In a front-page and color-coded headline, the FPA Newspaper (FrontpageAfricaonline, August 23, 2016) reported the gruesome, dramatic firing-squad executions of the former officials of government, set against the Atlantic Ocean’s beach-front background.
The FPA, also, reported that Mr. Samuel K. Doe, Jr., son of Samuel K. Doe, Sr., Head of State when the executions took place and Mr. C. Cecil Dennis, III, son of the late C. Cecil Dennis, Jr., Minister of Foreign Affairs who was one of the officials of Government executed, and quoted them respectively, as follows:
“We need a special day that should be put aside as a holiday so we can remember our horrific past and all innocent people that have lost their lives throughout the history of our country, whether in the name revolution or the civil war. Without such recognition of those who lost their lives, Unity may never be complete” – Samuel K. Doe, Jr.
“May our fathers’ departure of this earth, and our common interest of peace, bind us stronger together as brothers, regardless of our backgrounds. Today, as Samuel K. Doe, Jr., and I plan to talk and subsequently meet, may our common nationalism be the substance of our patriotism” – C. Cecil Dennis, III.
The Meeting of Samuel K. Doe, Jr. & C. Cecil Dennis, III
According to the headline above, “a (National) Reconciliation process is in the making after 36 years” of a deadly human rights violations in Liberia by a joint effort by the meeting of these two young, highly-spirited, nationalist, patriotic Liberians.
For young Samuel K. Doe, Jr., reconciliation, peace and unity will come to Liberia only if and when a day is declared a national holiday to remember our horrific past and (pay homage to) all innocent people (Liberians) that have lost their lives throughout the history of our country, whether in the name of revolution or the civil war. “Without such recognition of those who lost their lives, unity may not be complete”. Meanwhile, Mr. C. Cecil Dennis, III, like Mr. Samuel K. Doe, Jr., believes, poetically, that “May our fathers’ departure (death) from this earth, and our common interest of peace (reconciliation and unity), bind us stronger as brothers, regardless of our backgrounds. Today, as Samuel K. Doe, Jr., and I plan to talk and subsequently meet, may our common nationalism be the substance of our patriotism”. No blames, anger or revenge, but the honest, diligent search for national reconciliation, peace, unity security and forgive, but not “forget”; for, those who ignore the mistakes of history are likely to repeat them.
The Nation’s Concerns and Needs
Indeed, the Concerns and Needs expressed by the two young men who were toddlers still in diapers when our latest, historic nightmare of the civil war broke out with plunder, destruction, citizen’s displacement, human suffering and death. This profound, deadly phenomenon of our Liberian “human condition” – protests demonstrations, deadly armed hostilities, arrests, detentions and public executions, leading to the April 14, 1979 Rice Riots and culminating in the April 12, 1980 Event and its consequences, all characterized the entire, sordid 169-year history of our country.
The victims of the beech-front executions were not born, not around when this nation was founded and the laws that guided the destiny of the nation were made. But the Liberian Nation’s socio-economic and political experience had been, still is subject to Public Policy produced by these laws made and enshrined in the nation’s Constitution in 1847, still on the books and in force an effect.
What is Reconciliation?
In the light of the crucial, critical Concerns and Needs expressed, we held earlier, in an article elsewhere, that Reconciliation, in general and the immediate terms, is a process designed to “settle a quarrel, a difference” with someone(s), arising from and due to wrongful acts, a re-establishment of friendly relations by and between two or more individuals after a period of intense, unfriendly and, sometimes, deadly, antagonistic encounters.
Accordingly, Reconciliation, like the famous, South American dance, tango, takes two to be successful; that is, that it takes the coming together of the victim(s) of the wrongful acts, on the one hand, and the confessed, remorseful, guilty ones of the wrongful acts, on the other. In the context of the Liberian, political community that experienced an illegal, armed conflict in which hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens were brutally tortured, maimed, raped and summarily executed, the families of the dead, loved ones, the living victims of this cruel adventure and the confessed, remorseful, guilty perpetrators come together, under the auspices of the national government to “settle the quarrel and re-establish friendly relations” – peaceful co-existence, mutual understanding, respect and cooperation – or national reconciliation.
This is done after, not before, reasonable, dedicated and diligent institutional reforms, the socio-economic well-being of the citizens, including application of the modern, Transitional Justice approach – the process from systematic abuse of civil/political rights and post-conflict transition to democracy – designed for even-handed investigations, arrests, free, fair and open trials, conviction and punishment of human rights violators, with amnesties granted to deserving violators, as well as remedy to and satisfaction of the living victims and families of loved ones victimized during the war. As such, reconciliation is a final or end-process.
However, this approach to reconciliation has not been, is not being, applied. This, among others, is the reason for the failures of National Reconciliation. Beginning with Sawyer’s IGNU, Kpomakpor’s Council of State, Taylor’s “jungle justice”, Bryant’s Transitional Administration (dominated by factional rebels and the doctrine of “spoils of war” entitlements), and now, the Johnson-Sirleaf’s two-term watch (in its final endeavors, but still with “no show”, while the “beat still goes on”).
As a matter of fact, there was an ethnic/tribal tug-of-war between some Liberia-based and some Diaspora-based Liberians about being left out or excluded from membership of the recently-appointed, Mr. George Weah’s Reconciliation Committee that had been awarded, reportedly, a 5 million, U. S dollar sleaze for operations; another bottomless pit?
More Reflections – Scope & Nature of Reconciliation
Seriously, during and after the end of our ethnically-driven, deeply-divisive and historic, civil war tragedy of destruction, brutality, human suffering and death, the need for national healing of the deep wounds afflicted, for bridging the profoundly wide, ethnic/tribal cleavages created; for re-unifying the once-united, peaceful and proud people in peace, unity and security became evident and compelling. Presumably, it was this realization and towards its achievement that the government of President Charles Taylor established a new, full-fledged agency with the name of the National Reconciliation & Re-integration Commission (NRRC) to pursue this goal – conflict analysis, prevention, management and peaceful, rational resolution of national conflicts.
However, the performance of this agency, headed by Mr. Taylor’s hand-picked (“Greater Liberia”) confidante, is public knowledge of incompetence, inaction and failure that saw new armed hostilities erupted and exploded into the “Lofa County Conflict” in April 1999.
Reasonably, Liberians had hoped that the general and Presidential elections of 1997 that brought Taylor to power and ended the nation’s first phase of the end of armed hostilities of our fifteen-year, civil conflict had settled the contentious issue of national, political leadership that initially motivated the conflict and that we “were out of the woods”. Regrettably, this was not the case; for, elections alone do not and could not resolve the deep-seated, historical and ethnic/tribal divisions created, particularly, the socio-economic, political and ethnic-tribal bigotry – suspicion, distrust, fear, envy, jealousy, antagonism, and prejudice bordering on hatred – that have remained unattended for a century.
The result had been and is that political instability was likely to explode at any time as had happened several times over long periods – for example, more than one hundred and fifty-some years of miss-governance, marginalization/exclusion of the nation’s majority population, and missed opportunities leading to the historic conflict that began in December, 1989. In the light of these and other conditions now prevailing, new efforts at national peace and reconciliation are needed to inspire and energize Liberians into a shared, collective mission of national reconciliation.
Major Focus of National Reconciliation
Indeed, some of the fundamental root-causes and, therefore, the sources of conflicts in our country are found in Liberian socio-economic and political History. The primary, major root-causes had been, and are, the inordinate quest for political power and greed for economic wealth perceived, and still believe, to be associated with such power. However, to be meaningful, substantive and to achieve long-lasting impact, National Reconciliation should and must transcend issues that lend themselves to naked quest for partisan, political power.
The process of national reconciliation should be non-political, although the issues to be addressed are found in the full spectrum of socio-cultural, economic and political dynamics. As a forum in which these critical issues are to be presented, debated and addressed for the benefit of all Liberians, it should not and must not be a forum for grandstanding, finger-pointing and blame-games in an effort to achieve and gain partisan, political advantage.
Reconciliation should and must attend to structural causes of conflicts past and present – the social, economic and political issues that undermine peace, unity, security, regional empowerment (decentralization of administrative, economic & political power) and progress should be identified and addressed. In this context, issues of Liberian identity and history, our system of personalized political patronage and clientele, centralized governmental structure (for decentralization), reform of governmental bureaucracy – the civil service, land acquisition and customary land tenure and religious intolerance, among many others, should and must be addressed.
Reconciliation is taking collective responsibility for the nation’s problems; it is an opportunity for tolerance, frank, candid and constructive exchange of ideas and opinions with focus on issues rather than on personalities; it provides an opportunity of a forum in which problems are identified, defined and solutions advanced; for, reconciliation is a serious business because the future of the Liberian Nation is at stake.
All well-meaning, concerned, capable and informed citizens should contribute to the efforts and motivate others in the search for peace, reconciliation and national harmony. Success of the reconciliatory process depends upon maximum support and participation of the Liberian people, both at home in Liberia and abroad.
The process will require aggressive, effective public education with emphasis on rural Liberia where the majority of the nation’s population lives. There is need to inform, educate, persuade and convince the Liberian people that it is important, indeed critical, to transform the Liberian society through reconciliation for peace, unity and security.
Goals, Objectives
We submit that conflicts are natural, proper and characterize human nature and society. Indeed, sometimes conflicts provide opportunities for rational, necessary change. The challenge, however, often lies in the will to build the enabling capabilities to resolve conflicts through non-violent, rational, rewarding approaches.
It is, indeed, profoundly crucial and critical that Liberia improve, by planning and development, to provide socio-political systems and mechanisms or institutions such as efficient and effective Police, transparent courts, free and fair electoral systems to manage conflicts, maintain law and order, and promote peace, unity and security.
In a political community that experienced illegal armed conflict, as was the Republic, in which innocent citizens lost their lives, reconciliation includes lawful house-cleaning for healing of the wounds, reunifying the citizens and, thereby, sending out a clear and important message that no one is entitled to or given preferential, treatment irrespective of socio-cultural, economic or political standing in that community; it also provides a sense of relief, remedy, justice, fair play and personal satisfaction for the families of loved ones victimized by the conflict. Hence, the need for the trial of former President Taylor and associates for war crimes allegedly committed.
The ultimate goal of Reconciliation is to achieve lasting peace, unity and individual/collective security of the people, and to initiate a new national beginning of maximum, rewarding participation for social integration, growth at higher levels of development. Reconciliation, peace, national unity and security are the foundation upon which mobilization of the required national will and commitment are built as the catalyst for the process of national renewal. Accordingly, National Reconciliation seeks to energize and unleash the resources of all Liberians to achieve peace, unity and security, in order to reconfirm our national hopes and aspirations for now and the future. Specifically, Reconciliation seeks to achieve the following objectives:
- Develop post Reconciliation Forum for follow-up and follow-through mechanisms or plans/processes with targets, deadlines and responsible analysts/reporters among all stakeholders to ensure implementation; and
- Mobilize the collective, political will and commitment of Liberians at all levels of society to attend to the problems identified in the manner agreed
- Eradicate all forms of ethnic/tribal and regional bigotry
- Educate in order to understand and appreciate the virtues of patriotism, nationalism and to observe the rule of law and the rights of other citizens and foreign residents
- Forgive (not forget) one another
- Re-dedicate and commit ourselves as Liberians First and Tribal citizens Second
- Create, in the Liberian people, a sense of belonging and national pride
- Identify and analyze the root causes of Liberia’s conflicts, past and present
- Commit national policy to promote and ensure national peace, unity and collective and individual security, regional cooperation and economic development, including conflict prevention, management and peaceful resolution
- Develop a framework – strategies and prioritized actions – for addressing the problems identified
Finally, Reconciliation for peace-making, unity and security are long-term endeavors; they require long-term commitments. As such, this is not unexpected. Given the deep-seated and long-term nature of some of the problems, they cannot be satisfactorily addressed overnight. It will require sustained and durable efforts; structures development, process refinement, further consultations, joint planning and programming, and resource mobilization.
Accordingly, the government and people of Liberia should and must commit themselves to a long-term undertaking to achieve and sustain real peace, unity, stability and security through Reconciliation. This commitment should and must be maintained and demonstrated, irrespective which administration holds political power.
Sober, Reasonable reflections
However, in the light of the foregoing scope and nature of reconciliation and the nation’s prevailing Liberian political conditions, true National reconciliation is unlikely. Apparently, the basic, critical reasons for the continuing failure or elusive of our desired, national reconciliation, include the following:
Liberia is a country of a few Men & Women, Not a country of the rule of law in a democracy;
The discriminatory, oppressive, suppressive, abusive laws made at the Nation’s founding in 1847 that guided the socio-cultural and political course of events are still valid and in force and effect on the books;
Forces that conceived, planned, organized and launched the illegal civil war are the political rulers of the nation today. Therefore, the abusive forces of the past and present, perpetrators of massive civil rights violations continue to wield major socio-cultural, economic and political power, including Police and military power and authority;
The Three Branches of Government – Legislative, Executive & Judiciary – are dominated and controlled by these abusive forces and by citizens of foreign countries, particularly, the National Legislature, in blatant violation of Article 30 of the Constitution;
Some of the announced candidates for President of Liberia, come 2017, are citizens of foreign countries who own real estates with families living permanently in those foreign countries, also in violation of Article 52 of the Constitution;
Loyalty and Patriotism, the cardinal elements required for nationalism or “love of country” are absolutely absent within and among the Liberian political ruling class or group;
The highly-debated and nationally-critical, political issue of Americo-, Congo- and Ethnic-Tribal- or Indigenous-Liberians with proclivities on the part of Americo- and Congo-Liberians to marginalize, exclude, discriminate and deny Indigenous, Ethnic-Tribal Liberians’ civil-political rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution is alive and well in present day Liberia.
It includes ethnic-tribal, indigenous Liberians who have graduated to a fourth class of Americo-Congo-Country Liberians, the self-preferred political ruling class. This new class dominates the offices of the ministries and agencies of government as the doers for bosses – the Americo- and Congo-Liberians. Things have not changed!!
Public-Private Dishonesty – graft, greed known as corruption – is now roaring in Liberia as Corruption, Inc. with the Republic ranks very high on the international scale.
Public policy theorists (Freeman, 2006 & Schlesinger,Jr. 1969) hold, respectively, that “abusive forces” that perpetrated massive human, civil and political rights violations continue to wild political power and authority in a post-conflict condition or situation where the administration of justice, from Police to prosecutors to judges is week and controlled by politics, plagued by corruption and unemployment; and “the resort to violence is due, mainly, to the failure of reason”.
Given the foregoing national socio-cultural, economic and political conditions written in cement without the likelihood of reasonable short- or mid-term change or reforms, the nationalist-patriotic Concerns and Needs expressed by young Samuel K. Doe, Jr and C. Cecil Dennis, III were and are made and thrown in a cesspool of absolute futility.
References:
Freeman, Mark, Truth Commissions & Procedural Fairness, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2006
Schlesinger, Jr., Arthur M., The Crisis of Confidence, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1969
Baj M. Gbala, Sr., Contributing Writer
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