Political independence Alone Is Inadequate To Mitigate Centuries Of Colonization, Marked by Torture, Castrations & Death.
Rev. Torli H. Krua, Founder, Universal Human Rights International (UHRI) & The Free Liberia Movement
Coups In Poverty Stricken Colonies “…A Time To Reap”: ECOWAS’ Threat Of Force To Tackle Military Coups Isn’t The Solution- It’s Inflammatory, Reckless, and dangerous.
Boston, Massachusetts-The timeless wisdom of King Solomon is urgently needed to defuse global and regional armed conflicts. “There is a time and a season for every purpose under Heaven… A time to sow and a time to reap.” Centuries of colonization were not sown or sustained by the ideas of democracy or the rule of law. Rather, one philosophy that triumphed; “might is right” was the rule of the world during centuries of colonization. In 2023, the current order at the United Nations and Security Council still maintains the same rule; “MIGHT IS RIGHT.”
As the world prepares to reap what was sown since colonization, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, cautioned all human beings to “Learn to live together as brothers, or perish as fools.”
As citizens of colonial powers, we advance three ideas to tackle the growing military coups in poor colonies:
Political independence alone is inadequate to mitigate centuries of colonization. Therefore citizens of colonies and colonizers must unite and demand termination of all monarchies, which remain the symbols of injustice and primary beneficiaries of colonization and crimes against humanity. Because “all men are created equal”, public confession, apology, and mitigation of ongoing harm of colonization through support for education, reparations and reconciliation must be initiated in time of peace to heal the harm of colonization and promote global peaceful coexistence.
Formation of citizens-led uniform standards and processes for elections that are fair, democratic and inclusive. Election is not democracy. Most election laws in poor former colonies are often rigged by corrupt lawmakers to favor incumbents and foreign business interests.
Visa waiver for all citizens of colonized countries seeking advanced education in colonial powers. The designation of “International Students” with higher tuition, fees & visa restrictions for colonies are unfair and unjustifiable tactics of “Forever Colonization.” The duration for visa waiver per colony must be equal to the same period of colonization.Visa waiver is reciprocity for the centuries when colonizers entered colonies uninvited and without visas.
These ideas must be citizens-led because all governments are parasites and never embrace common sense solutions without organized and widespread public support. This is why western nations conduct regular pollings and some African governments pay fools and thugs to attend mass rallies in order to give a false sense of public support.
As the military coups continue to grow, ECOWAS is talking about military force but recent examination of the use of military force proves it’s bad for all sides. The first bad example is in Iraq, where the war was based on a false claim of ‘weapons of mass destruction.” Between 268,000 – 295,000 people were killed in Iraq from March 2003 – Oct. 2018, according to the findings of the Costs of War Project, a team of 35 scholars and legal experts. The costs of the Iraq War totaled just over $1.1 trillion dollars!
Even in the case of a “just” war, in Afghanistan, the 20-year war cost $8 trillion dollars and 900,000 deaths. At the end of a chaotic US withdrawal, the Taliban is back in power! All efforts were good for nothing?
Russia, speaking from its own ongoing experience, cautions ECOWAS not to intervene militarily. Russia’s brutal colonization and violent invasion of her small neighbor was supposed to be a piece of cake lasting a few days. It has gone on for two years with no end in sight.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, President Biden and the U.S. Congress have directed more than $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine.Go to poverty-stricken West Point, Monrovia, Liberia and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the poorest districts in the world unfit for human habitation were created by ongoing American Colonization and militarization. All wars, “just” or “unjust” are always bad for humanity!
If western taxpayers supported an unjust war in Iraq that cost $1 trillion dollars, a “just” war in Afghanistan that cost over $8 trillion dollars, and defense of “democracy” in Ukraine that has cost over $75 billion dollars in two years, a simple apology that costs nothing and reparations for centuries of what the H.R. 40 Bill in the US Congress describes as mitigation: “To address the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1865 and to establish a commission to study and consider a national apology and proposal for reparations for the institution of slavery, its subsequent de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimi- nation against African-Americans, and the impact of these forces on living African-Americans, to make recommendations to the Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.” (summary of H.R. 40 and S. 40 bill in Congress) There are no bills in any poor colony that even dares to ask for an apology or petition for access to opportunities for all colonized citizens, including visa waiver for education. Only citizens must come together because citizens are masters and politicians are public servants who always follow the crowds!
Now let’s consider the threat of military intervention to “support democracy”. Sierra Leone, founded as a British Crown Colony, just concluded elections. Liberia, founded as an American Colony, is getting ready for elections on October 10, 2023. Just how much the colonial powers of Great Britain, United States and ECOWAS invested to secure fairness and inclusiveness in these elections are yet to be seen.
African politicians and their international partners claiming to defend democracies after military coups never scrutinize the corrupt processes and excessive financial obstacles incumbents in poor colonies impose to exclude citizens’ participation in contests for civic leadership. Compare the costs of military force to the cost of supporting democracy and shameful is the word that best describes the investment. “After 17 episodes, I was forced to cancel the voting rights project for public education due to lack of support.” Said an award winning respected media professional in Liberia.
For example, the USA charges no fees for registration of candidates to participate in contests for civic leadership as members of Congress or president. It seems natural that the best support for democracy must originate from the USA, the world’s richest democracy and flow into Liberia, Africa’s oldest independent republic that was created as a colony of the USA. Even in what should have been the best case scenario, Liberia has put in place unfair, undemocratic and financially burdensome requirements codified into Liberia’s election laws that excludes most Liberian citizens from contesting. Citizens of Liberia are powerless because Liberia’s system of governance has no rooms for citizens ballot initiatives. Lawmakers and politicians have the final say in all matters of legislation. The ballot is rigged in favor of the highest bidders and incumbents.
For Liberia, one of the poorest countries in the world, which began as an American Colony, with high unemployment and excessive salaries and benefits of politicians, the financial requirements imposed by the Liberian National Election Commission (NEC) are alarming, outrageous, undemocratic, unfair and burdensome! Liberia’s undemocratic process cannot possibly produce democratic outcomes! For example, up to $1500.00USD nonrefundable registration fees for candidates, Up to $10,000.00USD minimum bank statement and up to $100,000.00USD insurance bond. Liberian lawmakers used to earn up to $15,000.00 USD per month plus cars and drivers. (Liberia: Sen. Dillon Discloses US$15K as Monthly Incentive for Senators – FrontPageAfrica (frontpageafricaonline.com)) Is this the democracy that requires military intervention to protect?
Even so, the Governments of the United States, African Union, ECOWAS and European Union that routinely monitor elections as observers rarely support democratic forces in poor colonies and yet expect to reap what they didn’t sow. They “observe” and “monitor” the product of unscrutinized, unfair, undemocratic and corrupt electoral processes codified in election laws in African nations.
To conclude, a friend once told me “a fool with a tool is still a fool!” Poverty in mineral rich colonies cannot be blasted away by bombs or military force. Election is not democracy and democracy isn’t what politicians, governments or foreign aid and foreign investments accomplish in a country. Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. All human beings are image bearers of Almighty God and all human beings have talents and gifts freely endowed by their creator to become; scientists, engineers, inventors … yet, without quality education and opportunities, poor people in colonies exploited for centuries by western colonizers struggle in life and die in poverty without achieving their full God given potential. Political independence cannot mitigate centuries of barbarism, violence and crimes against humanity for which there has been no confessions, repentance and reparations. We the citizens of western nations, regardless of where we were born are beneficiaries of colonization must join together with the suffering citizens of colonized nations to ensure the mitigation of ongoing harm of colonization through visa waivers, access to education and equal opportunities. As the world prepares to reap the bitter fruits of violence sown during centuries of colonization, I agree with the timeless wisdoms of Solomon and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, cautioned all human beings to “Learn to live together as brothers, or perish as fools.” For more on citizens-led collective action, go to https://FreeLiberia.org and click on training!
Contact: Rev. Torli H. Krua, Founder, Universal Human Rights International (UHRI) & The Free Liberia Movement-+1-617-297-7556
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