PHOTO: Former NIC Chairman, Richard Tolbert (Left) at this week’s Memorial service
By Augustin Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
Liberia’s oldest surviving political party, the True Wing Party has formally requested the children of the 13 officials of government of the William R. Tolbert administration, who were executed on April 22, 1980 few days after military bloody coup, for the exhumation of their bodies for proper burial in Clayashland.
The National Chairman, Reginald Goodridge added that the party, which ruled Liberia for over a century, is seeking the cooperation of the children of the officials of TWP –led government officials who were executed, in properly laying to rest their remains in Clayashland, several miles outside Monrovia.
Speaking during a memorial service organized for the 13 TWP former government officials in Monrovia, Mr. Goodridge pointed out that the party is of the conviction that it is unacceptable to have a mass grave in the center of the city bearing the remains of the distinguish partisans and personalities who served this country until their deaths.
“We seek to bring to closure the evil saga that befell them by giving a befitting burial because we believe that the evil veil that will be lifted off the face of our nation and provide a turning point for final healing and national development.”
“ It is in this respect,” he went on,“ we proposed the assistance of friendly partners such as the governments of South African, the United States ,the European Union and others to exhume this mass grave and conduct forensic on the remains for proper identification for decent burial.”
According to him, the TWP is expecting that the decoration day in the future should be the target for considerable progress in this project .
The TWP National Chairman also suggested that the party’s property along the Saint Paul River the City of Clayashland, the birth place of the party, be development as a memorial cite for the burial of the party’s forbearers .
“In the medium to long term,” he explained, “ a presidential library could be erected on the ground of the national park to house some of the speeches, important documents and artifacts of the past presidents and leaders of the TWP which will serve as a site for studies for students.”
Mr. Goodridge disclosed that he has spoken to former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , who believed that is an excellent ideal, and has given the to use her personal contact for assistance in this regard.
In remarks, the coordinator of the April 22 Group, Dr. Richard Tolbert, said the children of the officials of the 13 officials of government executed following the military coup can not presume that the men executed on April 22, 1980 can’t be compared to the sacrifice made by Jesus during the biblical days
According to him, when these men were executed , a dark cloud be clouded the entire nation , the sea behind the South Beach where they were executed stood still and it was followed by heavy down pour of rain .
He prayed for forgiveness for Liberia in order for the dreams of love for the nation, development and easy livelihood for all citizens that were preached by those officials of the government can be realized.
“41 years after that incident, we are not too sure that dark cloud over our nation has been lifted and there prayed for the sins over this nation for the unwholesome acts committed over the years.”
Also speaking ,former Foreign Minister, Olubanke King-Akerele, called on Liberians to do all they can to take Liberia forward because this nation is going down on a daily basis.
She said this nation is still be-clouded with darkness and Liberians are in trouble as a nation and a people.
“We are in complete trouble, this nation is still be clouded by darkness and we must do all we can to take this nation forward.”
According to her, those people who were executed and dumped in mass grace on Center Street, have played their parts and it is now time for the present generation to continue from where they were stopped.
The ceremony was graces by children of late President William R. Tolbert, Counselor Joseph Chesson , former Justice Minister, Frank Tolbert, former President ProTemp Tore of the Liberian Senate among others.