"Positive Action" Against Police Brutality

On August 14, 2013, I will conduct a one-man peaceful, nonviolent, protest March on Monrovia for “Positive Action” against police brutality and the Liberian government’s campaign of silence coupled with the Ministry of Justice’s act of stonewalling and distorting the truth.

 

The purpose of the March is to raise the issue of police brutality in Liberia, particularly in my case, on the international platform since the Liberian government believes by launching a campaign of silence, it can kill my case. Secondly, to use the occasion to REPUDIATE my citizenship and move out of the country.

 

The One-Man March will begin from Downtown Monrovia and ends at the Capitol Building. The first stop is at the United States Embassy; second stop at the European Union; third stop is at ECOWAS; fourth stop is at UNMIL. And the last stop is at the Capitol Building to meet with the Maryland Congressional Caucus. At each stop, I will deliver a very powerful statement.

 

I will also use the occasion to call upon Christendom and Islam to hear my cry and condemn the Liberian government and bring pressure to bear on it so as to change its suppressive attitude on its citizens.

 

During the March for “Positive Action” I intend to repudiate my Liberian citizenship and subsequently leave Liberia permanently and never to return again.

 

 

Because I love my country, I have given it my best.

 

In early 2006 after the 2005 Election in Liberia, when Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president of the Republic of Liberia, I returned home as an answer to President Sirleaf’s call for Liberians in the Diaspora to return home and assist in her Government’s reconstruction drive after a 14-year generalized anarchy of violence that partly destroyed infrastructure and human resource on a massive scale.

 

Prior to my return to Liberia, I registered an NGO in the United States called Mission Outreach International, Inc., MOI, for short.  MOI is also registered under the Liberian Association Laws as a nongovernmental and not-for-profit organization.

 

MOI sent medical equipment to Liberia totaling three hundred thousand (US$300,000.00) United States dollars.

 

One part of equipment was sent directly to The Redemption Hospital in the Borough of New Krutown where I lived and play ball as a young man coming up. As such, I believe I owe something to the Borough. And I had to make such a contribution as a way to say, “thank you” to the Borough.

 

The other part of the medical equipment was also sent to The John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Monrovia.

 

This contribution is my way of giving back to my people, community and nation.

 

The medical equipment sent to Redemption Hospital is a “thank you” to the people of the Borough of New Krutown. They gave me an opportunity to lift my ball playing career to a higher level when I was recruited to play ball on Mighty Barrolle and The Lone Star Ball Clubs.

 

As for Monrovia, I spent my last days prior to traveling abroad to further my academic studies. So this is the best I can do for my people within my power.

 

Secondly, I organized and registered another organization by the name of KudeNumo Peace Initiative Foundation, Inc. KNPIF, for short. KNPIF is the author of peace in the Glebo Peninsula in Maryland County. This peace was made in difficult times. The two groups involved in the dispute for over three decades refused to three decades refused to reconcile their differences. The CARTER Center tried; UNMIL tried; and the Cape Palmas Catholic Diocese tried. But all did not succeed. KNPIF succeeded for several reasons. Amongst those reasons is our approach and concept resting on the principles of ASAP – African Solutions to African Problems. More so, I am fluent in the major language and culture of the people.

 

My Government, which is the current government of Liberia, has forced me to the decision to repudiate my citizenship. After spending that much money from my own pocket and compromising my security to travel from village to village delivering empowerment programs, peacebuilding and social justice advocacy, the Government did not show any appreciation but to sic its murderous police on me on June 29, 2013 to beat, brutalize, psychologically torture and rob me without judicial review.

 

I believe by leaving the country will help teach current and future governments that a citizen’s security lies in the hands of the government. And if the government fails to protect its citizens, especially the citizens that are making sacrificial contributions to the development of the country, then it doesn’t deserve such a good citizen. Another country can take advantage of that citizen’s expertise.

 

There’s where things are for now!

 

 

I am Thomas G. Bedell, a social justice advocate; working and speaking on the ground in Liberia, victim of police brutality and candidate for citizenship repudiation.