Superficiality of " Earnest Kaba's thoughts" On the Mandingoes ordeal
July 30, 2007 by Vafley A. Dorlleh

Introduction:

Student V. Dolleh Present Speech to Late President Doe at Executive Mansion.

Cruising to work few days ago, a friend of mine from Minnesota who happened to be from the Gio tribe, but up-front and sober in perception informed me that there was a superficial piece on the web, by some pseudo non-entity claiming to be “Earnest Karba,” dismally attempting to undo history in trying to dispute my accounts of the “Mandingoes Ordeal” during the Liberian Civil War; reminiscence of an insane man being submerged in a crocodile infested water, eventually devoured in the process. Listen, little boy, I am not going to undeservedly glorify you by formally commenting on every bit of nonsense you made like a mad man with an imbecile brain. I had initially decided not to response, but the “Mandingo Community” that I represent through popular demand urged me to clarify some of the diabolical concoctions susceptible in aborting historical realities that touch their hearts, minds and souls.

Account of Hundred Thousands Mandingo Dead:

Patiently reading through the piece of “Mr. Earnest Karba,” he refuted the account of about hundred thousand Mandingoes killed during the crisis, but maintains and alluded to the fact that instead, about fifteen to twenty thousands were killed. This assessment is a glaring affirmation that indeed, my numerical projection is correct. At least, un-like him, we were able to have conducted research and random sampling couple with projection by some relevant organizations directly involved with the war in Liberia, especially, the Mandingoes factor. Unlike him, as an added advantage, my presence during the crisis on the side of the “Mandingoes people,” involvement in advocacy at the “University of Liberia” for social justice and peace; victim of torture on the part of Mr. Taylor during the September 18th Crisis; ascendancy as a member of the “Transitional Government” at the highest level are all testimonials of my awareness of the crisis. He maintains that I was young and immature when I joined the government, which has nothing to do with the subject matter. At least I made my debut, and I am now a veteran on government. Tell me how did you unearth the fifteen to twenty thousand figures? What yard -sticks did you use to arrive at the figure? What are your qualifications and attributes in the Liberian society?

Were the Mandingoes initially killed?

Again, as we said in all of our writings, the Mandingoes were the first to be killed, apart from the border guards in “Butuo,” Nimba County. With the exception of the AFL Soldiers, who were the main focus of attack, the rest of those around were mainly “Gios and Manos”. You will note that the invading forces were from the two main tribes, which only confirm our assertion. You didn’t expect them to kill their brothers and sisters. What an elementary fact. Why wouldn’t you understand simple logic.

Allegation of Corruption:

It is an open secret that at the formative stage of the “Interim Government,” I was opportune to have sought employment with the Government in Liberia as Deputy Director General of the “National Social Security and Welfare Corporation”. In short, we were able to have effectively run the corporation through effective fiscal management and over all productivity. This remains until we decided to join the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), of Ambassador George Manneh Weah, when Sheba Brown, a member of the Board of the Corporation who happened to be the “Chairman of the Ruling Liberia Action Party” approached me to join the party, but to no avail. This happened at the time when we had started the preliminary works regarding he formation of the party. It is pleasing to note that I am a founding member of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), fist vice president for publicity and political affairs. Also, the person who coined the name Congress for Democratic Change (CDC). These and many more, were reasons for the ruling party to institute a political economic sabotage trial against us as a means of silencing us and undermining our effectiveness as a political force. Base on these and many more they decided to accuse us of embezzlement in the amount of “four hundred and fifty thousand dollar.” This became known as the infamous “Economic Sabotage Case Involving Orishall Gould, Varfley A. Dolleh and others.”

Conviction and Acquittal:

As mentioned supra, it was no surprised when on April 12, 2005, when Interim President Charles Gudy Bryant invited me and my colleagues L.E. Oriahll Gould who happened to be the “Director General of the Corporation” and also the Chairman of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), at the Executive Mansion for a discussion. Instead, of frank discussion we expected, we were surprised when he came out of his office amidst annoyance and told us that we were suspended pending an audit. The irony is by then, the “Corporation Board” had conducted her own investigation and subsequent acquittal. It was against accounting ethic our suspension amidst the audit. It was thought that we would have been allowed to remain in office while an audit is being conducted. Even before we could pack our belongings, the President, had ordered police to seal our offices. The next thing was a memo from the auditor general’s office, to submit our selves, which was accordingly respected. The audit went on for over five months, which found no wrongdoing. Despite of the transparency, government refused to open neither the report for public scrutiny nor our reinsitement. Amidst pressure from the public, the Inquirer New Paper, Analyst, and the Plain Truth carried the full report, which was an embarrassment to the government. Again, we were of the opinion that it would have been void of politics, but to no avail. Despite major public out cry to have us reinstated, government in fact decided to formally initiate our prosecution.

Commencement of the Trial:

We were arranged at the Temple of Justice under the gavel of Judge “James Zota” with a formal indictment and the commencement of the trial, which lasted for months. At the end of the trial a day or two before to the final verdict, the prosecution filed a motion of information with the Supreme Court in violation with the organic law. This motion was upheld and a retrial was ordered amidst protest from the defense. Our contention was that it was against the constitution for some one to be tried for the same offense two times. We filed a motion of “double jeopardy” with the full bench of the “Supreme Court of Liberia.” Despite tangible and solid case our motion of “Double Jeopardy” was denied and a retrial was assigned under the gavel of Judge Blamo Dixon. Unlike, the first one, it was agreed that this should be a jury trial. Juror selection was made in full light of all parties including the press and members of the International observers. This trial started and lasted for several months with an eventual verdict of no wrongdoing and acquittal. What a transparency!!! For your information “under our panel code, one is presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.” We had our days in court. I am a free man void of corruption. It is only through the court process can a person exonerate him self or her self from allegations. For further information you may contact the prosecution team headed by the solicitor general of Liberia, Counselor Tewon Gongolo, Mr. Charles Abdullah, among others, while the defense represented by, Counselor George Tulay, Nynati Kpahn, Teophlous Gould and Tyan Wureh and others. Apart, you may get court documents, which are all public records for no fee.

Accusation of Provoking the Attack on Mandingoes:

May I reiterate to Mr. “Earnest Karba,” since he is deaf, blind and dump to International Diplomacy that self- defense is universally enshrine with in the protocol of the UN, the AU and other major organizations. The US was forced to initiate her war on terror after being attacked by terrorists; the Israelis were forced to initiate a war with the Arab Countries following an unprovoked attack as a result of the division of Israel in 1947; the British were forced to fight having been over- run by the Argentan forces during the “Fulk land war; the Americans were forced to use nuclear bomb on “Hiroshima and Nagasaki” following the violation of it sovereignty when a major navel base was bombed killing thousands of people; the Algerians were forced to fight the French when they were oppressed and yearned for freedom. It would be like making a whole book if we were to catalogue the various examples.

Mandingo Struggle Akin to that of (ANC) of Mandela:

Reading the history of the African brothers and sisters in South Africa, you will note that it was based on the desire for freedom and the need for self- defense when they fought the white man. The African National Congress (ANC) was founded in 1912, with the hope of emancipating the black race that was in abject misery. Let it be noted like the African National Congress (ANC), the “Mandingoes possessed a proud nature of rebelliousness, a stubborn sense of fairness and dogmatic instinct of not capitulating amidst injustice. This is a matter of principal. We are proud and matrilineal people with an abiding belief in the importance of law, human rights and education. Like the African National Congress (ANC) we will never be cowed. It was never the wish of the “Mandingo” to initiate a war through blood feud between us and other tribes”. Like the African National Congress (ANC), Mandingoes were forced to form the United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia (ULIMO), after two consecutive years of killing. It was the last resort following the attack on Guinea and Sierra Leone, were they were killed simultaneously. It was the last resort, after every effort exhausted, like pharaoh failed to let her people go when Sekou Damate launched the rebellion to once and for all eliminate the cancer. Every one was in a state of limbo and precariousness not knowing what to do when the messiah came and delivered the people. It was our brothers and sisters that died in order for peace to be restored. You expect us to be ashamed of their role? No, we are proud of what they did.

Nelson Mandela and the Mandingo Connection:

Like the Mandingoes, Nelson Mandela fought a heroic battle for his people. Mandela did every thing to ensure peace with the enemies, but to no avail and had to form the Military Wing of the African National Congress (ANC), referred to as “Umkhnoto We Sizwe” or MK, in 1952. As part of historical reflection, this organ was intended to carry on “Sabotage, Guerrilla, warfare, terrorism and open revolution. Like the “Mandingoes” Mandela headed the military wing as “Commander in Chief”. Like the Mandingoes, Mandela visited Ethiopia and sought military help where they under went military training and given financial assistance. Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and others also, sought financial and military assistance from the late President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania who gave them both military and political support. From there, they flew to Morocco, Ghana, Sudan and Egypt where they were assisted. In Conakry, Guinea, they were met by President Ahmed Sekou Tourey, were they were accorded the needed hospitality, plus, a suit case full with money. Although, the money was in sylli, the country national currency at the time, had to be converted at the Czech Embassy.

Mandela and the ANC sought Liberia assistance during her revolutionary struggle and were met in Monrovia by President William V.S. Tubman and given a red carpet welcome. President Tubman gave five thousand dollars to Nelson Mandela as his contribution to the rebel struggle, and four hundred dollar as his pocket change. “I had to asked President Tubman for a pocket change because I was too short on cash” says Nelson Mandela. How would you refereed to Nelson Mandela? A freedom fighter or a rebel? The answer is both a freedom fighter. In this instance his action like the Mandingoes was in self-defense. So what do you have to offer Mr. Earnest Karba? Again our situation is akin to that of the African National Congress, (ANC). We are proud to be like Nelson Mandela who acted in self-defense. Let me warn you that unlike before we are masters of all of the tactics in welfare and militancy and under no circumstances that you can threaten any one. You will have your self to blame if you mess around any Mandingoes, least to mention your humble servant.

Anti War Statement Presented to Samuel Doe in 1990:

As a young student activist on the walls of the University of Liberia, I delivered a speech at the Executive Mansion to the late President Samuel K. Doe urging him and rebel leader Charles Taylor to reconcile and resolve the crisis through a round table discussion. Probably, the brother is either naive or blind to history to note that I spoke on that day on behalf of the “University students” and not the “Mandingo Community.” It was an objective speech that dealt with all of the feuding parties. The good thing about is that some of the active students that were involved are still alive in America. Mr. Karba, I urge you to ask renowned journalist Al- Jerome Chede, of Minnesota and Mohammed Sheriff of the city of Philadelphia respectively. Apart, Hon. Joseph Jallah of the Ministry of Justice, Monrovia, was also a party to the activism. But as the parable goes, “It is the liar who will say my witness is far.” Hence, I will now display the speech so that you will see if whether or not I pledge loyalty to the late Doe on behalf of my kinsman igniting the killing?

Mr. President. Our presence here today is significantly indicative of our unyielding quest for the peaceful resolution of the present crisis. We as students are grossly affected either directly or indirectly as a result of the December 25, rebel incursion. Therefore, as a hope and aspiration of our parents, we feel behooved to petition the government to do everything with in it power to ensure that the present crisis is peacefully resolved, preferably, through a round table discussion.

We entertain the conviction that amidst gunfire, no one is prepared to listen to the other and where there is misunderstanding, peace can never prevailed. Thus, we call on our brothers in arm to advance their qualm before a negotiating table for an amicable discussion. While we stand unqualified to duel on the merit and demerit of the prevailing situation, but we do know from the teaching of history, that the end result of any arm struggle is untold suffering to the vast majority of the people.

My fellow countryman, Liberia is our motherland. Therefore, our political sovereignty must be refined. We are fully aware of the present political turmoil, has become a symptomatic of the rig social separation, which might perpetuate into lot of prejudice. We have come here today to join the National Government in reconciling those anti thesis of love and sensuality.

Our dynamic President, we are told that Liberia is a free nation. We had thought of the total emancipation of this country from colonial oppressors. Therefore, we must reconcile those forces that would destabilize the democratic nature of our motherland. We have seen the popular need to consolidate the maximum efforts to call for an immediate resolution of the arm struggle, which has brought an intrigue set back against a colorful back drop of this noble society.

The seed of love must be in- planted on the fertile soil of our mental band to achieve and untimely explosion which hatred and malice are ready to trigger The embodiment of Prophet Mohammed, (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him), may now take control and dominion over the naïve mind of people acting like kids struggling over toys.

Very importantly, let me use this forum to warn our parents, brothers and sisters that we cannot allow this crisis to be treated with carelessness and fun. It is expected that every effort will be geared toward the resolution of this great indifference.

Our dauntless and ever courageous President, our presence here today signify to the world that what is happening is unsatisfactory and unexpected. We want to appeal to you and your able lieutenants along side with the rebels to go on the negotiating table so that a peaceful negotiation can be held.

At this junction, let me hasten to dispel the notion that we are not power drunk student who are geared toward accomplishing their own exploitative glutton interest at the detriment of the Liberia people, but rather contingent upon our resolute commitment in the maintenance of peace in Liberia. As conscious minded University students, let us make it abundantly cleared that there are rules for peaceful dialogue of issues rather than resulting to unnecessary war.

Let it be noted that this is not the time to subscribe to the realist school of thought, which preaches brutality against morality, compassion and love. There is a need to build on old foundation and not to destroy them, as posterity will judge us for our destructive attitudes

Finally, our dauntless President, we supplicate the omnipotent Allah to bestow upon you his immense blessing as you endeavor cater to the needs and aspirations of the Liberian people day by day.

Finally, to the reading public it is now left with you to decide between facts and falsehoods. It would be in your interest Mr. Karba if you were to tell us your tribal alignment, which could help me how to deal with you the next time. You made it appear some where in the article as though you are a Mandingo. Are you fronting for some one? We seldom have name like “Earnest” being of the Mandingo tribe. Or are you one of those disappointed Mandingoes that want to follow the crowd? If for any reason you are not satisfied then I would be happy if we were to have an open intellectual debate so that we could have the issues discussed in close view of the public. We say bravo to the community for your supports since we started this intellectual exercise on your behalf. We will remain your servant. Despite the threats we will continue to fight for you.

As usual we appreciate your calls and we want to hear your critical thoughts on the various subjects. This will help us know our shortfalls and progress. Varfley1@yaho.com/ (215)-666-2506 Expect the next article