Dearest Mama,
I am still walking the streets of Monrovia. I passed Congo Town, and almost didn’t see the famous “White Flower,” because it is no longer the “sacred” ground, and the walls are scarred. There are algae on the walls, and the front gate was slightly opened with people sitting idly in front of the building. In fact, I saw people carrying charcoal bags on their head in front of former President Charles Taylor’s personal resident, White Flower. Then, I saw the almost completed Ministry of Health building. This time, the face of the new Ministry of Health building is beginning to appear as construction workers were busy doing their tricks on the building.
As I eagerly absorbed Liberia, I also engaged in random survey of news articles and interviews with citizenry. While still in the United States, I had skimmed through Liberian newspapers online that highlighted Cllr. Winston Tubman’s comments on free speech and civil liberties, this time, my interest on the topic was spurred by Weah’s threat to shut down FrontpageAfricaonlone if he [Weah] is elected Vice President. When I read that published letter by the Editor of FrontPageAfricaonline (FPA), my first reaction was a sluggish grin. After all the bloodshed for Press Freedom and Free Speech, how can anyone dare think of taking Liberia, and Liberians to a Tubman era where freedom of Press and Free Speech was shunned, and actually seen as a “taboo.” Kie!
However, before I completed reading FPA Editor’s letter about Weah’s threat, my mind zoomed to CDC’s Presidential Candidate, Winston Tubman’s comments last week that if elected, his government would restrain and de-prioritize Press Freedom and Civil liberties. Whew! Now that is some comment coming from a former United Nations staff. Mama, though I had read excerpts of Tubman’s comments on Liberian list serve, I assumed it was just one of those sensational materials. But when I arrived in Monrovia, I started adding 1 + 1; I saw that I kept getting 2 as my sum. I tried again adding, but the figure wouldn’t change. Later, after reading Weah’s threat, and then continuing my survey, and reading additional materials, I couldn’t help but delve further. It was then I summoned the courage to cast my net far and wide. Guess what! I came across an article in an outside media. The news report in a Washington, DC based Media organization stated: “The The CDC flag-bearer told a group of Liberian and Canada-based "Journalists for Human Rights" last week that Liberians, especially CDC supporters, were aware that they would have to forgo their rights to free speech and association as sacrifice for national recovery.” The report quoted Tubman, adding, “What the people who are dancing for us in the streets need are good roads, hospitals, not press freedom. After that, we will think about press freedom. What we will do for them, foremost, is to make the country more livable, give them more hope, give them more comfort, more opportunities, more health care and better roads. One of the things I said at the welcoming gathering just now is that we were spending the whole day on the roads just to get here. So one of the first things we will focus on is to make it easier to visit the various parts of the country. And when they have those kinds of real improvements in their lives definitely," Tubman continued, "we will focus on press freedom. We will focus on giving allowances for civil liberty."
Mama, did you comprehend the above paragraph that contained Winston Tubman’s statement and vision for Free Speech and Civil Liberties? Wow! Though Winston Tubman is said to have “explained” what he meant during last week’s Presidential debate, how does his explanation justify, rationalize and defend such utterances: "What the people who are dancing for us in the streets need are good roads, hospitals, not press freedom. After that, we will think about press freedom. One of the things I said at the welcoming gathering just now is that we were spending the whole day on the roads just to get here. So one of the first things we will focus on is to make it easier to visit the various parts of the country. And when they have those kinds of real improvements in their lives definitely, we will focus on press freedom. We will focus on giving allowances for civil liberty."
Mama, what scares me about Tubman’s and Weah’s threat against Free Speech and civil liberties is that the warnings to muzzle such undeniable right come from two high profile persons from the same camp. Is it possible that both Weah and Tubman mean no harm and their statements maybe, just maybe what we sometimes categorized as ‘slip of the tongue.” If so, how can both men: CDC standard bearer and Vice Standard Bearer; they are not twins, and do not come from the same professional background make the same mistake, or their tongues slipped in the same direction?
Mama, besides the “tongue slipping” excuse, should free speech, press freedom and civil liberties be de-prioritized in any democratic society? And why should Tubman even utter such comments, or dream of such ideology in Liberia, a country that have shed blood to reach a stage where press freedom, freedom of expression and civil liberties are thriving?
Mama, contrary to what we saw in the past, Winston Tubman has proven otherwise. He is probably telling the Liberian people his true intentions, so that when he is voted in, he may refer people to his utterances: Press Freedom and Civil Liberties will not be a priority, or as he corrected himself during the Presidential debate, in his “first 100 days,” freedom of the press, free speech and civil liberties will not be a priority.
Mama, I would like to ask Winston Tubman a few questions: Does he think Free Press, which is an embodiment of Free speech, and Civil Liberties are rights that he owns, and he [Winston Tubman] must decide when any of us can enjoy those rights? Wait now, does the Counsellor, Winston Tubman think we are still in those archaic era where he can bully people into submission or just go about makes utterances; playing on people’s rights and freedom whenever he pleases? Geez! This one reminds me about the saying, “The baby is not yet born, but the eyes are opened wide.”
Now, as I look back, I think about Charles Taylor. Taylor lured people; he waited, whether patiently, or impatiently, but Taylor waited to be born before opening his eyes truly wide. Taylor was born many times: to get territorial control; to win over supporters; etc, but he waited to be born during each of those periods before opening his eyes. But that is not the case with Tubman. Someone will ask why I am not scrutinizing George Weah’s statements. To that, I will say my reason is obvious. Winston Tubman is a Counsellor at law; Tubman worked within the UN system, and he is well informed that all and or any denials of Free Speech Undercut a Democratic Society. On the other hand, George Weah is known as a successful international soccer player, and I hope that one day he will begin realizing that his contribution to Liberia and the world lies in inspiring the youth. Sadly enough, many are those who are taking Weah for a ride – for their own selfish interest.
Mama, Liberians have suffered beyond description. Think about Liberia’s longest serving president, William V. S. Tubman who served for 27 years. Think about that era where press freedom and free expression, and civil liberties were at the discretion of President William V.S Tubman. Imagine how many persons died trying to advocate press freedom and freedom of speech? Is Cllr Winston Tubman, who is cousin of the late William V. S Tubman trying to recreate his late uncle’s archaic era? Now let’s reflect on William Tolbert’s era, Samuel Does regime, among others saw a struggle for free expression and civil liberties to prevail. Are Liberians prepared to allow Winston Tubman to begin withholding any amount of press freedom, civil liberties, or the right to free expression? I don’t think so.
Let’s take another critical, but brief look at Winston Tubman’s flimsy justification, reason and explanation that after providing “good roads, hospitals” “And when they {Liberians}have those kinds of real improvements in their lives definitely, we{if elected Winston Tubman and his CDC} will focus on press freedom. We {Winston Tubman and his CDC} will focus on giving allowances for civil liberty." Winston Tubman’s reason[s] for withholding press freedom and civil liberties are not only absurd, but also preposterous? If there is no free speech, how can the will of the people be known? Winton Tubman already knows that the will of the people cannot be known without free speech. So then, what is his true motive? It is well established that in a democracy, people are encouraged to voice their thoughts and opinions, and encouraged to participate in the decision-making process. There may be times that their thoughts and opinions disagree with the majority of other people, but does that make them less entitled to it? No. Tubman is also aware that citizen participation is essential not only for democracy to flourish, but also a strategy for enhancing good governance, empowerment and sustainable development programs. So how will he without the people’s right to free expression; that is denying the people’s empowerment and participation, and yet provide their needs? How will he determine what the people need?
On civil liberties, let’s look at what it is and whether Tubman has the right to even consider de-prioritizing those rights. Civil liberties are indisputable rights and freedoms and includes the right to life, and that is the right to live, freedom from torture, freedom from slavery and forced labor, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to privacy, freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, and the right to marry and have a family. Now, Liberians have not forgotten the importance of these rights: all Liberians want to live a simple dignified life. Liberians don’t want to starve to death, or see themselves or family members ‘tabay” and taken away from their homes without the right to speak out. Do I go on? I guess not. We got the picture!
Now, let Winston Tubman tell me that he is ignorant of the importance of every Liberian rights to civil liberties. Tubman is aware that without freedom of speech, civil rights never would have been addressed, including the rights to vote, women’s rights, slavery and the list goes on. Most importantly, if people cannot say what’s on their mind [freedom of speech and press freedom], there would be no ability to get rid of politicians that were not living up to the promises they made to the people. And that would not be a true democracy. Is Tubman thinking democracy, or is he thinking autocracy, monocracy?
Mama, I must leave you now to scout the streets again. I wait to hear from those reading this letter with you. I hope that our Villagers will not allow our Village to backslide into those dark eras.
Always,
musue
P.S: Ask the elders to think and explain why Tubman in his socalled corrected statement about not prioritizing Freedom of the press, Freedom of speech and civil liberties in the first 100 days. What plans does he have for the first 100 days? Will the first 100 days set for people to “grab what they can for free” as payment?
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