Electoral Reform Bill To Be Passed In Two Weeks
Forum
Monrovia, Liberia
Distributed by
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
October 19, 2004
Commany B. Wesseh, chairman on Peace and Reconciliation at
the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) has disclosed that
the long awaited reformed election laws bill, currently being scrutinized
by that August Body, is expected to be promulgated within the next two weeks.
Representative Wesseh, who is also member of NTLA Standing Committee on
Legislature, said that in addition to the cross-examination by the NTLA,
some professionals - including academicians, lawyers and other election
experts have put forward their views concerning the contents of the bill
when they (professionals) were invited at the Capitol recently. He said,
as at now, there is a heated debate - with differing views amongst
members of the Transitional Assembly. For instance, Assemblyman Wesseh revealed
that there are those who hold the view that “no part of the constitution
be suspended” regarding the passage of the bill; while others are
opposed.
Rep. Wesseh said, at the end of the day, “I can assure you that as
members of the Legislative Committee, we are working very hard so that within
the next two weeks, the bill would be passed”. Mr. Wesseh gave the
assurance over the weekend at an intellectual forum hosted by the Association
of Liberian Intellectuals at the Corner of Carey/Gurley Streets, where he
spoke on the topic: The hurdles and prospects in the Comprehensive Pace
Accord.
As a way of identifying the hurdles and prospects in the implementation
of the CPA, Rep. Wesseh divided the Accord in three categories, namely:
Security; Government Reconstitution and Elections.
Regarding security, he said the intent under this aspect was for warring
parties to first and foremost ceasefire; stop shooting at each other and
secondly to bring in the international force to intervene to help reconstitute
the national security, “But even following the ceasefire, there were
still violations; and so it has its own hurdles.”
On the aspect of government, Rep. Wesseh said although there was government
existing at the time, it had no legal power, as such, the CPA came into
force to reconstitute the state, although it would not be a perfect one-because
it’s a collection of good and bad, professionals, non-professionals
irrespective of status. While the third category has to do with elections
where people would choose who they want.
Rep. Wesseh said, with all these, there are still hurdles. For instance,
those who are being disarmed are not sure what would happen to them after
the process.
He however, assured that “If we work well and institutionalize justice,
there will be success.”
Touching on the rift between the NTLA and the Executive Mansion, Mr. Wesseh
said that in accordance with the CPA, the NTLA is a collection of warring
parties, Political parties, professionals and non-professionals to oversee
the works of the Executive because under the CPA the Chairman does not have
executive power. So there was the tension between the two institutions.
There were “necessary hurdles because of the newness of the process,
but both are now settling.” Rep. Wesseh said.
