-2 citizens warn Liberians to discontinue June 7 protest
By Mark N. Mengonfia mmengonfia@gmail.com
Liberians, who are bracing themselves to protest weeks from now, have been advised to discontinue the planned June 7 protest on grounds that it will not augur well for the country.
Some Liberians, including the four collaborating political parties, are planning get on the streets on June 7 to protest, as a means of pressuring their government to address some of the issues the country is faced with under President George Weah’s CDC government.
But Mr. Emmanuel A. Reeves, who participated in the April 14, 1979 bloody Rice Riot and Eddie Nimely who also took part in the 1984 protest, say Liberians should find other peaceful method to get the government to address their concerns.
Throughout Liberia’s history, ‘street protests have not helped.’
The two citizens said they were part of protests that were organized under a peaceful banner, but eventually ended up in violent crisis.
Speaking Friday in interview on Friday, the two Liberians said protests have never helped and will not help the country in addressing issues of national concerns.
Mr. Reeves, Manager at Rose Efficient Expeditory Consultant Service said back in April 14, 1980, when he was very young, he felt that protest was the best way to address issues in the country.
“The 1980 Rice Row that time was like saving the state, but when we took to the streets, it ended up very bad,” Mr. Reeves said.
“We were young people that time and we never known the effect, we were just eager to be part of it,” he said.
He recalled that when the riot started, they were advised to leave the streets but they did not listen.
Mr. Reeves said “in few minutes, we saw armed men who started shooting live bullets at citizens. People died, property destroyed, children got missing and a lot of things happened that day.”
According to him, the best way is for the organizers of the June 7 protest to meet government “to smoke peace pipe”.
For his part, the Executive Director of the Center for the Promotion of Democracy and Development, Eddie Nimely recounted that he was a part of a protest in 1994 which he said was organized under a peaceful banner.
“When we got in the streets, it was not easy for us. Women, children and Liberians lost their lives”.
According to Mr. Nimely, with the current start of the country’s security, the time is not right for such a protest.
When Mr. Nimely was asked what danger he foresees if the June 7 protest holds, he said “is see serious danger ahead”.
The two Liberians are calling on the organizers not to push on with their plan, but want them to use dialogue as the way forward.
Emmanuel and Eddie, residents of Paynesville said there is a need for government, civil society organizations, the Councils of Churches and Muslims to organize a round table dialogue that will help in addressing the of the citizens.
Article 17 of the Liberian constitution guarantees peaceful assembly.
This week, the office of President George Weah threatened that the government will arrest leaders of the June 7 protest, if any violence erupts on that day.