Following U. S. Ambassador’s Statement: COP Now Sets July 31 For Protest

By Bill W. Cooper (Cub Reporter)

The Council of Patriot (COP) has rescheduled its July 24 protest to July 31, based on what the group considered as respect for its ‘traditional’ partners Basing their reconsideration on a recent communication issued by the U.S Ambassador to Liberia, Christine Elder on Thursday, July 18, COP recognized that America plays a very key role in the developmental agenda of the country.
In the Ambassador’s statement in part, she said, “The US Embassy responds by sharing its view that, staging such actions as they have outlined during the independence celebrations, would instead convey a lack of commitment to national development.”
Addressing a news conference on Friday at Roots FM in Monrovia, one of the advisors of the group, Abraham Darious Dillon said COP’s planned protest is not cancelled, but only shifted to another date.
“The statement from the US Embassy is not against protest or frowning on protest or say we cannot protest, instead it wants us to consider our timing of the protest,” he reminded critics and supporters.
According to Dillon, their decision to protest on Independence Day was to enlighten other international diplomats that President Weah is not listening to the cry of the people and therefore the country is not happy.
He added that they are aware that the President could not have addressed all of their demands as enlisted in the petition within 30 days, but wanted the President to admit to their petition by informing the Liberian people when, how and what he could do about those demands contained in their petition, adding “We are not unreasonable people.”
Dillon noted that the dialogue recently called by President Weah to discuss other national and strategic issues like the economy is welcomed in good faith by COP and that they are willing to proffer their suggestions.
He added that some of the demands listed in their petition do not need a dialogue, adding that for instance, the President does not need a dialogue to declare his assets and address other issues listed in the petition.
Making the pronouncement for the protest date, the Chairperson of the group, Henry Costa said the protest remains as planned and reminded that it will be carried out nationwide thereby calling on all supporters to come out peacefully just as it was done on June 7.
He reiterated that COP will launch a non-stop protest until its demands are addressed by the President either by calling a press conference or playing a pre-recorded message to inform the Liberian people of his willingness to address their demands as placed their petition.
Costa further urged their supporters not to attend or participate in the July 26 Independence Day celebrations, but called on them to remain home to pray and reflect on the difficult situation in the country because “There is nothing worthy of celebration.”
Meanwhile, District #10 Representative, Yekeh Kolubah, disclosed that plans for the mobilization of their protest now scheduled for July 31 will kick off from the Barnesville belt throughout Central Monrovia and simultaneously go across the counties.