Monrovia – Opposition political party Liberia National Union (LINU) has described the impending June 7 protest as “empty, and a political charade” that has no substance to encourage Liberians to take the streets.
Report by Edwin G. Geonoway, Jr., [email protected]
Addressing a team of reporters at his LINU headquarters in Monrovia, the party’s leader Nathaniel Blama said organizers of the protest have not given any “concrete reason” for the protest.
The planners, dubbed the Council of Patriots, has set June 7 for a peaceful protest under the theme “Save the State.”
Organizers of the protest have frowned on President George Weah’s “inability” to steer the affairs of the state and his continued violation of the Constitution.
But the Chairman of LINU disagreed with organizers, saying, “We are yet to hear the reasons for which the protest is being organized, There has been nobody stating that the reason for this protest is based on unfair labor practice or increase tariff on goods and services in the country for example which could be a reason for a good protest.”
Blama is now the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“We do not see it as part of the peacebuilding process of our country. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) peacekeeping mission ended in Liberia last year, Liberia is in charge of its own securities, to plan demonstrations in the streets could turn chaotic and right now the military and the police strengths are very low,” the Chairman told reporters at a news conference.
He says those calling for the protest have optional channels to approach the government through dialogue, void of protest and their views could be heard louder and respected rather than taking the streets which at times, could end up in the destruction of properties and lives.
Mr. Blama, however, acknowledged economic constraints many Liberians are faced with daily but cautioned that taking the streets cannot resolve the economic challenges.
He said difficulties faced by Liberians were not created by the George Manneh Weah administration, instead, the former administration of ex-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The EPA boss argues that every Liberian should focus on how investment can come to Liberia to provide employment, saying, the government is creating an enabling environment for all, but a protest by some Liberians threatening to take the streets would scare investors away.
He reminded Liberians about the infamous 1979 rice riot, explaining that in early April 1979, the then Minister of Agriculture, Florence Chenoweth, proposed an increase in the subsidized price of rice from $22 per 100-pound bag to $26.
Said pronouncement was greeted by widespread looting of retail stores and rice warehouses, damaging private property estimated to have exceeded $40 million and loss of over 300 lives.
At the same time, Chairman Blama has frowned at what he called the huge wave of disrespect and insults by citizens towards public officials including President George Weah.
He also called on public officials to be careful as to what they utter to people to avoid confusion.
“In recent times we have seen a huge wave of disrespect for public officials including the President some members of political parties and political groupings, while it is your right to address national issues, but I think we should be civilized as we address national issues, we also want to call on officials of government to prevent negative utterance to their citizens to avoid tension,” he noted.