PPCPD Calls for the Immediate Release of Morlu et al

Atlanta, GA 03/12/09: ThePeople to People Campaign for Peace and Democracy in Liberia (PPCPDL)
strongly condemn the recent arrest of peaceful Liberians by officers of the Liberian National Police as a result of a peaceful demonstration launch during the International Women's Colloquium in Monrovia.

The Campaign further learned that the head of the Forum for the Establishment of War Crimes Court in Liberia Mr. Mulbah Morlu requested a permit from Justice Ministry officials and was denied for no tangible
reason thereby leaving them with no alternative but to exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully.

As the world celebrates the fundamental right of women, it is very much disturbing that the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led government which took an oath to protect the right of its citizens will at the same time
recklessly imprisoned peaceful Liberians because they decided to exercise their fundamental human right.

The Campaign is calling on the Union of Liberian Association in the America (ULAA) thru its newly elected President Anthony V. Kesselly, Human Rights Organizations, the United States Government, Political Parties in Liberia to help pressurize the government of Liberia to immediately release these peaceful Liberians from prison so that they
can rejoin their respective families and go about their normal lives. PPCPDL continues to observe STRANGE THINGS HAPPENNING IN LIBERIA.


In the Cause of the People, The Struggle Continues!



Signed __________________________________
Isaac T. Settro, Jr.
CEO and Founder




____________________

i have no problem with peaceful demonstration but why our folks will only wait till you have international events to do their protest. if your reason is valid enough do it anyway. it becomes a tricky situation when you have numerous heads of state visiting for such a huge event (already skeptical because of the war etc history of Liberia) then people are seen protesting on the street.

i agree they should be release but let start considering other factors when they choose to protest. i know for sure and have been in some group that will say "oh they're having this international event so if we demonstrate then, the world will hear our side of the story". They may just be doing more harm then good then. In this case, the Women colloquium was not the place to conduct their protest. They should be release though.

If you want to protest, get a permit from the government, government then sends the police or paramilitary to protect your right to demonstrate.

If they don't do that, and an impromptu demonsration gets out of hand and unscrupulous people use the event to loot and kill, what says ye then?

gadyu wrote:

If you want to protest, get a permit from the government, government then sends the police or paramilitary to protect your right to demonstrate.

If they don't do that, and an impromptu demonsration gets out of hand and unscrupulous people use the event to loot and kill, what says ye then?

Gadyu, i guess u know the history of Justice Ministry officials refusing to issue permit to Liberians in order to exercise their constitution right. We ( The Progressive Alliance of Liberia) encounter similar situation like this which led to the April 14, 1979 Rice Riot..So i understand Morlu and the rest situation.

LadyFlo wrote:

i have no problem with peaceful demonstration but why our folks will only wait till you have international events to do their protest. if your reason is valid enough do it anyway. it becomes a tricky situation when you have numerous heads of state visiting for such a huge event (already skeptical because of the war etc history of Liberia) then people are seen protesting on the street.

i agree they should be release but let start considering other factors when they choose to protest. i know for sure and have been in some group that will say "oh they're having this international event so if we demonstrate then, the world will hear our side of the story". They may just be doing more harm then good then. In this case, the Women colloquium was not the place to conduct their protest. They should be release though.

It doesn't matter where you demonstrate. The exercise of ones
fundamental human right to demonstrate is basic and has nothing to do
with class and whatever kind of event. People in America demonstrate at
the RNC and Democratic Convention. There are demonsration at the G-8
summit and other international events.

It is in Liberia where Justice Ministry Officials and the courts use
the issuance of permit to deny Liberians of the basic constitutional
right. Gone are the days and in the cause of the people the struggle
continue...