Her Excellency
Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
President of the
Republic
of Liberia
Monrovia,
Liberia
February 26, 2010
Dear Madam President
I have the honor of writing to you to express my
concern about the seriousness of the land
dispute in Ganta, Nimba
County, which developed as a result of
Liberia’s
civil war. This issue has the potential of
compromising your administration’s drive for
peace, justice, and good governance. This is
especially true in view of the lack of
meaningful progress on the part of your
administration toward protecting the rights of
the Mandingo people, who are the victims in an
illegal and unacceptable appropriation of lands
and houses by people who have no legal claims to
them whatsoever. It is imperative that those
properties be returned to their rightful owners.
Rights, be they human
rights or property rights, are fundamental norms
and principles that must be guaranteed to every
citizens in any civilized society. Hence, the
absence of property rights in a given society
not only hinders genuine development but also
undermines the very character and nature of its
system of governance. It is the cardinal
responsibility of a democratic government to
dispense justice in an impartial manner to all
of its citizens. The realization of good
governance signifies government’s accountability
to its people, which ultimately inspires
people’s trust.
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HON. Bangalee A.
Trawally |
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Treasurer,
Governing Board of Directors,
OLM |
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A peace achieved must be
preserved and sustained. Liberia’s
experience with war has taught us that
continuous efforts by government and citizens
alike are required to cement equity in all of
our endeavors. Resolving the Ganta land dispute
must claim the immediate attention of your
administration in order to prevent an
unfortunate situation in which the victims would
conclude that no one is concerned about their
plight.
The frustration of the affected people of
that city is climbing to the zenith. I and other
concerned citizens of
Liberia
(both those currently living in
Liberia
and those in the Diaspora—even the international
community) do not want the country to degenerate
into a situation in which the hard earned peace
that exists is not maintained.
Therefore, Madam President,
I want you to also consider this communication
as a follow-up question to one I asked you
previously. Last year, when you visited the
US and met with the
Liberian community in
Minnesota, I asked you
about your position on the Mandingoes’
properties that had been forcibly seized from
them in Ganta. Your response was somewhat
persuasive: You mentioned the commission that
you have set up to probe into the matter and
amicably settle it once and for all. Since then,
there has not been a sound from you or the
commission on the subject. Was your reply mere
rhetoric?
We have been observing the
situation closely. In fact, I just returned from
Liberia
where I was able to see the unbelievable things
in Ganta first hand: buildings belonging to the
Mandingoes worth thousands of dollars are
flattened on the ground, and Mandingoes are
being denied their right to reconstruct their
homes on the empty piece of land. At the moment,
the people there are building on land owned by
the Mandingoes as a result of government failure
to get involved or out of open defiance to
authority by those people. What a provocation.
It is against this
background that we are asking your government to
address the grave land issue in Ganta with
urgency. I, in consultation with members of the
affected group in the city, have set in motion a
movement in Liberia, the US, Europe, and Asia
that would explore avenues appropriate to
rendering justice to our people. Properties that
have been seized forcibly as a result of the war
must be returned to the rightful owners in the
name of peace. I hope this will claim your
attention as anticipated. This is the end to the
beginning of the struggle.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Bangalee A. Trawally
Treasurer, Governing Board
of Directors,
Organization of Liberians
in Minnesota (OLM)
batrawally@yahoo.com
