By Richard Ghanwohn Bargblor
Protests have been used by people around the world for centuries to petition governments and seek redress of grievances. The importance of protest in society cannot be overstated. Peaceful demonstration seeks to ensure accountability on the part of those in leadership. People used protests as another way of communicating their reactions regarding policies or agendas advanced by their government. It is through peaceful protest that true democracy flourished. There’re many examples whereby organized protests have had positive impact on nation states, it also helps to foster transparency in society. The anti-apartheid protests in South Africa, and the civil rights movement in the United States of America are two prime examples of what protests have accomplished. In both cases, the people prevailed. The apartheid regime is no more, and minorities in the United States have rights they never had.
I understand that these are extreme examples in comparison to the Liberia situation, but, that’s exactly the point. Through Protests, people could overcome obstacles, no-one thought possible. Liberians can do the same, and change the culture of corruption, impunity, and criminality that plagued the country for so long. I strongly belief that Liberians would have avoided the civil war had they channeled their grievances through demonstration as it is done in other parts of the world. Its history now, but we must learn from it.
Like everything else, protests are not without problems. Violence, destruction of properties and injuries are all so often associated with protests. Disgruntled individuals often take advantage of peaceful demonstrations to create chaos. If these are your thinking/plans for the June 7 protest, then you are in it for the wrong reason, and you must stay away. However, if you believe as I do, then each one of us must endeavor to make sure that this demonstration happened Public demonstrations and marches empower people by showing them that there are thousands of people who think like them, and see the ills of society just as they do. Come out on June 7 to make your voices heard. You’re not troublemakers if all you do is march, and expressed your views on policies that are not in the interest of the Liberian nation.
There are many reasons the June 7 protest must go on as planned. The state of affairs in Liberia has reached a crisis point. The country’s economy is broken, local currency is in free-fall, inflation is on the rise, unemployment is at all-time high, prices of essential goods, and commodities are climbing by the day. The larger population is grasping for air, while government officials live large. These are undisputed facts and are genuine reasons for any people to demand explanation from their government. We witnessed on two separate occasions when large sum of money just vanished in thin air. First a sixteen billion dollar, followed by a twenty-five million United States dollars. Think about it.
This is what President George Weah said with regards to the missing twenty-five million dollars. In his recorded speech to the nation the president said: “In order to slow down or halt the depreciation of the Liberian dollar, and thereby bring some much-needed relief to the suffering of our people, my Government was advised by its Economic Management Team, in close collaboration with the Central Bank of Liberia, to make an infusion of $25 million into the economy, through the Central Bank; the purpose being to mop-up the excess liquidity of Liberian dollars.”
If what the president is saying is true, then why is it that the Liberia dollar continues to depreciate? Why are the suffering people not feeling the relief? These are important questions that required proper explanation from the government. The truth is, $25 million was never “infused” into the Liberia economy. If anything, the money was infused into the pockets of President George Weah and his government officials.
It’s understandable that President George Weah and his government are feeling some level of anxiety as June 7 approaches. No government wants to face protesters, but that does not make the art of protesting a bad thing. Matter of fact, both the government and citizens benefit from peaceful demonstrations. The government will get to know the citizens problems, addressed the problems if possible, and if not, find a common ground. Everyone walks away winners, and the country is better off.
In Liberia, be it on those that we perceived as Americo or indigenes, be it on the right and the left of our political discourse, it has been an article of faith that, in moments of sharp civic discontent, you and I and everyone we know can take to the streets, demanding change. The Liberian Constitution enshrines such efforts, protecting the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. This is an art of democracy, those who cannot stand the heat in the ‘kitchen of politics’, you are free to get out.. June 7, 2019, will provide an opportunity for the people of Liberia to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. This is a right given to each citizen of Liberia by the Liberian constitution.
