Monrovia – The Senate’s Committee Chair on Internal Affairs, Senator Gbleh-bo Brown, wants proponents of Liberia’s peace and reconciliation process see the usage of counties’ structures as a huge advantage in advancing unison amongst Liberians.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah – [email protected]
Over the weekend, Sen. Brown told this newspaper in an exclusive interview in Monrovia, that peace must not be imposed on the people but rather; they should be allowed to drive it all by themselves.
“For us, we feel that using the counties’ structures is a huge advantage; it is an opportunity.”
“The counties are places where administrators can best drive the process because they live with the people,” the Maryland County Senator stated.
Instead of shouldering total responsibility in the process leading to peace and reconciliation, Brown noted that it would be important for proponents of the process to provide facilitation, while citizens themselves drive the process.
“Getting the locals in the driver’s seat of the peace process will enable those driving the process identify some emerging issues that are hampering reconciliation apart from disenchantment resulting from the civil crisis,” the Senator further said.
The Maryland County lawmaker named boundary harmonization as one key factor that currently serves as a threat to peace, which he wants resolved.
Another issue Brown raised was hitches over land given to concessions.
In time past locals have complained of being excluded from the discussions that have led to their lands be grabbed and given to these multinationals without their consents.
“These lands provide livelihood for our people but have been turned over to concessions, and they (concessions) are not able to employ our people satisfactorily.”
“Let us get the support from our international partners, but let us not do it because they want us to do it,” Senator Brown noted.
He was also quick to note that with the passage of the Land Rights Act, the issue of land ownership will be amicably resolved.
Senator Brown said though he is contented about peace conferences, but these fora, he maintained must not be carried out because of the availability of finance, but for the need of fostering peace in Liberia.
Senator Brown also joined call made by United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed for the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Report, if the process of peace is to be ensured.
“That’s the major challenge that we all have. Liberians gathered in Accra, Ghana and decided that the way to end our conflict is the TRC and not a war crimes court.
We opted for the TRC, but we as a country haven’t adequately addressed those issues that are raised in the TRC,” Senator Brown.
He thinks that by living up to the TRC commitments, Liberians will amicably resolve their differences and help in promoting peace and reconciliation.