(April
12, 2007)
In
my personal opinion, the April 14, 1979 protest demonstration which degenerated
into a riot was a total national disaster; it set the stage for backwardness
and generalized anarchy of violence! The proposed increase in the price of rice
that supposedly provoked the riot still continues to haunt the nation – rice
price is rising astronomically in Liberia. And it will continue to do so as
long as it is imported. And as long as the global economic brick wall continues
to collapse on Liberian banks and businesses, the price will continue to rise!
My
belief is, Liberia could have advanced into its inheritance in terms of
infrastructure and human resource development successfully had the riot not
occurred. Our Civilization would have still been intact; Law & Order would
have improved; illiteracy would have plummeted; tribal unity upgraded; national
progress enhanced. And the nation would have moved with a jet-like speed into
its inheritance as one of the world’s growing economy power-plants, Africa’s
“Melting Pot” and God’s Promise to African Peoples. But sadly indeed, April 14
impeded progress. It produced a failed-state; caused the death of tens and tens
of thousands of innocent Liberians. And plunged the nation 100 years backwards.
Constitutionally
and democratically, citizens can protest. But it has to be in conformity with
the Rule of Law, the safety & protection of the people and national
security. But the opposite was true in the case of April 14. It was an exercise
of anarchy at its highest peak! It plunged Liberia into irreparable decadence.
The organizers - The Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) – failed to protect
the interest & safety of the citizens; failed to protect National Security;
ignored the economic interest of the state. And worse of all, it destroyed
democratic institutions, including the Presidency and undermined the democratic
process and the growth of the state.
No
doubt in my mind, PAL was conscious of the situation in the country. And so it
knew the Liberian masses were inexperienced in terms of mass protest
demonstration. PAL seemingly had no clue how to respond in case of a riot.
PAL
also was quite aware of the government’s inexperience in handling a mass
protest of such magnitude. Yet, PAL brought both the government and people face-to-face
into confrontation. So when the protest degenerated into a riot, both the
government and the people lost their senses and the walls of violence came
crumbling down. The masses ran wild, ransacked properties, hindered the economy
and compromised national security. And on the other hand, the government
overreacted! And when that happened, innocent citizens died and private
property was destroyed. Like a confused deer caught in a vehicle headlight, PAL
became helpless. And stood motionless causing confusion and violence to engulf
the nation and declare it a “House” of cards to be demolished by the guts of
ill-wind.
All
things considered, April 14 was unnecessary! Because the government was already
caving into the demands of the people. But because of PAL’s defiance and
determination to put the government against the people and vice versus, it
allowed all hell to break loose causing the chain reaction of violence to
unfold throughout the country!
Twenty-eight
years after the riot, the purpose for which it was executed – reduction in the
price of rice – has not yet been achieved!
In
fact, the proposed government’s price that supposedly provoked the riot, has
not been reduced up to the moment I opine. Worse of all, two Liberian
presidents have been murdered in cold-blood while one lingers in foreign prison
as tens and tens of thousands of innocent Liberians lay low in unmarked graves.
The rest are now struggling in the chilling water of national quagmire.
All
being said, April 14 was a fiasco! It virtually did no good for the country and
its people! Rather, it set the entire nation on the path of generalized anarchy
of violence!
I
am Thomas G. Bedell, a volunteer worker; working and speaking on the ground in
Liberia and a victim of police brutality
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