Freedom, it is said, is not cheap and no
nation achieved it without a price. In order for Liberia to get to this
point of a seemingly enviable environment of freedom, others had to lay
down their lives (peace be to their ashes). Since then, anxiety,
paranoia remains high as to whether Liberia has fully reached the acme
of understanding the quintessence of freedom and is therefore creating
the environment for its exercise. That Liberians take advantage of radio
talk shows to express their supports and opposition to the government
is enough reasons for the existence of freedom of speech. Amidst the
high tension of polarizations, the worst has happened: the reported
arrest of pro- Ellen resign campaign. Isn't that a test of the
hard-earned freedom? The New Republic looks ahead.
As other moments in the history of the country, yesterday, October 9, 2013 will be remembered as the day the freedom so hardly labored for by Liberians, was put to test maybe for the worst, when four officials from the Movement of Ellen Step-Down Campaign were reportedly picked up by men said to be government security agents.
As news of the arrest of these men inundated and this paper meandered to confirm same, an official of the group, Vendalark Patrick phoned in and explained that four members of the Movement, Mulbah Morlu, Julius Jensen, Pastor Mark Anderson, the spokesman of the group including another member had been arrested allegedly by some officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the National Security Agency (NSA).
The information could not independently be verified as police spokesman, Sam Collins, dodged inquiries from this paper on the issue. But Power TV News quoted Mr. Sam Collins as saying that he is not aware of the alleged arrest of Mr. Morlue and others.
Without stating reasons for the reported arrest of Morlu and others, he said they were arrested around the Samoa's Bar vicinity in the Sinkor belt, which is located several miles away from the Roberts International Airport RIA in Margibi County, where President Sirleaf expected to touch down.
But a member of the Ellen Step-Down Movement, Emmanuel Gonquoi was quoted on Power TV news as saying that Mr. Morlu along with three other members of the Movement were allegedly arrested by some members of the Liberian National Police at the Samoa's Bar where they had gone to entertain themselves.
International newswire quoted Police Director Chris Massaquoi as mentioning the arrests while appearing on a Wednesday morning radio program.
He was quoted saying the suspects had been caught driving around Monrovia the day before, falsely announcing that Sirleaf had resigned.
He did not say how many were arrested, and police spokesman Sam Collins said the number was "not available to me."
Over the past months, the Movement for Ellen Step-Down Campaign has been campaigning, mobilizing and rallying Liberians to the cause of seeking the resignation of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on accounts of her "failure to fulfill her promises, to improve the livelihood of Liberians, massive corruption and other negative vices."
Days after the official launch of the "Ellen Step -Down Campaign" in the New Kru Community, a pro government group, Liberia for the Protection of Peace and Democracy (LPPD) was immediately introduced and launched in Monrovia.
The establishment of the LPPD also followed the dwindling of another pro-President still-on group, "Ellen Step Up Campaign," whose sole aim was to counteract the anti group.
Most Liberians denounced the formation of an organization comprised of government officials and hardcore supporters of the president when there is a peace initiative of which politician
George Weah is the head.
The LPPD has not responded to the criticisms coming from Liberians over the timing of it coming to being, rather it joined the bandwagon of mobilizing resources to welcome President Sirleaf back to Liberia.
According to information gathered by our source, while members of the Ellen Come Down Campaign were being hunted, pro-president groupings filled government owned and charted buses and sped to the RIA.
Our source who was at the RIA said employees from government ministries and agencies as well as ministers flocked the airport to receive the president.
Government's maneuvers
Since the announcement was made by the group, the Liberian government has been on the edge, maneuvering to restrain the anti-President from scoring any major victory.
Besides the facilitation of two counter-groupings, the government through the Liberia National two days ago announced series of stern security measures intended to curtail or control the movement of people to and fro the RIA.
More than that, police authorities stuttered on the issue of giving permit to either grouping to facilitate their movement.
Police chief Chris Massaquoi earlier told a local radio station that the Justice Ministry had forwarded a permit to the police for the pro-Ellen group, but his deputy discounted his claims minutes later, saying they did not receive any permit from the ministry.
Massaquoi said the roads to the airport would be closed "because of national security implications."
Who's Mulbah Morlu
He is a Liberian, who grew political knowledge in exile in Ghana. Upon his return to Liberia, Morlu embarked on a campaign that is yet to be materialized "the Establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia."
Morlu was arrested by National Security Agency ( NSA) officers for using invectives against the presidency but was later released reportedly on orders of the president.
Since them, he had been treading what many called controversial lines, taking up issues with the government and calling for public actions.
Vandalark Patrick
He is a newcomer on the activism scene, having made his name during the aborted April 12, anti government protest.
He and others had planned a major demonstration on April 12, 2013 but were swayed by government insiders.
As other moments in the history of the country, yesterday, October 9, 2013 will be remembered as the day the freedom so hardly labored for by Liberians, was put to test maybe for the worst, when four officials from the Movement of Ellen Step-Down Campaign were reportedly picked up by men said to be government security agents.
As news of the arrest of these men inundated and this paper meandered to confirm same, an official of the group, Vendalark Patrick phoned in and explained that four members of the Movement, Mulbah Morlu, Julius Jensen, Pastor Mark Anderson, the spokesman of the group including another member had been arrested allegedly by some officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the National Security Agency (NSA).
The information could not independently be verified as police spokesman, Sam Collins, dodged inquiries from this paper on the issue. But Power TV News quoted Mr. Sam Collins as saying that he is not aware of the alleged arrest of Mr. Morlue and others.
Without stating reasons for the reported arrest of Morlu and others, he said they were arrested around the Samoa's Bar vicinity in the Sinkor belt, which is located several miles away from the Roberts International Airport RIA in Margibi County, where President Sirleaf expected to touch down.
But a member of the Ellen Step-Down Movement, Emmanuel Gonquoi was quoted on Power TV news as saying that Mr. Morlu along with three other members of the Movement were allegedly arrested by some members of the Liberian National Police at the Samoa's Bar where they had gone to entertain themselves.
International newswire quoted Police Director Chris Massaquoi as mentioning the arrests while appearing on a Wednesday morning radio program.
He was quoted saying the suspects had been caught driving around Monrovia the day before, falsely announcing that Sirleaf had resigned.
He did not say how many were arrested, and police spokesman Sam Collins said the number was "not available to me."
Over the past months, the Movement for Ellen Step-Down Campaign has been campaigning, mobilizing and rallying Liberians to the cause of seeking the resignation of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on accounts of her "failure to fulfill her promises, to improve the livelihood of Liberians, massive corruption and other negative vices."
Days after the official launch of the "Ellen Step -Down Campaign" in the New Kru Community, a pro government group, Liberia for the Protection of Peace and Democracy (LPPD) was immediately introduced and launched in Monrovia.
The establishment of the LPPD also followed the dwindling of another pro-President still-on group, "Ellen Step Up Campaign," whose sole aim was to counteract the anti group.
Most Liberians denounced the formation of an organization comprised of government officials and hardcore supporters of the president when there is a peace initiative of which politician
George Weah is the head.
The LPPD has not responded to the criticisms coming from Liberians over the timing of it coming to being, rather it joined the bandwagon of mobilizing resources to welcome President Sirleaf back to Liberia.
According to information gathered by our source, while members of the Ellen Come Down Campaign were being hunted, pro-president groupings filled government owned and charted buses and sped to the RIA.
Our source who was at the RIA said employees from government ministries and agencies as well as ministers flocked the airport to receive the president.
Government's maneuvers
Since the announcement was made by the group, the Liberian government has been on the edge, maneuvering to restrain the anti-President from scoring any major victory.
Besides the facilitation of two counter-groupings, the government through the Liberia National two days ago announced series of stern security measures intended to curtail or control the movement of people to and fro the RIA.
More than that, police authorities stuttered on the issue of giving permit to either grouping to facilitate their movement.
Police chief Chris Massaquoi earlier told a local radio station that the Justice Ministry had forwarded a permit to the police for the pro-Ellen group, but his deputy discounted his claims minutes later, saying they did not receive any permit from the ministry.
Massaquoi said the roads to the airport would be closed "because of national security implications."
Who's Mulbah Morlu
He is a Liberian, who grew political knowledge in exile in Ghana. Upon his return to Liberia, Morlu embarked on a campaign that is yet to be materialized "the Establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia."
Morlu was arrested by National Security Agency ( NSA) officers for using invectives against the presidency but was later released reportedly on orders of the president.
Since them, he had been treading what many called controversial lines, taking up issues with the government and calling for public actions.
Vandalark Patrick
He is a newcomer on the activism scene, having made his name during the aborted April 12, anti government protest.
He and others had planned a major demonstration on April 12, 2013 but were swayed by government insiders.
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