Opinion
Is Liberia Now A Cartel Of Lawless Officials?
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 27 February 2013 11:48
- Written by Vandalark R. Patricks, Civil Rights Activist
It has been repeatedly said by some of our eminent people in Liberia that the youths were the ones that destroyed Liberia during its dark days from 1990-2003. There has always been a debate on this matter because of its counter accusations.
The youths are saying that our so-called educated leaders and parents were the ones that brought the war in Liberia and indoctrinated the youths with drugs and violence to physically execute their wrong policies which led to the destruction of lives and properties.
Be it as it may, but the recent action exhibited by some eminent women of Liberia who are believed to be our leaders and mothers by obstructing justice clearly suggests that the youths can no longer be blamed for the war in Liberia. Statistics have shown in recent time that there is a significant number of youths currently imprisoned at the Monrovia Central Prison and in other cells around the country and there has been no report of obstruction of justice by any group or groups of Liberian youths in demand of their release for their wrongful detention.
But the obstruction of justice by some of the women of Liberia thus preventing the incarceration of Montserrado County Superintendent and a former defeated senatorial candidate, Hon. Grace Kpan is an alleged act of gansterism and a hijacking of justice in present day Liberia where Liberians are trying to forget about the past. Let us understand that the presidency of Liberia is not for 'jokers' and we want our leaders to be sincere in executing their policies sincerely and move Liberia forward. I am aware that the President of Liberia, Madam Sirleaf has suspended Madam Mary Broh and Superintendent Kpan for time indefinite and the House of Representatives also want the suspended officials in jail for 30 days on contempt charges. While I will highly appreciate President Sirleaf for her action against her officials for violating the Constitution of Liberia and for not performing to her (President Sirleaf) expectation, I also believe that Madam Sirleaf is very much 'selective' when it comes to disciplining her officials.
I think the President should first fire her son, Mr. Fumbah Sirleaf, Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and the current Police Director, Col. Chris Massaquoi for grossly violating the rights of a peaceful Liberian citizen. Let Madam Sirleaf fire the NSA and LNP bosses for their brutal and inhume actions against a peaceful Liberian citizen (Vandalark R. Patricks) who on January 29, 2013 had decided to exercise his constitutional right by staging a peaceful protest which is guaranteed under our law but was kidnapped.
As you may be aware by now, the author of this article was recently kidnapped by plain clothes security men from the National Security Agency (NSA) and four officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) upon the orders of the son of the President, Mr. Fumbah Sirleaf and the current Police Director, Col. Chris Massaquoi simply because this author had planned to stage a peaceful civil disobedience action in front of the High Level Panel (HLP) guests at the Roberts International Airport and at the Royal Hotel respectively where the conference was recently held.
Do not forget, the civil disobedience action against the government was mainly intended to draw the attention of the High Level Panel on the sufferings of the Liberian people and to also appeal to them (HLP guests) to consider Liberia in their discussions when it comes to the reduction of poverty in Africa. Moreover, a very good image of Liberia has always been presented to the outside world by President Sirleaf but in actuality, things are not as they are being presented to the outside world. In fact, prior to this planned civil disobedience action which the author of this article wanted to carry on , the President of Liberia had earlier gone on radio calling on Liberians who may want to demonstrate to go ahead but in a peaceful manner. This, according to the president, would have shown to the world that Liberia is a democratic country.
Unfortunately, this did not happen but only for the son of the President, Fumbah Sirleaf and the Police Director, Col. Chris Massaquoi to have this author kidnapped thus silencing me from expressing my opinion and to carry on a peaceful civil disobedience action against the government which is guaranteed under our law.
Regrettably, after kidnapping this author on January 28, 2013 on the Old Road, Mr. Fumbah Sirleaf and Col. Chris Massaquoi deliberately denied ever having this author in their custody which suggests that the dark days of the Doe and Taylor regimes are back in Liberia. I also see this action on the part of these two officials of Government as unlawful and by now they should have been expelled from this administration that has boasted so much about having freedom of speech. If the President is sincere in her judgment when it comes to discipline in her government, then let her immediately expel or sack the LNP boss and her son, Mr. Fumbah Sirleaf for constitutional violation. I think the action by the son of the President is graver than that of Madam Broh and Madam Kpan. This is how criminal empires are normally run and if we continue to condone the lawless behaviors of some of our officials of government, we will be heading to the dark days of evil regimes which we really don't want at this time.
The son of the President who is also the Director General of the National Security Agency, Mr. Fumbah Sirleaf and the Police Director, Col. Chris Massaquoi after kidnapping this author on January 28, 2012 kept him in prison for three days (January 28-30, 2013) beyond the 48 hours statutory periods in the hands of mosquitoes and crowing insects in the dingy cells at the NSA and LNP Headquarters where he was made to lie down on a bare floor.
This was also a gross violation of this author's constitutional right as a Liberian citizen and President Sirleaf is yet to expel her son for such a criminal act. Any attempt by the President of Liberia to shield her son, Fumbah Sirleaf from being fired or suspended from her government for his inhume actions against this author, then it means that Liberia is now a criminal empire or a cartel of lawless officials. Let it be clear that the Constitution of Liberia does not protect the positions in our government but the individuals who are citizens of this country.
It is almost two weeks now since the prosecution team dropped all the charges (terroristic threat, criminal conspiracy and impersonating as an official of government) against the author of this article which also led Judge Nelson Chinneh to declare him a free man but the President of Liberia is yet to condemn her son, Fumbah Sirleaf and the Police Director, Col. Chris Massaquoi for their barbaric acts and for taking the law in their own hands. Why should President Sirleaf at this time move with Madam Broh, a suspended official and fugitive? The President of Liberia moving with someone who is considered a fugitive is a crime and this should not be allowed in our country. Harboring a fugitive by Madam Sirleaf is totally wrong and I think she must desist from such behavior as a mother of the country.
Finally, if Madam Sirleaf is really serious about the disciplinary action taken against her two suspended officials, then let her ensure that they are turned over for incarceration. More besides, let the President also announce an Acting City Mayor and an Acting Superintendent of Montserrado County. It is a challenge to the President and by doing that; Liberians will know that she is serious. The Liberian people work must go on with or without Madam Broh. We need an Acting City Mayor and an Acting Superintendent of Montserrado County Madam President.
We also want you to immediately expel or suspend your son, Fumbah Sirleaf for hijacking the same rule of law for which Madam Broh is being penalized today. Your son action was more criminal in nature than that of Madam Broh. One who claims equity must come with clean hands!






