|
"History Has
A Way Of Passing Harsh Judgement On Unscrupulous Rascals..."
Says Fahnbulleh
-An Interview-
Dr. H. Boima Fahnbulleh, Jr., former presidential candidate of
the Reformation Party, one of the thirteen parties which participated
in the July 1997 elections, was interviewed by The Perspective
magazine from London, England, where he is currently residing.
Dr. Fahnbulleh offered his views on the elections and a wide-range
of issues affecting Liberia's political future
IN TAYLOR'S LIBERIA,
THIEVES ARE THRIVING & SO IS CORRUPTION
A little over a year ago, Liberians enthusiastically went to
the polls in what seemingly appeared to have been an expression
of a general desire to look up to one overarching authority vested
in Mr. Charles Ghangay Taylor to rule them with mandates unsurpassed
by previous authorities on the Liberian Political scene. In an
unusual twist of logic, many Liberians voting in last year's
elections, wished that eventhough Mr.Taylor "killed their
Mom and Pa," they were convinced to vote him into power
on the assumption that his presence in the Executive Mansion
conferred a reassuring sense of order and direction on a fractious
country struggling to recover from a revolving state of anarchy
induced by the very man Liberians turned to - to rescue their
country from his self-induced anarchy.
Taylor's One Year
In Review: All Promises, No Substance
By his own admission, Charles Taylor has said that his first
year in office has been a failure. He attributes the failure
of his government to the international community whom he says
refuses to come to his aid since he was elected president of
Liberia.
Thank goodness, Mr. Taylor saw the light this time and didn't
dare blame his political enemies at home for this latest fiasco.
Speaking at the Unity Conference Center in Virginia, at the
occasion of the national conference on the future of Liberia,
Mr. Taylor acknowledged the shortcomings of his administration,
and the incompetence that is characteristic of his NPP-dominated
government. Taylor remarked verbatim: "... you elected me
one year ago, but I have to admit to you [that] I am catching
hard time [difficulty], and I have failed you in my first year."
A Crisis Of National
Security
The Taylor administration came to power after seven years of
a bruising civil war in Liberia during which Charles Taylor,
the principal instigator of the violence, commanded one of the
most vicious militias in recent memories.
His child soldiers, stoned on drugs and other substances,
killed nearly everyone in their path as they commandeered their
way to power. In the process, these bandits terrorized and extorted
the helpless citizens. Together with other guerrilla factions,
they wildly butchered, disabled villagers, and raped terrified
women as they plundered the country to near depletion.
Gen. Roosevelt Johnson:
Taylor Is Not The Right Material To Bring Reconciliation - An
Interview
During his recent visit to the United States to seek medical
attention, The Perspective had the opportunity to interview Gen.
Roosevelt Johnson, former factional leader of the United Liberation
Movement (ULIMO-J). Gen. Johnson offered his views on the Liberian
civil war that killed over 250,000 hapless Liberians, and on
current developments in Liberia.
The Plight Of Liberians
In Poland There is a considerable number of Liberians
here in Eastern Europe, the so-called former communist block.
They include medical doctors, linguists, teachers among others
who have studied in various higher institutions of learning here.
The sad thing is, we are stranded. Many of us have no passports,
amidst the fast growing economies of Eastern Europe, we are virtually
pushed to the margins here. The impact? insecurity, with no sense
of belonging.
The Cock And The Gun:
Liberia's Continuing Legacy Of Violence And Male Domination
This is your cock, this is your gun. One is to kill, one
is for fun. - US military chant
While addressing the nation a few months ago commemorating National
Unification Day, President Taylor seized the opportunity to advance
his vision of what he considers as remedies of Liberia's longstanding
and systemic division that has eroded national stability and
contributed to constant tension in the society. President Taylor
pronounced that all the ethnic groups in Liberia must intermarry
with one another, and he would set the example by marrying a
Mandingo woman.
But, any person seriously concerned with the position and
condition of African women - social, economic and psychological
- and Liberia's societal development, must take a hard second
look at Charles Taylor's statement on polygamy (polygyny).
The Challenges Facing
Diaspora Africans Who Return To Africa
Today there is a debate on whether African Americans can survive
in Africa once they return to the Mother Continent. A question
which is being asked is: If they returned to Africa, can they
settle and make a difference, like the diasporic Jews have done
for Israel?
Issues In Perspective:
Polygyny (Polygamy) Is Already A Practice
To Africans including Liberians, the institution of polygyny
(polygamy) is nothing strange. Polygyny was the acceptable form
of marriage in Africa prior to the arrival of the colonizers
and Christianity. The same can be said about the Americo Liberian
settlers. As a matter of fact, the Settlers got involved in this
practice of having more than one wife.
The Hubbub Over Foreign
Aid: Facing The Sobering Reality
Recent pronouncements by officials of the Liberian government,
including President Taylor, indicate that the government is disappointed
with the current level of foreign aid to Liberia. Two months
after submitting the government's National Reconstruction Program
to an international donor conference in Paris last April, Liberia's
Finance Minister chastised the African Development Bank (ADB),
at its recent Annual Conference, for not being "responsive
to Africa's needs", noting specifically that the Bank has
failed to come to Liberia's aid (The Inquirer, Vol. 7, No. 95).
Upon returning home from a trip to Nigeria and Burkina Faso early
July, President Taylor too accused the international community
of turning its back on Liberia, saying all that the country is
getting from non-African nations is promises (Liberian Daily
News Bulletin, Star Radio, July 6).
Citizenship Debate:
Who Can Become A Liberian?
Liberia is currently caught in the throes of a renewed debate
on who should become a citizen. The issue centers on whether
non-Negroids should own property and become citizen of Liberia.
The debate has gotten national attention and is being considered
by the Liberian Legislature.
Community Roundup
Monrovia Fest
As part of their continuing contribution to America's Independence
day, two local Liberian promoters/organizers in Metro Atlanta
hosted a series of events on July 4 at John White Park on Cascade
Road to commemorate the independence anniversary of their adopted
country. Dazia Fumbah and Bernard Benson, co- founders of the
annual event known as Monrovia Fest, have been the brain behind
this spectacular gathering of Liberians and other nationalities
over the years.
Letters To The
Editor
Other Voices
Send Comments To: The
Perspective
Subscribe Today to The Perspective
$20.00 Per year
The Perspective
P. O. Box 2824
Smyrna, GA 30081
|
