Liberian Refugees commend chairman Bryant
The Inquirer
Monrovia, Liberia
Distributed by
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
Posted January 9, 2004
Liberian refugees in the Sub-region through the Liberia Refugees Network Committee
in a press release have welcomed Chairman Gyude Bryant’s call for all
Liberians to reconcile their differences.
"It is our expectation that Liberians show true patriotism and love for
Liberia during this new year and avoid personal aggrandizement, vindictiveness,
sectionalism, discrimination, social corruption, etc.
"If we must tread the path of true reconciliation and psycho-social healing,
the rights of participation in this government of inclusion must be extended
to the Liberian refugees and returnees from the sub-region and all well-meaning
Liberians, who wish to avail themselves of the opportunities that Liberia
presents for participatory democracy in the era of transparent justice and
national rehabilitation.
"The flagrant denial of our representation to the NTLA, and the exclusion
of refugees in the National Transitional Government are not only a gross violation
of the Accra peace accord, but a calculated act of marginalization and rejection
of Liberian refugees not to participate in the new political dispensation
for national reconciliation and reconstruction of Liberia.
"The Liberia Refugee Network Committee is disappointed at protracted
silence of the NTGL, LURD, MODEL and former GOL, and the Civil Society Organizations
concerning the plight of refugees struggle for justice and fair play. We out-rightly
condemn the sycophantic and chameleon role of some government officials who
claim to have love for this nation, but are suppressing the progress of Liberian
refugees who have suffered and continue to suffer over the years in foreign
lands as a result of war and instability in Liberia.
"We are therefore calling on H. E. Chairman C. Gyude Bryant, UN Special
Envoy to Liberia, Ambassador Jacques Paul Klein, ECOWAS Special Representative
to Liberia, Dr. Francis Blain, the ICGL including Human Rights/Pro-democracy
groups, and the Inter-Faith Council to intervene in the issue refugees'representation
to the NTLA and their participation in the National Transitional Government
of Liberia, "the press release of the Liberia Refugees Network concluded.