WHAT IS VERY common in the Liberian mosaic is the tendency of petitioning individuals seeking elected offices—such as presidential or legislative aspirants—by citizens who often put their confidences in those politicians in the hope that their felt needs and aspirations would be addressed if elected. Rarely do Liberians repose their trusts in nongovernmental organizations, at least as publicly and formally as was the case with dozens of citizens who, on Friday, October 25, tendered a powerful petition statement to an emerging civil society powerhouse, the Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND), as it is gradually being viewed by independent pundits.
THE OCCASION AND THE nature of the event appear to mark a paradigm shift that indicates the wanning of confidence and trust in political elements and the increasing of popular hope in private, nongovernmental advocacy organizations. It seems Liberians are getting weary and frustrated over the vicious cycle of political failure, the election of politicians to positions of trust – trust that is often commonly and persistently followed by disappointments.
STAND SEEMS TO break the record this year because, in fact, never before had Liberian citizens, principally the impoverished majority of our people, ever singled out an advocacy group for the singular purpose of bequeathing their collective trust and mandate in it to serve as their mouthpiece and crusader for social justice, economic emancipation and transparent governance. Most advocates, revolutionaries, progressives and freedom fighters were self-anointed, self-proclaimed and self-mandated. STAND broke the glass ceiling last weekend, and will go down in history as a people-propelled advocacy group.
AND STAND IS not shying away from the responsibilities and the mandate as reposed in it by the ordinary Liberians that include the physically challenged, students, market women, civil servants, teachers, housemaids, farmers, motorbike riders, police officers, soldiers, miners, keke riders, health workers, construction workers, and war affected youths. Responding to the citizens’ petition, the group’s Chairman, Mulbah Morlu, vowed that his organization, STAND, would stand up “at the perils of our land with dangers post to us; we care more about Liberia and not our personal security, because Liberia deserves better. This country’s change must never be delayed; it must come now!”
THE LIST OF 15 assignments placed before Mr. Morlu and his organization for execution contains the most pressing socioeconomic and political quagmires that have plagued the country and its people. For instance, the ordinary Liberians used the petition to ask STAND undertake advocacy actions that would make corruption a non-bailable offense if the amount axceeds a certain threshold, free healthcare for expectant mothers and innocent children, free and compulsory education for every liberian child, restoring dignity to women and girls, making public service accountable, reducing tenures for elected officials, protection of civil servants and review of concession agreements for equitable resource distribution.
THEY ALSO CALLED on Mr. Morlu to fight for prioritizing community development in profit-sharing; end child labor in street trading; for job creation and sustainable livelihoods; for increased agricultural investment for food security; to fight against illicit substance & cross-border drug trade; gender-based violence; student loans: a pathway to empowerment and vacation jobs: unlocking potential and building skills.
INDEED, THE ANALYST says ‘hats up’ to the petitioners and to STAND leaders for tying the knot, for exchanging advocacy vows, for the apparent benefit for the country. This is a new day because instead of Liberians putting their trust in self-proclaimed advocates and freedom fighters, who times without number characteristically raised the expectations of the people for change and turned out to renege on their promises, we now see a shift whereby Liberians are turning to nongovernmental advocacy groups who are disinclined to be lured by the trappings of political power and desire to quick wealth.
WE, AND THE general public, are looking out to see if STAND would capitalize and make good the new dynamics emerging in the Liberian advocacy ecosystem; to see if the organization’s new role as a people-mandated NGO will serve as incentives that would attract many other ordinary citizens and NGOs to join forces in doing what politicians have failed to do in centuries.
MEANWHILE, WE TAKE comfort in Morlu’s words when he said, “STAND is a force for good, and those that are afraid should not be afraid except if you are doing wrong. STAND is not a political institution, and does not intend to be one. STAND is civil society, pro-democracy, human rights advocacy organization that emerge to stand tall in defense of the mases, to stand tall in defense of what is right to fight impunity and bring about accountable governance. So, if you are in a government doing the wrong thing or doing bad things then you have a good reason to be afraid, because STAND will go after those that commit wrong, go after those that are corrupt, go after those that are pollute and steal from power.”