-Female lawmaker reacts to PYJ’s resignation
By Olando Testimony Zeongar
MONROVIA – A female lawmaker representing Montserrado County electoral district #4 in the House of Representatives, Madam Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, in reaction to the recent resignation of Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson (PYJ) from the Senate’s defense committee, has slammed PYJ as a diabolical murderer.
Amid mounting pressure, especially from the Government of the United States of America, which is on record as saying it would do no business with former dreaded warlord now senator of Nimba County, Prince Y. Johnson; PYJ Tuesday resigned his chairmanship post with the Liberian Senate’s Committee Defense Security Intelligence and Veteran Affairs.
It can be recalled that barely a day after the Senate elected the former rebel commander to its Committee on Defense Security Intelligence and Veteran Affairs, as its chair, the U.S. government through its embassy near Monrovia, released a strong-worded statement on 29 May, condemning PYJ’s election to such post.
The U.S. Embassy in its statement referred to Senator Johnson as a notorious warlord, whose gross human rights violations during Liberia’s civil wars the U.S. Embassy said are well-documented.
The U.S. Embassy indicated that PYJ’s continued efforts to protect himself from accountability, enrich his own coffers and sow division are also well known, noting that since the Liberian Senate would see fit to elevate the former founder and leader of the erstwhile Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) to a leadership role – particularly in the area in which he has done Liberia what the Embassy described as the most harm – creates doubts as to the seriousness of the Senate as a steward of Liberia’s defense and security.
“The U.S. government is proud of our longstanding partnership with the Ministry of National Defense and Armed Forces of Liberia which will continue – but we can have no relationship with Senator Johnson,” the Embassy stressed in its statement.
Howbeit, Senator Johnson, Tuesday, at the Legislature, tendered in his letter of resignation, which was accepted by the Plenary of the Senate, but another member of the Legislature, Montserrado’s electoral district #4 Rep, female lawmaker Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis believes PYJ’s resignation is belated.
Rep Dennis, who Wednesday wrote on her official Facebook page welcoming Senator Johnson’s resignation, indicated that such decision was long overdue.
She inferred that the former dreaded rebel commander now Nimba Senator PYJ is what she referred to as a “slain killer” and a ”diabolical murderer of innocent lives.”
On Christmas Eve 1989, it can be recalled, including PYJ, rebel forces of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) loyal to jailed former Liberian president Charles Taylor ruthlessly shot their way into Liberia, beginning a senseless internecine war that lasted over a decade and claimed approximately 250,000 lives, displaced thousands others, and destroyed tons of private and public properties.
Initially, a member of the NPFL, PYJ, who is accused of murdering several persons, including Liberian musicians Tecumsay Roberts and Robert Toe, would later break away and form his INPFL, and go on to capture, torture, and butcher publicly to death, slain ex-president Samuel K. Doe.
“Nowhere in the world a slain killer, diabolical murderer of innocent lives can serve in a democratic government as head of national security. It only shows the reason behind the backwardness of Liberia,” Rep Dennis wrote.
Rep Dennis is of the opinion that PYJ’s election to the Senate’s Committee on Defence Security Intelligence and Veteran Affairs, was meant to increase poverty on citizens of Liberia and scare away the already frightened investors from the country.
