Africa-Press – Liberia. Presidential aspirant Counselor Tiawan Gongloe has called on the United States government, through its Embassy in Monrovia, to take punitive actions against politicians from the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led-government using millions of Liberian dollars to influence the outcome of the ensuing elections in their favor.
Counselor Gongloe is the Political Leader and Standard Bearer of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP).
The ensuing presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, according to a timetable released by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
Last week, photos of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bhofal Chambers distributing unspecified amount of new Liberian banknotes to a group that has endorsed his re-election went viral on the social media.
Speaker Chambers, who is also an executive of the governing CDC, is seeking re-election for the seat of Pleebo-Sodoken district # 2 in Maryland County. He was accused of financially inducing his constituents to retain his seat. However, his office has denied the accusation.
But speaking in an interview with Reporters in Monrovia on Monday, May 8, Counselor Gongloe called on the United States government, through its Embassy accredited near Monrovia to take keen of the action of these public officials involved.
According to him, inducing electorates with cash for votes is in clear violation of the Magnisky Act and as such, the US government should document and take actions against public officials who from the ruling party and are engaged in such an act.
The Global Magnitsky Act of 2016 authorizes the U.S. government to sanction those foreign government officials worldwide that are human rights offenders, freeze their assets, and ban them from entering the U.S.
The act promotes respect for human rights at all levels of government by enabling the US executive branch to apply targeted sanctions on any individual involved in a human rights violation, from senior officials to low-level officers and even nongovernment associates. These sanctions can take the form of asset freezes for funds held in US banks and bans on visas for coming to the US.
It functions as a deterrent, forcing foreign officials at all levels who would use unlawful violence or corruption to consider repercussions from the US government. The act also provides incentives to foreign governments to improve their own accountability mechanisms. By cooperating with the US on Global Magnitsky investigations, foreign leaders can show that they will not tolerate human rights abusers in their own countries.
Counselor Gongloe recalled that the US government sometimes ago made a pledge to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections in Liberia.
He added that despite the commitment from the US government, the act of some government officials from the ruling party to dollarize the electoral process has the propensity to increase the high level of poverty in Liberia.
“I hope the United States government is looking at the conduct of these government-related politicians who are from the ruling party because; the US government promised us free, fair and transparent elections. But this kind of conduct will increase the level of poverty and make the people (electorates) so dependent on those who are running; the more money they give them, the more hardship will come because the exchange will keep going on.”
The dishing of monies to electorates few months to elections is a normal routine in Liberia.
Failed politicians, who have either abandoned or neglected their constituents for years, are the ones that mostly capitalize on this strategy to cajole or blindfold the electorates again.
They gave out huge amounts as contributions towards projects or microloan to citizens, including marketers of their respective districts, caring less of adding any interest rate or plan to receive back their monies.
As a result of the high rate of poverty and the gullibility of the Liberian society, citizens are compelled to troop at the political rallies or events of these failed politicians to receive their share of the cash that have been offered and vote to retain them in power.
High exchange rate
Speaking further, Counselor Gongloe alarmed over the increase in the exchange rate on the Liberian market, affecting the prices of basic commodities and imposing severe hardship and economic burdens on Liberians, many of who are already impoverished.
As of Saturday, May 6, the buying exchange rate of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) was L$165.0779 to US$1, while the selling rate was L$167.1989 to US$1.
However, the buying rate on the sidewalks stands at 168 Liberian dollars to US$1.
But Counselor Gongloe observed that the hike in the exchange rate is increasing the prices of essential commodities, including rice, oil, gasoline, and diesel.
A bag of 25kg rice, which was previously sold for US$13.50 at the time the buying rate was 150LD to US$1, has now increased to US$18.50 and US$19 respectively in Monrovia and other parts adjacent
Counselor Gongloe maintained that the increase in the exchange rate is also affecting transportation fares as drivers of commercial vehicles and tricycles are now charging passengers exorbitant fares.
He added that parents are also catching hell to send their children to school regularly due to the increase in transportation fares in Monrovia and other parts of the country.
Counselor Gongloe termed as “wickedness” the failure of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led-government of President George
“People bringing goods into the country from China and other places need United States dollars to import and they have to buy United States dollars on the market. For people to send their children to school now-there is a serious difficulty because they now have to double the money they used to pay as transportation fares for their children to ride motorbikes around or get in taxis. Why is the CDC doing these kinds of things to this country? That is wickedness.”
Hopelessness and despair
Counselor Gongloe emphasized that the current situation which is negatively contributing to the increase in the price of the nation’s staple food (rice) is creating “hopelessness and despair” among Liberians.
He wondered why the government, which came to power on the slogan “Change for Hope”, is acting so lackadaisical towards addressing the situation.
He said government’s current stance runs contrary to its professed hope to meeting the expectations of the Liberian people.
Counselor Gongloe claimed that the government appears to be “reckless and insensitive” to the plights of the Liberian people.
“The government or the political party in power is showing reckless disregard to the welfare of the people. Human suffering is becoming a miracle. The only way or thing to do right now is to peacefully remove the government from power through the electoral process. We cannot take one more day of this government in power because of the reckless disregard for our safety and refuge.”
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