29 April 2008
analysis
With a nearly 15000-strong, robust, UN inter-positional intervention security force (UNMIL) in place, with the Security Sector Reform program well in its third year and nearing completion, and with the concession of the UN that Liberia's peace and security is key to global and regional peace and security.
Liberia's security is still fragile and seemingly deteriorating. Violent criminals have literally swarmed the capital and other large urban centers across the country and launch a war of despondency, death, and mayhem.
There are suggestions that the swarm is no doubt undermining the peace process and government's effort to revive the economy through the revitalization of the private sector. The question many are asking is, "Where all this does leave the security concern of the international community, the government, and the security operations of UNMIL and LNP?"
The Analyst Staff Writer has been looking at some recent incidents of violent crimes in light of this reigning question.
Monrovia and other large cities in the country are in a state of war with armed robbers taking over nightlife, raiding vulnerable homes, and dispossessing of and/or harming innocent people, victims and observers said here over the weekend.
In the midst of this upsurge of violent crimes, there are indications that the United Nations inter-positional force (UNMIL) that is mandated by the UNSC to ensure public safety by assisting the government of Liberia establish security grids across the country is a shadow of its former self and so is the nation's police, LNP.
The Analyst has learnt that as vulnerable Liberians flinch in numbing fear of armed robbers and wish the police were up to their statutory obligation to the people and as UNMIL passes the buck of security to the Liberian government, there are indications that the revitalization of the private sector is in danger.
Prospective investors are reportedly folding their briefcases and reconsidering their decisions to invest in Liberia. Reports say the situation has become so grave that residents mainly of the nation's capital, Monrovia, have resorted to self-imposed curfew as early as 8pm-9pm.
"The situation is so grave that if you are not home by 8-9 p.m. depending on where you live or how far you are from home you may not get a vehicle to get home. Or if you do, you have a 9 out of 10 probability of being waylaid and robbed and/or harmed," says Logan Town resident Emmanuel Walker who said he works as attendant at a downtown Monrovia nightclub.
Emmanuel may sound too exaggerated to be believed, but Police Chief Col. Beatrice Sieh and the Acting Commissioner of United Nations Police (UNPOL), Mr. Henrik Stiernblad, suggested last week that he may not be too far from grasping the point of how far security has declined over the last few months.
Rising Incidence of Armed Robbery
"For April 2008, we have already noted 47 cases of armed robbery in the country and this has to be dealt with," UNPOL Chief, Henrik Stiernblad said during a press briefing at the UNMIL Headquarters, April 16, 2008.
Stienblad said the security of Liberia's communities and business squares was the responsibility of its security forces but conceded that it was also the responsibility of UNMIL to support the Liberia National Police (LNP) to deal with the upsurge of crime in the country.
He did not say what form and shape the support should take or why it was not forthcoming at this crucial time, but he noted that combating crimes was not about carrying weapons but using experience, intelligence, and in a timely way taking steps to prevent the criminals from doing their deeds.
There, in his view, is no lack of expertise in this regard in Liberia as there are over 600 armed formed police units in the country which can be deployed for any operation that will be conducted by the LNP.
Again the UNPOL Chief came short of saying why UNMIL or UNPOL has not urged or mandated the deployment of the so-called armed 600-strong formed police units but chose to keep quiet as LNP complains about logistics, cash, and arms to launch an effective crackdown on the new wave of armed robbery.
He disclosed that UNMIL and LNP have increased the number of joint patrols to about 41 patrols across the city of Monrovia, but decline to say what impact that increase was having on nighttime violent crimes in Monrovia.
"We will be gathering information on exactly who these robbers are, where they are located and other details. Once we come to the stage when we are ready to do search and arrest, the LNP will take the lead with backup provided by the UNPOL," the Acting Commander of UNPOL chief said.
According to him, this was a parallel to night patrols around the city that was being put into place by the LNP in collaboration with UNPOL. LNP Inspector General Sieh was in agreement but implied that the police have inherent drawbacks that were likely to hamper their community policing and the overall national security agenda.
"I know that the government is going through a lot of constraints and it has been difficult; however, since the 14th April 2008, the police has only received 450 gallons of fuel from the Minister of Justice for night patrols," Inspector General Beatrice Munah Sieh during the April 16 press briefing at the UNMIL Headquarters.
She said despite the limited logistics, the police and its partners managed to put into place what she called "Operation Thunder Storm" that is intended to support vigorous clampdowns on armed robbery.
"We are going after these people, we are arresting them and they are going to be processed which is ongoing; but in the end they will be bailed," Inspector Sieh said, suggesting to observers that she was either dissatisfied with or found the criminal justice system too cumbersome as part of the fight against crimes in post-war Liberia.
She said the operation which coincided with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's concern about increasing armed robbery in the city, has so far netted 18 armed robbers three of whom were lynched by community mobs on Bushrod Island.
Inspector General Sieh then warned the communities against using mob justice against suspected armed robbers in the same breath that she conceded that communities would remain vulnerable because some "3,000 trained and competent police officers who are willing to do their work" were unlikely to be deployed due to the lack of logistics.
She did not say what effect the troop shortage is likely to have on the so-called "Operation Thunderstorm", which some say is nothing more than a white-washed model of the failed operations "Spider Web" and "Sweeping Wave".
It may be recalled that President Sirleaf, during a recent state of the nation address, called for a step-up in security patrols and intelligence gathering to put a lid on the rising insecurity and armed robbery in the country.
"There is nothing that pains me more than to see innocent citizens who are trying to rebuild their lives fall victims to these criminals," the President said.
She then requested UNMIL to be more vigilant and proactive in patrols and ordered the Minister of Justice to do more in terms of logistical support for the police and the strengthening of the effective system of justice.
An LNP source told The Analyst over the weekend that neither has the Justice Minister provided the needed logistics, nor has it done anything to ensure that criminals are speedily prosecuted to prevent people bailing them out only to be found back on the streets and in the community visiting havoc upon innocent Liberians.
Police Drawbacks, Infighting
Inspector General Sieh and UNPOL chief Henrik Stiernblad may be diplomatic about what is hampering police patrols and giving incentives to armed robbers to raid vulnerable communities, but insiders told The Analyst over the weekend that deep-seated mistrust and in-fighting were to blame.
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