4 November 2009
In her bid to mobilize home grown grassroots and institutional support for key Diaspora causes of Dual Citizenship and Out-Of-Country Voting, the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), over the weekend, held a top-level discussion meeting with the Head of the internationally renowned Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of the Catholic Diocese of Liberia, Counselor J. Augustine Toe.
ULAA National President Anthony V. Kesselly, assisted by the First Vice Chairman of the National Board of Directors of ULAA, Mr. Wilmot W. Kunney, and the Chairman of the External Affairs Committee of the Union, Mr. Sam Togba Slewion, held an intensive discussion session with Counselor Toe, Executive Director of the JPC, in Philadelphia on last Sunday.
The session discussed ways in which the JPC could serve as a bridge between the Diaspora umbrella Organization and civil society and human rights advocacy groupings in Liberia in the concerted effort to generate support for Diaspora causes.
The ULAA Prexy provided the JPC Executive Director a detailed update on ULAA engagements on the issues of Dual Citizenship and Out-Of-Country Voting, starting back from the April 2005 All Liberia National Conference held in Columbia, Maryland, USA, and running into the 35th National General Assembly held in Decatur, Georgia, in September 2009.
The ULAA Boss also presented to Counselor Toe a special ULAA 35th General Assembly Folder, containing the Assembly Resolution, Souvenir Program, and the Presidential State of the Union Address.
The session, which featured in-depth analysis of intricacies involved in and opportunities available for the achievement of the goals of Dual citizenship and Out-of-Country Voting, concluded with an understanding that the JPC and ULAA will remain engaged, as the JPC explores linkages with other key civil society groupings in Liberia with the aim of expanding the Union's relationships in Liberia.
In his remarks, JPC Director Toe expressed his appreciation to the ULAA officials for the opportunity to dialogue with them on issues of concern to Liberians in the Diaspora of the United States, adding, "as civil society organizations we should remain in constant contact and share information of importance that affect our people no matter whether they live in Liberia or the Diaspora."
Counselor Toe attributed the challenges of passing a Dual Citizenship Bill in Liberia to many reasons, including lack of education among the citizenry about the social, economic and political benefits of Liberians holding dual citizenship in other countries and Liberia. "I want to let you know that there is a lot of challenges facing this issue, but with concerted efforts, we can overcome these challenges."
He assured the ULAA officials that upon his return to Liberia, he will begin the process of engaging other civil society leaders for them to dialogue on the issue and perhaps clarify the many misconceptions surrounding the issue of Dual Citizenship for Liberians in the Diaspora.
Regarding the issue of Out-of-Country Voting, Cllr. Toe observed that this is a natural right of Liberians to participate in the process to determining the political destiny of their country despite their geographical location and therefore they should not be disenfranchised because "a lot of people now reside in the Diaspora due to the prolonged civil conflict in our country."
"This issue does not require a specific piece of Legislation and therefore efforts of the Union should be concentrated on engaging electoral institutions in the United States and Liberia to resolve logistical and structural concerns and we will be willing to work with you on this issue as well," he averred.
It will be recalled that the ULAA National President flew to Liberia in mid June this year at the invitation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to attend the Liberian National Conference on Reconciliation. The ULAA Boss participated fully in deliberations of the Conference, pushing the two issues of Dual Citizenship and Diaspora Voting.
As a result of the forceful and successful lobbying on the part of the ULAA Chie Executive, the two concepts were adopted at the Plenary of the Conference. Today, the TRC Final Report contains very favorable recommendation on the two concepts.
While in Monrovia , President Kesselly also leveraged the opportunity and had the occasion to meet with President of Liberia, Hon Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the Speaker of the House of Representative of Liberia, Hon. Alex Tyler, and President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Hon. Cletus Segbe Wotorson, Senator of Grand Kru County, who is one of the proponents of the Dual Citizenship Bill in the Liberia Legislature.
Another vocal advocate for Dual Citizenship for Liberians is Senator Sumo Kupee of Lofa County . Mr. Kesselly also met with the Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia , Hon. James Fromayan, along with other members of the Commission, including Commissioners David Menyongai, and Ida K. Reeves.
The NEC Executive Director, Hon. John Langley, also participated in the meeting which explored the challenges and prospects of Out-of Country Voting for Liberians to ensure their participation in the electoral process in 2011. Like Cllr. Toe, all of these highly laced personalities pledged their support to work with the Union for the realization of these two pressing issues facing Liberians in the Diaspora.
In a related Liberian Diaspora interest story, the European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA) has sent an official dispatch to the Liberian National Legislature to re-enforce the Diaspora case as advocated there in June by the ULAA National President. Following consultations with the ULAA Leadership, EFLA President John N. Brownell sent an official dispatch to both houses of the Liberian Legislature.
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