|
Community Links
------------------------------
Fofana Education Fund
G.V. Kromah
Limany
MMA
Quardu Gboni-Mandingo
Texas Mandingo
The Bility Family-USA
------------------------
News Links
BushChicken
Daily Observer-News
Front Page Africa
Global News Network
Liberian Forum
Star Radio
The Analyst-News
The Informer
The Inquirer News
The Liberan Journal
The New Democrat-News
The Perspective News
-------------------------
Resources/ Employment
Careerbuilder
JobsInMinnesota
Metro Bus Info
Metropolitan Council/Jobs
Minnesota Works
Monster
-------------------------
Government Sites
MN-Court Record
MN-Drive License/ID
State of MN
-------------------------
Other Links
Daily motions Videos
Driving directions
You tube Videos
-------------------------
|
An Open Letter to President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf
By: Bangalee Trawally
01 March, 2010Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
President of the Republic of Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia
March 01, 2010
Dear Madam President:
I have the honor of writing to you to express my concern about the
seriousness of the land dispute in Ganta, Nimba County, which developed
as a result of Liberia’s civil war. This issue has the potential of
compromising your administration’s drive for peace, justice, and good
governance. This is especially true in view of the lack of meaningful
progress on the part of your administration toward protecting the rights
of the Mandingo people, who are the victims in an illegal and
unacceptable appropriation of lands and houses by people who have no
legal claims to them whatsoever. It is imperative that those properties
be returned to their rightful owners.
Rights, be they human rights or property rights, are fundamental norms
and principles that must be guaranteed to every citizens in any
civilized society. Hence, the absence of property rights in a given
society not only hinders genuine development but also undermines the
very character and nature of its system of governance. It is the
cardinal responsibility of a democratic government to dispense justice
in an impartial manner to all of its citizens. The realization of good
governance signifies government’s accountability to its people, which
ultimately inspires people’s trust.
A peace achieved must be preserved and sustained. Liberia’s experience
with war has taught us that continuous efforts by government and
citizens alike are required to cement equity in all of our endeavors.
Resolving the Ganta land dispute must claim the immediate attention of
your administration in order to prevent an unfortunate situation in
which the victims would conclude that no one is concerned about their
plight. The frustration of the affected people of that city is climbing
to the zenith. I and other concerned citizens of Liberia (both those
currently living in Liberia and those in the Diaspora—even the
international community) do not want the country to degenerate into a
situation in which the hard earned peace that exists is not maintained.
Therefore, Madam President, I want you to also consider this
communication as a follow-up question to one I asked you previously.
Last year, when you visited the US and met with the Liberian community
in Minnesota, I asked you about your position on the Mandingoes’
properties that had been forcibly seized from them in Ganta. Your
response was somewhat persuasive: You mentioned the commission that you
have set up to probe into the matter and amicably settle it once and for
all. Since then, there has not been a sound from you or the commission
on the subject. Was your reply mere rhetoric?
We have been observing the situation closely. In fact, I just returned
from Liberia where I was able to see the unbelievable things in Ganta
first hand: buildings belonging to the Mandingoes worth thousands of
dollars are flattened on the ground, and Mandingoes are being denied
their right to reconstruct their homes on the empty piece of land. At
the moment, the people there are building on land owned by the
Mandingoes as a result of government failure to get involved or out of
open defiance to authority by those people. What a provocation.
It is against this background that we are asking your government to
address the grave land issue in Ganta with urgency. I, in consultation
with members of the affected group in the city, have set in motion a
movement in Liberia, the US, Europe, and Asia that would explore avenues
appropriate to rendering justice to our people. Properties that have
been seized forcibly as a result of the war must be returned to the
rightful owners in the name of peace. I hope this will claim your
attention as anticipated. This is the end to the beginning of the
struggle.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Bangalee A. Trawally
Treasurer, Governing Board of Directors,
Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM)
batrawally@yahoo.com
|
