The OLM today held as part of the July 26th celebrations, a forum with the theme, “Building Pan Ethnic Solidarity in Post Conflict Liberia: Challenges and Prospects. The forum, which was moderated by Dr. Emmanuel Dolo and Mr. Wynfred Russell was crafted with the intention of drawing on the information gleaned from the forum and translating it into best practices and public policies.
Cross section of the audience
Gracing the occasion were Dr. Wilhelmina Holder, Fr. James Wilson of the Episcopal Church, Mr. Bai Gbala, Mr. Momo Dudu, Dekontee Kofa, Mr. Michael Elliott, Mrs. Jennifer Prestholdt of the Minnesota Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Alice Tindi of the Center for Victims of Torture.
Though the forum was explicitly designed to discuss strategies and interventions for unifying all Liberians and building a national identity, several members of the audience had to be reminded and re-tracked as the discussion regressed to who killed whom and who was responsible for whose death.
Martha Sinoe and Abdullah Kiatamba of the OLM
It must also be noted that during forums such as the one hosted by the OLM, rules and regulations regards engaging the panelists or for asking questions and the directions for such questions or comments must be strictly adhered to. Several audience members even though asked to limit themselves to one question, proceeded to ask two to three questions and even added five-minute comments.
And though the theme for the occasion may have been appropriate, it still seems quite difficult yet for Liberians to discuss issues about the great civil unrest at one sitting with a set of rules and regulations for engaging each other.
Mr. Kirkpatrick Weah, Rights Activist
Having said that, we must then point to the statements made by some of the panelists. Why do the Lebanese control the Liberian economy? This was a question posed by Dr. Corrick, citing his many visits to Liberia. Though he answered several other questions, to this question, Mr. Gbala answered, “If Junior is sent home from school and there is no food at home and a Lebanese man goes to papa office with a wad of notes, what would papa do?” To another question posed by Patrick Sawyer of the audience, about what did he do when people were being killed when he served as Senior Advisor to Doe, he answered, “That may be a question for other people, I know what I did and you can read the numerous papers I have written.”
Dr. Holder for her part reiterated that the so-called Americo Liberians did not come to the shores of Liberians solely to Christianize Liberians. To this statement, Mr. Kirkpatrick Weah a member of the audience questioned and quoted from a book of history that that was one of the sole purposes of the back to Africa Movement. Father Wilson buttressed this by listing the three main reasons for returning freed slaves, one of which was a means of spreading Christianity.
Dr. Holder also noted that considering the way her father, William R. Tolbert was killed, there would be repercussions. Misunderstanding this statement, an audience member asked her about why she thought there would be revenge?
Dr. Wilhemina Holder
There was a mixed group of thoughts about the activities of the settlers and about the regime of Doe with several people already taking sides and making comments that spanned almost five-minute periods.
To add to the fun of the exercise, an audience member who made almost a five-minute comment instead of asking a question, finally proved that he was current with his subject by stating, “I know the Quoran, from Genesis to Revelation, to which other members of the audience wildly applauded.
Michael Elliot, a young Liberian on the panel said Liberian youths in America must be educated to the culture and values of Liberia so they can be able to understand the social implications in the Liberian society as they are currently at war between the Liberian and American cultures. “If we are to integrate our youths into the Liberian culture and history, we have to teach them the history beyond the war by creating service oriented avenues that will help them,” he added.
Also on the panel was Ms. Liberia-Minnesota, Dekontee Koffa who called on parents to accept their kids as they are and work with them to improve their lives. She also used the occasion to emphasize her project of promoting mentoring programs in the Liberian community and asked for the support of the community.
Jennifer Presholdt, of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission also outlined some of the plans of the commission and called on Liberians in America to partake in the process.
Bishop Warner who is the Guest Speaker briefly spoke after being recognized in the audience, thanking the organizers for the endeavor.
Though the forum was held, it is not known whether the organizers will be able to extract from it a document or policy of best practices. The 26th programs continue.
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