Taylor's Party, NPP, to Sue the Liberian Government

By: Helroz Zorleh & Obadiah Karnah, II

 

Forum
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted April 4, 2006

 

The former ruling National Patriotic Party of Liberia (NPP), has issued a statement threatening lawsuit against the UP-led government of Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

According to the party Secretary General John Whitfield, the actors in the arrest, transfer and subsequent hand-cuffing of former President Charles Taylor committed what he called “collaborative kidnap.”

The party which made the statement yesterday also said the UP-led government was apprehending and detaining citizens without justifiable reason.

During the recent meeting held at the party headquarters in Sinkor, Mr. Whitfield said the party will not be silent on issues regarding the War Crimes Court proceeding involving former President Charles Taylor.

He said despite the state security intimidation of people who are loyalists to former the President, the party will not be restricted by anyone to speak out.

He noted that NPP is one of the registered political parties in the country as such it will continue to exercise its political activities in the wake of the former standard bearer’s indictment.

The party National Executive Committee member reminded partisans that the party has reached a critical juncture that could lead to its survival or inactiveness due to the on going UN war crime court proceedings which the former president is currently faced with in Sierra Leone.

Mr. Whitfield indicated that as far as he is concerned NPP did not commit any crime which could prevent any of its members to speak out.

He furthered that in spite of the problems the party is going through, the NPP will remain strong and functional as a former ruling party noting that the party will support the on- going peace and reconciliation process of Liberia.

He also reminded the Unity Party- led government and the Liberian public that the NPP is not a party of confusion but a party with law abiding people who have invested in the economic recovery and reconstruction of the country.


© 2006: This article is copyrighted by the Forum newspaper (Monrovia, Liberia) and distributed by The Perspective (Atlanta, Georgia). All rights reserved. Forum can reached at: Forum@theperspective.org