A group of Liberians opposed to the June 7 peaceful protest, the Citizens United to Sustain Peace and Democracy says the protest held last week by the Council of Patriots (COP) was a waste of time.
Addressing a press conference Tuesday, 11 June in Monrovia, the chairman of the Citizens United to Sustain Peace and Democracy Atty. Patrice P. Weah claimed that the June 7 protest by the COP was a mirage and a façade to unleash alleged sinister designs against the hard earned peace and democracy that yielded no positive and meaningful result for the Liberian people.
The COP supported by Liberia’s four collaborating opposition political parties led the peaceful protest to demand President Weah to publish his assets, address the bad state of the economy, alleged corruption and dismiss and prosecute Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Executive Governor Nathaniel Patray, among others.
They have given the government one month to address a long list of demands which will determine their next course of action.
Days after the protest, President Weah has expressed thanks to the protesters and other Liberians who did not take part in the protest, for their efforts in strengthening the peace and consolidating the country’s democracy, and also for the peaceful and orderly manner in which they exercised their right on 7 June.
Notwithstanding, Atty. Weah claims that the June 7 protest is a gimmick that was masterminded by few individuals who disguised themselves as patriots.
He contends that it has become glaring and public debate here that the essence of the June 7 assembly as provided in Article 17 of the Liberian Constitution was to present a petition for redress of grievances.
However Atty. Weah observes that this task of presenting a petition was never done by the COP, allegedly justifying some citizens’ fears that there was an underpinning intent held by the COP.
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Atty. Weah believes that the protesters are non – nationalistic elements that sought to short-circuit the pursuit of post conflict reconstruction and forestall the building of the state architecture that will facilitate socio-political and economic advancement of the country.
He alleges that from all indications the protest was basically intended to attract undue and fragile international public opinion to help provide a face for political cleansing for individuals with identity crisis and the political phantasmagoria they suffer.
Meanwhile Atty Weah discloses plans to sue those financiers who monopolized mobile telecommunication, and allegedly exploited millions of United States Dollars from poor people for a novelty of cell phone.By Lewis S. Teh–Edited by Winston W. Parley
