MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Liberian Senate has extended an invitation to organizers of the June 7 protest for a meeting today.

A group of public officials and private citizens, under the banner of the Council of Patriots,  announced a peaceful assembly to commence on June 7 and potentially lasting for days. According to them, the purpose of the mass peaceful assembly is to demand meaningful reforms that will lead to the improvement in governance and the economy.

A Senate press release issued on Wednesday said lawmakers wanted to discuss matters of vital national concerns with the organizing group. The release notes that the Senate attaches great importance to the meeting and encouraged the group’s leaders to attend.

Senate Pro Tempore Albert Chie had earlier appealed to the organizers of the June 7 protest to abandon their planned action in the interest of peace and stability.

The Senate had also previously met with President George Weah in an executive session to discuss pertinent issues, focused on national concerns such as the June 7 protest, the country’s justice system, security, and the current state of the economy.

After this meeting, the president then met with the protest organizers on May 14 and provided an opportunity for them to list their concerns against the government.

Meanwhile, Nimba’s sixth district representative, Dorwohn Twain Gleekia, has asked for the organizers of the protest to justify their planned action. Gleekia said the planned June 7 protest has brought about issues of great concern that could divide Liberians.

“These issues are not only remaining along on political lines, but they are reaching alarming proportion that could threaten the peace and stability we enjoy today,” he said.

Nimba’s sixth district representative, Dorwohn Twain Gleekia. Photo: Ida Reeves

“In the wake of calls from our citizens to peacefully protest on June 7, 2019, we request the indulgence of this plenary to invite the Council of Patriots, who are the organizers of said protest, to a meeting in order to listen to their plights,” the lawmaker wrote to the general body.

He said as lawmakers and direct representatives of the people, the House of Representatives is the custodian of the nation’s peace. Therefore, he believes that organizers should see their invitation as an opportunity to see their concerns addressed.

Meanwhile, the president has guaranteed the protection of the rights and freedoms of every citizen under the law, noting that the constitution guarantees the rights of all citizens to peacefully assemble and present petitions to their government.

“I once again wish to pledge my absolute commitment to the protection of each and every right and freedom granted to each and every one of you under our Constitution,” he said during his address to the nation on Wednesday,  May 29.

“It is the use of these freedoms that will define us as a people. It is our toleration of political opposition and opposing ideas that will enrich our national dialogue and discourse.”

The president also noted that it is the ability to manage the culture of freedom and tolerance for criticism that will sustain the country’s peace.

Featured photo by Senate Press