MONROVIA: The Political leader of the All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP) Lusinee F. Kamara, Sr. says that national unification means making sure that all citizens have equal opportunity in all parts of Liberia.
He asserted that the annual celebration of National Unification Day is important to remind all citizens about the national effort to bring unity and equality among Liberians of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
In an interview with a team of Journalists over the weekend in Monrovia, Mr. Kamara disclosed that unity and equality will only be genuine if all the 16 ethnic groups of Liberia are treated equally without prejudice, biases and injustice due to their religious and other backgrounds.
Kamara described Liberia as a blessed society; a nation that is uniquely beautiful due to her good geographic location, landscape, weather and the diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.
These qualities, according to Mr. Kamara, give Liberia the opportunity to draw both mental and physical strength from as many as sixteen (16) ethnic groups, each of which belongs to one of the four (4) cultural groups of the country.
‘Diversity is a blessing for our Nation, as members of an ethnic or cultural groups come to government with some unique moral and ethical standards. They contribute this value to national policy and decision making,’ he said.
Mr. Kamara who is also the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Accident & Casualty Insurance Company of Liberia said this contribution to Liberians from diverse backgrounds in the growth and development of the country must be encouraged through participatory and inclusive policies, such as the National Unification Policy.
According to the businessman turned politician, the All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP) takes the National Unification Policy as a ‘blessing to Liberia’.
He noted that the Liberia constitution makes this country a secular state and seeks equality and fair play in government’s treatment of the citizens, regardless of our different religious backgrounds.
He further asserted that Article 14 of our constitution clearly grants freedom of conscience and religion to all Liberians, without molestation or segregation.
The law calls on all Liberians, especially those in positions of power to respect the rights of everyone equally, whether or not they practice African Traditional Religion, Islam or Christianity.’
‘If those who are in government respect the laws of Liberia, it will set the example for the ordinary people to follow. Remember that government has big influence over our Nation and its people. If government officials treat Liberian citizens equally and respect their rights that are guaranteed by the constitution, that good example will be seen and followed by the ordinary people,” he stated.
Let’s remember that every human being is a sovereign/independent being, but the sovereignty of the individuals is put together and given to the national government that must protect their rights and dignity without discrimination.
He further stated that the citizens’ right to the freedom of expression–in speech, conscience and religion — is the true measure of their independence. He who respects these rights of the people commands their respects, but he who abuses these rights invites something else!’
‘The government is under oath to protect the rights and dignity of all citizens without fear or favor. “Therefore, we call on the officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) who always deal with our people in towns and at check points to be respectful to our people and not to abuse their power by molesting our people with harassment, seizure of their documents without any justifiable reasons,” he pleaded.
The Political leader of the All Liberia Coalition Party stressed that he has been reliably informed that immigration officers (not named) at some check points across the country have “intensified their selective harassment against travelers bearing Mandingo or Muslim names.”
”Not only, but we are being reliably informed that they have begun the provocation or seizure of their national identification cards that are satisfactorily obtained by our people from National Identification Registry,” he noted.
He used the occasion to call on those immigration officers involved in such provocations to desist immediately from infringing on the rights of our people to own the National ID Card they obtained legally. “We also call on the Liberia Immigration Service and the government of President George M. Weah to put an immediate stop to this ugly and provocative behavior,” he stressed.
Reflecting on the National Unification Day celebrations which was held on May 14, Mr. Kamara noted that the occasion must be seen as a test to our honesty in dealing with the rich cultural diversity of Liberia and the challenges that confront all pluralistic societies.
‘While on this day we look back proudly and rejoice in the effort of President Tubman towards unification of all Liberians, we must ask ourselves what we are doing about unification. We must ask ourselves if we agree with God’s plan for Liberia to be a melting pot of civilizations, a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society.
“Our immigration service and its personnel must be made to know that many countries in West Africa and the Mano River Basin have Mandingoes, Gio, Mano, Krahn, Lorma, Kissi, Kpelleh as ethnic groups who enjoy equal rights, opportunities and privileges in those societies. Liberia, should not be any different,” he noted.
Today, our concerns should be the challenges that need the collective effort of all well-meaning sons and daughters of this Nation. How can we translate National Unification from mere policy to equal opportunity for all Liberians, regardless of tribe, religious and geographic location!
According to him, at this age, instead of the immigration personnel targeting certain ethnic groups at the various check points and during voter registration exercise, National Unification Policy is about inclusive and participatory national development efforts to provide equal opportunities for the people in the rural and urban areas of Liberia.
He stated that Liberians everywhere deserve accessible, reliable and affordable electricity; pipe born water, good road connectivity, good schools, good clinics or health facilities, medications and other basic social services.
The ALCOP Political Leader however noted that, Liberia has not seen the leader that will champion such a unification agenda that will make the economy viable and guarantee social security for all. That is why the Manifesto of the All Liberia Coalition Party focuses on these basic needs of our Liberian people.
‘To put Liberia on the path of permanent social and economic progress and end the suffering of all Liberians, is a dream ALCOP will pursue no matter the cost,” he said. Writes By T.R Dixon