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>> Thank you very much show all of our witness. For coming and sharing your insight with us as specially of issues in events that occurred during our many people here and this is such a true light. And the most things that we talk about up in. All of this refers to the push of the mend it which has to do with clarify myths you know force of the pass.

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It was very insightful I think it took up a lot of our time I was thinking and so commissioners would be I see pointed questions. Looking you pointed responses as well yes and I was just also incorrect commissioned by the we were established by our men did. And so some very.

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Intrusive questions may be axed So we thank you very much and we'll start with Michelle must. Thank you for Wash your job or not but that brilliant presentation. In on the hot we also take you this part of the business gave you what the company. To give got a feel for Michel as to what really happened.

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Here or. Not I'm glad that. The notion about Congress and the country you were in told local men and from the need to file. My question not least when a demonstration was a bottle happy. With it and in prior knowledge. In the atmosphere did you get any information as distinct I too was going to hopping and talking about arrests right at the most Russian or the cool.

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Demonstration. Well that Saturday morning I was going to my farm. Because our goes on Pamela's on and I was called to the executive mansion side of the cabinet meeting of the Cabinet meetings are so that's where I was when I got the news that the demonstration. Has already started.

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So before that personally myself. I've no warning that it was going to happen are no that. B.P. people who are meeting in different groups are meeting them or yes we're meeting and all of that but but. Didn't realize when when this whole thing began to merge into a demonstration.

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So I had no prior knowledge on till that started they were at the mansion. And the demonstration was. In terms of feet you can put in a number two as to how many do not. I don't know I really don't know how many persons I don't. I don't have that information.

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But there are various numbers that I've been given. And in why were you knew you noticed it and you could hop ink in it here was what's happening to your family you look back home you say and thought I was there. When you are actually happy would you repeat that please when you came to the United States you were called on to form of the president tall order had been assassinated and you left her child back home.

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So what happened to her. Well they saw us at. My house at the vice president's house took my mother in law and the char took them to a safer place. Than the guards they you know the vice president had a detail. Assigned to him so I don't know who exactly initiated that but I came to America with two security people that always did wonder what did she want and I rotated others at different times.

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When so that they will also have opportunity to travel with me. Whether the security did or not but I'm told that the soldiers that were at the house at my house took my mother in law my two nieces and much I took them to a safe place. And that night or that day the.

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Soldiers did not come to my house on maybe two or three days later. When they came and bust the house and scattered everything out in a street. That the policy of the former president to your region was very poor what really went wrong in the hardest part. Because according to you you had a lead on ten as to how long the steam powered what it is a bit like but yet is this thing happening.

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Can you tell us what was the reason well. What we can look back now hindsight and maybe think about what what. Might have given rise to all of this talk about has a book. In which she has the views on it it happened to her she was there.

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And I'm sure you might have seen that book. But I. Can only think that. From a broad perspective that we were not. In a You political situation. Where. You were in a period. Of. Down sliding. Of the Cold War. And perhaps our policies might have led to the contributor.

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We felt that we were an independent country. And unlike the top one administration was a bunch of. Supporter of the West America in particular. We felt that we ought to have the freedom to expand our relations with other countries. So perhaps. Our establishment of the Russian embassy. Our travel to China.

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Other so-called communist countries at that particular time. Might have triggered that. And and and this I'm just guessing on these things that they could have probably contributed. To their. I went to mania which was a communist country on a state visit. We're going to be trade agreements will remain in my mind meals are closed down and the Romanian government was going to bring in with bring us farm tractors and they were going to get plywood manufacture up there in that part of Liberia.

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Then the second thing that might have contributed. To the situation. Might have been the fact that. After the YOU conference the president called a meeting of all of the economic ministers of West Africa. Of the we all economic ministers. Because we saw some disparities in terms of our produce and the prices.

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We said why is it. If you produce rubber. Coffee. Iron ore Why is it that we cannot determine what our price should be Why must the price be determined by London. New York or Washington. We. Were dealing with communications issues. During that time if you call Sara Lee on which is right next to us over the.

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Your call go through London before it is it comes to Sarah. I had to go to a bank be to go represent the Liberal Government at the coronation of Emperor of China with the castle. Which was a fascinating experience. But I had to fly from Monrovia. To Paris.

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Overnight and then come back to Africa but a monkey. We couldn't understand this. Is that there were African airlines of course controlled by. Malta. National corporations even if they had African names on. So what are these things contributed to. The downfall of our government that I don't know.

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Internally are know that several people. Want to change they want to radical change immediate change in government. But this at this meeting right here. The president called together. All of the Koran called radicalness. But as much used to put Sawyer all of that into this meeting. The president.

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Conciliation or spirit of conciliation was taken as a weakness. And therefore he I get it took advantage of. I believe. And the president said to them right here he said to them Gentlemen what is it your want we want to build a country I want you to join me.

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This is really time. Passes looking. For nothing. Yeah. You got the president invited them. Here what do you want. And I remember very distinctly Barker's mother you said I want to cheer you in. Young. And the presidents are back as you can do and to me we are related.

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We are related your your mom or grandma go to. The Senate we are all related. So I I I don't know. But. I don't know what what. Drove the people and in fact I have come to know now that actually it was not a door that led to cool we give credit or dollar government and the local and all of that we were Jebel Major General.

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That on top. Was the leader of the cool they were going to arrest all but at Ben told that night. But somehow it change and the president went to the mansion if you don't want to banter. The second part of that piece which I don't have verification was that Monday that Monday the president was going to Zimbabwe to go see the installation of Robert Mugabe who now refused to leave office.

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I did he was going he was scheduled to go to that Monday and the other picture was that when the president left the want to do like they did Kwame Nkrumah and in in flight they were going to take over the government. So. We still hope that some day the truth.

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Of this thing will come out so we just got bits and pieces and so forth and so some people believe that the coup was not staged by Liberians but by some foreign foreign soldiers and I don't know maybe in your in your. Going about you may have heard different different stories are is the same thing I've heard on this side.

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You know so I don't know. Actually But you know we can just guess but but I believe that. We were soft in my administration unlike Tubman who was highly security conscious. And. Didn't even allow it. To pass across his security line. We wanted the counter to be lax and relaxed.

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And if you were ten fifteen twenty years at that time. Then you know the freedom of press we had. Freedom of press freedom of expression that was in Liberia I saw more newspapers during this time than other time in. It felt like the. Top one time the press was control you know that.

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So whether. We were to slide to a song I don't know. Thank you very much yes man. Thank you Jordan Yes I thank you very much for coming. Vining some insight. From the other side another perspective. Let me say perhaps you and I. Share the unique distinction. Of been perhaps they wanted to preserve this room.

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Who I can see were connected those incidents. That you have just spoken about. At the time in one thousand nine hundred ninety picture we should. I suppose are that I meeting. I was a student leader at the University of Liberia German national affairs. And we were invited by the president.

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Along with others including the late backers Matthews. To discuss the issue of the. The proposed increase in the price of rice. I just like that's a few questions perhaps as we undertaken a historical exercise to rewrite our history. I just looked at one or two questions. And X. the questions and I will give you the opportunity response I would not add one and then which one and I could never.

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Look at race riots. In the aftermath of the race riots. The president commissioned a body to look into the disturbances and that's what it was headed by. The late consul and it is see a brown now. And the produced a report. Containing several recommendations I'm sorry I don't have a copy of that here with me.

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But for those of us who knows of any Liberian women the students of history that report is contained in the history book written by George Burley Dr George Burley. The full text of the report is there. To the best of my knowledge. That report was shelved and nothing became of it I don't know why perhaps you'll be able to provide some explanations as to why.

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The other aspect is that prior to the demonstrations there were already stories that the governor would have used force. And in the aftermath of the demonstration he lit up a port wrote a piece entitled The demon river stood still. In which he outlined how he made several attempts some of them desperate.

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To get the president to concede. Into allowing the demonstration to go ahead and not to use force. And according to or laid out the port. In that article he wrote that even reversed to steal. That he even fell to the feet of the president. And. The president said to him.

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Govern cannot appear to look weak but how can I do what appear. To. Look weak. And the demonstration should not go ahead. On April twenty first one nine hundred seventy nine. I and Mr committee we said. Turn ourselves in to the government having been charged with treason listen I want to list five thousand dollars reward.

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And in a meeting with the president I remember you were the last official of government I came in to the office of the brothers. And the president made a remark which I recall and maybe for the benefit of posterity I can just repeat those words. And you know that meeting was delayed our ports.

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Late which of Henry's. Other officials and you were the last you came in were a cocky suit but why brims are very happy. And the president said. He said they have been a cry for blood. It has been a cry for blood and a lot well have been a cry for blood for blood.

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Just echoing from around him and perhaps and but we are question nation and choose not to go that route. Then he said. I always tell my people. If you take time to kill me and you see the good. And I said Mr Speaker Yes Mr brother and I said Yes Mr Brewer.

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And he further said. Perhaps this is a I've been too patient but then again visions are in fact boom and then you remarks but that's the big one you've got now I was one that then. What that meant. But what was that not what would you repeat that last last thing I said you said he said.

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This is a bit too. Mission Into kind I've been too kind been too patient but perhaps as a patient or in fact boom. And then your remarks. But that's a big one you've got now. And I was your mark and I was wondered then. What you meant by those words I never had opportunity says it brought on the Friends of the night of the last time we saw.

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So you were twenty eight years the guys without question. The other thing is as you mentioned that. You adjust to the fact that representation. At the level of the cabinet was not perhaps inclusive enough and if you compared a cabinet before your term. And after your term to see that you had to come on here broader.

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I remember one hundred seventy nine. Elections for the me of one room was due and it was by the candidate was Mr Jordan. And those elections were cancelled. For whatever reasons. And subsequently the registration of the progressive People's Party P.P.P. was the night. Perhaps I former vice president you'll be able to provide some.

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Explanations as to why. And then lastly. You mentioned that. News of got leaked from the cabinet that. The government was about to embark on its plan to produce rice locally to stop the importation of foreign rice and of course there was the widespread impression in the public. That the president's to the benefit.

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His brother Mr di not all but was one of the largest in what was a rice and so. There was a lot. Mixed messages in the air. And perhaps as a living. Witness to all of this crap you can through some light some insight. But after that meeting.

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I'd imagine on twenty first. April twenty seventh. I want to prison. And the meeting that we should be sure. Was likely I was in a meeting government of the president called I meeting I were invited and I was in attendance so as we have said. It now is the Holocaust and.

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Historical events. And people do history so that people will not forget and trying to seem bad I won't pharmacy mistakes that were me. Can you please provide some insight as to what was the mindset. Behind. The banning of the demonstration and all of the. Things I just said thank you very much good thank you thank you Mr Good question and that short answer that I have.

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Would be you will read in my book. But but out of courtesy of the fact that you know this is a historical meeting here today I will travel and say you and by the way let me say yes to you to speak out loud because I got only one year.

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You see that this one can hear. That's another ten listen in this way. To hear what he's got to say this why I came here so for I don't know where that yet thing because it irritates my ear. So I just want to go of my handicap here so let me see if I can start from from the bar on up.

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I think your last didn't have to do with the rice thing Rice the rice writer. And my clarinet. Yes a lot. As I mention that the discussion was on. At the cabinet we were ended three weeks of it. We send a minister of commerce abroad to bring Rice samples.

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So that we can have facts. When we discuss this issue. I think that the the. Reports that went out. Either from outside the cabinet of from people surmising out there. Where.