Liberia: I dare to Reflect

 

First posted November 2, 2011

Democracy can not only be about elections. I agree with the view that it is fundamentally about civil society and citizen’s participation in making the constitution work for all. Vibrant political institutions based on ideas and not individuals are important. Independent civil society organisations can play important watchdog role to assess the impact of Government policies and to push for a change in course where necessary. There should be a place for all Liberians in the body politics. This is the promise of our politics – where the interests of the collective are put before that of the individual.

The current political environment that underlines the state of elections in Liberia today seems to betray this promise of politics. Vitriolic political rhetoric has transcended into some incidents of violence. The situation has turned into a melodramatic roller coaster that has caught the attention of international interlocutors such as ECOWAS, working to bring matters back on course. The Chair of the Elections Authority resigned, the lead opposition party threatened boycott of the runoff polls scheduled for November 8, 2011. The opposition claims that certain conditions should be met for them to have confidence in the process. Meanwhile both national and international observers have stated that the first round elections were largely free, fair and transparent.

Liberia will remain after the elections with its problems, hopes and fears. Recently the blue, black and white flag of Botswana lined the main streets of Monrovia. The country’s President, Seretse Khama Ian Khama was making an official visit to his counterpart, President Sirleaf. It prompted me to have a look at where Botswana stands as a country. I found that Botswana was described by the BBC as Africa’s longest continuous multi-party democracy relatively free of corruption and has a good human rights record. I realised that Liberia has lots to learn from this country. I then made a comparison between Botswana and Liberia on selective indicators on the UNDP human development report of 2011.

The results showed that Liberia lags 64 steps behind Botswana on the overall rank. More children die in Liberia before their 5th birth day compare to Botswana. More adults in Botswana can read and write compare to Liberia. Botswana spends more on public health and education compare to Liberia. Most strikingly is the gulf that exists between the GNI per capital of the two countries with Liberia at US$265 and Botswana at US$13,049. Critics of statistics insist that the numbers do not tell the real story. They may be right. What is undisputed is that the gap between key human development progress in Liberia is wide compare to Botswana. It means Liberia has more to do, not less, to catch up – to improve the living situation of all its people.

The global economy is in bad shape and is likely to affect Liberia, as the country depends on international investments and donor assistance. The enormity of these challenges should humble the victors and provide the incentive to promote cross party consensus.

Liberia cannot be the fail state again with its brightest brains scattered across the globe contributing to the advancement of lands different from their own. All sides should end thebrinkmanship and put the country first.  

I dare to reflect that the sum of our hopes can overshadow the sum of our fears. Civility and comprise for the better good of the country can be added as key ingredient to our body politics. I believe we can disagree and yet respect each other. That our different viewpoints can only strengthen us; that cross party consensus can be built on the major issues facing the country – this kind of idealism is possible, is viable, can direct our energies and unify our purpose.

The years of war and violence offer a backdrop. The impact of which is still visible, the root causes still present, the risk of re-emergence still lingering. This is what constitutes the sum of our fears. Yet the old hatred that prevailed and allowed violence to soar can be replaced. Liberia can face its future not the past. We can very easily be diminished by the sum of our fears, in the same way that we can rise by the sum of our hopes.

The elections in 2011 should succeed. My barometer for success is not about who wins, but about how all the participants react to the final outcome and remain focus on the larger picture. No generation should leave less behind for the succeeding one. This much we risk. To leave behind for succeeding generations so little in terms of physical infrastructure and so little in terms of the the ‘enduring values’ of hard work, integrity, honesty, trust, tolerance, required to build a new and better society respectful of all its members.

Charles Lawrence lives and work in Monrovia and writes in his personal capacity

 

Book Review: ‘The Broken Spear’ authored by Richard Sieh, a Liberian writer.

 

‘To secure a place on the resettlement programme, lies were the new truths that needed to be learned and told.’

By Charles Lawrence (First posted November 14, 2011)

The Broken Spear by Richard Sieh is a fictional account of the human tragedy that was Liberia’s war from the vantage point of a refugee situation. The author masterfully takes the reader through a journey into a refugee camp only to arrive for an uncertain journey dominated by the desire to gain resettlement into the United States.  As the reader travels along this journey, the account is interlaced with the silhouette of the conflict where the author describes macabre violence and brutality in plain language.

In this narrative, time passes on meaninglessly and choices became increasing limited. Days folded into weeks, into months, into years. Genekan left his country with his wife and children into a refugee camp in a neighbouring country with the hope that within few months they would be resettled to the United States.  Resettlement to the United States was the ultimate aim of majority of the refugees in the camp. For this, people waited for their names to be posted for interview. Then they waited again to be called for interview. As they waited, they learned fictitious family history. Any mistakes to the questions asked could jeopardize a family’s prospect on the resettlement programme. To secure a place on the resettlement programme, lies were the new truths that needed to be learned and told.

Gedekan was in his mid 30’s but had to submit as a 19 year old. The entire family has to study their family tree. After years of wait, the time reached for Genekan and his family to face the interview. Genekan took a courageous decision that altered the course of events only to return to face a camp under siege by landlords whose hospitality has run out.

As the camp face attack from irate members of the host community, Genekan’s prospects dwindled.  It is in this final moment of truth that Genekan’s wife found a broken spear under their window sill - a spear that reminded them that they were no longer welcomed in the camp and that their personal safety was under threat.

This is a narrative dominated by the voices of strong men. The loud silence of those of the women is palpable. Genekan consulted and persuaded his wife to agree to the journey into the refugee camp, after which she existed on the periphery of the narrative only to surface with the final discovery that provided the denouement.

The reader cannot fail to empathise with the protagonists, who faced with the barest of human existence - no jobs, no food, poor shelter and sanitation, rejection and acts of violence from the host populations –were buoyed by the human spirit to survive. There were random acts of kindness and generosity that speaks of the better part of the human spirit in the worst of conditions.

This is a recommended read. Interested in a copy please contact Mr. Sieh at richard_sieh@yahoo.com