By Mark N. Mengonfia-mmenginfia@gmail.com
There appears to be no letup in the bitterness being displayed among Liberian politicians and their supporters in recent times.
The rancor, hate speech and acrimony has been displayed even in death as was seen in the last few days in the wake of the death of fallen Montserrado County District # 15 Representative, Adolph Lawrence in a car crash in late March.
The acrimony disrupted a planned state funeral for the fallen Lawmaker in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building late last week.
In an interview with the state broadcaster, ELBC on Monday, April 29, 2019, the Secretary General of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), Mr. Christopher Toe said that this West African nation “needs spiritual cleansing”.
Two Liberian Lawmakers from the southeastern Sinoe County were on Tuesday again at each other’s throat at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, this time over a Bill introduced at the Liberian Legislature that political analysts say have tribal undertones.
Senator J. Milton Teahjay of Sinoe County introduced a Bill at the Liberian Senate calling for an amendment of the Act that created the Seekon Statutory District in Sinoe County. Sen. Teahjay is from the Kru ethnic group while Rep. Zarzar is Sarpo.
The instrument was passed by the Liberian Senate and Sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence, but it has not gone down well with Representative Matthew Zarzar, who wants amendment of it.
Representative Matthew Zarzar and some citizens of the county, thus causing sparking a peaceful protest on the grounds of the Capitol, with people from the Sarpo ethnic group petitioning the speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 30, 2019.
Citizens from the Sione County under the banner of Sarpo Apoliebo Development Organization (SADO), allegedly being supported Representative Matthew Zarzar, petitioned the House of Representatives, while carrying placards.
Reading the petition on behalf of the group, Madam Monju Sol Sumo said the Bill has a sinister and ulterior motive, with the propensity to further inflame tribal conflict and destroy the fabric of their peaceful coexistence, most especially between the Sarpo and the Tatyowon (Kru) tribal groups.
She further said that Sen. Teahjay quest will only further divide the people of the county.
“We therefore hereby pray for the good wisdom of the august Body of the House of Representatives to reject, nullify and trash the referenced Bill,” she added.
Giving some historical background, Madam Sumo said that in June 2000, the people of then Tarjouwon Chiefdom by the making and influence of the then Deputy Minister of Information, Sen. Milton Teahjay petitioned the 51st National Legislature during the administration of jailed former Liberian president Charles G. Taylor to elevate their chiefdom to a statutory status.
“Whereas, while two reference petition was in the committee room at the National Legislature, the Sarpo people under the banner of Sarpo Appoleabo Development Organization filed a protect against said petition for its encroachment on Sarpo land areas which which included plndialebo City of the than Seekon Chiefdom and Tugba and Neplubo Towns of the then Juarzonb Chiefdom. ”
According to the Sarpo group, after all their efforts made surprisingly while they (SADO) were awaiting redress of their protect against the international and deliberate action of the people of Tarjouwon, the 51st national legislature in total disregard to their plea and grievances and with the ‘influence, maneuverability and closeness’ of Sen. Milton Teahjay to the power that be.
“The Bill in reality is recipe of chaos, confusion and disunity in the Seekon -Tarjouwon region in Sinoe County,” Madam Sumo said.
The long-running feud between the two Sinoe County Lawmakers have stalled development in the County over the years over what people see as tribal friction spreading amongst the Kru and Sarpo people.
In an interview with Sinoe County Sen. Teahjay, he said “the Bill will pass without any tempering with.”
“I will teach Matthew Zarzar legislative politics,” Sen. Teahjay asserted.
In the past, the rift between Sen. Teahjay and Rep. Zarzar even reached boiling point, leading to violent clashes between their rival supporters in Sinoe County.