The Inquirer
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted July 14, 2004

As the debate for the lifting of the United Nations imposed sanctions continues, a local civic group is urging that the sanctions remain in force for now; as Patrick K. Wrokpoh reports.

The Liberians Organized for Change((LIBOCH), says the sanction regime on Liberia should not be lifted until the Liberian government can control the escalation of prices on the market as well as pay civil servants their salary arrears and provide social amenities including electricity to the people.

LIBOCH’s founding chairman Edward Forh made these assertions on behalf of the organization when he delivered a special address at program marking the official launch of the organization last weekend at the Monrovia City Hall.

Speaking further, Mr. Forh, who is also a Liberian educator, said the government must ensure a way to change the society and improve the living condition of the Liberian people by making utilizing the resources at its disposal and not just cry foul for the sanctions to be lifted before it can honor its obligation to the people.
He urged the government to cultivate the habit of developing a sense of humanity and be sensitive to the plight of the Liberian people.

The LIBOCH official said the provision of basic social services such as electricity to the Liberian people must begin with the lightening up of the streets and then gradually extending to the homes of the people. He stressed that the provision of electricity to the nation is a matter of urgency.
Mr. Ford pointed out that the government being insensitive to the plight of the Liberian people, makes one to draw the conclusion that its call for the lifting of the sanction is just intended to promote the selfish interest of just a few individuals.

He called on Liberians to wake up and disallow a clique of few individuals from exploiting the people stressing, “let us rise up and do something”.

Earlier, the keynote speaker at the ceremony, Rev. Bartholomew B. Colley of the Urban Ministry Program of the Lutheran Church, said Liberia needs to undergo a change because as he put it, the changes the nation has undergone over the years, have brought about destruction by damaging the economy, towns, villages among others.

He said there has been no substantial change in the country over the past years but that has taken place in putting what he called “old wine in a new bottle”.

Rev. Bartholomew called on Liberians to join LIBOCH in helping to change Liberia from its present state to a better one, stressing that only those who are convinced that the nation needs change can help bring change.