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The Untold Side of the Lofa
Report-Delegate Perspectives By Varfley A. Dolleh 24 May, 2010  Introduction:“One of the intricacies of the political profession is the disposition of a politician to face an unfolding political eventuality with courage at any given moment”, says, Nelson Mandela, in his Book “Long Journey to Freedom”. Mindful of same, we were in high gear when called to political actions the faithful morning of “February 26th 2010”, following the news of the fracas in Lofa County; the accompanied pandemonium and a called to assemble at the residence of “Honorable Henry Manvee Kamara” for a strategy session. Deciphering the sensitive nature of those tense “Decision Making Process, composition of a delegation and detailed untold segments of the report will be the focus of this master piece.
However, my attention has been drawn to series of political caricatures emanating from some anti-peace elements from “Liberia and the USA” respectively that have the propensity to breed further seed of discords igniting new fires. As a true son of the County and a signatory to the “Lofa Citizens Report”, I am obliged to intervene in order to unearth the truth and bring sanity to the Community. More besides, it comes at a time when some ill-minded elements with in the leadership of the “Federation of Lofa Citizens in America” trying to subjugate the report as a means of aborting justice at the detriment of many of its citizenries. In short, we are aware of the political machination to dignify the purported report of the so called “Traditional Council Assertion” as an instrument of discussion during the pending Lofa Citizens Convention in the USA I had opted to remain mute since my arrival from Liberia with the hope that the report is digested and adjudicated by the Liberian people. But wherein, some unscrupulous actors decide to abort the popular will of eminent citizens who spent money, time and energy from the seven Districts in Lofa County, and then we have no option but to engage the system for the sake of posterity. Crisis Engagement - Monrovia Consistent with the acceptable norm of crisis management, following the outbreak of the crisis, opinion leaders from both the “Lormas and Mandingoes” camps agreed about the need for a consultation and a meeting of the minds in order to find a solution to the mayhem in the County. To my recollection, while Mandingoes were meeting at the residence of the “Honorable Mavee Kamara” and “Sheik Kafumba Konneh” of the “Interfaith mediation Committee”, word came out about the need for a meeting at the “Health Ministry of Liberia” where Lormas had been previously meeting. It was a face to face discussion about a way out of the crisis. There were bitter exchanges between both sides especially, following inflammatory remarks from “Mr. Joseph Morlu” Head of the Star Radio in Monrovia. He is a polarizing fellow that wittingly blamed the Mandingoes. Amidst the confusion, we were invited to meet at the Capitol as a follow up to what we had started. At the Capitol Building, in the full view of the Caucus members and Lofeans from all walks of life, the theme became the need for peace in the County. However, to our utmost dismay, the deliberation took an ethnic trend with the Lormas who had dominated the hall started raining insult at the Mandingoes as the aggressors. In fact, this unfortunate situation was initiated by Mr. Morlu again from the “star Radio”, a man noted for his anti-Mandingo stance maliciously lambasting the Mandingoes as the aggressors triggering a robust response from the Mandingoes. It took hours to settle the ethnic dust which ended into fist fight at the Capitol Building. Courtesy of the Caucus Members and others farsighted leaders in the hall the dust was settled and consensus was built for the constitution of a “Twenty One Members Fact Finding Delegation” comprising of three persons from each of the seven districts in Lofa County. Even before the constitution of the Committee’s members, there came ensuring arguments as to who should represent “Voinjama District”? Lormas had argued only Lormas should represent the District since no Lorma was from “Quardu Gboni District”. On the other hand, the Mandingoes had insisted that they were distinct citizens of the District at such, needed representation. Again, people exchanged blows, until a direct appeal was made by “Senator Sumo Kupe” and others for the Mandingoes to give in silencing the chaotic hall. For the sake of peace and making progress, we prevailed on the Mandingoes for the compromise which was done in good faith. Amidst the euphoria, a rally was followed leading to the generation of a minimal amount for the tripe at the displeasure of every one. Despite the shortfall, the “Lofa Legislative Caucus” helped with substantial amount followed by appeal to would be well wishers of the County. Manifesting our Commitment to the process, the Mandingoes Delegation comprising of “Honorable Sekou Korleh, Massa Kanneh and Varfley Dolleh” met and agreed about the need to liaise with the “Mandingo Caucus” for possible assistance to our committee personally. Proudly, we are pleased to note that we were given audience by the Caucus at the residence of Justice Janneh, in Duport Road, where we made our case for intervention for the smooth facilitation of the work and the preservation of the Mandingo interest and that of the nation foremost. Accordingly, we were graciously given the amount of “Nine Hundred Dollars” as their way of identifying with the team. More besides, we are delighted to note that Honorable Sekou Korleh provided one cars personally for the tripe for the Committee’s use. Amidst the short fall in funding, Honorable Sekou Korleh again was able to have contacted the son of the late President of the University of Liberia, and also citizen of “Quardu Gboni”, Mr. Steven Yekerson Jr., who provided about “five hundred dollars” to the Legislative Caucus. Honorable Korleh is also credited for his pro-activeness in raising another “One thousand dollars” donated by the proposed “Democratic Alliance” to the Legislative Caucus. In short, if he had not acted swiftly probably, the tripe would have been aborted, because the Legislative Caucus didn’t or wasn’t prepared to shoulder the full bill for the tripe. With the bottle nicks solved, the Committee left for Lofa with it first stops in “Zorzor, Lofa County”, one of the nerve centers of the dispute. Zorzor Factor –Fact Finding As a manifestation of the insincerity of our other partners, especially, from the Lorma side it was agreed that we go in convoy so that no one is able to influence any of the two groups. But to our utmost surprise the “Zorzor District Delegation” left ahead of others members of the team for Zorzor. It was a great disappointment. Upon arrival, we knew from the Mandingo side that people had been planted about what to be said at the “City Hall Forum”. Unlike the Lormas, the Mandingoes didn’t have the time to talk to the other side, yet the meeting was arranged. Fellow Liberians, it is imperative to note that what mattes in a report is the substantive element that must be considered as tangible factor for consideration. In short, following the presentation of key actors in the crisis in “Zorzor”, especially, the student leader who was the master mind, people started wondering why no action was taken against him. He openly bragged that he led the assault on the other high school in the City, the demolition and destruction of market straws, the mal-handling of the police Chief in Zorzor; the arrest of the Town Chief in Kornia and the stoppage of the “Vice President of Liberia Convoy” for several hours with impunity. This was confirmed by the Police Chief of Zorzor as you may have read in the report. With the information provided supra as contained even in the report, why wasn’t him arrested by the County authorities? This questioned was posed to the “District Commissioner” of Zorzor, but he baffled the questioned saying “The boy didn’t commit any crime”. When similar questioned was posed to the Police Chief of Zorzor who was in tear explained that she didn’t get any order from her superior from Voinjama, especially, the “Superintendent and the County Prosecutor”. The “District Education officer of Zorzor” expressed similar frustration and double standard in dealing with the situation. “We expect the ring leaders of this riots being the student Leader to have been arrested, but the officials failed because they are Lormas”, lamented the “District Education Officer. One could see the culpability of the “County Officials in the wake of the revelation at the jammed packed hall. From the “Mandingoes Perspectives”, as you may have read in the report they only acted based on the “SOS Call” when news came about the unceremonious siege of the home of “Alhaji Phelimord Dolleh” and the random destruction of Mandingoes homes including the “Old and New Mosques”. In short, as explained, the Mandingoes action was a precautionary move that was intended to install fear in the aggressors and mobilize support for the brothers in need in Kornia. They maintained that if they had not gone to “Kornia Town”, the Imam –Alhaji Dolleh would have been mobbed to death. Gauging from the information, it is glaring the in deed; the Mandingoes were victims and not the aggressors, reminiscent of the Taylor era when jungle justice was instituted against them with impunity. Genesis of the Fracas- “Kornia Town” Buried in anxiety the delegation arrived in the “Town of Kornia” unaware of its surroundings and what was expected since it is the nerve center of the conflict. Immediately following our arrival we made our business in visiting damage sites and religious institutions. Unlike what was previously said, we saw two mosques damaged and several Mandingoes homes vandalized. On the other hand, we saw the damages to some Lorma homes with no religious or traditional sites damaged from their end. At the town hall meeting all actors were allowed to explain starting with the town chief who had collaborated previous speakers, especially, the “District Commissioner of Zorzor and the Police Chief of the District”. He explained in detailed the deliberate destruction of properties, his arrest and torture; humiliation of the “vice President of Liberia” among others. He went further to explained roles he played in the aftermath of the disappearance of the late” Korpu Kamara among others, with nothing to indicate the involvement of any Mandingo in the disappearance of the young lady. This was followed by other speakers who all confirmed same. However, the most trailing one was the explanation of the mother of the” late Korpu Kamara” who narrated that she didn’t have any substantive proof to link the Imam to the Killing. She explained that her action was based on insinuation which is not admissible in a criminal trial. More besides, many of her surroundings, especially, from the Lorma side were disappointed with the manner she built the story of indictment of a Mandingo for the killing Setting the records straight is fundamentally important if we are to unearth the side of the Mandingoes. It is an open secret that the “Trade Mark of the Mandingoes” has never been ritualistic killing. From countless accounts it remains the works of the Lormas in Lofa County. Whether it is accepted or not indeed, ritualistic murder for medicine has never been in the dictionary of the Mandingoes in Lofa. Even to the lay men it became laughable that a reputable statesman was accused unjustifiably. With the information provided one can deduce that it was a concocted lie to link a Mandingo to the killing. The Imam vehemently denied having any knowledge relative to the incident. More besides, he put the blamed squarely to the feet of the accusers. Again, under our Liberian law one is presumed innocent until proven guilty. In fact ,this was one of the reasons “Defense Minister Brownie Samuka” contended that the Imam shouldn’t be arrested following attempts to have him taken to Voinjama by directive of the “Superintendent and the County Attorney” Voinjama Experience-Seat of Government Unlike other areas, we arrived in Voinjama under the cover of darkness with a night time curfew enforced. We had to wait in “Lawalazu Town” for an escort from the “Pakistani UNMIL” and element from the “Joint Security Forces of Liberia”. We were led to the guest house around the “Administrative Compound” where we were individually given a room. Thanks to the County Officials for the generosity. The next morning, we met the Superintendent at the Conference room of the “Administrative Building” where a formal briefing was given. At the briefing, the Superintendent went out of order by insulting the Mandingoes openly and shifting blames on them. To the dismay of every one including the Lormas and others the Superintendent went thus, “This tribe is not good; they don’t like to be told the truth”. He went further, “I am ready, will fight them in this County”. This was a damaging statement that compromises his position as the “Chief Executive” of the County. Many of the foreign dignitaries and others observers were baffled by the remarks amidst murmuring in the crowd. From that statement supra, one became aware of the frame of mind of the Head of the County and his lack of leadership ability and willingness in being an arbiter of peace for the feuding parties. More besides, it became glaring that it wasn’t by mistakes when he indicted the Peace Keepers for taking side with the Mandingoe with the hope of discrediting them at the pleasure of his ethnic group. As part of the program of action, we visited the destroyed sites, ranging from the “Churches, Mosques, and private homes of both the Lormas and Mandingoes in Voinjama. Later we visited the prison compound and the police station with the hope of interviewing key actors in the fracas. At the prison compound, we were allowed to speak to inmates regarding accusation that the “County Prosecutor” had facilitated the escape of prisoners mainly, from the Lorma side in order to fight the Mandingoes. At the same time the “County Prosecutor” had been accused of personally using his assigned government pick up to facilitate the movement of Lorma fighters from “Lawalazu Town” to Voinjama to the fight the Mandingoes. In line with our mandate we invited UNMIL to ascertain whether or not they took side with the Mandingoes, which they denied blaming the arrogance of the Superintendent. However, what was considered as an affront was the refusal of the County Prosecutor to allow us interview key elements arrested as suspect in the fracas. We had visited the main police station where the Commissioner of Quardu Gboni District, “Honorable Mamade feni Kamara” and others were being kept. The attempt as per our mandate was to talk to them, but denied permission by the County Prosecutor and the Superintendent. It was seen as an affront and also an attempt to hide basic facts pertaining to the case. It was seen as a miscarriage of justice and a wanton attempt to undermine the work of the delegation Another issue of concern that manifests the culpability of the “Superintendent and the County Prosecutor” was the flagrant incarceration of Mandingoes void of the rule of law. As you may have read in the report, we were to speak with both tribes starting with the Lormas. During their presentation, they made inflammatory remarks against UNMIL and the Mandingoes with out any retribution what so ever. They spoke about the need for the re -demarcation of the “Quardu-Gboni District”; the prosecution of key actors in the fracas and the removal of the “Bangladeshi and Pakistani Contingents of UNMIL”. For their parts, the Mandingoes were afraid for speaking out fearing that they could be arrested. They contended that when the “Interfaith Mediation Committee”, visited the City, Mandingoes were arrested by the County officials having spoken their mind at the hall. Unlike the Mandingoes, Lormas had a free ride with the full backing of the “County Prosecutor and Superintendent”. Despite the plea, the Mandingoes were assured by “Honorable Philip Tali” Head of the Delegation of maximum protection following the dialogue. More besides, no Mandingo would be arrested for speaking to the Committee at the jammed packed Town Hall. Despite the assurance given the Mandingoes, several of them were arrested following the meeting. We contacted “Honorable Philip Tali” to ensure the freedom of the Mandingoes but to no avail. It was a sheer discrimination and a travesty of justice. Mr. Varlee Kamara, formerly of the ELRV was the first to have been picked up since he was one of the first spokes persons for the Mandingoes at the hall. It was a sad day with fear of war engulfing the City of Voinjama. We had to shuttle to and fro with the people to install calm while busy on the line with higher ups in Government in Monrovia It must be openly said that Honorable “Amara Konneh” Minister of Planning did extremely well during those tense moment in conveying our sentiment to the “Minister of Defense” who was already on the ground in Voinjama. Although, he is a personal friend of mine, but we had been blocked from seen him in the hall. With the influence of “Minister Konneh“we made our way to the hall and demanded an audience with the Minister and his team from Monrovia, comprising of the “Internal Affairs Minister, Justice Minister, Immigration Commissioner and the Police Director”. He agreed for a meeting at the residence of the Superintendent. Retrospection further, it is disheartening to note that I was a victim of the despicable and reckless misuse of power and selective targeting of Mandingoes. As many of you may be aware, following my arrival in Voinjama in November of last year for my Father feast, I was seen by the “County Attorney” while in a restaurant eating along with my Sisters and Brothers that had traveled with me to Liberia. To my dismay, he came and requested that I followed him to the Police Station, because I had driven from Guinea to Liberia. I tried to know my charge, but to no avail, instead I was arrested and kept at the Station for over three hours. I contacted the “Justice Minister” and other higher ups through telephone leading to my released. Following my released, the Superintendent apologized to me promising to take action against him. The following day the County Attorney drove to “Barkidu Town” where the feast was being held following news that I was contemplating filling a formal complaint to the “President of Liberia”. However, to the astonishment of every one, he came to the feast and gave the mourner s a “Thousand Liberian Dollars” as his way identifying with the family of his friend, from the University of Liberia, “Varfley A. Dolleh. Although, we had planned to institute charges against him, elders felt that his gesture was a manifestation of remorse, so that we forgive him... Talking Point with the Government Delegation: As a spokes man at that occasion, I went thus “Honorable Delegation of the President, there is a burning issue that has the propensity to explode; Mandingoes are being arrested with impunity amidst intimidation by the Superintendent and the Prosecutor”. I went further, “Looking at the composition of the County leadership, it is dominated by only Lormas which is troubling; more beside, this Superintendent has taken side in the crisis which compromises his position; in short confidence crisis has engulfed the County necessitating the replacement of the “Superintendent”. With up roar every where, elements form the other side almost jumped to my throat for speaking out the truth. It was a solemn moment, for what was at stake had been told to all the tangible actors from the inner cycle of the President. “Minister Samuka” assured us that he would do every thing possible in ensuring equity. For her part the “Justice Minister” reiterated the position of her colleague promising to curtail any for m of discrimination and selective treatment. Concluding, the” police Director” made it cleared that his man would do every thing possible to install peace to all citizen void of ethnicity, while the “Immigration Commissioner” vowed to deploy additional manpower to the border with Guinea fearful of the influx of men and arms. Although, many of my colleagues from the Lormas side were annoyed , but it helped to install a sense of relief to all actors and the two tribes that government was not willing to follow the trend the County Officials were embarking upon. It was a joyous moment for the Mandingoes, especially, when told that they couldn’t perform “Friday Prayer” on that fateful day. As a means of allaying fears I told “Honorable Sekou Korleh” to join me so that we form part of the “Jumaat Prayer” on that day. It was a tense moment mindful of speculations that the “Central Mosques at “Mandingoes Quarter”, were prayer was to be performed would have come under attack. We defied the threats and prayed with them followed with a formal address of the congregation. We had given hopes to the hopeless and breadth to those who were in a state of despair not trusting the system In fact it was through our instrumentality that the Head of the Liberia Traditional Council “Chief Zanzan Kawah” was allowed to address few members of the congregation out side of the Mosques. He was on a political safari amidst pomposity and pageantries. He wasn’t given any official mandate nor can his finding be binding on any one. More besides, you don’t expect some one who is an atheist and worshiper of idol gauge the views of Moslems who abhorred idolatry. Many of the folk he spokes with are members of the same “Traditional cult” that he subscribes to. Hence, his finding which has no substance can ‘t and will never be binding on Mandingoes and Moslems in Lofa as it is being contemplated by the Leadership of the Lofa Federation as we go for the Convention in Philadelphia. Compilation of the report was one of the most difficult components of the work, especially, having three Mandingoes out of “Twenty One Person”. We were able to have thoroughly methodically gauged through all of the sequence one by one followed by a vote. In short, our work was not any thing haphazard or unilateral. Our report was based on consensus and unanimity of purpose to the best our abilities. Way Forward to the Crisis: As a junior high student at the “Moslem Congress High School”, one of my teachers Mr. Bokari taught me to believe that in order to know the present you must know the past. In short, political actors have always relied on the experiences of past leaders as determinants in arriving at major decision with this being of no exception. Where do we stand as a nation in solving the political hurdles? When the Late “President William R. Tolbert” realized that former Superintendent of the County and now Liberia Ambassador to Guinea “E. Sumo Jone”, was at logger head with the people of the County in being “inept and malfeasance”, amidst confidence problem, he had no option, but to have him removed and replaced with the present Liberian Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone, “Ambassador Thomas Blama”, as Superintendent. It was a relief to the people of the County. This happened at a time when “Honorable Jones was involved in the misuse of power and the usurpation of the Galamai land the infringement on the rights citizens of the County among others. With an emotional out burst and no trust in the system by either side it may do us right if Government should remove the present leadership of the County, especially, the “Superintendent and the County Prosecutor”. Gauging the diverse nature of the County, it would serve the both tribes well if we were to have some one from the “Kissi or Gbandi Regions” of the County. If we were to take some one like “Honorable Saah Philp Joe, Philp Tali or Dr. Gamai” would be of immense help to the County and the nation as a whole. This message has been relayed to the President and members of the task force on Lofa County for consideration and on ward action. Whether or not it is accepted, such is the way out to the present melee. Concluding, as Lofeans converge on Philadelphia for their Convention soon, it is my earnest hope that the analysis and its accompanied recommendation will form part of the deliberation and on ward implementation herein. We want to hear your thoughts on this article or any of my articles - (267)-212-6005 or Varfley 1@yahoo.com Trenton, NJ
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