Liberia is on the move, since 2003 our
nation has moved into a civilized world, it
has become a nation that is slowly nurturing
into a multi cultural society, a nation that
has given value to human rights, a nation
that has got on the train of democracy, and
nation that is working hard to improve its
human development capacity.
Despite the progress, there is always one
question on the lips of many intellectuals
that is whether democracy in Africa is truly
working. Are Africans able to hold their
governments accountable for delivering the
services that are important to citizens?
Fortunately, this is becoming a reality in
my homeland, Liberia. We have scores of
human rights organizations operating, and
freedom of expressions and equality are
valuable part of our society now.
As a result, I am happy that Liberia is no
longer a place where my cousins Hassan
Bility or Sheikh Sackor would be arrested
and sent to jail, merely because they are
strong advocates for Human Rights. I am
also happy that Liberia is no longer a place
where my friend, Musa KM Sheriff, would be
denied a Liberian passport or asked
unnecessary questions at Salala check-point
because he is a Mandingo man. Now the wind
of freedom and equality is blowing across
the geo-political demography of the entire
country.
As I sit and reflect over the past 14 years
of war, and the terrible regime of Taylor
and his gangs, I saw nothing but despair,
gloom and frustrations in the face of every
Liberian, and then I further think of recent
situation, I see hope, joy and smile in the
face of every Liberian, and I am so
delighted that my nation is strongly
determined to transcend the scourges of
prejudice, envy, and cultural conditioning
which, from the genesis of Taylor’s reign of
terror to his ignominious expulsion, my
sweet home Liberia had been decimated and
buried into a living oblivion.
Truly, there is a hope, because our
government is working very hard to protect
us, making security a top priority, it is
never the case of the past regime of Taylor,
where security forces and their practices
were of no acceptable standard, to provide a
sound security community: they were lacking
coherence, legitimacy, effectiveness and
human rights orientation. I want to strongly
argue that they were organized merely to
serve and protect the regime and its family
members.
Consequently, under no good Government that
those kinds of ‘security system’ and its
operationalisation can be acclaimed; they
did not enjoy the public trust or
cooperation. In contrast to this, President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has embarked on
security sector reform – making the
transformation a great priority with the
help of the United Nations. The newly built
security forces are enjoying the trust, the
passion and cooperation across the civic,
cultural and the political spectrums of the
country.
I strongly believe that Liberia is on the
move. Over the past three years our economy
is picking up, many Liberians in North
America, Europe and Australia are going
back to invest, foreign companies are
developing interest, and finding our nation
to be a good place for investment. And I
believe that this is specifically due to
improvement in the security system; which is
a sufficient and necessary condition for
investment of foreign capital in the country
But, we still have a lot on our plate;
democracy is not just the right to vote or
the right to a public office; it requires a
whole host of complex rights, duties and
responsibilities, and I am sure that
Liberians from all walks of life would
employ their best endeavors so that our
country, Liberia, would live to the promise
of its creed as articulated in the National
Anthem that “This glorious land of liberty
shall long be ours” and to which the Lord of
nature has bestowed upon us to inherit and
nurture till its transfer to our future
generations.
Musa V.
Sheriff
haidaramv@yahoo.com
Melbourne,
Australia
Musa V
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