By Bill W. Cooper
The Free Liberia Movement, through its founder, Rev. Torli Krua, has expressed deep concerns over what he claims to be an ‘illegal and fraudulent electoral process’ that took place on October 10, 2023.
In a letter to Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe of the Gongloe & Associates, Krua said, “On behalf of millions of aggrieved citizens of Liberia and myself that continue to be victimized as our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness have been trampled upon by the systemically corrupt Government of Liberia.”
“So, we are therefore seeking to annul the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections through the Supreme Court, as a last resort, because with deadly corruption, influence of money in the electoral process, the rigged system favoring incumbents and rich people in a poor country, allowing another nine years means nine years of death.
The relief we seek is a Sovereign National Convention for a new constitution of participatory democracy and a new blueprint envisioned by all the people of Liberia to guarantee security, justice, and equal opportunities, and put to rest the 1st and 2nd class citizenship of American colonization that began in the USA with codified racism, and continues in 2023,” he said.
The Free Liberia Movement is a flagship advocacy arm of the Universal Human Rights International (UHRI), as its founder, Rev. Torli Krua, is a prominent Liberian human rights activist based in Boston, U.S.A.
He said, “According to Article 1 of the Liberian Constitution, all power is inherent in the people. All free governments are instituted by their authority and for their benefit and they have the right to alter and reform the same when their safety and happiness so require.”
“But unfortunately, Liberia’s electoral process, election laws, and the National Elections Commission have made sure that citizens of Liberia have been denied access to justice, security, and equal opportunities by the corrupt Government of Liberia, to elect a democratic government which responds to the wishes of the governed, by creating a process that is not free, not fair, not a level playing field, and impossible to achieve a democratic outcome,” he narrated.
According to Rev. Krua, as peaceful and powerless citizens endowed by God with talents and gifts to become scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and engineers, their rights under Article 11, which talks about the enjoying and defending life and liberty, of pursuing and maintaining and security of a person, and of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, have become impossible.
He noted, “That’s because the country’s electoral process is rigged to favor incumbents and rich people who are citizens of Liberia with green cards or permanent residency in the USA, as well as Liberian citizens carrying U.S. passports with access to opportunities and money.
Rev. Krua maintained, “Poor Liberians, who account for the vast majority of citizens, cannot carry on our constitutional duty in Article 1 of the Constitution; to cause their public servants to leave office and to fill vacancies by regular elections.”
“We are not against Liberians having green cards or carrying U.S. Passports, because Liberia was created by two Acts of the U.S. Congress, appropriation of US$100,000.00 in American taxes, the force of the U.S. Navy. Moreover, Article 1 of the 1824 Constitution of Liberia, approved in Washington DC, is still in force.
“All persons born in Liberia are entitled to all privileges enjoyed by citizens of the U.S. Ten presidents of Liberia were citizens of the U.S. Our current president and current First Lady are Americans, evidenced by the fact that they don’t apply for visas to travel to the United States,” he explained.
The Free Liberia Movement founder also mentioned, “For over a century, tens of thousands of African Americans settled in Liberia without visa and a treaty signed on August 8, 1938 in Monrovia, The Friendship, Commerce and Navigation Treaty, further called for freedom of movement of Liberians and Americans for business, work, religious rites, and scientific research.”
“Visa waiver to the USA is currently enjoyed by millions of citizens from hundreds of sovereign nations. Unfortunately, the U.S. Government steals millions of dollars from Liberians and our government officials with American passports are mute because they are committed to their business interests and not Liberian citizens,” he intoned.
Meanwhile, Rev. Krua has reiterated his call for a Sovereign National Conference where citizens of Liberia may deliberate on envisioning a new blueprint and a new constitution for participatory democracy in Liberia.
This, he added, that the conference will further replace forever, the current ‘corrupt system’ envisioned by American slave masters and the U.S. Government to perpetuate slavery and poverty.
