African-Americans and Blacks in the Diaspora have asked the US government not to relent in its support of the unfinished electoral process in Liberia. It will be recalled that the US Embassy in Monrovia had issued a statement last week affirming its confidence in the integrity of the hotly contested October 10 presidential and election in the country. The statement pointed out that no accredited Liberian, regional, or international observation group suggested that the cumulative anomalies observed in that polling reflect systemic issues sufficient to undermine the fundamental integrity of the electoral process. The statement by Blacks in The Diaspora, distributed online to influential American media, is calculated to back the US government’s statement in reference to the ongoing allegation of fraud and irregularities which the Liberty Party is contesting with the National Election’s Commission, NEC, in Liberia.
The Liberty Party and its collaborating counterparts have said that their protest of the October 10 presidential and representative elections are meant to establish that the outcomes do not reflect the will of the Liberian people, blaming few unscrupulous highly placed individuals for wanting to impose their will on the Liberian populace.
The US government, in a statement issued in Monrovia last week, underscored the importance of a peaceful transfer of power to a new democratically-elected president in January, as reflected in Liberia’s Constitution.
Though the LP and its collaborating parties are exercising their rights by pursuing legal recourse as manifested in the ongoing legal tussle with the NEC, the US government pointed out that rights imply that responsibilities should follow. “We note, however, that with rights come responsibilities,” the statement said. “Disputes and litigation should be initiated and conducted in good faith by the claimants, the NEC, and if needed, the Supreme Court, in an expeditious manner to permit the timely conclusion of Liberia’s electoral process and a peaceful transition.”
Liberia’s political leaders, the statement noted, should take their cue from citizens who waited patiently to vote and did so with respect for their fellow citizens, regardless of their political views. It warned that efforts by any actor to impede the expressed will of Liberians for personal ambition could risk goodwill and future investments in Liberia by international partners. “The Liberian people and the international community have worked too hard and invested too much to watch Liberia’s progress stall,” it said.
The US, it said, remains committed to Liberia’s future and encourages Liberians to conclude the presidential electoral process as soon as possible to allow Liberia’s democratic and economic progress to continue. “The US Embassy in Monrovia was inspired by 1.5 million Liberians who expressed their commitment to and faith in democracy by voting in the October 10 elections,” the release said.
The move by Blacks in the Diaspora is geared to support the US position on issues that were identified in the first round of voting, by “urging the National Elections Commission to undertake corrective actions before, during, and after the runoff election.”
The Embassy urged the top two finishers, the Vice-President, Joseph Boakai, representing the ruling Unity Party and the flag-bearer of the Coalition for Democratic Change, CDC, Senator George Weah, who collectively received the support of two-thirds of Liberian voters, to focus on constructively engaging each other and voters as they prepare to compete in the run-off poll next month.
