Editorials

Who Is A Liberian?

The study of Liberian history is becoming imperative in the school curricula these days. With all due respect to the current historians and to those who draw up the curricula, students continue to show lack of knowledge regarding the all-embracing question, “who is a Liberian?” And unless and until this question is convincingly answered with prejudice to none, it will be a root for friction in this country. And what has become potentially dangerous is that politicians are beginning to use the nationality song to gain whatever advantage it is to them.
We feel strongly about this because there are insinuations being flung at certain elements in the society that they are not Liberians. Who has defined a Liberian? How is he or she to be defined? What are the qualifications attached to being a Liberian? In writing elementary history, two words clearly defined a Liberian being black and escaping suppression. The people who founded this country wanted to be free to do their own thing; they wanted to live in peace and they fought to achieve their objectives. In pursuance to their objective, they sought the aid of the tribal elements that they met here and together partnered their goal.

Looking For a Suitable Burial Ground

Tomorrow, the second Wednesday of March, is set aside as Decoration Day. It is a day selected for the living throughout the nation to remember all loved ones, kin and patriots who have gone before. As is traditionally befitting, families visit graveyards, clean the graves of their relatives and friends gone before. Tombstones and graves are white-washed and polished and in some cases libations are poured and prayers are said.
This Wednesday in the nation's capital, the ritual will be rehearsed as it is done since the founding of this nation. However, the affair has turned sour and disgusting because of the manner we now treat so sacred a place as our national cemetery in the nation's capital. In order to prevent trespassing and desecration by the living, the Government was compelled to enclose Palm Grove within high walls mounted with razor wires. What a shame! Yet, to the chagrin of the community, gates are broken and there are those who enter the cemetery to rob graves or to join the dead at night for rest.

Justice for Lofa Victims: Police Must Rebrand

Various local groups (religious, traditional, legislative, youth, civil society and police) have reportedly embarked on separate investigations into the causes and effects of one bloody incident: last week’s ethnic unrest that polarized Lofa County and nearly destabilized that northern region.

Anger with UNMIL in Lofa

Reports that Ellen Løj, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG), was visibly angry on Wednesday when questioned about the partiality of a contingent of UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia) in last Friday’s ethnic unrest in Lofa County at a time when peacekeepers should maintain neutral role in the Liberian crisis, have created great consternation amongst many people.

A High Price We Must Pay

For many years in this country the practice has been to buy a newspaper in order to keep it silent from breaking a bad story against public figures, business entities and tycoons. Some powerful politicians offered threats and kept those threats hanging over the heads of editors and journalists to keep their mouths shut. Others were in the constant habit of shoving brown envelops into the hands of journalists when they appear for interviews. These and other unsavory practices like ‘Cadeaux’ offerings, kept the Liberian press lame and meek, with no vim and spunk to challenge those who don the clothing of sheep.

Being Tired of Receiving Handouts

MONROVIA – The other day, World Food Program (WFP) was asked out of a country by the government it was assisting because the government felt that giving away free food to the population was undermining the agricultural program of the country.

Embracing the Judicial Conference

A week-long conference aimed at improving Liberia’s judicial system will begin in Monrovia March 8, 2010.

Violence Must Be A Thing of the Past

The Government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Lofa County’s provisional city, Voinjama, following a bloody confusion that led to the death of several people and destruction of property on Friday. Details of the circumstances surrounding the latest violence are scanty, but unofficial accounts suggest that it was triggered by the mysterious disappearance of a 14-year-old female student, whose body was reportedly discovered at a creek and subsequently deposited near a mosque that was partially damaged, prompting an act of retribution that left some churches and a school burnt.

Missing the Point

The Speaker of the House of Representatives has missed the point. That body acted illegally and unconstitutionally in locking up officials of the Executive Branch. The very Article of the Constitution upon which he relies condemns his action.

Are We Moving Towards Legislative Dictatorship?

A power struggle over who should be in control of the County Development Fund has developed into a major and grave constitutional issue. Two county Superintendents and the Development Superintendents of other counties slept in the Monrovia Central Prison on South Beach on Tuesday night by order of members of the House of Representatives.

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