ULAA Demands Taylor's Resignation

The Perspective

May 1, 2001

Editor's Note: Concluding its rally and conference on democracy which brought together hundreds of Liberians, this past weekend, to the City of Newark New Jersey, the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), in collaborations with other Liberian organizations, passed a string of resolutions, which among others, called for the resignation of Charles Taylor as President of Liberia.

"The Conference further resolved that given all of the aforementioned, it determined that to safeguard Liberia from the brink of anarchy, dictatorship, underdevelopment, deprivation and violence, President Charles Taylor should resign as President of the Republic of Liberia."

Challenging Liberians to positive action by putting their money where their mouth is, the conference resolved to establish a democracy fund in preparation for the 2003 elections in Liberia.

The conference which followed the rally held in New York, comes on the heels of the United Nations' pending sanctions which are scheduled to be imposed on Liberia by May 7. The Liberian public opinion, both at home and in the Diaspora, is unanimous in their support for sanctions despite arguments to the contrary that sanctions would hurt the "ordinary" Liberians.

Below is the full text of the ULAA Resolution:

Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA)
Resolutions of the National Conference on Democracy in Liberia

Theme: " Formulating A Strategic Framework For The Democratization of the
Liberian Society"

We Liberians residing in the United States, converging under the auspices of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas and hosted by the Liberian Community Association of North Jersey, at a National Conference on Democracy on Liberia on Saturday, April 28, 2001 in Newark, New Jersey, reviewed and examined the current political, economic and social conditions in Liberia since the 1997 special elections.

Liberians expected the elected government to:
o Maintain peace and security;
o Economic recovery and regulatory practices;
o Promote reconciliation and national unity;
o Professionalize the military and police;
o Improve education and health-care delivery, and
o Reform the political process

During nearly four years of the Taylor presidency, the hopes and aspirations
of our Liberian people have been dashed by:
o Ineptness, incompetence and corruption;
o Monopoly and lack of financial transparency;
o High unemployment and lack of investment;
o Rising ethnic tensions and religious intolerance;
o Benign neglect of basic services, including health, education, water, electricity, food, etc.
o Presidential control of the judiciary and legislature;
o Internal insecurity and regional destabilization, and
o Domestic repression and self-serving propaganda.

Having identified major impediments to the democratization of the Liberian society under the Taylor Presidency, the Conference resolved that the vision of a democratic and economically developed Liberia entails the following principles and goals:
1. The full participation of the Liberian people in the governance of their country;
2. The adherence to multi-party democracy and tolerance of political opposition;
3. The adherence to the Constitution and rule of law;
4. The independence of all branches of government and adherence to the check and balance system;
5. The provision of equal opportunity for all Liberians;
6. The improvement of the basic standard of living of all Liberians;
7. The creation and maintenance of employment opportunities through a vibrant private sector and middle class;
8. Accountability in the management of the resources and affairs of the country;
9. Guarantee fundamental human rights and civil liberties;
10. Maintain regional peace and security, particularly good neighborly relationships, and
11. Foster and preserve national unity and integrity, including ethnic harmony and religious tolerance.

The Conference further resolved that given all of the aforementioned, it determined that to safeguard Liberia from the brink of anarchy, dictatorship, underdevelopment, deprivation and violence, President Charles Taylor should resign as President of the Republic of Liberia.

Towards this end the Conference finally resolved to take the following actions:
1. Calls upon all Liberians and members of the international community to fully support the UN Sanctions against the Taylor-led government
2. Calls upon all international humanitarian organizations to provide material assistance to the Liberian people through local non-governmental
organizations;
3. Calls upon all Liberians and their organizations in developing further civic and public relations actions in bringing the plight of the Liberian people to light;
4. Calls upon Liberians in the United States to establish a $I million democracy fund for voter registration and education for the 2003 elections in Liberia by requesting each Liberian to contribute at least $5.00 to this fund.
5. Calls upon Liberians in the United States to support the establishment of a War Crimes Tribunal to investigate and prosecute all war crimes against humanity during the Civil War.

Done in the City of Newark, New Jersey this 28th Day of April, 2001