-ah, he laughed.
Who could tell late President Tubman or Charles Taylor,
you are wrong-uh that treason.”
“I told Liberian people during the elections that only
woman can lead post war Liberia. Governing Post war Liberia requires a great
deal of tolerance. This is where we are now. God willing she will not
change,” Mama Konneh in PHP Monrovia said.
Meanwhile five concerned citizens in Monrovia, speaking
to runningafrica.com, are calling on Liberians both at home and abroad to
use this level of democracy now prevailing in Liberia in a positive way so
as to push Liberia forward. They said “we cried, died, slept hungry, and
went into exile as a result of bad governance which gave birth to civil
war.” “Let freedom rings!! Let us not abuse it, the group said.
Since President Sirleaf was inaugurated in 2006, there
have been no reports of arrests of journalists, newspapers closure, and
arrests or intimidation of oppositionists. During her address to the US
Congress in mid 2006, President Sirleaf told that honorable body, “Liberia
will be your success story in Africa.” She vowed before the US Congress to
make Liberia a country of “law not men”.
President Sirleaf had clashed with the press several
times over ethical issues and harassments of journalists. At the dawn of her
administration, journalists complained of intimidation in the hands of her
bodyguards and those of the vice president and other security agents.
President Sirleaf has always identified with
journalists in times of problems. Her recent Christmas gift to journalists
came under attack, though journalists were divided over the issue. Some
journalists see the gift as goodwill from the president, whom some Liberians
see not only as president, but mother of the nation.
Liberian politicians are freely discussing political
matters both critical of the president and for the nation. Some Liberian
intellectuals believe President Sirleaf is striving to become Liberia’s
first successful president.
