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Liberian Opposition Unify Ahead of Next Year's Election

   Winston  Tubman,  leader of the Liberia National Union party, says the
   aim  of  the  coalition is to form a common front to defeat the ruling
   Unity Party

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 28 May 2010
   US  President  Obama and his Liberia counterpart Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
   meet in the Oval Office, Washington, D.C., 27 May 2010

Photo: VOA - D. Robinson

   US  President  Obama and his Liberia counterpart Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
   meet in the Oval Office, Washington, D.C., 27 May 2010

   In Liberia, seven opposition political parties have announced they are
   forming  a  Grand  Coalition  to  challenge  the ruling Unity Party of
   President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in next yearâs election.

   The  seven parties include the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) of
   football  legend George Weah, and two former ruling parties â the True
   Whig  Party  and  the  National  Democratic Party of Liberia of former
   President Samuel Doe.

   Winston  Tubman,  leader  of  the  opposition  Liberia  National Union
   (LINU),  one of the seven parties in the new Grand Coalition, said the
   aim  of  the  coalition is to form a common front to unseat the ruling
   Unity Party.

   âIn  about  a  year  ago,  CDC  and LINU signed a communiqué in Accra
   (Ghana)  and  the  aim  of  that was to bring other opposition parties
   together  aiming  at coming up with a united ticket in the election of
   2011. Now we have expanded it, and we have seven parties, and we hope,
   by  the  time  we  get  to  the  election, we will have as many of the
   opposition   together  because,  in  our  view,  the  best  chance  of
   prevailing  in  the election is by bringing the opposition together as
   much as possible,â he said.

   In 1985, three opposition parties formed an alliance to challenge then
   President Samuel Doe, but they claimed at the time that Doe rigged the
   election.

   Another  attempt  at coalition building was made prior to the election
   of 2005.

   Tubman  hoped  this  time  around the coalition of seven parties would
   have an impact on the 2011 election.

   He  said  the  new  coalition  has  not  decided  yet who would be its
   standard bearer.

   âWe donât know now, but the aim is that we will have a continuation of
   this  effort,  and,  in the end, we will have a ticket, a presidential
   candidate  and  a  vice  presidential  candidate will emerge from this
   effort,â Tubman said.

   The  new  coalition  of  seven parties being proposed does not include
   Liberty  Party  leader  Charles  Brumskine, who came third in the 2005
   presidential election.

   Tubman  said  the  coalition would welcome any other opposition party,
   including that of Mr. Brumskine.

   âThe  aim  is  to  bring  as  many opposition parties together and Mr.
   Brumskineâs  Liberty Party is the first party that we will seek to get
   on board as well,â he said.

   One  of  the  tough  political  questions likely to confront any party
   hoping  to  contest next yearâs election is what would be that partyâs
   position  on  the  recommendations  of  the  Truth  and Reconciliation
   Commission (TRC).

   âSpeaking for myself and speaking for LINU, we would like to see those
   recommendations coming from the TRC implemented. By the time we get to
   the  election, all the parties remaining and forming part of the Grand
   Coalition  will  be speaking with one voice on the various issues that
   will be put before the Liberian people in the election,â Tubman said.

   Progressive  Democratic  Party  (PRODEM)  of former rebel leader Sekou
   Damate  Konneh  is  one  of  the  seven  parties forming new the Grand
   Coalition.

   The  TRC  final  report  recommends  all  warring  faction  leaders be
   prosecuted  because  of  the  atrocities  that  they  or  their groups
   allegedly committed during Liberiaâs civil war.

   Tubman said Liberians want to move forward from the war.

   âLots  of  people were involved in lots of things in the past. But, if
   we  want  to  move  away from the past to a more united future, we are
   taking  all the Liberian parties that are here, weâre to bring as many
   of them on board as possible,â Tubman said.

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