‘We Will Protect the Peace’ -Min. Piah Assures Public Following Capitol Hill Melee

MONROVIA – In the wake of yesterday’s chaotic clashes between officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and a group of protestors who converged on Capitol Hill under the banner “Concerned Citizens for the Protection of our Constitution, Democracy, and the Rule of Law”, a situation that caused pandemonium in Central Monrovia, the Liberian Minister of Information, Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, has assured citizens that the Joseph Nyuma Boakai administration would do everything legally possible to protect the peace, especially during the festive season.

Addressing the media Tuesday at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing, Minister Piah said the government was quite aware of plans by some disgruntled elements to cause chaos through sustained protests.

“Of late, you’ve heard different concerns from different groupings in our country. Some have vowed that there will be protests. Some have used various media platforms to openly call for the overthrow of the current government,” Piah said at the press briefing. “We are well informed as a government. We are listening, but most importantly, we are running a democratic government and the respect for the rights of our citizens is paramount.”

He continued: “Even though we realize that some of the individuals taking these actions are looking for scenarios where they can be made heroes, we can assure the population that they will not get that opportunity. But at the same time, they can be assured that our fundamental responsibility as a government is to protect life and property. It cannot be compromised and will be upheld all the time.”

Piah further noted: “President Sirleaf was elected twice. She served her term. When she was leaving, she anointed her Vice President. The Liberian people said no, we want another person. They found another leader. That leader had six years. He was given the space; he led. Until the people said ‘we don’t want you again’. So, to see elements from those very quarters, not even having the stamina to hold on. Less than a year later, they are calling for the overthrow of a democratically chosen government, a massive provocation to say the least. But, as I said from the beginning, we will not make any heroes who want to be,”

The information minister used the occasion to remind the citizens that no matter what plans were being hatched, the government of Liberia would never shy from its responsibility to protect life and property.

“The nation, Liberia, has been at peace,” he said. “Liberians want and desire peace. And that peace that they need is even more imperative during this holiday season. During this period, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, an icon that we know to be a symbol of peace. He came into the world to bring redemption to mankind. We celebrate his birth every year. Everyone will have interest in having a peaceful celebration for Christmas. So, we’ve been asking ourselves, why are there some in society who are bent on making a season meant for peace, to be a season of chaos.

“So, we have to look beyond what their motives are. Like I said, the intent of some of them is to make very outrageous statements like calling for the overthrow of the government, and maybe when you run after them, suddenly, they become a star or hero passing around. They are not going to get it from this government. But they can be assured that beyond the things they say with their mouths, there is a government that is in charge, that will do whatever it takes legally to keep this country peaceful and safe. So, we can assure our people that they can focus on going about their normal businesses; that the government they chose, that is in charge of the country, will ensure their safety. We will protect their peace.”

A Caveat to the Media

The information minister seized the occasion to caution the media against false reportage, especially those who he said lied that the police fired live bullets during the altercation with the protestors on Capitol Hill.

“Today, many of you journalists witnessed what was happening,” he emphasized. “Some of the threats that I made reference to, perhaps people thought to implement them. And the area towards the Capital was chaotic. Of course, we are mourning the death of our former Vice President, Honorable John Gray, the President was expected to sign the book of condolence, and I guess some of the individuals who were acting were intentional, knowing that the President is supposed to be here. So, they were disbursed.”

Piah added: “And strangely like it will always be, some media institution ran with a headline that said ‘live bullets were used’.  FrontPage Africa’s Rodney Sieh. Rodney, a very good journalist by all standards. We are aware that he’s not in the country, but we also encourage him to pay attention to his newspaper, because he made some name for himself. Because when we read the article, it was written by someone who is not Rodney himself. There are people with political motives who are bent on undermining the credibility of his paper and he has a standard. Because the truth is, there was zero round of live bullets fired. In other words, bullets at the scene of the assembly.

“Whatever the motive of the reporter would be for which he made such a publication, remains to be known. But the way to simply put it is that whoever that reporter is for FrontPage Africa told a lie. He or she lied. There was no live bullet fired, and the Police Inspector General just said he has offered to provide vehicles for them so they drive to all the hospitals and clinics in the country so that they can show us the victims of the live bullets.”

He noted that the country was engaged internationally, and that right now, the IMF and other institutions are going to make serious decisions on the country.

“And all we say about these kinds of publications is that they are meant to undermine the progress of the country,” said the information minister, and added: “For the very people you are trying to communicate to, they have spies. They are here. If live bullets were used, they would see it. If bullets killed somebody, they would see the victim. But to be deliberately telling lies as it was done. Most of the protests that are happening here, live cameras are all there. I guess many of you here may have been there. We look forward to the videos, like the Inspector General said, of the live rounds being fired, and the victims thereof.”

Continuing, Piah said: “We know the country has a lot of challenges. When employment is at the highest peak, the government cannot employ everybody. You look forward to private investors investing here and creating the jobs. But how do they come with the things you want to do? But you just wake up from your bedroom and publish something that is not true at all, an intentional lie. And you expect somebody who has money to say yes let me go to Liberia and invest so that people can have jobs?”

He said government is not against reporting the facts, and that if something sincerely happened at the site of the protest, “you report it and that’s just it. But you make up lies just because you want to be negative about your own country. It’s unfortunate.”

“Don’t forget, each of you are Liberian first, before becoming a journalist,” he cautioned reporters further. “And even what you want to do as journalists is inconsistent with your citizenship, with your nationalistic stature, or patriotic standing, especially so when you tell deliberate lies, then you have to rethink. Ask yourselves, what contribution am I making to my own country.”

A Development-oriented leadership Under Boakai

Minister Piah also used his remarks at the press briefing to speak to other national issues, including President Boakai’s attendance of the ECOWAS Summit.

“The president returned to the country in an upbeat mood, more prepared to do the work of the Liberian people,” he said.

While the president was on that trip, Piah said, he met with his brother and friend, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and thanked him for being the democrat he is, and for managing the democratic transition in Ghana very well.

“We want to reemphasize that we are committed to peace, progress, development and security,” Piah also asserted. “Beyond what you hear on all the different platforms, the fact that you are on the grounds, open your eyes a little bit, drive around the city, see what’s going on.”

He reflected on the last six years when, according to him, Liberians were told that there would be no road problem in this country because some of the country’s leaders referred to themselves as medicine in everything.

“They were ‘Bad Road Medicine’; they were ‘Darkness Medicine’. They were everything. See, all the roads around here are nonexistent. The Ministry of Public Works leading the charge, massive road rehabilitation work is ongoing all over the place.

“Mo Ali and the Water and Sewer are taking water to the homes of people. With electricity, Mr. Slanger just told me yesterday or so about the massive planting of solar lights that have lighted our cities, and have reached West Point. West Point is a place that has been lucky. I remember when I was Press Secretary to President Sirleaf when we started making interventions on the roads around Monrovia, West Point was one of places that got paved roads in the blink of an eye.

“When we started the “Small Light Today, Big Light Tomorrow” initiative, West Point was one of the first places that benefited. So, our development initiative is not for a certain area. All of our citizens are entitled to development, and they will get it. That is what the Boakai administration is focused on, and not on the attempts to distract and undermine the peace of this country.”