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On “Land Issue” In Nimba County
May 30, 2006
Author:By Mohammed F. Kromah
Recent statement in a local daily attributed to student Roosevelt Demann that Mandingoes did not own land in Nimba County does not only lack historical truth but also seems to incite violence.
Besides, such statement ought to be given very serious attention by the relevant security agencies or the Liberia National Police as a means of curbing further mayhem and destruction currently sweeping across the country.
Demann, who claims to be reading “Criminal Justice” at the AME Zion University College, failed to recognize the historicity of the existence of the sixteen tribes in Liberia.
Perhaps his (Demann’s) only interest is to criminalize and exacerbate the already fragile situation by his threatening statement “we are not crickets to be afraid of human beings” what a sad way for any “intellectual” to openly market his ignorance, assuming and admitting that Mandingoes did not buy land in Nimba County prior to the Independence of Liberia? This clearly affirms that they peacefully co-existed with other Namibians.
Also, there has not been any case on any court docket concerning land dispute between and among the Gios, Manos and Mandingoes. Rather, these different tribal groups have enjoyed harmonious relations as far back as the 1400s.
However, what Demann and other blood thirsty and indecent Liberians need to know and understand is that the organic law of Liberia, particularly, article “V” section 13 of the constitution states “The great object of forming these colonies, being to provide a home for the depressed and oppressed children of Africa and to regenerate and enlighten this benighted continent, none but Negroes or persons of Negro decent shall be eligible to citizenship in this republic.”
The question now is, are not Mandingoes people of Negro descent? Demann and his cohorts ought to think twice whenever discussing such crucial and sensitive national issues like the recent riot in Ganta City.
Additionally, article 1 of the Liberian Constitution guarantees “all men are born equally free and independent and have certain natural, inherent and inalienable rights, among which are the rights of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.”
All these provisions within the Liberian Constitution are clear evidences that settlement in Nimba County between the early 14th and 16th centuries give Mandingoes the legitimate right to own properties and land. Demann fictitiously claims that Mandingoes do not have title documents to their land.
But he seems to have forgotten that the country existed and operated on two laws: traditional and statutory laws. Unlike the statutory laws the traditional laws were used to adjudicate cases involving tribal people.
Therefore, for Demann to say that Mandingoes own no land in Nimba County suggests that he has little or no knowledge about co- existent relations among the natives, all of whom have the right to citizenship of Liberia, especially after the constitution was amended in 1985.
This clearly affirms the lesson of the Great Book that because of the lack of knowledge the people perish. Why should Liberians continue to kill out themselves? What is even appalling is the call by Demann that Mandingoes should bring forth their documents.
If Demann’s assertion should hold true then why didn’t the Manos and Gios take up the issue with the country authorities at the time but instead waited until lately especially after the civil war to use terrorist means to intimidate the Mandingo people.
Or, are Demann and his kinsmen taking advantage of the exile of the Mandingoes from the county to illegally claim and occupy their properties and land? Should Mandingoes permanently reside in displaced and refugee camps only because their neighbors have now been misled that whatever area they captured during the civil war became theirs?
We believe this approach is wrong and has the propensity to incite reprisals. One would wonder whether Demann is the county authority or land commissioner now calling Mandingoes to report their land deeds and other instrument to posses their properties.
What this young criminal justice student (Demann) should understand is that no one person or group of people has monopoly over violence but the Mandingoes have chosen to respect constituted authority. For the Manos and Gios to believe that the present reprisal is in response to our stance to rebel against the legitimate government becomes an understatement to say the least.
The refusal of Mandingoes to join in persecuting the revolution of 1990 solidifies their commitment to constituted authority. To occupy land and properties rightfully owned by Mandingoes is not only barbaric but very criminal in nature. We would like for the government to insist on a vigorous probe of the matter in order to come up with concrete and amicable solutions.
Finally, it is garlanded that while there are decent people who are seeking peace and reconciliation as the best options for mutual respect, there are those disgruntled elements, who see threats and violence as the best formula for development and prosperity.
They are noted for getting wealth illegally especially when there are uprisings. We want to commend President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for setting up a 17 men committee to thoroughly and auspiciously investigate the land dispute in Nimba County.
It is our hope that the committee will implore all professional and technical means possible to end the problem in a way that all sides will be pleased. It is our fervent prayer that the involvements of the committee in
the crisis among Nimbains will allay the violence.
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