The fragile peace at the North Hennepin Community College Fine Arts Auditorium was almost broken on Sunday the 16th of April during the interactive panel discussion after the viewing of the just released Liberian civil war movie by Steven Ross. The panelists were Dr. Emmanuel Dolo a mental health specialist and Director of equity and integration at South Washington County Schools in Cottage Grove Thi Hoa Pham, Regional Manager for West Africa at the American Refugee Committee, Minneapolis; Steven Ross, Producer; Liberia, A fragile peace; and Wynfred Russell, faculty member, North Hennepin History Department; and Alfred Coleman, official of the Liberian government.
The discussion started with opening remarks by Mr. Wynfred Russell who introduced the panelists and discussed their contributions to society.
Dr. Dolo made his opening remarks first and noted that the film lacked historical perspectives and it would have been better if the producer had gone more into the history of the genesis of the war. He also mentioned the politicization of urban youth much to the exclusion of rural youth who became the mean bearers of arms during the civil war. Dolo lamented about the roles of the mean agitators of democracy in Liberia and noted that for instance, Tipoteh has been the only President of his organization SUSUKU since it was founded and yet with that record wants to preach pluralism and democracy.
He also mentioned by name several functionaries of the current government and questioned their integrity and roles in the just ended civil war.
Steven Ross for his part spoke of the hope that he saw and reiterated that he was capturing a time in the history of Liberia. It must be noted that there were several notable Liberians who provided historical backdrops to the film. Ross, noted that at first, due to the nature of the clips that he first got, it would be news more than it would be a movie, due to the fluid situation in Liberia. But, considering the strides that Liberia has made in the direction of peace and tranquility, the movie should encourage us never to go back to where we have been. He further described the highs and lows of the renewal of hope in Liberia and noted that hope hinged mainly on good governance.
Pham for her part narrated the accomplishments of the American Red Cross and stressed the need for organizations to have a plan that would create institutions, provide an enabling environment for Liberians to help themselves and have an exit strategy when the enabling environment has been created. She praised the efforts of the Liberian government and noted that much had been done in the period within which she has been active in Liberia. She described those areas in Liberia where the ARC is active and noted that in the future, the ARC will be committed to working with the government to convert from emergency to sustainability.
Mr. Alfred Coleman was the last presenter and again made the disclaimer that he was not speaking on behalf of the Liberian government. He first of all clarified the issue of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee versus the War Crimes Tribunal and in no uncertain terms laid the issue of a war crimes tribunal to rest. In his opinion, since the tragedy of the civil war was created by the misrule of the True Whig Party and successive governments who did not create educational and economical benefits for the masses, a war crime tribunal would be targeting the wrong people. He compared the building of 200 plus schools in Monrovia, to a few in any county. A technical college in Maryland to practically none in other counties and noted that this disparity also helped create the fertile ground for using youths as rebels and fighters.
During the question and answer period, Dr. Dolo in several emotional outbursts lambasted the current Liberian leader for appointing her son as NSA director; for appointing Chris Massaquoi as Immigration Director, with the issue of the stolen generator still hanging over his head and directly accused Sam Wulu who is in the film of stealing government money.
One member of the audience questioned Coleman about the sale of the National Lottery and walked out of the discussion when he did not get the answer he wanted.
In regards to hope, and responding to a buck shot question from Abdullah Kiatamba, Dr. Dolo with a passionate response made note of his manifold contributions to Liberia through his writings and articles and journals, and noted that for all his contributions he would definitely not beg any government for a job, he mentioned that he is qualified and the government should be looking for his likes in order to help in providing services.
One member in the audience thanked Dr. Dolo but admonished him for his pessimism and advised that he finds another means by which he can foster his views other than in such a fashion.
Several members in the audience had similar contributions to the hot debate. At one point, the discussion as regards to the movie was completely put aside while the members of the audience took pot shots at Dolo and Dolo responded with salvos of rhetoric in support of his well thought out ideas.
Consequently, the film and the discussion showed that even in the US where a diverse group of Liberians live and work as one, there are still deep divisions as to the cause of the war and the way forward.
It is good though that we can discuss these issues, for when we can talk about it, we definitely will not fight about it.
After the discussions, people milled around the halls and lots still arguing about the discussions and the pros and cons. Some supported Dr. Dolo while others did not. One audience member even questioned Frances Johnson Morris relationship to Ellen Sirleaf, a question that caused a stir of emotions and the security of the premises to ask them to step out since the facility was closed.
The producer also sold copies of the movies for $20.00 a piece. Contact Mr. Wynfred Russell for more information.
The discussion started with opening remarks by Mr. Wynfred Russell who introduced the panelists and discussed their contributions to society.
Dr. Dolo made his opening remarks first and noted that the film lacked historical perspectives and it would have been better if the producer had gone more into the history of the genesis of the war. He also mentioned the politicization of urban youth much to the exclusion of rural youth who became the mean bearers of arms during the civil war. Dolo lamented about the roles of the mean agitators of democracy in Liberia and noted that for instance, Tipoteh has been the only President of his organization SUSUKU since it was founded and yet with that record wants to preach pluralism and democracy.
He also mentioned by name several functionaries of the current government and questioned their integrity and roles in the just ended civil war.
Steven Ross for his part spoke of the hope that he saw and reiterated that he was capturing a time in the history of Liberia. It must be noted that there were several notable Liberians who provided historical backdrops to the film. Ross, noted that at first, due to the nature of the clips that he first got, it would be news more than it would be a movie, due to the fluid situation in Liberia. But, considering the strides that Liberia has made in the direction of peace and tranquility, the movie should encourage us never to go back to where we have been. He further described the highs and lows of the renewal of hope in Liberia and noted that hope hinged mainly on good governance.
Pham for her part narrated the accomplishments of the American Red Cross and stressed the need for organizations to have a plan that would create institutions, provide an enabling environment for Liberians to help themselves and have an exit strategy when the enabling environment has been created. She praised the efforts of the Liberian government and noted that much had been done in the period within which she has been active in Liberia. She described those areas in Liberia where the ARC is active and noted that in the future, the ARC will be committed to working with the government to convert from emergency to sustainability.
Mr. Alfred Coleman was the last presenter and again made the disclaimer that he was not speaking on behalf of the Liberian government. He first of all clarified the issue of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee versus the War Crimes Tribunal and in no uncertain terms laid the issue of a war crimes tribunal to rest. In his opinion, since the tragedy of the civil war was created by the misrule of the True Whig Party and successive governments who did not create educational and economical benefits for the masses, a war crime tribunal would be targeting the wrong people. He compared the building of 200 plus schools in Monrovia, to a few in any county. A technical college in Maryland to practically none in other counties and noted that this disparity also helped create the fertile ground for using youths as rebels and fighters.
During the question and answer period, Dr. Dolo in several emotional outbursts lambasted the current Liberian leader for appointing her son as NSA director; for appointing Chris Massaquoi as Immigration Director, with the issue of the stolen generator still hanging over his head and directly accused Sam Wulu who is in the film of stealing government money.
One member of the audience questioned Coleman about the sale of the National Lottery and walked out of the discussion when he did not get the answer he wanted.
In regards to hope, and responding to a buck shot question from Abdullah Kiatamba, Dr. Dolo with a passionate response made note of his manifold contributions to Liberia through his writings and articles and journals, and noted that for all his contributions he would definitely not beg any government for a job, he mentioned that he is qualified and the government should be looking for his likes in order to help in providing services.
One member in the audience thanked Dr. Dolo but admonished him for his pessimism and advised that he finds another means by which he can foster his views other than in such a fashion.
Several members in the audience had similar contributions to the hot debate. At one point, the discussion as regards to the movie was completely put aside while the members of the audience took pot shots at Dolo and Dolo responded with salvos of rhetoric in support of his well thought out ideas.
Consequently, the film and the discussion showed that even in the US where a diverse group of Liberians live and work as one, there are still deep divisions as to the cause of the war and the way forward.
It is good though that we can discuss these issues, for when we can talk about it, we definitely will not fight about it.
After the discussions, people milled around the halls and lots still arguing about the discussions and the pros and cons. Some supported Dr. Dolo while others did not. One audience member even questioned Frances Johnson Morris relationship to Ellen Sirleaf, a question that caused a stir of emotions and the security of the premises to ask them to step out since the facility was closed.
The producer also sold copies of the movies for $20.00 a piece. Contact Mr. Wynfred Russell for more information.
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