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In Minnesota, President Sirleaf Breaks Silence in the Tribal Land Dispute in Nimba County By: Bangalee Trawally April 20, 2009  After
her excellences President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf stormed the Northrop
Auditorium of the University of Minnesota, on April 12, 2009, she
immediately went to the Radisson Hotel, down town Minneapolis, where she
was scheduled to meet with the Liberian community and other dignitaries.
When President Sirleaf was ushered in, the program commenced with a welcome remark by Kerper Dwanyen, the Liberian community head in Minnesota. He expressed his gratitude to the State of Minnesota for the cordial relationship his administration is enjoying from state officials, particularly his two friends in congress, Keith Allison-D and Erik Paulsen-R for fighting the Liberians DED extension. He thanked the cities of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, where majority of Liberians live. For her part, President Sirleaf summed it up by extending her heartfelt thanks to the state of Minnesota for the good they are doing for Liberians, and also thanked the Minnesota Advocate for Human Rights for hosting the Liberian -Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC),during the TRC hearing in the US. Then she asked to take questions from the audience. Out of the many questions, the one that took her about 20 minutes to address was the one asked by Bangalee Trawally that states: Madam President, we are told repeatedly that the war in Liberian is over, which we believe, but some of the “POW” (prisoner of war) are still in captivity. That I mean the properties of the Mandingoes in Nimba County and other parts of Liberia are still in the hands of those who forcibly took them. Now that we have you, an elected president, the iron lady, hopes were high and still remain high that you will resolve this ugly situation, but nothing seems to happen. Madam President, what is your position on this disturbing issue? We are very concerned. This question touched her so much that she had to position herself couple of times figuring out how to begin. In her response, she said: “I am very concerned about this matter. I personally went to Ganta and sat with the Mandingo opinion leaders and the Mano and the Gio elders on the other hand to dialogue and amicably resolved this land dispute”. She talked about the commission she put together to work on this particular Nimba land dispute since it involves tribes; that she wakes up from bed everyday asking God to give the wisdom to peacefully resolve this matter. She mentioned that she has asked other people to help her as they are contemplating on compensating deserving people involve in this problem, as a means of obtaining a total peace. She also talked about not wanting to see anyone going aggrieve in this land matter; that it’s a delicate matter, and therefore needs careful treatment so it couldn’t reoccur like an improperly treated disease. Finally, she closed on this question by saying, “I am very concerned, and I will do all in my power to amicably lay this matter to rest. I though that was well stated and promising that the Mandingoes will get back their entitlements. What I did not understand clearly was who she intends to compensate; the rightful owners of the land or the squatters. What do you think? Is there any hope or not? Let’s hear from you. |
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