Statement delivered by Dr. Laurence Konmla Bropleh, former Minister of Information, the Republic of Liberia on the occasion of the dismissal of all criminal charges against him by Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice, Monrovia, Liberia. Wednesday, December 8, 2010.
On yesterday, the Judicial System of the Republic of Liberia through Judge William Ware, the assigned Judge of the First Judicial Circuit Criminal Court Assizes “C” granted me the much desired vindication when it dismissed all charges brought against me by the prosecuting team of the Republic of Liberia. The government of Liberia, on January 29, 2010, at
2pm filed an indictment with the Criminal Court “C” alleging that I facilitated the crimes of Theft of Property and Forgery committed by the then Comptroller and Chief Accountant of the Ministry of Information, Joseph Z. Nyamunue, Sr. and Josiah B.S. Gwagee.
The government of Liberia charged me with Criminal Facilitation, an allegation I have always maintained was untrue. For over 14 months, I have waited for the government of Liberia to prove its allegations against me, to no avail. Since the indictment on January 29, 2010, I have urged the government to kindly take me to court so that I could prove my innocence. Over three consecutive terms of court, I sought and received from the court assignments that were served upon the state prosecutors. However, the State failed to proceed with prosecution. For me, there presented a situation of incongruousness. It was difficult for me to understand why, after an allegation has been alleged against me, the state would not joyously proceed in order to prove its case. The difficulty caused pain
and disappointment.
Let me reflect on this journey for a moment. In October, 2009, I was representing our beloved country as Vice President of the Steering Committee for the World Expo 2010 in China - the first African ever to be elected to such position within the history of the World EXPO. My official assignment was prematurely terminated as I was recalled and suspended indefinitely by the President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation launched by the Ministry of Justice. I recalled these events leading to an agonizing fourteen months waiting for my accusers to provide evidence for primarily two reasons. First, I reflected on the ultimate decision I took in resigning my post serving as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations for the World Council of Churches in New York and Geneva to take up assignment as Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism when Liberia was basically saddled by corruption, a broken international reputation and virtual collapse of the entire gamut of our socio-political system. I took this assignment bearing in mind that Liberians won’t be able torepair the wanton damages inflicted on our governance structures, infrastructure, education and social systems and international reputation by staying out of the country and criticizing the status quo.
Development in my understanding would have been accomplished or achieved by Liberians residing abroad agreeing to render services to their country. It was solely based on this premise that I chose to accept the offer from the President of Liberia, to serve as her Minister of Information at a time when our national image and pride were severely battered both at home and abroad. The Second and equally compelling reason for this recollection was my conviction then and now, that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s leadership provided the best platform and strategy for national recovery and renewal. Her impeccable record of public service, astute and ingenious leadership credentials were sufficient assurances for the birth of a new Liberia, which we had all dreamed and longed for in decades.
From that moment up until now, I vowed to protect, promote and defend the works and policies of this administration in fulfillment of my commitment to national service and my duty to country and people. The image of this country before I rose to the helm at the Ministry of Information, compared with the changing complexion of our national identity in recent years,
attest to the hard work, vision, dynamism and drive we engineered when we assumed the mantle of spokesmanship.
Liberians abroad and at home can fairly attest to the rapid swell in recognition our country gained by and through our branding and visibility strategies and efforts. But I also was fully cognizant that coming home and contributing constructively with political innocence would be at a price. I knew there would be sacrifices, and as I prayed about the decision to return to my home country and give back to the various communities that helped to shape me, I braised myself for the unforeseen.
And indeed the unforeseen was felt drastically when evil persons set my home ablaze on December 26, 2008, destroying everything I ever worked for around the world except the clothes I wore when I left my home. I recall it so vividly because it was the day after Christmas and, on Christmas day, while celebrating the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with several Imams and friends from the Muslim community, I received a text message that reminded me that I was protecting and making to look good a President they did not like and that I would pay the ultimate price. This did not deter me as some would have loved, for when I\ accepted to serve this government and this President; I knew that there would be crucifixions. But as an imperfect individual who
believes in and submits to the rubric of the sufficiency of God’s grace, I fortitudinally affirm that with every crucifixion comes a resurrection.
Believing in the future of our nation by seeking to empower our young people and old alike with a new understanding of how we must live together as a people, seeking to transform our minds and attitudes for the New Liberia, I saw a resurrection on the horizon. Seeing that resurrection, I moved quickly to provide the appropriate defenses to the array of misconceptions, false interpretations and clear fabrications concocted against me. I subsequently resigned my position as Minister of Information by virtue of my dedication to the people of this country and the values and principles that must govern public service
practice. I did so because I felt it would have provided me the required latitude to mount an effective defense in clearing not just my name but restoring quickly the momentary lapses this had caused my integrity. I came to the position of Information Minister quite conscious that in a society recently made democratic was challenging in part because not clearly articulating and disseminating the information of government in the context of a democratic society could lead to a cacophony of
misconception and misinformation, which I believe, is counterproductive to our efforts of building a democracy.
I have always held that as a nation, we have succeeded in transitioning to democracy. But it appears that we have not succeeded in changing some of our ways and attitudes necessary to appreciating the opportunities that
come with living in such a society.
When one is accused, particularly by the state, it should be of the utmost priority on the part of the state to proceed to trial. This provides an opportunity for the accuser and the accused to have a fair trial. In the absence of a speedy trial, speculations, innuendoes, erroneous perceptabilities and outright denial of the accused’s fundamental rights all come to bear. It is said that justice delayed is justice denied. One should not have to beg to be brought to court when the state accuses. The new Liberia will not become a reality when we engage in prosecutorial gimmicks at the disadvantage of the accused. And, clearly the fight against corruption cannot be realized when there is an apparent process of selective prosecution. When the state takes over four to five terms of court after an indictment to bring an accused to trial, the wheels of justice would appear to be stuck in the mud brought on by the changing climate as evident by an overzealous downpour of rains during the raining season. We must make sure that this is not the case.
Unless we change the way we perceive politics, the manner we think of government, the way we interact with our neighbor down the road, the benefits that come with living in a democratic society will so often be lost by the trivial and frivolous issues that tend to divide us as a nation. So, as I believed then and now, we need to experience something of a renaissance that will spread all across the length and breadth of our society, inspiring our fellow citizens to lay aside our pedestrian and mundane political, social, cultural and ethnic differences and embrace a more noble cause of working in tandem as a people interested in changing our nation positively.
Hence, I commit myself even more now, to continue the Liberian Renaissance: Changing Minds; Changing Attitudes; a social campaign that has caught on like wild fire throughout our nation and is showing real and pragmatic change for the betterment of our nation. We will continue to inspire and motivate our young and old alike, taking this campaign beyond the studio microphones and making our way to every village, every clan, every city, and every county, for if Liberia must truly become a stronger nation, Liberians must value each other, support each other and lift up each other to become wholesome functioning citizens. That is the only way we can lift Liberia.
Finally, I would like to extend thanks and appreciation to my family, friends, colleagues and the hundreds of thousands of Liberians and people from around the world who stood by me throughout this unfortunate ordeal. I could not have made it without them, for they never stopped believing in my honesty and integrity. Daily, I received text messages offering support and prayers – those messages and prayers kept me going. On yesterday, I received again hundreds of text messages of joy and praises to God. One of such message reads: “God brought you into this world for a purpose and that you will achieve. Trials, Tribulations, temptations and mockery are part of the cross we carry. Remain strong and befriend those who dug the pit. Many men have fallen, but those that rise again are greatly remembered. God Bless!” Indeed I endured trials and temptations. Yes, I was mocked by those who had not the facts, but whose tendencies are always to speak half truths. Clearly the temptation was there to give up and practice self-defeatism, for at times; my cross was quite heavy to carry. But then I remembered the words of my late mother, Joanna Elizabeth Davis-Bropleh whom I would run to when I was a kid when someone insults me and she would say: “Larry boy, it doesn’t matter what they say about you, only remember that what they say should never be the truth. Remember, the Bible says, Cast your bread upon the waters, and you will find it after many days.” Today, I have found my bread with renewed zeal, courage and inspiration to do what I love best – contribute constructively to the rebuilding of our nation and securing a better future for its young ones. Part of my philosophy in life is this: I may not be able to control the evil things people may plot against me or say about me, but I can control what my reaction will be to the evil things they plot against me or saybout me.
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In this instance, I have chosen not to become bitter or devil evil tendencies, for those would only cause me to lose my drive to transform Liberia. So, I have kept the faith and continued to run the race, not for myself, but for Liberia and Liberians. Finally, let me state here emphatically that I have never stopped believing in the Liberian dream and in the vision espoused for our nation by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Not only do I believe in her perspicacity, but also in what I call her intuitive brilliance. For me, she provides the best option for our nation at this point in its history and will continue to ask the Almighty for strength, good health and wisdom. I urge every Liberian to set aside hatred, envy, greed and political immaturity and join hands with our partners in order to advance our development agenda and the image of Liberia. May God bless the President of the Republic of Liberia, the Liberian people everywhere, our partners and save the state. Thank You.
