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Liberia: Em Issues Stern Warning
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The Analyst (Monrovia)
27 March 2008
Posted to the web 27 March 2008
J. Nathaniel Daygbor
Presidential Press Secretary, Cyrus Badio cautioned Liberians and politicians to stop making statements which according to him have potential to inflame the situation in Ghana.
Without saying the inflammatory statements being made since the eruption of the crisis at the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana, Mr. Badio has indicated that his boss, President Ellen Sirleaf, is extremely and deeply worried over statements Liberians are making about the situation Liberians refugees are faced with.
While the government welcomes and also encourages public debate on issues of national concern, he urged the general public and media practitioners in the country to exercise caution in their statements and commentaries, so as not to undermine the peace and harmony existing between Ghana and Liberia.
Speaking during his regular press briefing Monday at his Foreign Affairs Ministry office, the presidential spokesman said: "Every Liberian must realize that Liberia has a responsibility to find an amicably solution to the problem involving its citizens in Ghana and avoid comments and actions which have the potential of inflaming the situation, thereby undermining the cordial relationship between the two countries and its people."
He said the government is encouraged by the fact that the Ghanaian authorities were able to backup on an earlier decision to deport more than 500 Liberians, noting that the decision is the result of direct telephone discussions between President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her Ghanaian, President John Kufuor.
He said that it had not been for the timely intervention of Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf and the decision by the Ghanaian authority to honor her appeal, the situation would have been otherwise.
Observers see the reaction from the Executive Mansion as a tacit response to criticisms from the public about the manner in which the government handled the crisis. Many believed that the government acted very slowly in responding to the plight of her citizens facing danger in another country.
"If Cyrus was not in government, he would have seen what others are talking about. I do not blame him, he is doing the work he is being for," remark an observed for begged for anonymity.
Political Parties Condemn Detention of Liberians
Group of political parties under the forum for Political Party Leaders (FOPPAL) has condemned the arrest and detention of over 500 Liberian refugees in Ghana by the Ghanaian government and the subsequent deportation of 16 of them.
In a statement, FOPPAL terms the action by the Ghanaian government "as uncivilized, unfriendly, and against the West African spirit under which the ECOWAS was formed. As it has done, the group has accordingly called on all patriotic and well-meaning Liberians as well as all Pan Africanist movements to condemn this action.
FLOPAL quoted information it claimed to have received that the Liberians had staged a peaceful sit in action on their Buduburam refugee camp, calling on the UNHCR to provide them attractive package before their repatriation to Liberia, against their absorbing or reintegrating in the Ghanaian society.
"This is contrary to the Ghanaian government statement that the Liberian mothers and sisters stage an illegal demonstration that was never approved by the government," it said in the statement under the signature of Peter Vuku, Acting Chairman.
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FOPPAL wishes to educate the Ghanaian government that under international peaceful protests and demonstration by refugees that the intent and purpose are directed at certain treatment being melted at them by the host country or an international body such as the UN.
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