Diaspora Liberians Propose Amendment to Immigration Law Various Liberian groups in the United States, Australia, Europe, Ghana and Liberia have been heard loudly on different medium around the world, calling on the government of Liberia, to allow them the right to regain their nationality as Liberians. These groups have gathered under the banner, “All Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship” (ALCDC). In an exclusive interview with Success Forum over the weekend, Emmanuel S. Wettee, ALCDC’s Chairman, said his group is lobbying to pass an act that would repeal title 4, Chapter 22 of the 1973 Alien and Nationality Law. Chairman Wettee revealed that there are approximately 500,000 Liberians residing outside the Republic of Liberia in foreign lands, overwhelming majority of whom re-settled abroad as a result of intractable conflicts in Liberia, beginning in 1980 with the military coup d’état, which was followed by the 14 years of civil war. Wettee said, vast majority of those that were forced into exile created new families by birth, changed their citizenship or nationality, as per Chapter IV Article 28 of the Liberian constitution, but most of them have also expressed their commitment to maintaining their Liberian citizenship. “Chapter 22 of the 1973 Alien and Nationality Law of the Republic of Liberia, as amended in 1974 , does not allow for Liberians to retain their citizenship upon becoming citizens by birth, naturalization or other means of foreign lands,” the Chairman Lamented, noting further that Section 20.1(b) of the 1973 Alien and Nationality Law unconstitutionally discriminates against Liberian mothers. He said that the law does not recognize children born outside Liberia to Liberian mothers as Liberian citizens but recognizes children born outside Liberia to Liberian fathers as Liberian citizens. Wettee went on to disclose that due to the 1973 Alien and Nationality Law, Liberians that naturalize abroad are not only stripped of their Liberian citizenship, but are also precluded from owning land or other real estate in their native homeland as stated in Chapter III Article 22 (a) of the 1986 constitution of Liberia. Chairman Wettee appealed to Liberians at home to join the advocacy in restoring the rights of fellow Liberians living outside of Liberia. “Restoring citizenship for Diaspora Liberians offers advantages of broadening our countrys economic base, foster trade and investment, and provides opportunities for Liberians in their host countries to influence economic and development decisions in favor of Liberia,” the Chairman explained. Wettee stated that there are various options his group has on the table to resolve the matter. He said his group is firstly, talking to members of the both houses of parliament, in order for them to help in fast-tracking the revision of the Immigration law. Or they could go to the Supreme Court to handle the matter. A poll conducted by success Forum shows that 7 out of 10 Liberians accept the idea of dual citizenship, however all said there should be check and balances within the framework of the proposed amendment, in order for the law not to be misinterpreted, and thereby misused by unscrupulous individuals. In the view of one socio-economic pundit who preferred anonymity, the dual citizenship debate has been intensifying of recent, due to what he described as, “relative peace that the country has seen since the end of the civil conflict in 2005.” “If Chairman Wettee’s revelation about the number of Liberians residing outside of Liberia is anything to go by, then the government needs to wake up and resolve this problem,” our source concluded. Writes Uzondu Esionye successforumnm.blogspot/2015/01/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html?spref=fb
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 23:47:37 +0000