Is The Ellen Sirleaf Government Criminalizing Criticism? Where is Gongloe and Others

IS THE SIRLEAF ADMINISTRATION CRIMINALIZING DISSENT?
By: Emmanuel Dolo, Ph. D. (Guest Commentary)
State repression that infringes on the basic rights of Liberians is exactly why the war occurred. That is why anything that comes close to it must remain within the dustbin of our history. Abusive security and legal mechanisms that deprive Liberians of their basic rights are the least that we expect of the Sirleaf administration; considering the presence of so many active human rights advocates in the government. News that the Sirleaf administration allegedly unleashed its security apparatus on two of its peaceful critics has already had harmful effects on the human rights community at home and abroad. A climate of panic and insecurity uncharacteristic of a democratic state now reigns. Liberians are uncertain about how to distinguish between which “speech” is permissible, and which is forbidden under the Sirleaf government. Is the lesson here that when you peacefully criticize the government you will be thrown in jail?
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WWW.THELIBERIANJOURNAL.COM (The Liberian Journal)