Political parties seek forum to discuss national problems

Leaders of six Liberian political parties and a civil organisation say they are in favour of a meeting of national leaders aimed at halting the declining security, political, economic and social situations in the country. They said in a statement issued on 2 September at the end of a three-day consultative meeting in Abidjan, that they hoped to solve these and other problems in a National Political and Civic Leadership Forum. Despite a peace accord that ended a 1989-1996 war between Liberian factions and elections in 1997, insecurity has continued to plague Liberia: there has been fighting between pro-government forces and armed dissidents since 1999 in the north and northwest of the country. Parties and organisations represented at the Abidjan meeting said they were “against the use of armed means” to seek change. The agenda for the planned forum, they agreed, should include but not be limited to security issues, the electoral process, the media, the judiciary, national reconciliation and capacity building and the strengthening of political parties and civil society bodies. Participants paid tribute to Liberian political parties and civil society bodies “who in spite of the very difficult situation in the country continue to work tirelessly for the promotion of democracy”. At the same time, the participants said they recognised the “expressed willingness” of the government of Liberia to discuss the situation in the country. Participants met in the Ivorian port city of Abidjan “because a number of political and civic leaders expressed serious personal security concerns about returning” to Liberia at this time, according to the statement. Until these fears are removed, they said, they would meet at venues convenient to all. Among the leaders at the Abidjan conclave was Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, leader of the Unity Party, and a staunch opponent of President Charles Taylor. Other parties represented were the All Liberia Coalition Party, the Liberia Action Party, the Free Democratic Party, the True Whig Party of Liberia and the United People’s Party. Civil society was represented by Conmany Wesseh, the executive director of the Center for Democracy Empowerment.