-But key organizer, Henry Costa demands apology from ECOWAS
One of the key organizers of the June 7 protest, vocal Talk show host, Mr. Henry Costa is demanding apology from the ECOWAS diplomatic mission in Monrovia, because the sub-regional grouping frowned on the Council of Patriots’ failure to present the petition to the Liberian government on Friday.
Following an eleventh hour notice about the illness of Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, who should have received the petition, two top government officials—Foreign Minister Gbehzongar Findley and Justice Minitser Frank Musa Dean—were on hand to receive the petition, but the organizers of the protest put up a precondition that five of their supporters arrested on Wednesday must be released first.
“It is disappointing to note that, with all the elaborate mediation efforts and arrangements made by the Government, Local and International Stakeholders, the petition that was to be delivered to the Government, could not take place,” ECOWAS said in a press statement on Saturday.
Expressing disappointment over their action, ECOWAS described the Council of Patriots’ last minute demand as “extraneous”.
Prior to that sudden condition by the protestors, they had earlier insisted that the petition, upon delivery to the President, must be acknowledged by him and the acknowledgement should be brought back by the Government Delegation and handed over to them at the Capitol Hill. After consultation, the Government graciously accepted this demand and waited to receive the petition.
But the man who should have read the petition last Friday, Mr. Costa blasted the ECOWAS mission in Monrovia on his radio show, vowing that he personally “will never sit in any meeting again” with the Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Monrovia, Amb. Babatunde Ajisomo.
Mr. Costa criticized the Regional body for failing to condemn the police prevention of many of the protesters from reaching Capitol Hill by demanding Identity cards and allegedly sealing off Monrovia’s largest slum district of West Point on June 7.
The “Save the state” protest organizers in their petition read to the press on Sunday gave the CDC government a one-month ultimatum to address their demands outlined in their petition, which they say will on Monday be enveloped and taken to the office of the Liberian leader.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS has urged the Liberian government and COP to continue to engage in constructive dialogue so as to preserve the peace and stability of this post-conflict country.
In its statement issued over the weekend, ECOWAS commended President Weah as well as the June 7 protest organizers for ensuring a non-violent peaceful protest/assembly last Friday.
“In particular, ECOWAS would like to commend the Liberia’s Joint Security Services and, especially, the Liberia National Police (LNP) for the display of utmost professional conduct in protecting the civil liberties of the protesters as there was no ugly incident throughout the day,” the statement said.
The West African regional group also thanked United Nations Human Rights Monitors and its own team of ECOWAS Observers for their diligent and impartial role playing during the course of last Friday’s protest in Monrovia.