December 6, 2007 - A "MEND" - ing LAC 

Recently, violence showed its ugly face again in Liberia, and this time it was in Grand Bassa County, where an expatriate worker of Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) was murdered by some citizens from that locale. His murder seemed to be an extension of the growing displeasure by residents of the area against their displacement and the destruction of their communities as a result of an agreement between LAC and the Government of Liberia (GOL) for the expansion of LAC’s rubber plantation.  

While murder cannot be condoned in any civilized society, and violence must never again be tolerated in Liberia, especially, the plight of the Liberian people and upholding their rights must be the primary consideration of this or any government. Nevertheless, the murder of the LAC employee must be categorically condemned and those responsible for such hideous and callous act must bear the fullest brunt of the law for this act is unacceptable. What must also be seen as unacceptable is the lack of involvement of local residents whose homes, communities and lives come within the crosshairs of such agreement. Most times it has been Monrovia determining conditions and actions that would affect citizens in rural parts, and whose enforcement powers create fear and suspicion in people, especially in our native folks. The LAC arrangement bears similar design.  

 One cannot look far to see the failures, deceptions and neglect that have characterized agreements entered into between GOL and corporate entities. The sub-standard and squalor conditions of citizens living in the Firestone divisions and the extreme conditions they work in to earn a dollar, despite the sugar-coated promises made by these entities and the government to the people of those areas are clear examples of the benefits the citizens have accrued from agreements entered into by GOL and business entities over the years. It is therefore the right of citizens to demand from its government accountability, services and justice at all costs and also their right to be heard. Citizens of the LAC area cannot go through another cycle of neglect and displacement considering that LAC has operated in that area for years and one can barely document the benefits citizens from that area have generally enjoyed. This is the bone of contention and the GOL is playing hardball instead of going to the people and seeking their cooperation. No one wants to see violence erupts but if a panacea is not reached, a situation comparable to the oil-rich delta region in Nigeria may soon arise, which could spell an even greater problem for Gbehzon.

November 1, 2007 - Yor Hon-yor, Sir (Your Honor Sir)

The many gains that Liberia have recently made in terms of individual freedoms, particularly expression, may soon be eroded by a chief justice who has begun to exhibit elitist tendencies that prevailed in Liberia during the era of the defunct True Whig Party. When Johnnie Lewis invites journalists to his office with a directive, and shows disdain towards them and their profession, and threatens them with imprisonment under an ambiguous constitutional clause, one wonders what else he has under his sleeves! Shortly everyone present at the Temple of Justice will have to stand up wherever he/she is in the building when Johnnie Lewis arrives to work or else be jailed for contemptuously being active and motioning during the glorious entrance of the chief justice! Or employees will also have to teach their children how to address the chief justice of Liberia in the person of Johnnie Lewis or they would lose their jobs or be held in contempt for flagrantly and irresponsibly mishandling official judicial nomenclature! 

Before you became chief justice of Liberia you were Johnnie Lewis, a Liberian lad from Sinoe County who was deeply embroiled in this pseudo congo class identity although coming from a family that endured hardship and neglect like others who you conveniently called country people. You were never heard of when it came to pursuing the cause for change in Liberia and the struggles that the Liberian people endured, and scurried out of Monrovia during the heat of the war in 1989, while stalwarts of the Liberian cause laid down their lives to endure with the masses. Only to return now, after the storm, to lord it over those who have chosen to inform the Liberian people about their government, leaders and communities – a cause that took lives and sacrifices! 

Our Liberian Constitution should not be used by you, or any other person in government as an instrument of fear and repression, especially so since you are one of those responsible for interpreting that document. By spewing threats of imprisonment for “not being responsible” in reporting a news story is undeniably an infringement of the very document you, Johnnie Lewis, took an oath to uphold. Remember, you cannot force or demand respect if you do not respect others, and thus you have now begun to create a mockery of the title you are so consumed with (read the article in the New Democrat captioned – When Editors Faced the chief justice…)! Yes, the Constitution states that individuals are responsible for their actions but an institution cannot unilaterally impose penalties on individuals without due process, which you have obviously omitted. And, sadly, instead of pursuing a new direction of defining these grey constitutional areas, your action only provides a flashback to Liberians of the “glorious” old TWP order. You have drawn the line, Johnnie Lewis, and it only takes the fortitude of the media to stand up with a strong legal challenge to interpret what the framers of the Constitution meant when they invoked “being responsible” in that document under the basic freedoms articles. It is clear and Liberians know which side you will be on and hope you will recuse yourself in such matter when brought before the court; for Johnnie Lewis only wants to be worshipped and deified. That’s all!!!

October 17, 2007 - Dangerous Excuse!

What the heck is going on in Liberia one would ask! Development, infrastructural development would be a response! Anything else like constitutional reforms! No, this would require a “referendum” says the officials, and “the country does not have the money.”  The importance of reform seems not a high agenda item for now, and the lack thereof creates the magnet for polarizing elements pruned to violence, whose actions would only destroy the energies and resources placed into these development programs.  

Looking back at the struggles and sacrifices made by those in this administration including its head, the flaws that prevailed in the society at the time were basically constitutional which impeded socio-economic progress. That these flaws excluded them from the political process became the wake up call to the masses who also took to the streets calling for change at the cost of their lives. Today, Liberia has turned the curved but still resembles the past. Ironically, a child has been born who resembles the father and surprisingly has begun to show identical traits and characteristics of the father! 

Those contradictions still prevail in the society and the leadership seems caught up in the grips of “processes and procedures” in effecting relevant and real constitutional changes. Faced with these perceived and artificial bottlenecks, all that is necessary is going the people with the message for change and obtaining their approbation to move ahead, and see who will prevail. Surprisingly, the critics of the past have now found comfort and made strange bedfellows with power to the extent that the blame has now shifted to ambiguities which can only be interpreted as a tactic to stall. Constitutional changes should be THE UNDERTAKING of this administration which would form the bedrock for peace and stability in country. Obtaining institutional consent as if we have already arrived at being a functioning democracy is only a dangerous excuse!

August 15, 2007 - Back To The Playbooks

For Liberians who witnessed events during the Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor regimes, it came as no surprise when the Unity Party-led government of Liberia announced a plot to topple this regime, spearheaded by Charles Julu and George Koukou.  It seems as déjà vu! Although Liberia has just emerged from war and the persuasion would be to embark on a new path different from those tendencies and schemes that served as catalysts for crisis, there still remains an entrenched phenomenon that has not grasped onto the new challenges that face the country – and that resides within the Liberian security forces. Even though the face of government has changed, the face, psychology and modus operandi of security forces in Liberia has not and still remain crystallized in the same mindset. In short it has now become an unrecognizable watermark whose actions are taken from the very playbooks of the past. 

Mid-tier operatives of security forces are the craftiest elements of these apparatuses whose only objective is to stir up the pot, causing policy makers to draw up bogus conclusions against those carefully identified as opponents to the regime. The idea behind this is economics. And for leaders, like President Sirleaf, whose emphasis is primarily on development and social initiatives, and not an indulgence in security matters, they become the johns of these agencies whose only objective is to milk the system to the fullest. During the regime of Doe and Taylor, and even throughout the transitional periods, security agencies in Liberia were dished out millions of dollars on “security operations” (the usual description on Government of Liberia vouchers) and did not account for a dime. The only account was the rifts and animosities that evolved as a result of their lies and greed. 

These elements have now resurfaced and have sowed another seed and this government is about to water this plant, which will go on for a long time as the past has shown. The airtight evidence the government has against these individuals must be viewed with great skepticism and caution for once it grabs onto this bait and swallows it, which is part of the ploy, Liberia will now be back on the same juncture with coup plots and assassination attempts again and again (Doe astonishingly survived over forty in his recollection!), leaving no time for serious development work necessary to transform the lives of the suffering masses. At the end of the day and as the script will reveal, these individuals will be convicted of treason and sentenced perhaps to death; the president will show magnanimity and pardon these individuals; the ethnic groups or counties would march to the Executive Mansion and pledge their “unflinching loyalty” to the leader; the leader would be petitioned by the counties and will seek another term of office; another plot will be unearthed; and the play goes on and on while the security agencies go to the bank leaving nothing done for the people who will again seek a new “leader” perhaps one the like of Charles Taylor who will declare a “popular people’s uprising” and the play goes on…

July 17, 2007 - Porcupine Guts 

Statements made by Harry Greaves and David Kortie, top officials of the Unity Party-led government, against Liberia’s Auditor-General, John Morlu, for his analyses on the draft 2007 budget as well as the level of corruption in the country under this regime, do not help this administration but gravely hurts it instead. As a result of the severity of corruption and waste in Liberia, which President Johnson-Sirleaf inherited from her predecessor, the fight against corruption became a major component of her overall agenda for development and reform. 

Recognizing the lip service of this administration on corruption and its complacency to act particularly on issue that are relevant for change in the country, became the concern of the partners that this administration had turn to for support. This concern was translated into conditions to qualify for donor support, which gave rise to Morlu. Under this condition therefore, the Johnson-Sirleaf administration needs Morlu more than ever in its pursuits to bring development to the country relying on international funding and support. As such calling for Morlu to be publicly dismissed or tried for treason in the view of Greaves, only embarrasses this government internationally. 

But who are these individuals making such calls? It is ironic that Greaves would call for Morlu to be tried for treason for exercising his responsibilities under the law and terms of reference spelt out by his recruiter and employer in the first place, but more importantly exercising a constitutional right – freedom of speech. What a surprise for it was the very Greaves and others in the opposition during the 1980s including President Johnson-Sirleaf, who was forced into exile by Samuel Doe for exercising their constitutional freedom to expose corruption and other ills within the society who now, as a result of his position in government, uses the treason card once used by Doe to silence another Liberian. Certainly, power corrupts!

July 3, 2007 - Between The Rock And The Hard Place

Seeking support for her fight against corruption and funding for development initiatives in Liberia, President Sirleaf committed to, under an unprecedented arrangement with the European Union, nominate to the Senate for confirmation as Auditor General for the Republic of Liberia, a Liberian professional recruited, vetted and recommended to her by the EU for this position – the support for this individual in terms of salary to be paid by the recruiting partner. The EU expectations for continued support in other areas under this arrangement it seemed, would be a commitment by the Liberian government to initiating and sustaining tangible changes in governance and government operations as they relate to accountability, transparency, and independence particularly of the General Auditing Office.  

The proposed 2007 budget hoopla is a test for the Sirleaf administration in terms of honoring those commitments that would ensure the flow of external funding for developmental initiatives in Liberia as many in this government tend to believe, or cozying up with those who view public service as a way of obtaining wealth.  As a result, President Sirleaf finds herself between the rock and the hard place as she tries to tamper down her officials who have already began to circle the wagons, which could impede her from attaining her promise to the Liberian people and destroy her credibility with international partners. 

A highpoint of this saga was a letter sent to the Auditor General from the President of Liberia spelling out the responsibilities of the AG in a tweaked manner citing an archaic 1972 law, as well as a barrage of criticisms levied against the AG from officials of the Unity Party-led government. Considered within the Liberian political context, it was clear that President Sireleaf was playing to her base to momentarily exonerate herself from the backlash and consequence emanating from arrangements made between her government and a number of international organizations; the details of some still unknown.  Her inability to fully articulate the expectations of partners under these arrangements to her lieutenants leaves them unprepared to respond to careful analyses and professional critique, as was the case with the AG claims, and vulnerable in facing the unknown. The unknown becomes other unprecedented arrangements or undertakings that have already been concluded or in the pipeline and the consequences for the Liberian society. Today is the budget; tomorrow perhaps will be land reform issues!  As the saying goes: “what you do will come back to haunt you.” Watch out!!

JUNE 15, 2007 - Justice For The "Okatakyie"?

It was not news all when Charles Taylor, Liberia’s former president, refused to show up for his trail in The Hague. What was news, however, is the missive he sent to the Presiding Judge and The Court on the many injustices he’s faced and continues to encounter while languishing in prison! When considered in its full context, one sees a fragile and cowardly individual, who used guns and the excesses of power to extort, pillage, intimidate and kill the innocent without any compunction, and now seeks what his victims had no choice of – justice!  

Justice! Where was justice for Nowai Flomo who was killed only for expressing her displeasure over Taylor’s regime? Where was justice for Serena Dokie, who only desire was to attend a wedding ceremony of her relative in Nimba? Where was justice for the thousands of amputees in Sierra Leone who give up their limbs as a collateral against death at the hands of Taylor’s henchmen? Justice is eye for an eye, and yes what is happening in The Hague is completely injustice to all of Taylor’s victims, especially those who never lived to see this day, yet Taylor lives conveniently in a detention facility with air condition; three full meals a day, a television and a computer! This is the real and unrecognizable injustice! 

A trial under the Sierra Leonean penal system would have been the justice by far welcome by the victims in that country and yes that justice would have been fair and speedily serve, as it was with Saddam in Iraq! However, unlike Saddam who bravely opted for a bullet rather than the gallows since he was a military man, Taylor now runs to hide cowardly under the cloak of justice – what an irony!  Be a man, be “The Okatakyie”!

March 26, 2007 - Restorative Justice?

Listening to Massa Washington, a Commissioner on Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, one can only conclude that there is a grasping for straws at the Commission, particularly as those charged with executing its mandate a main focus, or may be paralyzed by disorganization! The highpoint in the Commissioner’s comments is that Commission’s primary focus is “restorative justice” rather than “retributive justice.” In the first place what is “restorative justice” under the Commission’s consideration? If the term “restorative”, as one would speculate, is affixed to the process of healing under the canopy of reconciliation, then it must be unaccompanied by justice for justice embodies equity which runs contrary to the Liberian experience. The approach that is being utilized under the aegis of the TRC, as many Liberians would concur, emphasizes “forgive and forget.” In this case justice is mute; justice is exchanged! Frankly, justice is “retributive”; it seeks to provide closure, redress and fairness and subsequently restoration. Under the TRC’s approach closure rests within a national acceptance that harm was done to many during the crisis, but “let bygone be bygone.” Even in societies that underwent such experience, the emphasis was mainly on truth and retribution if determined under the law a posteriori to a confession. What was interesting in the South African experience, where the TRC attempts to draw some clues, was the application process where individuals who were involved in heinous acts against civilians had the opportunity to apply for pardon, but with the declaration of their acts and if found beyond what was considered acceptable for pardon, such individuals were prosecuted as was the case with Eugene De Kock, the brutal executioner and head of the Vlakplaas. On the other hand, the people in those societies recognized the need to move ahead with their lives but the story had to be told and with veracity.  

To make matters even confusing, the good Commissioner stressed that the TRC’s overall mandate is to “end the culture of impunity,” which contradicts with what may be her concept of “restorative justice!”  In ending a culture of impunity there has to be retribution, for retribution is justice – if you live by the sword, you die by the sword. If the Commission’s work focuses mainly on “restorative justice,” rather than “retributive justice,” how can it then be involved in “ending the culture of impunity?” There seems to be a message problem with the Commission and this has to be addressed. If those responsible for reconciling and healing the nation seem to vacillate on the actual intent of this Commission, it sends a signal of disorganization which is unattractive to donors as it would be financially prudent to direct needed resources to communities and people that are in dire situations than funding what seems to be a joy ride for some! As the nation heals, what is necessary is documenting and telling the stories for future generations so that what happened in Liberia from 1989 – 2005 must not be repeated in Liberia, which has been the position taken by many. Till now the Liberian people and the government itself have not developed the national will to bring justice to those who were involved in atrocious crimes in the society as evidenced in the elections of 2005. Even the call by local and international organizations to bring Charles Taylor to justice under a Liberian cause seemed difficult for this government until stringent diplomatic pressure ensued which led to his arrest and incarceration, using the Sierra Leone indictment as an excuse to evade the call by the thousands who linger in their early graves. The Commission seeks to exchange justice for peace and nothing more and this should be the abiding emphasis of Commissioner Washington’s many exposés.

March 12, 2007 - When Justice Overrules Executive Decisions

The indictment of Charles Gyude Bryant, the former Chairman of the Transitional Government in Liberia, for property theft to the tune of 1.3 million dollars is a huge step in the course of ensuring that those who plunder the coffers of the nation face justice. While it is too early to convict Mr. Bryant for his days in court are ahead, it is important to recognize the cunning tactics and evasive tendencies he has now begun to employ from his sleazy deck. Paramount is the “executive decisions” ruse that he has articulated as a means of exonerating himself from the grave charges brought against him. This is an old trick, Mr. Bryant, which any reasonably minded Liberian can discern.  In the first place, serving as head of government places a high moral responsibility upon you to ensure transparency and accountability, in accordance with the Constitution of Liberia. There is nowhere in the Constitution that justifies theft, especially by the head of government. The Constitution is emphatic on being in good moral standing, especially for leaders of the country. 

Even if your “executive decisions” were in the interest of the people of Liberia in their pursuit of peace, it is the people of Liberia that have brought these charges against you, being represented by their government. It is your duty to show to the people how the amount in question was expended and for what purpose and not hide under this quintessential excuse that has been used by leaders when they are cornered.  Moreover, Liberians have no intention of causing any harm on those who were involved in this pilfering. They only deserve the truth and it must be told. Pilfering under the guise of “security operations” which you and your cronies used to rake the treasury of Liberia, and using the attainment of peace in Liberia as an accomplishment to redirect the hands of justice away from you cannot occur this time around. Sorry! You have just become another poster-child for the long arm of justice in Liberia to all and sundry! 

Unlike members of the People’s Redemption Council who altered the Constitution of Liberia, and held the country and democracy hostage to get off the hook for their devious actions against the society, you were not smart enough to look ahead, but became engulfed in the glory of being able to send sticky notes to the Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia and get back hundreds of thousand of dollars using your so-called National Security Advisor and Personal Assistant as conduits for crime. The bulk stops at you Gyude!  Another of your ruse about purchasing a home in the US in the 1980s as a means of demonstrating you were financially secured before becoming head of government, does not negate your penchant for having more for history is replete, and recently too, with affluent individuals being involved in financial crime – the glorious term for theft! There is but one thing that is expected of you and that is to be honest and opened with the people of Liberia acknowledging that a crime was committed, being penitent and let the law take its course. Anything far from this places into jeopardy the persons of your national security advisor and personal assistant for they too are in line to serve time for what justice calls being “accessories” to crime. As the saying goes, …there’s one day for master” and this time the Liberian people and justice are the masters!

February 21, 2007 - The Issue Of Public Trust 

Trust, particularly public trust, forms the basis of any democratic society, especially in third world countries that have now been given a straight jacket approach to transforming their societies which hinges on transparency, accountability and good governance. “Charity begins at home” is the common saying, and in the case of Willis Knuckles, he has demonstrated a disdain for trust to the extent that he has brought excruciating embarrassment to his wife and children, the office of the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, and the President of Liberia. And he must respectfully resign!!!  

All the excuses and finger pointing that have characterized Knuckles’ declarations are just hogwash! Promiscuity in Liberia is an open secret but has never been an acceptable practice. Because of the domineering role men have played in the society, they have been able to get away with such practice. This time around, Knuckles’ morass is far from the ordinary. His is an actual demonstration of porn as it involves photographing explicitly sexual scenes. And one would ask, for what purpose? What is even damaging for Knuckles is such scenes have completely eroded any trust the public and his boss may have in him as well as the mockery and shame he has brought to his family and the government. How long has he been doing this; what else is in the closet? He may have a catalogue of compromising scenes for carnal gratification perhaps captioned: Willis Gone Wild. 

The whole issue of blackmailing is bogus. As a public servant, Knuckles’ actions and lifestyle is opened to the public for scrutiny. Snowe as an elected official of government, and any other ordinary Liberian, has every right to confront Knuckles with such information as this brings disrepute to the government and people of Liberia. The people expect honest individuals in government and if there is an individual whose morals are questionable, and whose actions is a disgrace to the society that must be exposed. That Snowe can confront Knuckles with these photographs places Snowe at the forefront of public scrutiny and if involved in any despicable acts also requires him to extricate himself from public service. This is a trend setting event that now raises the stakes for moral uprightness in public service in Liberia. President Sirleaf needs not dismiss Knuckles but must request his resignation to save the image of the Ministry of State and the Executive. Any action far from this demonstrates approbation of immorality by the Executive and disqualifies any commitment to ensure transparency and accountability in government.

February 2, 2007 - Liberia Is Still Not out Of The Woods!

Painting a picture of the state of the nation since 2006 President Johnson-Sirleaf enumerated several achievements and challenges of her administration. The achievements of this administration so far deserve commendation from Liberians, considering what the option would have been in 2005. Nevertheless, and as she avers in her address, the challenges are “monumental” with “no quick fixes”, but there are some very important challenges that pose a serious threat to the unity of the nation that, if left unaddressed, would make all of these accomplishment of this government futile. 

And President Sirleaf pays little attention in her address to this issue which is primarily reconciliation. Although she highlights the efforts of her government to resolve the inter-ethnic conflict in the Nimba region which is being and wrongly so, as in the past, managed by the government, this conflict does not surpass the entrenched cleavages and divisions that reside at the core of the Liberian society. These cleavages and divisions began with the founding of the Liberian state and have continued till today with little or no attempt to address them.  Administrations in the past have placed a veneer over this one thousand pound gorilla in the room which appears to have provided the impetus for a number of violent events in the Liberian society.  

Prior to assuming the presidency, Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf made numerous declarations of her willingness to address the issue of reconciliation particularly those that contain constitutional implications. This commitment requires the involvement and participation of elements of the wider society in a national engagement meant to capture the issues that lie at the bottom of conflicts in the society. The efforts to address the abuses that accompanied the 16 years civil conflict must not override the innate problem of abuse and disenfranchisement that characterized the formation of the society and paved the way for violence in the society up to 1980 and beyond.   

Focusing mainly on development issues and neglecting those endemic causes necessary to create the enabling environment for sustaining growth only rotates the society towards occurrences that have characterized Liberia’s past. A result of this was evident in 116 words that critically formed part of her closing statement.  What may be required is a marrying of development undertakings with genuine national reconciliation initiatives that guarantees unity and total commitment to preserving what the people of Liberia have achieved since exiting from conflict. Until then, Liberia is still not out of the woods.

 January 19,  2007 - Suspending Or Canceling Demonstrations Is Not The Answer

“Every person shall have the right to freedom of expression, being fully responsible for the abuse thereof. This right shall not be curtailed, restricted or enjoined by government save during an emergency declared in accordance with this Constitution.”  These are the words enshrined in Article 15a of the Liberian Constitution. The constitution is clear on the upholding of freedom of expression which is vital to and is one of the basic concepts at the heart of any democracy.  No matter the circumstance, except as laid down by the Constitution, this freedom should not be “curtailed” or “restricted” by the government. 

Freedom of expression has always been at the heart of the struggle for democracy and justice in Liberia since the 1970s.  Consequently, and in response to curtailing this right, governments of the past have always placed a ban on expression, particularly public demonstrations, and have used the issue of security as the basis for this restriction. What is interesting is that those who are now in leadership were the ones that criticized previous administrations for denying them the rights to express their displeasure on of the status quo prior. As a result of those governments’ insistence to suppress free speech, Liberia underwent painstaking experiences – the Rice Riots of 1979, the 1984 student demonstration at the University of Liberia, just to name a few. 

These gruesome and violent events as a result of the suppression of free speech in Liberia have been haphazardly investigated by previous regimes without developing remedies to address or curb violence that result from the exercise of this right. Banning, restricting, cancelling, suspending for security reasons, has been the reason applied to government’s orders to crush free speech, in violation of the Constitution which only allows for withholding such right during “an emergency” and such has not been declared as yet in Liberia. What is needed, however, is an in-depth analysis of the circumstances surrounding a number of highlighted events that were accompanied by violence that would assist in the development of guidelines to govern protests and demonstrations. Such guidelines would encompass requirements for obtaining permits, demarcating locations for protests under the circumstance, outlining the roles of organizers and participants, as well as the roles of the security forces in guiding or monitoring such events.  The development of these guidelines should be followed by an aggressive public relations blitz covering every part of Liberia and every major institution in the society, particularly learning institutions and labor unions. In this way every Liberian becomes knowledgeable of their roles under the circumstance and their responsibilities as well.  

To continuously cork the right to expression while differences prevail and grow is akin to placing a cork into a tube while water is simultaneously pumped into same at some pressure. Soon the water will have to find a way to escape due to the pressure. Addressing and finding the means to govern this process would be the only entrenched way to avoid the violence that may arise. This is a challenge of Liberian policy makers; doing nothing is not an option.