Protest

In Liberia, just as in many African countries, it is customary for street vendors to sell food prepared with safe fire-grill or charcoal-pots on various public street side-walks. This has never been considered as a violation of any public or city ordinance. It is in similar light that some protesters outside the capitol building had begun preparing food and snacks, when armed police forcefully disperse the protesters with tear gas and high power water cannons. Several protesters were wounded, including women and children who were bystanders.

The NDC Requests Investigation of Police Brutality Against Peaceful Protestors

January 9, 2020January 9, 2020 admin2Brutality, Liberia, Protest0 comment

Press Release Statement of the NDC on Government Attack of Peaceful Protesters on January 6, 2020 and Monrovia, January 8, 2020 — The National Democratic Coalition of Liberia (NDC), Liberia’s social democratic political formation, is deeply concerned about the excessive use of force by the Liberian National Police on peaceful protesters on January 6, 2020. In this regard, the NDC strongly condemns the unprovoked attack on unarmed peaceful protesters during the January 6th National Demonstration against the massive corruption and economic hardship instituted by President George Weah’s government. This brutal…

CoP also referred to the intervention of Liberia’s international partners at this 11th hour as “an intrusion” into the internal affairs of the state. “We do not object to intervention or intrusion, as much as we feel they are getting too much involved in our domestic affairs — that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But we hope that same level of intrusion will be made when it comes to the US$25 million [infusion]; that same level of intrusion will be made when it comes to other bread-and-butter issues like the L$16 billion; that same level of intrusion will be made when it comes to the attacks on Honorable Yekeh Kolubah, Senator Dillon, or Henry Costa or Mo Ali…”

News

CoP declares January 6, D-Day: Showdown with Weah govt. over rights to protest

January 3, 2020 admin2CoP, Liberia, Protest0 comment

Monrovia – The Council of Patriots (COP), through its Chairman, Henry Costa has termed as ‘undemocratic and unconstitutional’ the proposing of separate dates by the Government of Liberia (GOL) and Ambassadors of the United States, European Union, United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the holding of its ‘peaceful assembly’ in the country. The Liberian government, through the Ministry of Justice previously vowed not to issue permit to citizens to stage protests until January 30. But following the intervention of Liberia’s international partners,…

Public Policy

CoP chides foreign intrusion in Liberia’s internal affairs, will not assemble in stadium

December 30, 2019 admin2CoP, Liberia, Protest0 comment

Monrovia, Liberian Observer—In response to the 11th hour intervention by the Liberia’s foreign partners, calling for a change of date and venue for the protest that was scheduled for today, December 30, 2019, the Council of Patriots (CoP) has announced their provisional compliance with the postponement of the protest. However, the organizers have emphatically stated that the Government of Liberia’s proposed new date and venue — Sunday, January 5, 2020 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium — are unacceptable. Below are highlights of the CoP press conference, held today…

The two authoritative sources that I have just given do not make competence or integrity of relatives an exception to the definition. Therefore, those who are saying that the appointment of relatives who are competent and have integrity falls outside the definition of nepotism are wrong. Unless they write their own dictionaries, they have to accept the current definition of nepotism. Except for monarchies, like Kingdoms and empires, where countries are ruled by families, nepotism is wrong everywhere, especially in democratic countries such as ours. Nepotism is wrong because it is an abuse of power. It provides a situation where the best jobs in a country are occupied by relatives of public officials. It deprives better qualified citizens who are not relatives of public officials of opportunities for employment. A nepotistic leader promotes patronage, opportunism and sycophancy as avenues for employment. In an atmosphere where nepotism prevails, honest patriots and nationalists are deprived of opportunities for employment because they are not prepared to stoop so low. Nepotism therefore is a dangerous and very serious corrupt practice because it has the tendency to promote corruption and mass unemployment.

Op-ed

MOJA Calls on the Government and Organizers of Protest to Maintain Respect for Human Rights and the Rule of Law

December 29, 2019 admin2Liberia, Moja, Protest0 comment

A Press Release Issued by The Movement of Justice in Africa (MOJA) MONROVIA, LIBERIA—- The Movement of Justice in Africa (MOJA) calls on both the government and the organizers of the December 30, 2019 protest to maintain respect for human rights and the rule of law, in the same manner as they did during the Bring Back Our Money Campaign last year September. The Bring Back Our Money Campaign manifested an unprecedented display of maturity and self-restraint by the protesters and the government. The subsequent protest on June 7, 2019,…

This arrangement allowed the government to redirect $51M ($66M minus $15M) and $17M ($17M minus $0.00) from amounts allocated for goods and Services (i.e., money allocated for business industries located around the country) to the construction industry and non-financial assets for special Ministries and Agencies.

Op-ed

Liberia: June 7 Protest Is Imminent

May 21, 2019 admin2Liberia, Protest0 comment

By J. Yanqui Zaza The May 4, 2019 story carried by the Liberian local newspaper, Frontpageafricaonline) about the June 7, 2019 protest encouraged me to share my views about the would-be protest. In the article, the writer stated, “the much-publicized protest dubbed ‘Save The State’ has created mixed reactions amongst Liberians, with many reminiscing the 1979 Rice Riot, the proverbial straw that unleashed 25 years of mayhem, anarchy, destruction, and death on Liberians.” Preceding this assertion, many other Liberians have asked President Weah government and the June 7, 2019 organizers…