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Calm Returns to UL Campus

The Analyst (Monrovia)
NEWS
September 13, 2004
Posted to the web September 13, 2004

-ULFA "Agrees" To Resume To Class, But Students Languish In Jail
The University of Liberia (UL) has been in a state of uneasy calm since the
unceremonious departure of Ben Roberts who was accused of mishandling the
affairs of the institution.
Recently, the NTGL managed to calm the situation when it appointed Dr. James
Kollie to head the institution in the interim and made some money available to
reopen the doors of the nation's highest government-owned institution of
learning.
The situation however flared up again when Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh was appointed
by the Visitor to the University of Liberia, NTGL Chairman Gyude Bryant,
amongst three other qualified candidates, to head the university permanently.
While many see nothing wrong with the appointment of Dr. Conteh, some members
of campus-based organizations such as students and faculty groups see the
appointment as an affront to the integrity of the institution and want Conteh
to be changed.
But Chairman Bryant thinks that it is an illusion and reportedly called on
those wishing to resign on account of that to do so. The standoff that ensued
came to a head last Friday when some students who had gathered on campus to
block the installation of Dr. Conteh met with military and police resistance:
properties were damaged, injuries occurred, and at least four students were
detained. The Analyst's Legislative Reporter, Mensiegar Karnga takes up the
story.
Representatives of the University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA), UL
Administration, the three campus-based students political parties, and other
concerned student groups have reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) putting an immediate halt to all violent actions on the UL campus pending
further negotiation.
The MOU followed a riotous weekend that left property damaged and scores of
students wounded in a running street brush with police that extended to the
city center.
Besides agreeing to halt violence, according to the MOU which was the result of
several hours of heart-searching meeting held Saturday at the Capitol Building
at the behest of NTLA Speaker George Dweh, the signatories have resolved to
return to classes next Monday.
Acting ULFA Chairman Prof. Lavela S. Pewee, signed the MOU on behalf of his
organization, representatives of SUP, STUDA, and SIM signed for their
respective parties while Speaker Dweh signed as witness.
The parties also resolved to iron out their differences in the spirit of peace
and understanding even though they did not say how.
The MOU amongst other things condemned the violence on the campus of the UL on
September 10, 2004, indicating that it doesn't have the backing of any section
of the university.
It then assured the Liberian people that the university would continue to play
the role of "lux in tenebris" and remain committed to peace and positive image
building.
According to the MOU, the parties to the conflict agreed that the university
will remain open and operational and that Dr. James Kollie will remain
president while negotiation continues for his replacement.
The basis for the proposed continued negotiation, given that Chairman Bryant
has so far shown no indication of budging despite the weekend riot, was not
disclosed.
Chairman Bryant is determined to uphold his appointment of Dr. Conteh as
president of UL perhaps to demonstrate that he is not a weak chairman,
according to our Executive Mansion sources.
But campus representatives in the Saturday meeting appeared optimistic that a
solution would be found shortly.
During the meeting Speaker George Dweh appealed to the aggrieved teachers to
the return to their classrooms and asked the students to end their protest
demonstrations for the sake of peace and tranquility.
He told the parties to the conflict that the NTLA would do everything humanly
possible to find an amicable solution to the problem facing the university.
At the close of the meeting, representatives who signed the MOU promised that
they would abide by the spirit of the agreement, and praised Speaker Dweh for
his intervention which they described as "timely." Shortly following the close
of the Saturday meeting, Speaker Dweh instructed the Chairman of the NTLA
Committee on Security, Prince Q. Toe, to negotiate the release of four students
who were reportedly detained by police for their part in the violence on campus
and the street riot that reportedly led to the smashing of the windshield of a
vehicle belong to Police Director Chris Massaquoi.
The assemblyman however did not secure the release of the students because,
according to him, the director of police refused to honor his request on
grounds that Chairman Bryant did not order that.
It was not known up to press time last night whether the students concerned
were released neither was it disclosed by police under what charge they are
being held.
Investigation continues.

   

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