EDITORIAL: Moving forward nationally after the July 17 protest

THE ONE-DAY protest by several citizens has come and gone, and the nation, specially the Monrovia corridor, is back to normal. Both the demonstrators and state law enforcement conducted themselves orderly, making the day pass by without incident, much to the taste of the general public who had feared violence, injuries and even death characteristic of most protests in the country. While we applaud the actors, we think it is not done as yet, as grievances expressed, some highly poignant and in place, have to be addressed. We have concerns, though, with the protesters and the government. 

OUR CONCERN WITH the protesters is their ultimatum on Government that it should respond to the litany of critical issues presented at the climax of the protest in their petition. They said, “If the President does not respond to our demands within 14 days, we will return.” We don’t think this can be a serious request. If the protesters mean well, they should reframe their demands, lay out a reasonable engagement plan and strategy, and on a count by count basis, seek a reasonable redress. If the Government stonewalls and grandstands, it would be a popular and valid reason why to return to the streets. For now, 14 days is a technically short time, as a matter of logic and fact.      

SECONDLY, WE LISTENED to apologists of the ruling Unity Party dismissing the essence of the protest and vilifying the organizers and participants. We think they are out of their place, and chronically wanting not only of the virtues of democracy, and acknowledge with the Constitution the nation, but also appear disconnected from international protocols and conventions that uphold the right of citizens to assemble and petition their leaders. Hope those who are speaking on behalf of the UP regime are doing so on their own, otherwise such a reaction to the July 17 would clearly understood to be UP’s disdain for democratic principles – attempts to scrap the democratic space to take the country back to the days of autocracy.

HAVE SOME LIBERIANS forgotten that so much blood, tears and lives was lost to create the pluralistic political ecosystem in place in this country? Or have the UP government forgot that protests were the conveyor belt up on which it rode to power? Maybe someone needs to remind them about that.   Protests are a testament to a people’s desire for accountability, transparency and good governance—be it single person, minority and the masses in their collectivity. Any attempt to downplay or insult such efforts is clear threat to democratic progress.

INDEED, THE UNITY Party’s knee-jerk reaction to the July 17 protest on account of the size and character of the organizers, is a telling sign of their authoritarian leaning and blatant disregard for democratic tenants. Who protests does not matter. What matters is the slow pace of bread and better issues the promised to accelerate; the trampling upon the rule of law; the pervasive corruption reaching its apex; the low pay civil servants are still receiving.  These are the issues, the promises, that resonated with the people in 2023 – promises the UP made to the effective that it would do better than the erstwhile Coalition for Democratic Change resulting to its democratic ouster in 2023.

LET’S US INFORM the so-called firebrand reactionaries in the circle of the ruling party that democracy of which they are beneficiary, is built on the foundation of citizen participation, activism, and right to protest. July 17 protest, no matter who organized it, is not only just protest; it is about the fundamental rights of Liberians to express themselves to demand change as they see it, and to hold their leaders accountable. And the people of Liberia deserve a government that respects their rights, listens to their concerns, and responds their needs.

MOVING FORWARD THEREFORE, following the protest, and in order to keep the wheels of democracy and good governance spinning, the Government and the protesters must focus on the core issues, and not engage in optics that take away from this meaningful democratic exercise. We call on the government, to respect the right of the people, whoever they are, to protest and make demands on leadership popularly elected. And we request the protesters to be reasonable and not act on impulse, for the demand for a 14-day response timeframe sounds ambitious, considering the complexity of the issues. A more collaborative approach, involving sustained dialogue and cooperation between the government, protesters, and other stakeholders, might yield more effective and lasting solutions.  

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