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Mulbah Morlu Goes Underground |
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Written by Thomas Kai Toteh
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Monday, 13 April 2009 |
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As President Sirleaf runs away amid a nation-Wide protest
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a one-time human rights and political
activist (Iron lady) against late Doe and detained Taylor has run away
to avoid the upcoming nation-wide protest.
The three weeks vacation in one of the most expensive resorts in America is a perfect timing to avoid the upcoming nation-wide protest and demonstration organized by the “War Crimes Court Group” headed by Mulbah K. Mulbah, Jr. The nation-wide protest is April 24, 2009-two weeks from now. President Sirleaf’s three-week vacation will be over after the protest, according to the calendar.
In the wake of President Sirleaf’s escape, leader for the establishment of a war crimes court and the prosecution of alleged war crimes perpetrators, Mulbah K. Morlu has gone underground about a month ago now. The last time Morlu appeared in the media was on Saturday; March 21, 2009 when he issued the statement, “Group Declares No-Confidence in Sirleaf.”
In that statement, the group under the leadership of Mr. Morlu, declares in closing statement, “we hereby announce the holding of a peaceful nation-wide demonstration for the resignation of Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and all suspected war criminals holding public offices in the government of the Republic of Liberia. This Demonstration will be held on 24 April 2009 beginning at 10 AM in all major cities of Liberia, including Monrovia. Peaceful and law-abiding Liberians, in an orderly and peaceful manner, shall converge before the Monrovia City Hall and march to the Foreign Ministry, demanding the resignation of the Liberian leader. Corresponding events will also take place in Voinjama, Kakata, Buchana, Zwedru, Gbarnga and other major political cities.
Prior to the “ No-Confidence in Sirleaf” declaration on Saturday, March 21, 2009, Mulbah K. Morlu was charged with criminal conspiracy along with 32 others, many said to be ex-soldiers.
According to sources close to Morlu in Monrovia, the advocate has gone underground to escape assignation, ordered by President Sirleaf and to be executed by Justice Minister Philip Banks. Emails and telephone calls to locate and talk to Morlu were unsuccessful during the past weeks.
Other sources believe he might have decided to avoid the media as he embarks on the nation-wide protest campaign. Meanwhile, other sources fear President Sirleaf might have issued his secret detention or assignation to avoid the implementation of his planned nation-wide protest.
One diplomatic source said no US president has ever stayed more than a week away from his country.
After several phone calls and email contacts with Morlu without a response, media, analysts as watchdogs, are worried about the advocate’s whereabouts.
In a recent interview with African panorama, Morlu said, "There is a calculated plot to have me and others assassinated whom they perceive as being critically opposed to the activities of this government which we believe is illegitimate and which we believe could ruin our democracy."
Morlu said signs of the plot to kill him were everywhere in Monrovia; and that besides these ominous signs friends in the security apparatus had confided in him (five different times!) about the alleged plot. Morlu categorically mentioned Mr. Milton Teahjay, a UPP stalwart who he claimed told him that Justice Minister Philip Banks had given special instructions to the security people to "shoot and kill" him. Morlu also claimed to have received some intelligence from both a CDC mole within the National Security Agency (NSA) and a former classmate who is now a police colonel.
African panorama could not substantiate Mr. Morlu’s claims; for neither Mr. Teahjay nor Minister Banks was accessible. These claims may be an exaggeration, but Mr. Morlu’s security concerns are apparently genuine: "I'm constrained to sleep in several different places in an attempt to evade surveillance. My car is being followed throughout."
Meanwhile, independent political advisers are asking President Sirleaf to go home to attend to national problems, rather than spending three weeks in America. Adding, “It only takes telephone calls to America.” President Sirleaf, according to analysts, is repeating after late Liberian presidents who spent millions of dollars on vacation in Europe and America at the expense of poor Liberians.
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