Archive for March, 2014

History is being repeated in Liberia: Fomba Sirleaf's following in the footsteps of Chuckie Taylor

By Siahyonkron Nyanseor

According to a FrontPageAfrica online article pulished March 21, 2014, plain clothes officers from the National Security Agency (NSA) headed by Fomba Sirleaf, son of President Sirleaf showed up at Hott FM 107.9 radio host Henry Costa’s office on Ashmun Street to issue him a Writ of Arrest on charges of “Terroristic Threats, Menacing and Criminal Coercion.”

The writ cited below reads:

“You are hereby commanded to arrest the living body(ies) of Henry Costa, to be identified defendant(s) and forthwith bring him before the Monrovia City Court, Temple of Justice Building, Montserrado County to answer the charge of TERRORISTIC THREATS, MENACING & CRIMINAL COERCION, based upon the oath and complaint of the Republic of Liberia by and thru Fomba Sirleaf, private prosecutor(trix) in which it is substantially alleged as follows to with: That on the 26th day of February 2014 the defendant with a wicked inten-tion rendered threat to harm and kill private prosecutor Fomba Sirleaf, the Director of the National Security Agency and son of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.”

“The alleged act of the defendant was unlawful wicked and violated section 11.11 of the new penal law” states the writ. That on the 26th of February, A.D. 2014, in the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia, the within named defendant being there and then with malice and wicked intent, purposely did threaten the life of the said private prosecutor using against him death threats, to harm and kill him, and that in the same vain the said defendant on the Costa Show on Radio Hott FM did make a statement challenging the private prosecutor to engage him in a public fight wherein he defendant threatened to fight the private prosecutor to death with the intent to terrorize the said private prosecutor and subject to fear and public ridicule. The alleged act by the defendant being unlawful, wicked and intentional is in violation of section 11.116 of the new act amending section 14.24 of the New Penal Law, 14.25 & 14.27 of the New Penal Law of Liberia there and then crimes herein the defendant did and commit. Hence, this Writ of Arrest. Contrary to the form force and effect to the statutory laws of Liberia in such cases made and proven against the peace and dignity for this republic and for so doing. This shall constitute your legal and sufficient authority and have you have there this writ of arrest.

On behalf of Progressive Liberians (some of us whom are still around), express with deep concern the continued harassment and closure of media houses and radio stations under the Unity Party’s watch. These practices are in direct violation of the rule of law under Article 21(b) of the Liberian Constitution that reads:

“No person shall be subject to search or seizure of his person or property, whether on a criminal charge or for any other purpose, unless upon warrant lawfully issued upon probable cause sup-ported by a solemn oath or affirmation, specifically identifying the person or place to be searched and stating the object of the search; provided, however, that a search or seizure shall be per-missible without a search warrant where the arresting authori-ties act during the commission of a crime or in hot pursuit of a person who has committed a crime.”

And Article 15(a) states:

“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.”

The arrest and imprisonment of Henry Costa on the afternoon of Friday, March 21, 2014 as reported by FrontPageAfrica online’s website, violates the oaths of elected officials who swore to protect and defend the Constitution. But I am not surprised; this is nothing new for Liberian elected officials!

African governments and their leaders keep repeating the same old mistakes that led to the disgrace and downfall of many of their predecessors; yet, they failed to learn from those mistakes. The illegal arrest and incarceration of Henry Costa, the popular talk show host of Hott 107.9 FM Radio, on insubstantial charges is a classic example of history being repeated in Liberia by another presidential son. Fomba Sirleaf, the son of President Sirleaf is following in the footsteps of Chuckie Taylor, the son of former President Charles Taylor, who was convicted of leading a campaign of torture against people opposed to his father’s rule for which he is now serving 97 years jail sentence in the United States.

Costa admitted making the challenge on the air to the NSA boss in order to afford Fomba the opportunity to make good on several threats he made against him (Costa) through intermediaries. The challenge reads:

” … I challenged him (Fomba) to a duel on Broad Street on Friday 4PM in order to afford him the opportunity to make good his threat. This was when we got cut off the air while we were talking unbeknownst to us by directive of the station manager.”

How does a challenge made in public constitute “Terroristic Threats, Menacing and Criminal Coercion?” Where is the freedom of the press and speech that the Unity Party (UP) government, officials and their supporters speak of in Liberia? Where is the “remarkable” human rights record in Liberia under the Sirleaf’s administration, that the President continues to boast of to the international community?

This only suggests that nothing has really changed in Liberia. The arrest of Costa on these flimsy charges confirmed that the Liberian government is in the practice of harassing, abusing, imprisoning journalists and opposition politicians on false charges.

Of all persons, President Sirleaf should be the last one to engage in this practice, because it was not too long ago that she was a victim. She served a significant amount of time at the notorious Monrovia Central Prison during the administration of the late President Samuel K. Doe, for speaking against the undemocratic practices of his administration. Finally, she had to go into exile due to the harassment and threats to her life.

Recently, while discussing African leaders with a cousin of mine, he made this comment: “Siah, the reason African leaders engage in undemocratic behaviors is due to the fact that most of them attended and graduated with honors from the same African University of Dictatorship (AUD), where they majored in violating their country’s Constitution, Free Speech, Freedom of the Press, with the specialization of committing rampant corruption with impunity.” As comical it may sound, there seems to be some merits in his statement!

Former President Charles Taylor, President Sirleaf’s former associate, once engaged in similar practice. Taylor sent a good number of political activists and politicians into forced exile. Sirleaf who also was a victim is engaged in the same practice today. Yet, every chance she gets, she boasts of her administration’s “remarkable” human rights record.

In 2007, Charles Julu, Andrew Dobor and George Koukou were arrested and prosecuted on charges that they were conspiring to seize state power. Dobor was arrested in the Ivory Coast and was the Government’s star witness to testify against Charles Julu. However, on the witness stand, Dobor confessed that he had been coerced by authorities to lie on Julu. Based on his confession, the Government declared its star witness a hostile witness and dropped the immunity of state witness protection.

Another time, the Sirleaf administration falsely imprisoned Acarous Gray for expressing how he felt about the Sirleaf administration, and what was going on in the country. Gray however noted that “Ellen’s regime can use the student payment to bribe others; but he will not succumb to bribe in order to continue the struggle for the people.”

“I want to tell our friends in the USA and those here in Liberia, that CDC will serve as an imposition to apartheid. … They instituted lot of Jacobos who served as traitors within the ANC. They went on the side of the white men but the ANC did not crumble. ‘So, the CDC fight today is a fight against apathy. We see semblance of apartheidism in our country. … Apathy in a context where political leaders would be bought from one political party (to an-other). Parties would be disintegrated to destroy competitive democratiza-tion process,’” Gray said.

How soon this President forgets?

Not too long ago when her freedom of speech and movement were violated, Liberians in the Diaspora and at home protested in her defense until she was set free. Little did we know then that she was going to do the same to others.

The President must be made aware that in most democratic societies, the free press serves as the conscience of the people — to make government accountable to them. As a result, the free press is committed in bridging this gap; by providing the public with relevant and useful information. In many cases, such information centers on issues regarding healthcare, education, the economy, civil and constitutional rights, and the environment. The availability of the public to this information affords the people the opportunity to better understand their government, its direction, role and impact on their daily lives.

This commitment by the “patriotic” media is based on ethics and morals, upon which it is obliged to be honest, sincere, critical, and to give laurels where and when expedient. This is the role Henry Costa has been playing. Therefore, we demand that the harassment of the Hott Radio 107.9 FM Host, Henry Costa and his colleagues cease immediately.

On February 12, 2014, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in New York issued a press release titled, “Africa: CPJ Risk List - Where Press Freedom Suffered.” Find below what the CPJ said about Liberia:

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s administration promised more open and democratic rule in Liberia after years of civil war and dictatorship. The past year, however, a climate of self-censorship has taken hold. Worrisome developments include the jailing of journalists in civil libel cases, and the imposition of exorbitant legal fees to bankrupt their news organizations.

More than a year after signing the Declaration of Table Mountain-a call for the repeal of criminal defamation and “insult” laws across Africa-Sirleaf’s administration has done little to advance the cause of decriminalizing defamation.

In addition, civil cases brought on by government officials have resulted in excessive financial damage awards. In August, a ruling imposing a US$1.5 million fine forced the closure of the leading independent newspaper, FrontPageAfrica, and the imprisonment of its managing editor and publisher, Rodney Sieh, in a case tainted with political undertones.

Sieh was jailed indefinitely pending payment, then released on temporary “compassionate leave.” In November, a court formally closed the proceedings against Sieh and FrontPageAfrica, after the libel claims were dropped amid international outcry. FrontPageAfrica has repeatedly reported on corruption, official misconduct, and human rights abuses, and local journalists told CPJ that the heavy fine was a clear ploy to shut down the critical newspaper.

No newspaper has won a libel case since Sirleaf’s election in 2005, according to the Press Union of Liberia. “When officials of government are so keen to run to the courts with issues like these that are in the public interest, it makes it more difficult for the press to work freely,” said Peter Quaqua, president of the union.

Adding to the tense environment for journalists, a key Sirleaf aide set off a firestorm with an inflammatory speech on World Press Freedom Day. Othello Daniel Warrick, President Sirleaf’s chief security aide, referred to journalists as “terrorists,” and said he would “go after” any journalist who publishes articles critical of the presidency.”

The CPJ’s observation about Liberia is an indication that the government and its officials have made the media their number one enemy, and will “go after” any journalist who publishes articles critical of the presidency.

In short, all democratic-minded people in Liberia and across the globe are troubled by the mixed messages, double standards, deceit and hypocrisy of the Unity Party government on issues regarding freedom of speech and press freedom in Liberia.

The government must stop the harassment of Henry Costa and journalists in the country in order for them to continue writing and speaking the truth in a society infested with all sorts of misconducts. Costa did not commit any crime. In fact, he should be rewarded for his committment and dedication to the people of Liberia.

“…If the people get angry at some point and their cup runs over and they want to take some actions, it is not my responsibility. My responsibility is to speak the truth,” Costa added.

If the government does not spend money on basic things like electricity, social services, building schools and clinics, the people will remain unhappy.

Siahyonkron Nyanseor is the Chair of the ULAA Council of Eminent Persons (UCEP), Inc. He is a poet, Griot, journalist, and a cultural and political activist. He is an ordained Minister of the Gospel. He is Chairman of the Liberian Democratic Future (LDF), publisher of theperspective.org online newsmagazine and Senior Advisor to the Voice of Liberia newsmagazine. In 2012, he Co-authored Djogbachiachuwa: The Liberian Literature Anthology; his book of poems: TIPOSAH: Message from the Palava Hut will be on the market soon. He can be contacted at: [email protected].

Progressivism in Liberia, abandoned not declining

By Patrick Nimely-Sie Tuon

In order to accurately describe the state of affairs of progressivism in Liberia, one must still be part of it, whether as an individual advocating for progressive change, or part of an institution embracing and implementing progressive ideas.

The activities of the Liberian progressive movement cannot or should not be measured based on the involvement of certain individuals. No one or individuals own the Liberian progressive movement. The Liberian progressive movement, like any other progressive movement can be on automatic pilot or be under the control of real pilots.

As long there is corruption, abuse of power, nepotism, cronyism, embezzlement, no rule of law, impunity and other kinds of inequities, including supporting and condoning destructive behaviors and perpetrators, the Liberian progressive movement will never decline.

As long Liberians are speaking and pointing to the various ills that have blanketed the entire Liberian society, and there is a government whose officials and supporters are insensitive to the plight of the people, progressivism will continue to thrive. Progressivism is driven by its desire to combat the ills of society; and is in no way based on the idea that certain persons must always be involved to determine its viability.

The fact that certain individuals once considered the vanguards of a movement or its set of ideas in the past are no longer active is by no means prove that those ideas or the movement have declined

According to an article in the News Pinnacle Newspaper, in its March 2, 2014 edition, under the headline, “The Decline of Liberian Progressive Activism”, seems to suggest that the Liberian progressive movement has declined because those who once advanced the progressive ideas are no longer active.

The newspaper article which, in its entirety, is based on an interview with Hon. Conmany Wesseh, current member of the ruling Unity Party, and also cabinet member in the current Liberian government, a government many Liberians describes as anti-progressive, said that the Liberian progressive movement is no longer active, and that progressivism has declined seriously which he blames on Liberia’s recent violent past.

Mr. Wesseh’s analysis seems to be based on the fact that some of the Monrovia-based progressive activists who were once the vanguards of progressive ideas in the past and are no longer active in any progressive activities, has declined.

Progressivism by nature is always strengthened during chaotic periods, whether violent or not. Progressive movements around the world are known for standing up against violence. History is replete with how various progressive movements have thrived during violent struggles and succeeded in their quests. In fact, in most cases, it is violence or threats of violence that gives rise to progressive movements. So to say progressivism has declined because of violence has given rise to a hidden thought held by many Liberians as to whether Liberia ever had a real progressive movement.

Many successful progressive movements always undergo metamorphisms to adjust to prevailing conditions or circumstances throughout history. The notion that the Liberian progressivism has declined because of past violent episodes like the 1980 coup, and the Liberian conflict seems to contradict the universal premise upon which progressive movements are built; which is to protect and defend the people from tyranny. While the main objective of a progressive movement is to achieve its goals through peaceful means.

The true characterization of the current state of affairs of the Liberian progressive movement is not that it has declined, but rather being abandoned by some of those who were once the vanguards for progressive ideas in Liberia.

From the Tolbert administration to present, some of those who were seen as conduits for progressive ideas failed to distinguish themselves from those who falsely continued to promote themselves as our redeemers, patriots and democrats. The abandoning of the Liberian progressive movement and its ideas by its former comrades should in no way be construed as it being on the decline.

Such analysis perpetuates an emerging trend of thought that there are certain people, for example, who are capable of taking arms; so prosecuting them for war crimes is not an option for fear that there will cause for more violence. And also there are certain individuals who are the only ones capable of opposing governments, now that these individuals are in the government, opposition to government is no longer necessary. As such, we should live by the consequences of their actions.

Now we are being told that there are certain individuals, those who are capable of advocating progressive ideas, whose presence are needed to accentuate any progressive positions and activities. And without their presence, the progressive movement has declined.

The thought of progressivism declining in Liberia is not only to discredit the ongoing progressive activities among Liberians, but has the propensity of injecting a sense of defeatism in the movement. That line of thinking also strengthens the notion that certain individuals own the Liberian progressive movement and can shut it down at will.

Those who are currently following Liberian issues on social media will realize that most of the ongoing debates and ideas being expressed are progressively driven. Many of the positions currently taken by Liberians, old and young, who are pointing out flaws in this current Liberian government are doing it through progressive lenses.

Progressive ideas in Liberia now, unlike the past are reaching more Liberians, and are enjoying wider audience; thanks to the ongoing explosion of technology worldwide.

To measure the viability of the Liberian progressive movement based on past characteristics, behaviors and players will do injustice to ongoing progressive activities and those who have remained steadfast to progressive ideas, especially when the same ugly and selfish ideas once opposed by past progressives continue to raise its ugly heads worst than before.

The only difference now is that some of our past progressives are remarkably adjusting and tolerating these crooked ideas that seem to be strengthening the stagnation of progress in the Liberian society.

Many independent followers of unfolding events in Liberia who are old enough to remember some of the past progressive activities will also dismiss this idea that Liberian progressivism has declined. These individuals will rather see credibility problems and contradictions of what those progressives were opposed to in the past, and what are now being tolerated today by some of the same progressives.

Liberian progressives in 1979 had their profile raised when they challenged the-then ruling True Whig Party’s monopoly on the electoratal system; a system that allowed anyone nominated by the TWP as the automatic winner of local and national elections.

To end the TWP monopoly, the progressives put up a candidate for the Monrovia mayoral race. Among the driving issues in the mayoral race were property clause and the right for Monrovia residents to have a choice between more than one candidate. That campaign was in sharp contrast to what is happening now in Liberia, as some of our past progressives continued to remain conspicuously silent.

Right after the 2006 general and presidential elections, the Liberian Supreme Court under Johnny Lewis, sided with the Sirleaf government not to hold municipal elections because of the lack of money. Since then, President Sirleaf has been appointing city mayors around the country. In fact, the president has been appointing mayors who are supposed to be elected, in sharp contradiction of the Liberian constitution.

Many of our past progressives, some of whom are even serving in the Sirleaf government have yet to express concern regarding this issue, which they once championed in the past during the Tolbert administration.

Another example that speaks to the abandonment of the progressivism is the final report of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Despite the fact that the law or act that established the TRC and its recommendations were progressively driven, the opposition against implementing the TRC report is led by some former Liberian progressives. It is former Liberian progressives who have been enlisted to serve as frontline commanders by the Sirleaf regime to destroy the TRC report, in order to deny the people of Liberia genuine reconciliation. The TRC report was so progressively driven that a conspiracy theory was hatched that accused the progressives as the “invisible” hands behind the report. The TRC report can simply be described as the Liberian progressive “manifesto.”

The two examples are among litany of contradictions that point to overwhelming evidence that debunks the notion that progressivism is not in decline, but rather abandoned by some of its original supporters.

Mr. Wesseh, to his credit, was quoted in the article as saying that the Liberian people saw the evils, so criminal and various destructed behaviors that came with the violent periods during Liberia’s recent past were part of the progressive movement.

Despite how deeply flawed Mr. Wesseh’s idea is, it is very difficult to dispel it due to the roles many former progressives are playing today or in the past by collaborating with the various corrupt, violent and undemocratic regimes.

Progressivism in Liberia is well and alive, but only going through a period of recalibration. As long there are corruption, nepotism, cronyism, impunity, the lack of rule of law, the lack of genuine reconciliation and real peace, progressivism will always be around.

Patrick Nimely-Sie Tuon is a lifelong political activist and fiery progressive. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA), and can be reached at 215- 276-2408 or at [email protected].