UNARGUABLY, THE PRESS Union of Liberia (PUL) is one of few, or the perhaps the only survivor, of Liberia’s iconic progressive and revolutionary organizations that bore the pains of the struggle for multiparty system, for human freedoms, civil liberties and equality in this country. A lot of other progressive groups with whom the PUL fought when Liberia and Liberians were in the dungeon of tyranny and oppression have fallen by the wayside, either expired or compromised. Today, with the progressive environment—within the country’s contemporary civil society landscape being mostly infantile actors—the PUL stands out as the formidable remnant of the Liberian people’s struggle for “rice and rights”.
FOR INSTANCE, WHILE the Movement for Justice in Liberia (MOJA) is nearly extinct, Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) is more forceful as before, or while Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) is no more and student movements such as LINSU and ULSU are either compromised and in a state allergy—all legendary groups with which the PUL fought side by side in the trenches in search of freedom and liberty—the “Pen Fraternity”, the PUL, stands in the gap.
Let’s not forget that while it may be true the struggle of yesteryears for multiparty democracy, free speech and media freedom is won significantly, the struggle is not over. The vices of tyranny, despotism and injustice that were fought in the 70s, 80s and 90s have mutated and camouflaged into equally pillaging forms and are still holding the peace, security and prosperity of this first black republic, this 177-year nation, and its people in hostage. “Subtly crude” suppression of the free speech is taking place every day in various forms, despite the seeming proliferation of media organs, and signing of various laws and protocols. Amid apparent free speech, freedom of association and assembly, etc. as declared and seemingly becoming the order of the day, the Liberian ruling class continues to unleash its daggers of bad governance, corruption, political purging, ethical decadence, injustice and inequality upon the silent majority. And almost clearly, people’s resistance, the checkmating and agitations of yesteryears, is at the lower ebb.
THAT IS WHY many citizens, particularly friends of the media, were downcast deep in their minds and souls when the Press Union of Liberia, the lone survivor of the people’s struggle, took a nosedive on the cleft of the battle, not because of any external hit and aggression or any external targeting as it was in the past, but because of internal wranglings, personality contests, and personal greed and ego.
A LOT OF people and organizations lamented and regretted the PUL’s protracted feud with itself, despite the presence of other pro-freedom, pro-rights actors simply because this iconic progressive group which draws its membership from men and women involved with the information and communication sector of society, is widely believed and accepted as the fearless catalyst and arrowhead of all other fighters, and the bedrock for continued struggle against societal ills.
AND THIS IS why we are calling on all journalists, particularly members of the diagonal cleavages that were involved in the last two years of dispute, to give the Union’s peace and stability a chance. Regrettably, already, dissenting echoes are bellowing from the defeated cleavage, discrediting results of elections just held and dismissing the integrity of those who were in charge.
NO ONE NEEDS to be a soothsayer to predict that such the dissenting group is poised to choose between continued agitation in defense of its rights and aspirations or adoption of an uncooperative and resigning attitude when there is the need for all hands to be on deck.
AMID THE DISCONTENT, it appears many particularly the victorious cleavage and other stakeholders are paying little or no attention, perhaps thinking that the ire in the air will heal naturally. And gladly, they are planning inauguration activities and making ambitious plans all over the place.
LET IS BE known that while democracy largely articulates the principle of number or majority rule, common sense and pragmatism require accommodation and respect for the right of the defeated and of the minority. It’s an open secret that in Africa, Liberia perhaps most prominently, political actors and even nonpolitical actors purportedly espouse democratic principles but are chronically allergic to its virtues, outcomes and practices such as elections. This is why practices such as “political inclusion” that comes with “winners-shouldn’t-take-all”, and even pacifications of the defeated, are inescapable common-sense tendencies that any good winners should pursue for lasting stability, peace, unity and progress.
AND THIS METHOD of inclusion and pacification if possible is highly recommendable to the PUL Leadership-Elect going forward because the Union and individual journalists and all those who share and love the work of the Union just cannot afford a relapse into paralysis. Lest we forget, under our “rule of law” doctrine, no one can stop anyone from issuing legal actions, including prohibitions and court gymnastics, whether well-intentioned or ill-intentioned, but it all has the tendency to derailing and even killing the aspirations for moving forward.
INDEED, TOO MUCH is happening in this country; not much has changed in terms of political failure, economic injustice, corruption, inequality, decadence in public offices, and survivors and victims of excesses by individual public servants or the state or the governing administration are crying for their mouth-piece, the PUL, to take its rightful place for and in their defense.
THUS, LET’S THINK soberly and act rightfully as journalists, as leaders of journalists, for the PUL is not merely our common denominator and common defense, but also the biggest weapon of resistance and deterrence for the silent majority of Liberians. A wakeup call!