Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is calling on organizers of the June 7 Protest to dialogue with Government as the best alternative, as opposed to protest, which is their constitutional right.
The former Liberian leader made the call when she spoke to State radio, ELBC on Thursday of this week.
Madam Sirleaf smoothly handed over power to President George Weah and his CDC on January 22, 2018, after the first peaceful and democratic transition in Liberia since 1944.
She said there is no national challenge that is beyond Liberians’ collective capacity to address successfully.
Former President Sirleaf and her former Unity Party are on record to have negotiated with opposition protesters who had threated to stage an April 12 demonstration in Monrovia a few years ago.
The former Liberian President this week said peaceful protest is a fundamental and constitutional right which must always be protected and cannot be denied.
She, however, reminded Liberians of past experiences and how quickly protests impacted the nation and its people, apparently referring to the Aprl 14, 1979 bloody rice riot in Liberia which led to the deaths of scores of people.
Former President described the current economic situation as an opportunity for Liberians to once again come together to show the survival and revival spirit that has characterized the country’s development.
Madam Sirleaf, Liberia and Africa’s first elected woman President, wants all Liberians choose dialogue as the best alternative to address current national challenges.
A recent claim against her of being a sponsor of the June 7 protest by the ruling CDC Chairman, Mulbah Morlu was swiftly rubbished by the Liberian government.
An Information Ministry’s statement recently said there was no truth in that allegation.
Later, President George Weah held a closed door meeting with former President Sirleaf at his foreign Ministry office as part of ongoing dialogue meetings he’s having meetings with a cross-section of national leaders amidst rising political tensions ahead of the planned June 7 protest.
Earlier, President Weah had held a closed door meeting with former Vice President Joseph Boakai.