Concern Mounts Over Memorial Service

Concern Mounts Over Memorial Service

By: Lewis K.Glay

Forum
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted April 26, 2005

There have been mixed reactions in Monrovia concerning recent memorial service held by the sons, daughters, relatives and sympathizers of the 13 executed officials of the Tolbert era coming from several quarters including the University of Liberia.

For instance, an economic instructor (named withheld) has expressed his sympathy for such public execution of Liberians in cold blood for an alleged corruption of the Tolbert regime.

The UL lecturer argued that the 1980 execution of 13 officials of the Tolbert administration was the outburst of the chronic political bitterness, which the nation is confronted with today.

However, other Liberians have termed the move as an act of retracing the root cause of chaos in the country parlayed by civil war.

According to those opposing the commemoration of the day, this has the propensity to draw the attention of the families of victims of past massacres dated as far back as the days of the natives’ rebellion against the settlers as well as the 14 years conflict.

Mr. Joseph Farkollie, a citizen of Kolahum, Lofa County, opposed the move over the weekend when he made remarks at the Kolahum Women Development Association(KOWODA) launching program held on the University of Liberia Main campus.

Mr. Farkollie said in 1918 about seven opinion leaders including chiefs, who vehemently resisted the Americo- Liberians were executed in Kolahum and no one has ever given credence to such public execution of those people by organizing a memorial service.

He opined that no particular group of Liberians can be more important than another especially when it comes to the deaths of people through a political struggle.

According to him, the recent memorial service in honor of the 13 slain Americo-Liberians in 1980 has the tendency to dig out old wounds thereby undermining the ongoing reconciliation and reconstruction of post war Liberia.

It can be recalled that last Friday, 22 April 2005 witnessed memorial service for the 13 officials of the William R. Tolbert regime who were publicly executed by the People’s Redemption Council (PRC) a military junta headed by Master Sergeant Samuel K. Doe shortly following the overthrow of that era.