OPEN Eletter TO SENATOR J. GBLEBO BROWN CHAIR, MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS

T. Gbuo-Mle Bedell

SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE

Pyongyang, Reevy Street, Harper, Maryland

Cell: +231.886.920.151/777.088.427

Email: osygefo@hotmail.com/geesayfannokon@yahoo.com

May 26, 2018

Hon. J. Gble-Bo Brown

CHAIR

Maryland County Congressional Caucus

Republic of Liberia

Dear Senator Brown:

I trust you are enjoying God’s grace and doing well with your varied responsibilities!

This eLetter occasions a formalization of our cell phone discussion with you on vexing issues facing The William V. S. Tubman University in Harper City, Maryland County and it is also a follow-up to our previous letter to you. We in civil society are deeply concerned and nervous over unfolding events resulting from the appointment of Dr. Elliott Wreh Wilson as president of TU. Indeed, in our opinion and looking at unfolding events, the appointment is a damaging mistake. It signals a sign of impending doom!

In our first letter to you, we declared our distaste of the appointment of Dr. Wilson because he lacks the moral authority to head the University. First, he is extremely temperamental and secondly violent. Prior to his appointment as President, he physically attacked another professor, Dr. Gardiner. While we were addressing the matter with your good offices, he threatened and physically attempted to attack another student who was a candidate in the previously alleged rigged election. Along with one of Dr. Wilson’s cronies, this student was driven to Dr. Wilson’s residence on TU campus under the cover of darkness. When they arrived at Dr. Wilson’s residence, the student was threatened by Dr. Wilson and his crony that he (the student) will never graduate from Tubman University if he (the student) did not withdraw from the election. The student refused. And on the following day, because of the student’s refusal to withdraw, Dr. Wilson attempted to flog the student on the football pitch. Luckily for the student, other students and bystanders that were present at the time prevented Dr. Wilson from doing so.

Mr. Chairman, there are other recent alarming incidents. We’ve been told by apparent victims that Dr. Wilson is now in the habit of threatening to dismiss all of those who were members of the committee that investigated and convicted him for physically attacking Dr. Gardiner.

Sir, we cannot pretend that there’s no elephant in the Living Room when as a matter of fact it is! Thus, we hereby openly declare our care, love and believe in the University. Evidently, we will not sit aside and allow it to fail. Because, if it fails, while we are not yet helpless, our hands will drip with guilt. That being the case, we are still appealing to your good offices to prevail on the Caucus to advice President Weah to withdraw Dr. Wilson’s appointment.  He is a violent man who must undergo Anger Management and Sensitivity training.  

Currently, the entire University campus is gripped by fear and terror as Dr. Wilson threatens to unlawfully dismiss and demote his perceived enemies.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, this case has reached its crescendo! If we (citizens of Maryland and people of goodwill) do not act to arrest this violent tendency now, the results will be an unadulterated and unmitigated disaster to the University and our country. Theretofore, our academic interests as Marylanders, Southeasterners and Liberians, will ride on a slippery ground as the University slides into sudden degeneration and irreparable damage.

On June 1, 2018, please be advised, based on reliable information received by us, unlawful termination of Dr. Wilson’s perceived enemies will begin! So the future of those working to feed their families and that of the University rests entirely in the hands of you and the Caucus!

Please ACT NOW!

We look forward to hearing from you very soon as time is not on our side! Be well and Peace! I am,

Yours Truly,

T. Gbuo-Mle Bedell

We Came, We Saw It, We Declared It And We Were Detained!

April 24, 2018

We were 6 young, smart and astute students graduating high school between 1978 and 79. Two of us were juniors and the other four were seniors. We attended The Bishop Ferguson Episcopal High School in the outskirt of Harper City, Maryland County, Republic of Liberia. Maryland, sits deep in the belly and keyhole of the southeastern region of the country. So, it's a faroff land in Liberia. And that speaks volumes!


Ourstory (not history) that I'm about to bring into your presence is of epic proportion. It took place in 1979. It is very long. But I will give you a short version. Because FB has limited space.
Besides myself, the other five includes, Bhofal Chambers (Now Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia), Czaar Freeman, Jerry Nyepon, Burgess Tubman and Stanley Bedell (deceased) may his gallant and militant soul rest in peace as he joined our martyrs. Six of us were detained briefly by the late President William R. Tolbert government.
Here how it started:


We were in class that morning when a Military truck arrived on Campus. Our classrooms had glass windows. And they were always kept very cleaned everyday by the sanitation engineer. So our outside view from our classrooms was always unhindered. Everyone could clearly see the Military truck that arrived on Campus that morning. It came with well-armed military men. Even though at that time, the entire nation was tensed and gripped with fear, as progressives criticized the OAU summit, which made the Government nervous, students naturally have had certain vibes that are always correct in these sort of situations. That day, the students proved it. Every student in the junior class with Jerry and I, began to point to us (Jerry and I). Because they had the feeling that we were the ones the Government was after due to involvement in politics.


The arrest started from the Senior class. They picked up Czaar Freeman, Burgess Tubman, Bhofal Chambers and Stanley Bedell. Then to the Junior class. They picked up Jerry Nyepon and I. After the pickups were done, the entire school turned upside down. It was disrupted for more than a week. Because students painfully witnessed their classmates, comrades and friends being taken away by the power-that-be. And that wasn't a good feeling!


When we arrived at the Administration Building, (a two-minute driving time from our Campus) offices of the Superintendent and Local government, where a council of men were well seated and well-dressed, noticeably the yard was packed to overflow. The news had already spread all over the City. Market women, students and parents, gathered in the yard. Some were already in tears and others beginning to mourn. Because, these were dangerous times in the country. And thinking of what the Government was saying and could do to us, scared every parent.


Why did the Government arrest and detained us, you may ask?
Simple! We authored a weekly magazine called, "The Voice of The People" in which we openly condemned the hosting and the unnecessary expenses of the OAU summit. Looking at how the Government was reacting to these criticisms around the country, we also openly declared an impending declaration of a generalized anarchy of violence in the not-too-distant future, if the Government failed to exercise restraint in those troubling times.


Our Declaration and Forecast provoked the Government into reactionary measures. And so it detained us! It brought us before a council of great men (I don't remember seeing a woman on that Council) to quiz and interrogate us. The exercise was excruciating. But we protruded. The experience was priceless. But we admired our courage. The test to our young souls and hearts were tantamount to a "Wilderness Experience." And we embraced it with fearlessness!


We build an unshakable and incomparable internal resolve in maintaining our Declaration and Forecast. Even how fruitlessly hard the Government tried to psychologically torture us, we were resolute!


Few months later, the April 14, 1979 Rice Riot took place. One year later, the Military ousted the Civilian government and instituted a military regime. Consequently, tens and tens of innocent men and women lost their lives as many others gnashed their teeth. Time and conditions proved us right. For our Forecast and Declaration had come to past. Liberia, a one-time peaceful nation, will never be the same ever again!


There's more to come. Go to the thomasbedell.blogspot.com
I am T. Gbuo-Mle Bedell, a volunteer worker, social justice advocate, victim of police brutality and political persecution, speaking and working on the ground pro bono in Liberia.

Bedell Speaks And Works!

thomasbedell.blogspot.com

TRC: My Testimony and Recommendation

May 1,2018

When all the hallubaloo was going on in Liberia reference the generalized anarchy of violence that paralyzed all socioeconomic and political institutions in Liberia, I was in the United States of America writing and criticizing the situation in the country. I was so audible, people began to challenge me to come on the ground in Liberia, if I meant what I was saying.


I took the challenge and returned to Liberia. In 2008, I appeared on the stand at the TRC to offer issues and reconciliation.


So far, as far as I know, my Presentation is only one that was posted and then deleted on the TRC website.


Why? Just follow me and you'll find out.


After presenting what I still believe was and is the problem in Liberia provoking generalized anarchy of violence, I made the following recommendations:


1. The USA must pay reparation in the tone of US$21.7 billion dollars to Liberia for her role in provoking war in Liberia. For example, the US released Charles Taylor from her maximum prison in Boston, Massachusetts into Liberia to launch a military offensive. Also, US helped to split Taylor and Prince Johnson. And this prolonged the war and caused tens and tens of hundreds of innocent Liberian men, women and children to lose their lives while others fled to camp of refuge around the world to find food in desolate places. Not only that, the US sponsored the castration, bludgeoning and subsequent murder of Samuel Kanyon Doe, a sitting president of this great Republic. There's more!
2. Sierra Leone must pay US$30 million dollars for opening a corridor for rebels to illegally and unlawfully enter Liberia thereby provoking war and terror responsible for the deaths of over ten thousand innocent Liberian men, women and children and the subsequent overthrow of a democratically and constitutionally elected government.


3. Libya must pay US$10 billion dollars in reparation for training and supporting rebels and insurgency in Liberia responsible for the deaths of tens and tens of thousands of innocent Liberian men, women and children.


4. England must pay US$27.5 billion dollars in reparation for supporting war and terror in Liberia through rhetoric and personal support for insurgency in Liberia because they thought President Taylor interfered with their Diamond deal from the Congo thru Sierra Leone.


5. Burkina Faso must pay reparation to Liberia in the tone of US$10 million for harboring rebels to enter Liberia to remove legitimate government causing the deaths of thousands and thousands of innocent Liberian men, women and children


6. Ivory Coast must pay reparation to Liberia in the tone of US$17 million dollars for opening a corridor thru which insurgents entered Liberia unhindered causing the deaths of thousands of poor and innocent Liberian people.


As for Liberians who were used as vehicles by America, England and other European countries to sustain and execute the war, terror and generalized anarchy of violence, for example, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Prince Johnson et al, must be compelled to construct vocational schools, 21st Century state-of-the-art recreational centers and ball parks for young people in the 15 counties each. Secondly, they must be barred from participation in politics and governance in the country for ten unbroken years each.


When I submitted this Recommendation, suddenly, fear gripped most Liberians in the US who felt at first, I was afraid to come to Liberia and criticize on the ground. Some began to ask me to be nice on the US. Because the US could go after my life. Interestingly, my Presentation was never seen again. Up to the moment we speak and opine, my Presentation at TRC is only in my possession and nowhere else.


In conclusion, it has been my sole belief that the TRC recommendation and Report will only remain a memory! It is dead! Unless...



I am T. Gbuo-Mle Bedell, volunteer worker, victim of police brutality and Liberian government political persecution, speaking and working on the ground pro bono in Liberia.

Dedication: Mother's Day - Liberia 2018

May 13, 2018

...

From the beginning, our Ancestors acknowledged the primacy of the Female as the source of creation. True to this tradition and belief, I wish to dedicate this Mother's Day to the creative Forces of Humanity and mine,


My own two deceased Mothers, Eliza N. Bedell (biological) Esther W. Bedell (adopted). May their souls rest in perfect peace as their labor and sacrifices to Liberia and mankind are being realized and practiced!


My Eldest sisters, Gertrude Bedell Merriam and Cecelia Bedell Howe including Elder sister, Esther Bedell Conteh, who's now being honored today at The Effort Baptist Church, Monrovia, Liberia, as Mother of the Year 2018,


My revolutionary friend and comrade, Mother and General, Lydia Jones,


And to my Revolutionary Mother of Afrocentric, who was, without her knowledge, destined by the God of our people to become an embodiment of those revolutionary ideas and values that transcend politics in the creation of humanistic revolution, Her Excellency, Madam Mother Alicia Quire-Yancy,
I am not leaving out the last, but not the least, the two outstanding Mothers of our Liberian state today, Their Excellencies Mothers Clar Weah and Jewel Howard Taylor. In their hands, rest the future of the State!


And to my lovely and most beautiful daughter in Liberia, the Nurse and humble servant of the Poor, Odell Bedell Kooker,


Happy, Happy Mother's Day, 2018 to all women everywhere on Mother earth! Continue to be SOURCE OF CREATION!


Yours Very Kindly,


T. Gbuo-Mle Bedell, a volunteer worker, social justice advocate, victim of police brutality and Liberian government political persecution, speaking and working on the ground in Liberia