These, the fleeing refugees, must be at the centre of sustaible  peace

Who Rules Liberia? 
By   Nya Pehmie  Bowman,

3 June 04

Who is really in charge of Liberia? Not too long ago, every social and political ill of Liberia was attributed to Charles Taylor. On airwaves, in cyber space, in public discourse and newscasts, there were stories; all of which described the evil ordeals of this single man. As he Taylor will say, he was the "the whipping board" for zealous warlords and politicians. Even LURD and MODEL a group of vicious, merciless thugs, preyed on Taylor’s social and political maladies to carry out havoc in Liberia. Some failed politicians also used Taylor’s dilemma as a propaganda tool to solidify their presidential bid for the up-coming election. In fact, the name Charles Taylor was so synonymous with Liberia that some began to wonder if every Liberian goes by the name Charles. In several interviews with BBC and other news networks, LURD and MODEL leaders vividly expressed their disinterest in any political position of Liberia and that their sole purpose was the removal of this common criminal (Taylor). Though the people of Liberia never really believe these buccaneers (LURD/MODEL), but Liberians had to enter into a regrettable decorum with these renegade hoodlums, especially given Charles Taylor repressive, kleptomaniac desires to Balkanize the entire Mano River region. It is worth mentioning that Liberians rendezvous with LURD/MODEL was not in any way an acceptance of their gruesome acts in Liberia, but a strategic necessity to remove a common tyrant. However, shortly after Taylor's departure a transitional govt was set up in reversed orders. For the first time in our nation's history, the cabinets selected our president in Accra, rather then the other way round. This reversed selection process has given absolute independence to the cabinets, who now believe that they need not serve at the pleasure of the president, but at the pleasures of word lords or the arm men they represent. This has created a power vacuum, with no centralized authority.

So who really is in charge of Liberia? Is it Guyde Bryant? Is it UNMIL? Is it LURD/MODELT or is it Guinea/Ivory Coast? This question continues to surface every time I attempt to make sense out of our nation's future. Every Liberian ought to ask this question, because the legitimacy of our nation's government is undefined. We have witnessed many instances in which LURD and MODEL have successfully demanded a change in governmental structures with no opposition from the executive branch. Both LURD and MODEL have been explicit in dismissing and appointing government officials at will. Such shenanigan has only digressed our constructive efforts to rebuild this depleted nation. What is even disturbing is the fact that some of our government officials are consulting with foreign government prior to carrying out our nation's fiscal policies; as it was the case with Aisha Conneh, whom after intense battle with the executive branch over the replacement of the Finance Minister, Mr. Lussani Kamara, she was ordered to Conakry to meet with Lassana Conte, possibly to explain reasons for her actions. Is Aisha Conneh serving at the pleasures of president Lansana Conte or the people of Liberian? Is she an envoy for the republic of Guinea or an official of Liberian? These are questions that lead one to wonder if Liberian is truly headed for a lasting peace.

George Dweh, Liberia’s pariah, whose tongue spits hatred, violence and division, has blatantly ignored the existence of the National Transitional Government as well as the Accra Accord and is now taking upon himself to conduct our nation's foreign policies. In his recent trip to the Cote d'Ivoire, Mr. Dweh maliciously attacked Guyde Bryant and also declared UNMIL mission to Liberian a failure. He declared in Cote d'Ivoire that UNMIL's failure in Liberia has left him with no choice, but to call for a regional legislative summit on June 9-10, to discuss regional peace. The question everyone has now is whether Mr. Dweh sees himself as the Chief executive of Liberia or the speaker of the house? Such displayed of malfeasance by Mr. Dweh has gone unchallenged many times, leaving him with the impression that his actions are rights. Mr. Dweh must understand his constitutional duties as speaker of the house and if in fact he isn't aware of his duties, he should be thought his duties. Since the gratuity post of Speaker of the House, Mr. Dweh has been nothing but a distraction to peace and tranquillity in Liberia.

As we strive to reconstruct our depleted economy as well as address some of our nation's paralysis, it is important to avoid maladies that will constrain our efforts. UNMIL must assist Mr. Bryant in discharging his responsibilities as enshrined in the Accra accord and the Liberian constitution. Mr. Bryant is the chief executive and must exercise his constitutional power to ensure that he is in charge and not George Dweh, or other foreign power. A new Liberia must seek to build a nation of laws, not a nation of flaws