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Liberians 'Wallop In Darkness', Says FOHRD; Calls For Stay of Sanctions

The Analyst (Monrovia)
NEWS
June 22, 2004
Posted to the web June 22, 2004

The Forum for Human Rights and Democracy (FOHRD), the pro-democracy and human
rights advocacy group in the country has expressed surprise that tens months
after Liberians solved the leadership question in Accra, they are still
stooping under the burden of poverty, due to corruption in high places.
According to the organization's periodical titled, Briefing Paper: National
Interest Vs. Personal Interest - The Case of the Liberia National Transitional
Government" a copy of which is in the possession of The Analyst, the group said
events in Liberia point to continual acrimonies between the government and the
rest of the people.
"The rest of the people wallop in darkness and drink from unsafe water sources.
They rely on archaic communication means to relate to one another and merely
turn into beggars if they wish to taste of such social services," the group
says.
According to the group, the Bryant administration has been unable to make
significant impact on transitional Liberia and continues to conduct "business
as usual" because it failed to design an appropriate transitional program that
attempts to handle issues of public concerns before they became contentious.
"The problem with this government, which is not different from other failed
regimes of the country, is that it hardly takes proactive stances in crucial
state matters. It is reactive. It donates to those who make the loudest noise.
That is a dangerous way to go, particularly at this time when there is so much
anxiety as a result of years of deprivation and neglect," FOHRD warns.
Stressing the need to set things right in the spirit of genuine peace and
reconciliation, the group emphasized that the way out of the current nightmare
was for the NTGL to make conscious political decisions to return back to
standards.
"Nevertheless, it is not too late for any good government to get its house in
order, rearrange its strategies and move on with a new sense of direction.
In order to get back on track and regain its respect amongst the people of
Liberia, the NTGL must do three major things," the group maintains.
FOHRD named the "three major things" as relegating personal to national
interest; reinvigorating its public relations machinery, not for the purpose of
propagating deceits and whitewashing its lewd tendencies as was done by many
failed regimes, and the institution of transparency and good governance
measures, which will ensure scrupulous management of meager funds, financially
sanitize every public apparatus to attract public confidence and international
support.
The group believes that it is only when the government takes these major steps
that the problems currently besetting the Liberian society would be eliminated
or minimized.
It emphasizes: "First, the government must put the interest of the rest of
Liberians over personal or group interest. And there is no better way this can
be done than prioritizing social services-the resumption of basic social
services, such as electricity, water, health, education and communication,
guaranteed monthly income and livable wage."
The group realizes that the NTGL may be in real financial squeeze given the
"prevailing economic plight facing government," but argues that that should not
give it a carte blanche and an alibi to "flatly, continually ignore the welfare
of the people." Perhaps to drive home the point of its argument, the group said
rhetorically: "The transitional government is nearly ten months old. How many
people have access to pipe-borne water? How many Monrovians, let alone
Liberians, are benefiting from the vast advantages of electricity and
telecommunications? The answer can be few-a minute few. And the few persons are
largely top government officials-the Chairman and his cabinet ministers and
their deputies; members of the legislature and Judiciary. These are people who
regularly receive gas slips, allowances and other benefits that make them
securing such essential social services."
If the international community is to take Liberia seriously and help it meet
its needs, according to FOHRD, the NTGL must begin immediately to take action
against individuals who willfully plunder state coffers.
"So far, the transitional government has done virtually nothing to quell the
reported waves of corruption and willful plundering of public coffers.
Notwithstanding the massive reports of corruption in the public sector, no
single person has been apprehended or put forward for questioning. This has
given the impression that corruption as reported is condoned in high places of
government. While we don't want to subscribe to any generalization, it is
important for Government to draw a line between corrupt and indiscipline
elements within its ranks.
That line can be drawn when individuals accused are thoroughly probed and the
findings made public," it says.
Fearing that the return to standards may not be achieved during this
transitional process, FOHRD calls on the international community to insist and
demand sound financial policies and practices from the Bryant-Government as the
basis for foreign aid.
It then concluded: "Lift the sanctions on Liberia only under an elected
government that will demonstrated its ability, sincerity and honesty to
emphasize service to the nation and not to personal pockets as well as the
practice of good governance and send international financial experts to assist
the NTGL."
In another human rights news, the Liberia Democracy Watch (LDW) has expressed
dissatisfaction over the trend of the Liberian economy and the manner in which
the NTGL is appropriating and using state funds.
In a press release signed by LDW Executive's Director Cllr. Jerome J. Verdier,
Sr., the group noted: "while the international community and the people of
Liberia are sparing no efforts to ensure that disarmament is satisfactorily
completed and civil rule returned to all parts of the country, the NTGL is
saddled with useless foreign travels, and extravagant spending on luxuries,
while the prices of essential commodities continue on the rise and the
provision of essential social services remains non-existent.

   

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