Monrovia-In the wake of his continuous silence and lack of information on his whereabouts since the Liberian Government declared Mr. Simeon Freeman, the political leader of the Movement For Progressive Change, MPC, free and no longer a wanted man, the opposition party has broken silence.
The MPC told a news conference Wednesday it welcomes the government’s recent decision to drop charges against Mr. Freeman but with exceptions.
But the party said it stands by its political leader’s quest for government to provide details on the death of former LPRC Managing Director Harry Greaves, little Shaki Kamara and Victoria Zayzay.
The MPC Chairman John Barlone at a news conference said the Party is troubled about recent Police tendencies of ransacking the homes of those it considers persons of interest; noting that such action demonstrates the lack of confidence in the judiciary.
The MPC Chairman said it is also demanding that the Liberia National Police provide detailed information on the investigation of senior Police officers accused of facilitating armed robbery.
Barlone said while the Party welcomes the move to drop the charges, it is still ready for any legal battle if government deems it prudent.
The MPC has also expressed reservation on the composition of the presidential task force though it recognizes the gains being made to prosecute alleged corrupt officials of government.
He said the MPC is very concerned about the approach utilized by the Task Force, saying the Global Witness report; that led to the formation of the special Task Force, has made several revelations.
“The Task Force decided to invite all accused to a hearing. Accused who have availed themselves to the Task Force are being treated with a level of dignity not accorded those who, with legal reliance, refused to present themselves to the force,” he noted.
The constitution of Liberia provides that no person working for government can receive additional compensation or benefits other than the agreed remuneration paid by
government for the services rendered. Article 90 (b) states “no person holding office shall demand and receive any other perquisites, emoluments or benefits, directly or indirectly, on account of any duty required by government”.
The MPC said people in the employ of government, especially in key decision making positions, used their leverage for personal gains by encouraging and accepting extra compensation to award a mineral wealth of the people of Liberia.
It has been two weeks since few persons, including Sable Mining, were indicted while others are still pending. It is hope of the MPC that all persons listed in the Global Witness Reports be indicted soon and with the same degree of fanfare as the others.
The MPC Chairman noted that his party shall highly appreciates an explanation from the Task Force for indicting a company that allegedly revealed the value of monies paid, and the purposes of the payment.
“The company, we believe will be a key catalyst in identifying – big boy one and two. By indicting the company, we are uneasy that the ultimate goal is not justice but seeking to silence the company such that the true identities of – big boy one and two – remain hidden,” he stated.
He said while the initial courage and action of the Task Force are commendable, the MPC encourages the Task Force to embrace more transparent investigative approaches and treat all accused with similar treatment as has been the case with the other indictees, “We also strongly believe the Task Force must be expanded to include custodians of the public trust,” he stressed.
He noted that the Task Force recent moves are importantly disappointing, saying It is reliably learnt from the News Media that Sable Mining has made a position regarding the claims advanced by Global Witness.
“We believe the approach embraced by the Task Force enabled the Sable response, currently, teams of Task Force members are travelling, abusing resources that could be used for Education, Health and badly needed economic revitalization. In spite of the fanfare associated with the initial acts of persecution, the force has lost direction and is vehicle for witch hunt.
He continued: “One thing is clear; the composition of the Task Force has shown; there are always belly driven men and women who will permit them to be used and abused by lawless leaders in fulfillment of specific personal ends; though the critical goals of economic revitalization and equitable wealth distribution are only distant dreams.
Freeman has been out of Liberia since government declared him no more wanted and that he is now free to come back home and continue his business.
Recently the Liberian Government through the Liberia National Police, LNP, in consultation with the Ministry of Justice dropped all charges against Freeman, and advised him to return to the country as a free citizen.
Mr. Freeman months ago, escaped from the country when the LNP declared him wanted for utterances he allegedly made against the government regarding the mysterious death of former Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) Managing Director, Harry Greaves.
The MPC leader was declared wanted after he accused the Liberian government of having blacklisted a number of politicians and critics of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for elimination, raising doubts about Greaves’ alleged drowning.
Days after he mysteriously escaped the country after his residence was besieged by armed police officers who were ordered to arrest him, Freeman denied ever accusing the government of blacklisting or targeting individuals, clarifying however that he only quoted was had already been broadcasted and published.
“We are public figures and we read things in the public space. When you turn on a radio station in the morning, you hear tons of what callers say; when you read social media, you see tons of what people say; when you read newspapers, in fact in one of the newspapers, there was a blacklist, that people should be careful, “he said
Freeman told the Voice of America (VOA) at the time that public figure like him had an obligation to speak about the circumstances under which public figure like the late Harry Greaves died, in line with his obligation to have elevated the conversation by bringing the public’s concerns to the attention of policy makers.
He further clarified by saying, “The greatest threat to national security is not my presence or things that I have said. The greatest threat to national security is the underfunding of the police that has made it a vehicle to be exploited by criminals and criminal elements. When people go to bed and have no security, that’s the greatest threat. So it’s the action of policy makers that’s causing the threat, and not those who talk about it” .
Edwin G. Genoway, Jr(231886458910)[email protected]