MONROVIA – The Political Leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Dr. Daniel E. Cassell has described the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led-administration of President George Manneh Weah as an intolerant and repressive form of government that places more focus on intimidating and going after political opponents, instead of concentrating finding solutions to the mountainous problems and challenges confronting the nation and its people.
The PLP was certificated by the National Elections Commission (NEC) on December 21, 2021.
Dr. Cassell stated that despite the current horrible, appalling, disgusting and shameful state of governance in Liberia, the Weah led-government has chosen to go after him and his political institution as evidenced by its resistance to allow his helicopter to land in the country.
He made these comments at a thanksgiving service held at the historic Benson Street Mosque in Monrovia on Friday, October 29.
He maintained that though corruption is being institutionalized and seen as a norm in the governing system of the country, government continues to be repressive on a regular basis.
“In the pinch and despair of all of these, the Weah government has begun to unravel its repressive tendency and me being the latest victim—with specific reference to my helicopter that has been unlawfully denied a landing permit into Liberia”.
“It beats my imagination that a government will deny a citizen the right to bring into his country an aircraft that has met all requirements in keeping with aviation standards, laws, and regulations. Why-Because Dr. Daniel E. Cassell opposes George Weah politically and fundamentally”.
Infringing rights
For sometimes now, the PLP and the government, through the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) have been in rigmarole, making claims and counter claims over a Bell 430 helicopter beeloing to Dr. Cassell.
The party claims that its Political Leader and Vision Bearer. Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, through his company, Kwenyan and Associates, met all legal requirements and was given a permit by the LCAA for the helicopter to land in the country, but said permit was surreptitiously revoked for unknown reasons barely a day after the it attempted landing in the country.
The party took the matter to the Supreme Court of Liberia claiming that the constitutional rights of its Political Leader are being violated.
The PLP made specific reference to Articles 11, 17 and 22 of the 1986 Liberian constitution.
Article 11(a) of the Liberian constitution states that: “all persons are born equally free and independent and have certain natural, inherent and inalienable rights, among which are the right of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of pursuing and maintaining and security of the person and of acquiring, possessing and protecting property, subject to such qualifications as provided for in this Constitution”.
Article 17 (a) notes that “all persons, at all times, in an orderly and peaceable manner, shall have the right to assemble and consult upon the common good to instruct their representatives, to petition the government or other functionaries for the redress of grievances and to associate fully with others or refuse to associate in political parties, trade unions and other organizations.”
Article 22 (a) states that: “Every person shall have the right to own property alone as well as in association with others; provided that only Liberian citizens shall have the right to own real property within the Republic”.
But the government has since denied the claims, citing that the issuance of a permit for an over flight and landing right of the helicopter is being reviewed.
“LCAA notes that at no time did Kwenyan & Associates Group of Company request for landing permit to the LCAA for which, they filed a writ of Prohibition. The Group application for an Air Service License is still being reviewed by the LCAA in keeping with the Liberia Civil Aviation and relevant international Regulations and is pending the fulfillment of all the requirements”, a release issued by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) stated.
Dr. Cassell emphasized that hisdecision taken to hold different political views from those of the incumbent President and his followers should be no basis for infringing on his fundamental rights.
He maintained that the high level of intolerance being exhibited by the Weah led-administration should not be tolerated by Liberians, including members of both the Muslim and Christian communities.
“This is sheer intolerance and a tendency of dictatorship that must be resisted by all including the Mosque and Church of Liberia. What this government is doing to me and others is just how dictatorship crept into and saddled Liberia and we all know what happened to Liberia in 1989. We all know the consequences of repressing and subjugating others. Such abrasive and hawkish posture on the part of this government must not be permitted”.
Looting and plundering
He noted that in the wake of reports of looting and plundering at various ministries and state enterprises on a daily basis, President Weah has “sadly proven not to have the political will to act accordingly as he has been accused of corruption”.
He observed that the cost of living remains extremely hard, while bulk of the citizenry have no jobs to earn income.
No foreign direct investment
Dr. Cassell added that the availability of foreign direct investment in Liberia seems almost impossible as the current regime doesn’t have the “wherewithal to mobilize investments” into the country.
“It also doesn’t have the credibility and integrity to attract multi-international corporations. Liberia is certainly in a morass wailing for redemption”.
Force for good
Dr. Cassell further indicated that despite the numerous challenges and
absurd harassment of him and his political party by the government, the PLP remains a “political force for good”.
“We are here to stay and work with the masses of our people in the search for a new Liberia that gives genuine hope to all its people, not a few of its people. A new Liberia that puts socioeconomic dignity on the lives of our people -A new Liberia where good governance is the order of governance and stealing of public resources is no longer permitted in government-A new Liberia that promotes religious tolerance and promotes diversity and protects minorities-A new Liberia where the Church and the Mosque will once again be the MORAL CONSCIENCE of the nation”.
He added that the PLP also envisage a Liberia that chooses faith over fear, peace and tranquility over disunity, malice, and instability and a one that chooses love over hate and optimism over pessimism.
Dr. Cassell, however, commended the Head Imam and officiating cleric of the Benson Street Mosque for the holding of the Thanksgiving Service in his honor.
He emphasized that Liberian clergymen, including Bishops, Pastors, prophetesses, and Imams should rise up and speak against bad governance, corruption, intimidation, secret killings, repressiveness and other anti-elements of democracy that are visible in Liberia today.
He used the occasion to call on Liberians, despite the lingering difficulties and devastating times, painfully dogging and plaguing the nation, to always seek the face and direction of Allah, the Most High.