The NEWS (Monrovia)
Robbie Semple/Intern
3 April 2008
Monrovia — Deputy UN envoy for Rule of Law, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu on Wednesday put witchcraft center stage in the fight to improve human rights in Liberia.
Speaking at the launch of the "Report on the Human Rights Situation in Liberia, May - October 2007" at the UN Mission headquarters in Monrovia, Mensa-Bonsu focused her speech on "the troubling and continuing problem of witchcraft."
She drew on examples from the report (which is an amalgamation of the two most recent quarterly reports from the UN Human Rights and Protection Section (HRPS)) of families torn apart, and profiteering "witch finders" to strengthen her case.
In May in Bong Mines, a five-year-old boy was killed by an ex-combatant. The report alleges that two relatives paid the man to kill the boy as revenge for witchcraft, after a medicine man identified his grandmother as a witch.
In Barzoe Town, Montserrado County last October, a witch finder was paid US$160 by residents to "remove impediments to the town's development." Four locals were forced to flee after being accused of stopping the area's growth by witchcraft. On reporting the incident to the police however, they were informed that the finder could not be arrested, as the ritual had been authorized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The report calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to: "Identify traditional practices in Liberia that violate fundamental human rights standards with a view to enacting legislation that clearly prohibits such practices and (renders them) punishable by law."
When quizzed about what the UN were doing to stamp out such human rights violations, Mensa-Bonsu insisted the onus is on Liberians to carry the fight.
She claimed that by providing information the UN is "empowering Liberians to effect social change."
Though a number of ministers were asked for their opinion on the report, including those responsible for Justice, Health, Education and Gender, all declined to comment. Eugene Nindorera, chief of the HRPS did not see this as a problem however.
"We are not worried about comments, we want to see action," Nindorera proclaimed. He commended the decision of the police force to dismiss seventy officers for persistent absence, and the release of four alleged witches from prison after a year's incarceration without trial, as examples of positive action.
UN Mission pledged its continuing support to the government and the Liberian people in eliminating fundamental human rights abuses.
"Our role is to let communities see the unfairness of it all, and let the legal community sit up and take action," Nindorera pointed out.
Recently, the government released several persons in Southeastern Liberia who were being detained in connection to "witchcraft activities".
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*30 days of Advocacy against Witch Hunts in South Africa - 28 March to 27 April 2008*
Should cultural practices and religious beliefs that promote the murder of innocent people on the basis of belief be tolerated in any society? The answer must be a resounding NO.
The 30 day advocacy campaign (from 29 March to 27 April) against religious prejudice and witch hunts will focus on a) highlighting the tragedy of sporadic and ongoing Witch hunts, b) exposing the religious beliefs and cultural prejudice against Witchcraft, and c) asserting the right of Pagan Witches to self-definition, self-determination, religious freedom and safety and security.
Download a free copy of 'A Pagan Witches TouchStone' today. http://www.paganrightsalliance.org/press.htm
SIGN THIS PETITION http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/end-witchcraft-related-violence-in-south-a frica
For more information visit:
South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA) http://www.paganrightsalliance.org E-mail: paganrightsalliance@ananzi.co.za