| By Jonathan Salzinger (April 14th 2005)
"...I, like many Liberians, disagree with many of Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf’s political policies, it is not for this reason that I dispute her leadership; it is rather the undemocratic principal of one party control that I disagree with (although from looking back at Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf’s past support of brutal dictator Charles Taylor, she is no stranger to one party control)....." |
Unification is undoubtedly the most important aspect to the future prosperity of Liberia and its people. A conference involving a large cross-section of the Liberian Diaspora is indeed an integral part of the successful future of Liberia, however when a confab was to be set up earlier this year, different political factions were unable to come together to set up a truly unified conference. Two conferences split off, and starting on April 14 th, the conference know as the All-Liberian National Conference (ALNC), will commence. Albeit an effort to unite Liberians, all that it really will serve to do is advance the political causes of Liberian Presidential Candidate Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf; it is for this reason that the conference should be called The All-Ellen National Conference.
The ALNC has announced its purpose as to unite all Liberians and to ensure equal participation in the event, however it seems that that is hardly what will happen. The steering committee has announced that Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will play the main role at the conference, whereas representatives from other political and tribal faction will play other smaller, less defined roles. Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf, widely believed to be a political opportunist, has run to be president of Liberia at every chance which she has gotten, and from her past history, Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf will surely use the conference as an excuse to tell all of the people at the conference her own political views – contrary to the purpose of the confab.
Although I, like many Liberians, disagree with many of Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf’s political policies, it is not for this reason that I dispute her leadership; it is rather the undemocratic principal of one party control that I disagree with (although from looking back at Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf’s past support of brutal dictator Charles Taylor, she is no stranger to one party control).
I urge all Liberians to protest to the ALNC steering committee and tell them that we want a fair, just, and democratic conference in which all can be heard.
About the author:
Jonathan Salzinger is the Editor-in-Chief of TheLiberianTimes.com and can be contacted at editor@theliberiantimes.com or jsalzinger@gmail.com . |
