Liberian National Conference now set for April 14 in Maryland

Liberians in the Diaspora especially in Europe and the United States will convene a national conference in Columbia, Maryland from April 14-16, 2005 to deliberate on their country's past, present and future, and to set the stage for providing a new direction for the war ravished nation. The All Liberian National Conference for Peace, Reconciliation and Reform was originally scheduled to commence March 10, 2005 but was called off to honor a request made by the mediation committee of the Association of Liberian Ministers in the United States (ALiMUSA). The three-day conference will be held at the Kahler Hall, 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia, Maryland.

The Steering Committee which is organizing the conference last January dismissed its Chairman, Dr. James Teah Tarpeh but Dr. Tarpeh refused to bow out and instead constituted a breakaway group to organize a separate conference. AliMUSA intervened and mediated between the Steering Committee and the group led by Dr. Tarpeh. The two sides subsequently met in Silver Spring and crafted an agreement which the parties agreed in principle that it would be binding on the two groups. But the Mediation Committee announced last week in its published report that the Tarpeh group reneged on the agreement. The Liberian clergy accused the Tarpeh group of failing to negotiate in good faith.

The Columbia conference is being organized by the major Liberian organizations in Europe and the United States including the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, the European Federation of Liberian Associations, the Coalition of Liberian Organizations in the Southern United States, national county associations including Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Lofa, Bomi and Bong as well as UNIBOA which comprises citizens from Bassa, Margibi and Rivercess among other counties. The conference organizers also include national alumni associations, pro democratic organizations and professional bodies. Specifically, the Liberian associations in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, France and the Netherlands are also associated with this effort.

The three day conference is expected to be attended by US officials, African diplomas, international organizations and friends of Liberia. The Liberian Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Charles A. Minor will deliver the keynote address. A delegation from Liberia is also expected to attend the conference.

The Conference is being spearheaded by a Steering Committee headed by Mrs. Mydea Reeves-Karpeh, former President of UNIBOA and the first female President of ULAA; Mr. John Brownell of the Liberian Association in the United Kingdom (LIBERIAN) is the Vice Chairman; Mr. Abraham G. Massaley, National President of the National Association of Cape Mountainians in the Americas is Secretary and Ms. Mary Broh, community activist, Treasurer. The Conference is expected to bring together Liberians and Liberian organizations as well as friends of Liberia to discuss the country's post war institutional and structural reform including social, economic, political and cultural reform.

The goals of the Conference are to discuss national reconciliation, peace and reform. It seeks to set the stage for the formulation of national consensus from varying viewpoints, define the parameters of reform, obtain popular endorsement of the broad outlines of reform and enhance commitment of all Liberians to begin reform. It will provide an opportunity for stocktaking, reaffirming our sense of shared national identity, agreeing on minimal conditions for holding of free and fair elections in Liberia and establishing reform as defined by the Conference participants. A follow up conference is expected to be held in Monrovia prior to the October 2005 general elections.

All organizations on the Steering Committee have welcomed the holding of the general elections this October and are firmly committed to the successful outcome of the October 2005 elections. However, most of these organizations are advocating for Diaspora voting. There has also been concern among Liberians about certain aspects of the electoral process which they want to see modified in order to further enhance the current electoral process. As a way of compromise, some Liberians are advancing the idea of ballot initiatives, so that some of the critical national issues can be put forward to the electorates in the October 2005 general elections.

Of equal importance is the need to establish a tripartite covenant among Liberians, the elected government and the international community to ensure participatory politics that gradually decentralizes an overly monocentric governance structure to begin reform.

While we are optimistically moving towards the October 2005 elections, our Country is awash in systemic problems since the Civil War. It is agreed that elections create the minimum conditions for peace and security, but elections by themselves are not a panacea for genuine reconciliation, political stability, and economic development. This is why Liberians want to meet and consult among themselves regarding the future of their country prior to elections, and are therefore seeking support and goodwill among friends of Liberia especially the international community that is currently engaged in Liberia.

The April Conference has lined up prominent Liberian scholars, professionals, academicians and other distinguished citizens to make presentations on key topics including agriculture, education, security and military, the 2005 general elections, social, political and cultural reform, among others.

Notable among the speakers is former Liberian Interim President, Dr. Amos C. Sawyer, who will present a paper on Social, Political and Cultural reform. Dr. Sawyer will discuss Judicial and legislative reforms, civil service reform, land reform, decentralization, transparency and accountability in government, concessions and right of local people to benefit and be protected. Former President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Patrick L. M. Seyon, will address the conference on educational reform while former presidential advisor, Mr. Bai M. Gbala will discuss the 2005 general elections. Former defense ministry official Brownie Samukai will speak on security and military reform.

Human rights lawyer, Counselor Tiawan Gongloe will present a paper on Peace while Dr. Syrulwa Somah, a Liberian university professor at a leading American university will address the conference on Agriculture and the Environment including deforestation, mining, among other issues. A former Liberian Minister, Mr. Loseni Donzo will speak on Infrastructural Reform including telecommunication, transportation and public utilities while Dr. Francis Kateh will present a paper on health and sanitation.

Other topics to be discussed at the conference are the Liberian economy including taxation, Liberianization, investment Incentives, and Reconciliation. Former Liberian Leader, Mrs. Ruth Perry has been contacted to make a presentation on Reconciliation.

Meanwhile, the Steering Committee has begun extending invitations to Liberian community associations, county organizations, professional bodies, pro democratic Liberian groups and alumni associations to attend the Columbia conference. Each organization will be represented at the conference by five delegates, irrespective of memberships. There will be no fee for registration of delegates but they will be required to pay $10.00 each for conference materials. A catering service has been contracted to sell food at the conference at minimum cost. Other organizations that has not received invitations are encouraged to immediately contact the steering committee.

The conference hospitality committee has made hotel arrangements. Organizations and individuals attending the conference

All Liberian National Conference set for March 10-13, 2005 in Baltimore

Major Liberian organizations in the United States and Europe are organizing a national conference under the banner of a member Steering Committee.The Steering Committee is comprised of 34 organizations and individual members.

The Conference is expected to bring together Liberians and Liberian organizations as well as friends of Liberia to discuss the country's past, present and future especially post war institutional structure (social, economic, political and cultural) reform.

The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), the European Federation of Liberian Organizations and national county association in the Americas including Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Lofa, Bomi, Grand Bassa and Bong Counties as well as national alumni associations, pro democratic organizations and professional bodies are organizing the Conference. Specifically, the Liberian associations in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, France and the Netherlands are also associated with this effort. Efforts are being made to extend invitations to other county/regional organizations to become part of this effort.

The Conference is being spearheaded by a Steering Committee headed by Mrs. Mydea Reeves-Karpeh, former President of UNIBOA and the first female President of ULAA; Mr. John Brownell of the Liberian Association in the United Kingdom (LIBERIAN) is the Vice Chairman; Mr. Abraham G. Massaley, National President of the National Association of Cape Mountainians in the Americas is Secretary and Ms. Mary Broh, community activist as Treasurer.

Goals

The goals of the All Liberian National Conference (ALNC) are to discuss national reconciliation, peace and reform. It will convene from March 10-13 , 2005 at The Potter's Place in Baltimore, Maryland. ALNC seeks to set the stage for the formulation of national consensus from varying viewpoints, define the parameters of reform, obtain popular endorsement of the broad outlines of reform and enhance commitment of all Liberians to begin reform. The October 2005 general elections in Liberia will also be an agenda item for the Baltimore Conference.

The Conference will provide an opportunity for stocktaking, reaffirming our sense of shared national identity, agreeing on minimal conditions for holding of free and fair elections in Liberia and establishing reform as defined by the Conference participants. A follow up conference to the United States Conference will be held in Monrovia later this year. Of equal importance is the need to establish a tripartite covenant among Liberians, the elected government and the international community to ensure participatory politics that gradually decentralizes an overly monocentric governance structure to begin reform. Mrs. Mydea Reeves Karpeh and UN Envoy Jacques Klein met recently in Washington DC and discussed the USA Conference and the one planned for Monrovia

The Steering Committee has begun discussions with key individuals, national and international organizations to enlist their support for the conference in the United States. The Committee intends to reach out to foundations, individuals and organizations to seek funding for hosting the conference and leverage to implement the resolutions of the conference as well as to make the resolutions binding. ALNC welcomes all Liberians and their organizations, friends of Liberia and the international community fullest participation. The Steering Committee commits itself to joining hands with all Liberians at home and abroad in providing the leadership necessary to mobilize international support for feasible policy initiatives to create participatory democracy and genuine peace in Liberia.

In preparation for the conference, the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mrs. Reeves-Karpeh recently met with the UN Special Representative in Liberia, Ambassador Jacques Klein in Washington D.C. to discuss the United States Conference and the proposed National Conference in Liberia. Ambassador Klein expressed interest and support in holding the two Conferences and the need to galvanize support for the implementation of the resolutions arising from the two gatherings.

The Steering Committee meets weekly on a teleconference to plan the conference. Recently, the group met in Rhode Island and adopted the criteria for accrediting delegates to the Baltimore conference as well as the format for the conference.

The Rhode Island meeting agreed on a memorandum of understanding between ULAA and the Steering Committee. Similar memorandum will also be adopted shortly between the European Federation of Liberian Organizations and the Steering Committee.

Meanwhile, Liberian organizations in the Diaspora and observers are asked to contact the Conference secretarial at ALNCscribe@yahoo.com for accreditation purposes or further information.