Who Try To “Manipulate” The Electoral Process, 5 Months To Presidential And Legislative Elections
PHOTO: Faith and CSO actors pose for a group photo shortly after the launching ceremony
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
Faith-based and civil society organizations in Liberia have resolved not to sit idly and allow some unscrupulous politicians to manipulate the process leading to the holding of the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
LCC’s President, Reverend Dr. Samuel Reeves said this is necessary because politicians are already disrespecting the Farmington River Declaration, which is supposed to serve as a yard-stick for conducting violence free elections in the country.
Reverend Reeves, who was vice presidential candidate on the opposition MOVEE party’s ticket in the 2017 presidential election, made the statement at the official launch of the framework document of the civic initiative for peaceful elections.
This latest framework was organized by the Liberia Council of Churches in collaboration with Inter Religious Council of Liberia and the National Civil Society Council of Liberia in Monrovia.
According to Rev. Reeves, it seems that the country is sailing on its path on its own as if nothing is happening and nobody is in charge; as a result, anybody can do things with impunity and this has been the culture for the last few years.
“I am very happy because this is Liberia first initiative and a value added initiative because it brings together a cross session of faiths and CSOs,” the LCC President said.
Speaking earlier, the LCC’s Secretary General, Reverend Christopher Toe disclosed that the civic initiative for peaceful election is intended develop a framework document which the faith-based and civil society organizations will use in monitoring the activities of political parties and their followers.
According to Reverend Toe, the project sponsored by the Tear Fund and the Liberia Council of Churches, will endeavor to hold dialogue, create awareness, monitor campaign speeches so as the avoid tension, allow peaceful existence and for politicians to discuss issues rather personalities.
He added that the CIPE framework document will eventually help build, strengthen relations and trust with the view of facilitating understanding, sharing of knowledge and exchange on issues of mutual interest in elections and democracy.
The LCC Secretary General explained that the document will also help in strengthening advocacy for accountable and transparent justice process that provide good governance and rule of law.
Lastly, Reverend Toe went on, the document will create the space for faith-based and civil society organizations to engage national and international stakeholders on electoral issues as well as leverage the knowledge and capacities these faith based and civil society organizations to fight against violence, corruption, and injustice.
Meanwhile, a pro-democracy nongovernmental organization, Accountability Lab is expected to hold a summit of all political parties and politicians to draw up a frame work document on the conduct violence free elections in the country.
The Executive Director of Accountability Lab in Liberia, Lawrence Yealue said political accountability is crucial in the current electoral era because the politicians have embarked on disinformation, misinformation and throwing jabs at each other
Mr. Yealue appealed to the Imams and Pastors to use their sermon in the Mosques and Churches as means of cautioning politicians against violence in the country
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, Loretta Pope-Kai, said the collaboration among faith-based and CSOs efforts in campaigning for the holding of violence-free elections is not by mistake.
“The more we work together; the more we will be able to sustain the peace, we will continue to work with CSOs and FBOs, in order document such violence that will made during these elections to Liberia’s international partners,” said Mrs. Pope-Kai.
The launching ceremony, which was sponsored by Tear Fund, was graced by sizable number of people representing about 18 FBOs and CSOs in Monrovia and other parts of the country.