MONROVIA – The dialogue mediated by the Inter-Religious Council between the government and the Council of Patriots could not set a common ground for the calling off of the December 30 protest against the George Weah-led administration’s ‘bad governance’.
The meeting, held on the eve of Christmas, was held in the press of the ECOWAS Ambassador, UN Resident Coordinator, Liberia’s Peace Ambassador, The head of the National Traditional Council of Liberia and a host of other high-profile dignitaries.
The Ministers of Justice, Labor, Internal Affairs and Commerce represented the government.
Briefing FrontPageAfrica on the outcome of the meeting, Mr. Mo Ali, a ranking member of the Council of Patriots (COP) appreciated the Inter-Religious Council for mediating the meeting.
According to him, the COP emphasized that the December 30 protest was necessitated by the adamant posture of the government to implement the recommendations presented in the June 7 protest petition. He said, the petition was presented to the Government on June 11.
The COP was asked by the mediating body and the international community present to resubmit the June 7 petition to the government. This was after the government representatives claimed they had not received any petition from the COP.
Ali told FrontPageAfrica that the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, insisted that the Ministry could not give permit to any group who are demanding the President to step down.
However, Ali said the COP’s letter to the Ministry seeking permit to protest did not state it’s going to be a ‘Weah Step Down Protest’.
“This time around when we come out we will remain on the street until the government can start implementing the demands of June 7,” he said.
Ali added: “Our communication to the Ministry of Justice did not state it is a Weah step down campaign. But, there is nothing treasonable with anyone asking the President to step down. It only becomes treasonable when one says ‘I’ll bring the government down’.”
However, according to Ali, the UN Resident Coordinator stated during the meeting that the right to assemble, the right to expression and the right to petition the government are rights that should not be infringed upon.
The COP official further indicated that the UN Envoy was particular about restoring trust and confidence in the government and that the international community has spent billions in the peace-building process of Liberia and is therefore has keen interest in the democratic process in the country.
The UN Envoy, according to Ali, cautioned that whoever that would be cause for people to be killed or brutalized only because they were exercising their rights would be held personally responsible by the international community.
The head of the Traditional Council of Liberia, Chief Zanzan Karwor advised to the government at all times be ready and willing to listen to the people who voted them into power while at the same time urging the COP to be willing to dialogue.
He disclosed that the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel along with the Head of ECOWAS Regional Security would both arrive in Liberia today for further dialogue with the COP and other stakeholders.