The former President of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM), Mr. Kerper Dwayen, has described as an "act of lawlessness" the recent peaceful town hall meeting by Liberians in Minnesota, to discuss the reported removal of Mr. John Tarley, as Chairman of the OLM’s Board of Directors.

Addressing a joint meeting of the Community Intervention Committee (CIC) and the Board on Saturday, January 30th at the OLM headquarters, Mr. Dwayen suggested that the citizens should have written the Board to ascertain facts surrounding Chairman Tarley’s removal, instead of holding a citizens’ meeting to discuss the issue, adding "that meeting was an act of lawlessness."

However, an investigative research conducted by the MN Web. Shows that the United States Constitution guarantees rights to assemble under the first amendment which reads in part; "…Congress shall make no laws…abridging the freedom of speech or press or the right of the people peacefully to assemble and petition the government (in this case, the OLM Board) for redress of grievances."

Article 17 of the Liberian constitution also guarantees right of assemble and speech which reads in part; "All persons at all times in an orderly and peaceful manner, shall have the right to assemble and consult upon the common good, to instruct their representatives, to petition the government (in this case again the OLM Board) or other functionaries for the redress of grievances and to associate fully with others or refuse to associate in political parties, trade unions and other organizations." With these constitutional clauses, Political Commentators are surprised at Mr. Dwayen’s assertions.

On why Chairman Tarley was not accorded the due process before his removal as chairman, Mr. Dwayen said "due process applies only in criminal cases," saying, "you cannot question the decision of the board because the determination of its leadership falls within the board’s purview."

On why the Board did not move quickly to call a town hall meeting to inform the community about circumstances which led to Chairman Tarley‘s removal, Mr. Dwayen insisted that "when Tarley was elected, there was no town hall meeting to inform the community about his election, therefore I don’t see the necessity of calling a town hall meeting to inform the community about his removal."

Dwayen, regarded as the "god father" of the OLM, defended the Board’s decision to remove Mr. Tarley as Chair, saying "the new OLM constitution was written in a way to create a powerful Board rather than a powerful Chairman." It is not known yet again whether Mr. Tarley was removed because he was "powerful." Political analysts now view Mr. Dwayen as someone who is tele guarding the most powerful Board with a powerless membership.

Dwayen’s statement was however buttressed by Dr. Clarence Yarskey, considered the current "CHAIRMAN," saying "Chairman Tarley was so powerful he made decisions unilaterally on behalf of the Board and we were obliged to accept or else."

However, it may be recalled that during an exclusive interview with Dr. Yarskey on Friday, January 8,th he explained to the MN Web that, Chairman Tarley's reported removal was necessitated by numerous complaints from fellow Board Members, who said they found it difficult working with him, because among other complaints,Tarley was not answering his cell phone.

Also speaking at the meeting, OLM’s former Board Chairman, Arthur Zakama, described the Community Intervention Committee CIC, as an opposition group. He expressed fear that, " any erroneous message from this group could break us apart, or unite us, because we are at a brink of disunity or unity at the moment" adding, "opposition can strangulate the community and so I have a serious disagreement with the CIC."

He then cautioned the CIC, to be very careful during its deliberation with the community saying, "I have been in this community long enough to know that what comes from the Community Intervention Committee, will be respected by the community rather than the board. You should therefore be mindful that the OLM’s interest should supersede individual interest."

Mr. Richard Sandah, another member of the board told the MN Web, "We cannot run this board at the whips and caprices of just any individuals, but by the constitution including state and federal laws." He however failed to specifically quote the state and/or federal laws and the individuals he was referring to.

In a new development, Mr. Kamaty Diahn, the lone board member who dissented the board’s decision to remove Chairman Tarley and called on his colleagues to revisit the decision, now says the issue was revisited and exhausted.

In an earlier position statement a copy of which was issued the MN Web, on Wednesday, January 20th, Mr. Diahn challenged his colleagues’ decision at the time saying, they failed to specifically quote which provision of the OLM constitution and or state laws were allegedly violated by Chairman Tarley.

Diahn argued then that, even if Chairman Tarley had violated any or all of the provisions of the OLM Constitution and state laws, he should have still been presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond the reasonable doubts and accorded the due process under jurisprudence and the principle of fairness.

He pointed out that since Article VII, Section 7.02 of the OLM constitution is silent on the cause for removal from office of an elected officer, the majority members of the board should have referred to precedence and where there is none, the Minnesota State laws and/or statutes which regulate non-profit organizations should have sufficed.

He went on to say, "given the fragile state of this community and the infancy of this body as a result of our transition, it is crucial that we exercise restraint and balance the community interest and sentiments in the discharge of our duties, in an effort to provide the needed services this community craves. Today it is Tarley, tomorrow it could be any of

But now with the 360 degree u turn decision by Mr. Diahn, the only independent member of the OLM Board, coming in the wake of the Community Intervention Committee’s efforts, to deliberate and avert the potential crisis situation within the OLM, political pundits are wondering what effect Mr. Diahn’s decision will have on the ongoing process.

Meanwhile the Chairman of the Community Intervention Committee CIC, Mr. Kelvin Gray, says the citizens mass meeting scheduled at 4:00pm, on Sunday, February 7th at the Brook dale Covenant Church in Brooklyn Center, with the Board, CIC and the community in an apparent attempt, to finally deliberate the matter still stands.

By: Tarnyon Nyenon
Freelance