By Precious D. Freeman
Archie Ponpon, the Liberian activist who set himself ablaze on the grounds of the Temple of Justice on November 2, last year is pleading for help to enable him undergo plastic surgery.
Mr. Ponpon, who became the spokesperson for the aggrieved judicial workers who have carried out series of protest against the Chief Justice, Francis Korkpor, for their 12-month salaries.
In a press conference on yesterday at his West Point residence, Ponpon clarified the reasons behind his performance and maintained that he did not regret the action he took because he is a man of uniqueness.
Though in his pains, Ponpon bragged that loves to make news and wants to be well known for which he continues to do several unimaginable things in the country.
“My plan was to just kill myself and I will not bear the consequence again because this situation needed attention and my death would have caused more attentions but I was stopped by my friends,” he explained.
According to him, what led to his anger was based on the issuance of the Writ of Arrest served him on the order of the Chief Justice and not because of the salary arrears owed him or his colleagues.
He added that he could not get arrested and be disgrace by going to jail when he had not achieved from his protest action which had left to the Writ only to end up as a laughing stock in the society.
Ponpon said he was not informed earlier that Chief Justice Korkpor and the Judiciary did provide US$2, 000 towards his treatment and that said contribution was handed to his father.
He explained that because his father will not want to make him (Ponpon) feel bad, he collected it though the amount is not even able to solve his problem.
According to him, after the incident, the government promised to have helped him and that even drove all his would-be helpers from different areas away but till now, the assistance is not forth coming and the helpers have all turned their backs.
He added that the City Major Jefferson Koijee also promised to help pay his children school fees but all failed, saying that he had lost hope on government, even though he is not depending on them for his recovery.
“The John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital did extremely well for me by showing love and care and making sure that my breathing is accurate but the greatest challenge is that they cannot organize a plastic surgery because it is not done in Liberia,” he said.
He added that he has to leave the hospital not because he was not being cared for but because he was not receiving the rightful treatment as the hospital is unable to conduct the necessary surgery on him.
The Liberian activist explained that he is going through a lot of pains and as the wounds heal, the shrinkages of the skin affect his mouth thereby closing it while his eyes open wider, adding, “I eat liquid (watery) food through tube because even the size of a tea spoon cannot enter my mouth; that is how small it is.”
He appreciated everyone who paid him visits at his resident in West Point, especially Senator Abraham Darius Dillon for his love.