The Montserrado County Senatorial By-Election came as the midterm process it is – to replace a deceased member of the Liberian Senate.

Many political commentators, however, have since dubbed it variously as “the referendum of the Sirleaf Administration” and “a litmus test for the conduct of the 2011 general and presidential elections.”

However anyone sees it, the election has run into a ditch and fear and threat mongers are out and about to, one way or the other, influence its outcome – unnaturally.

Now Liberia’s Godfather, the United States of America, through his envoy to Liberia, has stepped onto the stage, giving the run-off candidates pep talks – with warning to the voting public.

The Analyst, reports.

United States Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield says Liberia’s midterm senatorial election has brought Liberia’s democratization process under global spotlight and that that obligates the run-off candidates to ensure propriety by not encouraging or inciting their supporters to violence.

“Liberia is under spotlight; it is one of the few countries in the world that gets the kind of microscopic attention for the senatorial by-election because nobody wants to see the country go back to where it was 15 years ago,” she said.

She said instead of prematurely claiming victory and thereby prompting their supporters to reject and term as “cheating” any results announced to the contrary by the National Election Commission (NEC), the candidates should rather encourage them to demonstrate their supports through the ballot box. NEC has scheduled the senatorial run-off for next Tuesday, November 24, 2009.

“Candidates and their supporters should also avoid divisive comments in an attempt to split Liberia's many diverse communities. On Election Day Liberians must put aside disunity and recognize each other as fellow citizens of one united country,” she said.

Amb. homas-Greenfield gave the warning last Wednesday in separate discussions with run-off contenders Clemenceau Urey of the ruling Unity Party and Geraldine Doe Sherif of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC). She urged Liberians to go to the polls with respect for the rule of law and the spirit of nationalism.

“I would like to reiterate President Sirleaf's call for all eligible voters who did not participate in the November 10 Montserrado County Senate by-elections to exercise their right to vote for the candidate who best represents their interests in the November 24 run-off.”
 
She said the election period was a period of sobriety and that therefore Liberians should remain constructive and mature in their engagements, avoiding intimidation of voters, which could lead to street fights and a drawback on the nation’s recovery, peace, and reconciliation processes.   

Speaking with journalists following the separate closed-door meetings with the UP and CDC senatorial candidates, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said the US was disinterested in the outcome of senatorial by-election or any other election in Liberia except for the glory it will bring to Liberia and Liberians.

“We only want to see the democratic process working in Liberia,” she said.

It was immaterial who wins, she said, as long as the winner reflects the will of the overwhelming majority of the voters and reflect the aspiration of the people of Montserrado County and therefore the people of Liberia.

“I do not have a candidate in the race. My candidate is Liberia and to see the democratic process work in Liberia,” she said, ostensibly in an effort to dispel rapidly spreading rumors that the US favors one of the candidates and that the run-off was simply intended to legitimize the choice of the US for senator.

Amb. Thomas-Greenfield told the press that not only was there hints of street violence if the run-off results did go certain way; but that also in recent days, NEC itself has come under criticism and threat of personal harm to its officials following the announcement of the first round results.

But she said the threats were unnecessary and antithetical to the runs of democracy and electioneering politics because she believed NEC’s Chairman James Fromoyan was doing his job.

“Despite some inefficiencies and logistical problems, the NEC should be commended for independently organizing the largest election in Liberia since  2005.  Candidate supporters should respect the NEC counting process and wait patiently for the scheduled November 27 release of results,” she said.

The US envoy however fell short of saying whether or not she was satisfied with the manner in which NEC conducted the first round election, which many party leaders say was marred by irregularities including late poll opening, insufficient voters’ education, and overstated registered voters.

She however congratulated the commission for the conduct of the November 10 polls short of open violence and discord. She conceded that NEC lacks the needed capacity, but noted quickly that Liberians should be supportive of the commission as it strives to nurture the march toward democracy. She said she envisages a prosperous Liberia and wants all Liberians to be part of the bandwagon in making the dream come true.

For his part, Mr. Urey acknowledged the US Ambassador's concern and called on Liberians to put the past behind them, bury their hatches and forge ahead for the betterment of their children and the nation's future.   CDC’s run-off senatorial candidate, Geraldine Doe-Sheriff, could not be reached for comment on the US envoy’s meeting with her.

However, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said both candidates expressed their determination to win the election. She also disclosed that the two candidates committed themselves to guarding their supporters in a manner that would lead to the holding of a successful fun-off by-election.

Meanwhile, the US envoy has disclosed that teams of American and Liberian staff members from the United States Embassy observed the November 10 election and will observe the November 24 run-off.

“We're pleased that we've not witnessed instances of election fraud. Political parties should bring any complaints or allegations of irregularities directly to the NEC and not irresponsibly incite their supporters,” Ambassador Greenfield said.

She said the United States continues to support NEC efforts aimed at ensuring successful, democratic elections in Liberia. In addition, she disclosed, the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) is in Liberia on a USAID-funded $17.5 million contract aimed at strengthening Liberia's electoral capacity.    According to her, the U.S. Government is also directly supporting this by-election through $565,000 of assistance directed through USAID and IFES.