OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Grand Gedeh Associations in the Americas, Inc.

12 Marhoefer Drive, Pittsburgh, PA. 15236

POSITION STATEMENT

By

The Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas, Inc., G GAA

We, the officials and members of the Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas, Inc. (GGAA) herewith express our deepest concern and indignation, over the arbitrariness that is characterized by the listing of Grand Gedeans as suspects by the Government of Liberia in the escalating security situation at the Liberian-Ivorian border.

We observed that the circumstances under which the Government of Liberia is holding some Grand Gedeans liable for the alleged attack on the Liberian- Ivorian border raises mounting questions.

The naming of Mr. Amos Charyee who has been in exile at the Refugee Camp in Ghana since 2002, by the Government of Liberia is very troubling.  We further observed that two other Grand Gedeans, Mr. Abednego Zleh and Mr. Ofore Diah were identified as prime suspects in the border conflict by the Government of Liberia.

Because of their law abiding nature, these individuals turned themselves in to authorities and were subsequently released and issued clearances by the Liberia National Police without any explanation from the Sirleaf Administration.

These actions on the part of the Liberian Government have the potential to endanger the personal security of these peaceful citizens and expose their families to unwarranted harassment and threats.

We are urging the Sirleaf administration to be mindful of its obligations to upholding the fundamental rights of every Liberian and desist from acts that will endanger and restrain the liberties of Liberians especially those hailing from Grand Gedeh County.

We are also troubled by the level of intimidation directed at peaceful citizens within Grand Gedeh County by overzealous Government security forces and functionaries in the form and manner that are designed to install fear and apprehension among the population.

We want to caution the Sirleaf Government against any attempt to exploit the security situation at the Liberian border with Ivory Coast to fallaciously incriminate Grand Gedeans with the view of settling war time and post elections scores with opponents of the administration.

The militarization of Grand Gedeh County is totally unacceptable and we urged the President to take immediate steps to de-militarize the county without further delay in order to reduce the tense security condition created as a result of the direct actions of her government.

President Sirleaf’s administration has a duty to concretize its commitment to the rule of law by instituting an untiring respect for the fundamental rights and civil liberties of Liberians throughout the West African nations without pre-condition.

We want to remind the Sirleaf administration that Liberians cannot afford to re-live the terrors of the Liberian civil war as they strive to construct a path based on democratic principles.

We are calling on the United Nations to urgently deploy and increase its peace-keeping force on both sides of the Liberian – Ivorian border.

We observed that the United Nations is under obligation to sustain the relative but most significant, peaceful atmosphere obtained in the two countries by reinforcing its presence in the conflict area.

The United Nations has a major role to play in consolidating peace and security strides made so far in Liberia, by taking seriously its mandate to ensure that indiscriminate arrests of and persecution of peaceful citizens that characterized the Liberian civil war is not repeated under the Sirleaf administration.

We also want to admonish the International Community to exert every legal means to keep the Sirleaf Government in check in order to resist the temptation of sinking Liberia back into crisis through the targeting of law abiding citizens that may escalate insecurity among the population.

The Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas Inc. is requesting the United Nations to take immediate steps to protect Liberian and Ivorian refugees against any form of reprisal by individuals who may attempt to use the opportunity provided by the security crisis to derive their selfish aspiration.

The Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas is also urging the United Nations as a matter of urgency to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arm conflicts at the Liberian-Ivorian border with the view of bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Grand Gedeh Association is with the strongest conviction that the United Nations Organization is the only institution that has the credibility and resources to conduct an impartial investigation into the security emergency.

We wish to renew our commitment to the rule of law and reaffirm our devotion to protecting the rights and liberties of Grand Gedeans in particular and Liberians in generally.

The Grand Gedeans here in the United States share unwavering solidarity with the people of Grand Gedeh County who are experiencing increasing intimidation and harassment by government functionaries and individuals; at the same time we are appealing to all Grand Gedeans to exercise the utmost restraint in the face of these intolerable provocations.

We are committed to   ensure that each Grand Gedean enjoys freedom of movement and protection against unwarranted harassment and intimidation as guaranteed by the Constitution of Liberia.

Signed:

Tillman N. Collins

National President

tillmancollins187@hotmail.com / 412-377-3404

Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas, Inc. (GGAA)

Approved:

Eric V. Kohn

Chairman, National Board of Directors

Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas, Inc. (GGAA)

“MOTTO: PEOPLE UNITED FOR EXCELLENCE”