The UN is Wrong: I Came Not To Seek "Job Opportunities." I'm A Volunteer

Currently, I am residing in Maryland County. And this is deep in the southeastern belly of the Republic of Liberia. Maryland is my hometown. I was born and reared here. And here I spent my formative days.

I left the United States and came to Liberia on a working visit. I have been in the country for more than three years. Out of these years, I have been in Maryland for a year-and-the half. While here, I have been involved in social justice advocacy. Meaning that I am well acquainted with the issues in this area. And I understand the dynamics, factors and variables that shape change. Nevertheless, I am one of the actors shaping change.

More than one year is the longest I have stayed in Maryland since my working visit in Liberia. It is at this time in Maryland I permanently put to rest the thinking I came to Liberia to seek elective and/or appointed job (s) in Government.

After the General & Presidential Elections, no one, including the international community, can comfortably say I came to Liberia for job opportunities.

I know it would shock you as it did me when a high-ranking staff of the UN expressed to me that he believes I came to Liberia to seek job opportunities. Thank God time and conditions have vindicated me.

Here’s how it happened when I visited the United Nations Mission in Liberia’s (UNMIL) office on a particular matter affecting some voiceless citizens.

I was in a meeting with one of the senior staff of the UN. While talking he asked me if I would run for any elective office in the General and Presidential elections in Liberia. My reply was “No!” He didn’t believe me. So he looked me in the eye for a while without saying a word. Since he could speak no more, I had no other alternative but to do the thinking for him. Inside me I began to think for the man. The thinking inside me was, whether the man who is well-trained to investigate minds and people was asking himself a question such as: “why did this man involve himself in high level social justice advocacy if he did not seek the support in an election bid. Since he never said anything, I took that thought to myself.

Here are some of the achievements that made many people think I had an ulterior motive specifically job opportunities.

In three years I had four social justice cases. I won them all.

The first was “Honorarium” for former employees of the Tubman Tech. These men and women escaped Liberia for their safety during the war. When they returned after more than twenty years, things had changed – Tubman Tech had been transformed into the Tubman University. And so the Administration ,including the Superintendent, J. Gblebo-Brown, did not feel indebted to these citizens. I did not like it. So I took up the case. And I won.

The Administration decided to give an “Honorarium.” I did not agree to the "Honorarium". But the Aggrieved workers agreed. Why? Because according to them, they have been in this fight for too long. They had run out of time and mileage. As old as they have become, they could no longer continue. For, in their own desperate, broken faith and frustrating words, "One is better than zero." So they took the “Honorarium.” Suddenly, true to their fears, few weeks later, seven of them lost their precious lives from old age and hard time.

The second is the Shipwreck Reparation case. I called for Medical, Monetary and Psychological Reparation from the Liberian government.

From 2008 to 2010, four ships wrecked in and outside Maryland County. Most, if not all, of the victims were/are Maryland citizens. Men, women and children died in the wreckage. It took me up to three years to win the Case. Few weeks ago, the Liberian government agreed and paid monetary reparation to the victims.

My third Case is Justice for 17 Maryland citizens accused of ritualistic killing and armed hostilities.

The first 7 youths were locked up for three years in Grand Gedeh and then moved to Nimba. Our efforts helped to release them. The Government charged them for “Murder” in an armed hostility between Wetchukeh and Nmaklewein. The 7 youths were set free for lack of evidence.

The fourth is peace and reunification of the Glebo Peninsula.

Almost forty years prior to the peace and reunification of the Glebo Peninsula, the Numoweh & Kudemoweh chiefdoms had been hostile neighbors. The hostility took a trend of a “cold war” between Rocktown and Bigtown. Each of these towns represents the oldest town and headquarters of each chiefdom. Both clashed indirectly through proxies in armed conflicts. One of the prime examples is the armed hostility between Wetchukeh and Nmakleiwein. Wetchukeh represented Bigtown and Nmakliwein represented Rocktown. But all the same, The KudeNumo Peace Imitative Foundation, Inc. (KNPF) that I am a cofounder and co president , ushered peace and reconciliation in the Peninsula. Today, there is considerable peace amongst the Glebo people. Thus the reunification of the entire Peninsula.

These are scores anyone can take to the Polls. So if I wanted to run for elective office in the past Elections, I would surely be a forced to contend with. But because I vowed not to do so in the midst of suspicion, I stand much stronger and powerful than ever before. Because I live by my decision.

So I can understand why a UN high ranking officer had the view that I would seek elective office. I am popular. I am respected. And I am loved by my people. In the midst of the attractions and distractions, I stuck to my proverbial gun not to seek elective and/or appointed job opportunity in the Liberian government.


I am Thomas G. Bedell speaking and writing on the ground in Liberia