What The Papers Say
Liberia's move in right direction
Daily Nation, Kenya
There is also the consideration that the country's military ruler, who as master sergeant, led army NCOs to put a bloody end to the former regime, may be hankering to get the cover of legitimacy through the ballot box. Mr Samuel Doe would obviously have preferred running the country military style. It has suited his purposes immensely in the past. Any signs of trouble have been dealt with by military courts and punishment meted out accordingly.
But the impoverished economy he manages does not give him much room for manoeuvre. He is also under pressure from such powerful allies as the United States which wants a semblance of democracy restored in the country. His public tantrums against the US, even to the point of threatening to send back funds donated for the democratisation exercise, have only served to show the little leeway he has on the matter.
While the constitution has tried to restrict the range of political opinion, through decreed amendments by Mr Doe, the Liberians would most probably still give it an okay. It would at least be a move towards a more relaxed political atmosphere than they are enjoying now which is actually nil. A number of Liberians, including those within Mr Doe's initial ruling circle, have come to grief for either criticising the regime or even suggesting options that would appear to contradict the head of state.
That Liberians would like a more open system than they currently enjoy has been manifested by actions among students and other sections of the populace. Such pressure has forced the military regime in the recent past to try to redress the excesses of the heady days of the revolution, Some of the new measures have included the handing back of seized properties to former owners.
For Africa, the first step to some semblance of democracy in Liberia or any other country is a welcome move any time. The more countries that choose their rulers through the ballot box the better. And given the Liberian military bloody seizure of power, a return to civilian rule in an orderly manner would be most welcome. Our only prayer is that it should succeed and turn Liberia into a stalwart of democracy.