Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
Monrovia – For post-war, democratic-transitioning Liberia, the year 2019 will either go out with a bang or a whimper. If the eve of the controversial, Monday December 30th Protest is anything to go by, it is fair to say that tension and high drama is in the air in the build-up to what could make or break President George Manneh Weah’s presidency or likely decide the fate and future of talk-show host-turned politician, Henry Pedro Costa.
With hours to go, the debate has not just been centered on whether the protest should hold but how far the tone, tension, tactics and rhetoric could turn the tide in either direction of a nation, bruised by war, corruption, greed, poverty and pain.
“Over the 12 years of Ellen Sirleaf rule, the CDC and others protested consistently without a single permit from the Ministry of Justice. Even under this Weah-led government, supporters of the government have staged several protests in favor of the government without permits. Over the past days, there have been series of pro-government protests without permit. The entire issue about obtaining permit for protest or peaceful assembly was introduced by the PRC Military Junta through a decree. It is never part of our laws and this government should understand that we are no longer under military rule.”
Mr. Mo Ali, Secretary General, Council of Patriots
For thousands of Liberians living on the fringes of the poverty line and lingering in a recurring state of uncertainty, the first two years of the Weah presidency has been a mixed bag of controversy, corruption allegations and dozens of reports linking the administration to bad governance and lack of transparency and accountability.
Diplomatic Community Eyeing Answers from Protest Leader
“I think the COP should be encouraged to go to Court. Any decision by a government functionary in respect of enforcing provisions of the Constitution is reviewable by the Supreme Court. At least the Court will have the opportunity to decide whether the Executive Branch of Government can designate assembly points and/or the schedule for people wanting to assemble.”
Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, Minister of Justice
Those concerns have already prompted a number protest in the first few months leading to Monday’s showdown, a follow-up to the June 7 protest which drew thousands of Liberians to the streets, demanding accountability form the Weah administration.
It is in the backdrop of the various rhetoric in the air that FPA learned that Mr. Costa was summoned to the US embassy early Friday to explain comments made last week in a Facebook live post during which he stated that he would defend himself if attacked, a statement he now says he regrets. “I said that I would defend myself next time if attacked, and that my bodyguards would fend off any future attacks, even if it means killing the attackers. Looking back, I regret those comments,” said Mr. Costa, who explained that the statement was made by a man in fear of his life, still in shock over the attack on two of his bodyguards.
Mr. Costa, who told FrontPageAfrica Saturday that he has been cautioned by some international stakeholders regarding the security situation ahead of the December 30 protest, revealed that he was also made aware of a plan to assassinate him on December 30th. The plan, FPA has learned, involves two to three men will try to get close to the head of the Council of Patriots in order to take him out.
Mr. Costa’s meeting with the US Embassy was followed by a joint statement from six diplomatic missions – the Ambassadors and Chargés d’Affaires a.i. of the United States, the European Union, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom – issued a call for the protest to be allowed to go on peacefully and put Mr. Costa on the record to clarify the use of “inflammatory language” he allegedly made on Tuesday, December 24.
The diplomatic missions averred that in order for the Government of Liberia to take all necessary measures to allow protesters to exercise their constitutional rights of free speech, assembly, and petition, and at the same time to preserve public order and safety, the COP must share with the Ministry of Justice all required details regarding its plans for the proposed demonstration while emphasizing: “Constitutional rights must be exercised responsibly, in conformity with relevant provisions of law, without jeopardizing the peace, security, and stability of Liberia. We understand the Liberian Government has made proposals regarding demonstration venues, and we urge the COP expeditiously to supply logistical information necessary for issuance of appropriate permits.”
MoJ Stands Firm: ‘No Protest Til January 2020’
“Constitutional rights must be exercised responsibly, in conformity with relevant provisions of law, without jeopardizing the peace, security, and stability of Liberia. We understand the Liberian Government has made proposals regarding demonstration venues, and we urge the COP expeditiously to supply logistical information necessary for issuance of appropriate permits.”
Diplomatic Missions State
Much of the fear surrounding the December 30th protest has been the declaration from rival protest groups looking to stage counter protests on the same day. The Ministry of Justice allayed those fears Saturday by announcing that it has decided to defer decisions on all requests received for permits and security protection to stage protest, counter-protest, demonstrations and assemblies until January 30, 2020. The MOJ noted that there will be no peaceful assembly, protest, counter-protest and demonstration until a decision is made on January 30, 2020.
Asked Saturday if this meant that the government has not given the COP a license to protest, Minister Dean responded in the affirmative.
The MoJ says the exercise of the right to assemble in an orderly manner must not interfere or conflict with the of the citizenry to public security and public order as stipulated in 13 (a) of the Constitution of Liberia.
The Ministry of Justice further said that public security and public order require that during the exercise of the right to assemble in an orderly manner, no threats is poised to the peace and security of citizens; that respect for life and property is maintained; that there is no disruption; and there is no impediment to free movement of other citizens.
Showdown Looms, Supreme Court Option Rejected
The MoJ’s statement could pave the way for an ultimate showdown between government forces and protesters on Monday as the COP has vowed to go on.
Mr. Mo Ali, Secretary General of the COP told FrontPageAfrica Friday that the COP has done everything to listen to mediators but it appears no in roads are being reached. “We told them we are listening; we listened to their press conference but we are holding our grounds. If they will ask the police to shoot us, let them come and shoot us, but we cannot go into this without some concessions on the part of the government. So, we are preparing for the protest on Monday, nothing has changed. That’s the official position of the COP.”
The MoJ’s statement also suggest that the Weah administration has decided to go against suggestions from the diplomatic community which has called on the COP to share with the Ministry of Justice all required details regarding its plans for the proposed demonstration while emphasizing the right to protest.
Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean told FPA late Saturday that it is too late to reorganize details and so the protest is off. “We offered them the ATS and they refused. Tomorrow is too late to receive their plan and reorganize security,” Dean said Saturday.
Minister Dean, contacted by FPA Saturday for clarity said: “I think the COP should be encouraged to go to Court. Any decision by a government functionary in respect of enforcing provisions of the Constitution is reviewable by the Supreme Court. At least the Court will have the opportunity to decide whether the Executive Branch of Government can designate assembly points and/or the schedule for people wanting to assemble.”
Defiant COP: ‘We Will Gather Monday’
COP’s Ali insists, the high court route is a no go. “We are not going to court; we will gather on Monday.”
The looming stalemate comes after a visiting delegation from ECOWAS Commission and the United Nations Office in West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) failed to bring the government and protesters to an agreement.
The delegation had urged the Weah-led government and the Council of Patriots, organizers of the December 30 protest, to work toward calling off the imminent protest in the general interest of Liberia and the sub-region, the COP says its position has not changed.
The COP has insisted that it did everything, including urging the President to address the nation and the issues on the table, in a bid to avoid the protest but have been turned off by President Weah who has refused to heed to their demands.
The COP, according to sources privy to the meeting with the UNOWAS delegation, made some concessions and dropped its insistence on the resignation of Finance and Economic Planning Minister Samuel Tweah and Minister of State Nathaniel McGill. The COP also dropped the most Weah-Step-Down label in favor of an organized assembly.
Instead, the COP, in the meeting with the UN and ECOWAS proposed in the presence of the government’s delegation led by Cllr. Frank Musah Dean that they would consider calling off the protest if the following actions occurred:
The Weah administration should publish the LACC’s investigative report on the US$25 MILLION and prosecute those that are culpable for squandering that amount; Cancel the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) or commission a comprehensive review into the impact it is having on the economy. On this count, the UN promised to ask the World Bank to conduct the study; On Press Freedom – reopen Roots FM and re-issue Punch FM’s license. Also, the government should stop discrimination against media institutions that do not sing praises their; Women’s Rights – commit to establishing a Fast Track Court to try rape and other gender-based violence cases. On this count, the UN also pledged to source funding for the establishment of the court and the president should make a statement of commitment to the nation on these counts before Monday, December 30, 2019.
Following the meeting, the delegation from the UN and ECOWAS agreed and submitted all the above counts to the government of Liberia through President Weah himself. But the President, according to diplomatic sources, rejected all the accounts above except fourth.
FPA has learned that President Weah has refused to concede to the demands of the protesters, reportedly telling mediators that whatever he has to say to the nation would be said when he delivers his annual message in January.
Ironically, amid the controversy regarding protests and gatherings, Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee, who was the subject of serious allegations last week from US Congressman Chris Smith(Republican, NJ), was greeted to drums and chants as he addressed supporters in Monrovia Saturday.
In a scathing indictment of Liberia under President George expressed concerns in a statement this week, that the political situation in Liberia was deteriorating and worsening.
The statement from Congressman Smith, who was instrumental in pressuring Nigeria to turn over former Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes trial in Sierra Leone, has already drawn a response from the Weah administration who have said the Congressman’s concerns does not reflect what is happening in Liberia today.
From EJS to Now: A Lingering Protest Irony
Mr. Koijee later came out with his own response, declaring that he has never at any point in his life participated in acts of violence. “While I have played many roles in the Congress for Democratic Change, I have never held any called “Head of Security Forces” and in this party that I know very well, such position does not exist. I am also bewildered that you cite as “credible” statements from a little known “International Justice Group” which was formed just in 2017 by Liberians, some of whom live in the US and on that basis use your country in their address.”
On Saturday, Mr. Koijee, in a rather defiant mode, said the Weah-led government would not give anyone a shortcut to the presidency. “We are not prepared to shortcut anyone into accidental history. If you want to go there, it must be earned, you must earn your stripes, you must be able to sort your way through. For twelve years, we disagreed with madam Sirleaf here, a right I will protect until I die, a right to disagree. I will not infringe on any Liberian right to disagree because I know what it means – you must have the right to disagree, you must have the right to agree. We will never, ever infringe on that right. At the same time, you must be respecter of the rights of other people.”
Mr. Koijee went on to say the Liberian people gave President Weah a mandate for twelve years before correcting himself that Mr. Weah was elected for six years. “You may not like him but nothing gives you the right to disrespect all the other Liberians. Those Liberians that are in seventeen counties, those that defied the sun, the rain and voted for Ambassador Weah. They gave him a six-year mandate.”
Mr. Koijee’s rants came hours after supporters believed to be from the government stormed constituency of COP stalwarts Yekeh Korlubah in District No. 10. A day earlier, officers of the Liberian National Police took to the streets parading their readiness for protesters Monday.
The noise over whether or not the COP should protest Monday is reminiscent of an age-old debate that the current administration knows quite well and one, Mr. Ali pointed out to FrontPageAfrica Saturday in justifying why it is necessary for the COP to take to the streets Monday against the late tactics from the government, so close to the protest date.
Said Ali: “Over the 12 years of Ellen Sirleaf rule, the CDC and others protested consistently without a single permit from the Ministry of Justice. Even under this Weah-led government, supporters of the government have staged several protests in favor of the government without permits. Over the past days, there have been series of pro-government protests without permit. The entire issue about obtaining permit for protest or peaceful assembly was introduced by the PRC Military Junta through a decree. It is never part of our laws and this government should understand that we are no longer under military rule.”