The NEWS (Monrovia)
T. Michael Johnny
25 June 2008
Monrovia — Civil Society Organizations of Liberia have condemned the current wave of violence including the brutal killings of peaceful citizens in various parts of the country.
A position statement read by Mr. Jarwlee Tweh Geegbe on behalf of civil society organizations noted, "with reports of armed robbery cases slowly reducing, in less than a month the incidents of willful killings, mass murder, and the brutal attacks on villagers in Maryland and River Gee counties have claimed the lives of many of our citizens than during the period of transition from war to peace."
The civil society organizations catalogued what it refers to as the continuous attacks on peaceful villages in Maryland and River Gee County, the mass Murder in Margibi County where about 19 innocent persons were massacred and other secret killings of innocent people by unknown persons.
Addressing a news conference Tuesday at the office of the Center For Democratic Empowerment (CEDE) in Monrovia, the group recounted the confusion over land ownership in Maryland and River Gee counties which claimed the lives of villagers and some citizens.
They described the actions of those evil minded people as primitive, savage, uncivilized and grossly violates the principle of the rule of law and human decency.
Accordingly, the civil society organizations opined that the principles of democracy subscribes to the rule of law which provides that all persons offended one way or the other, should seek legal redress through the courts instead of taking the laws in their hands.
On the Margibi massacre of more than a dozen innocent citizens, the civil society groups said the incident brings back fresh memories to all and can only be considered an act of terror.
They want those responsible to not only be charged for murder, but also for crime against humanity and the state.
The Civil Society organizations noted that what is even more troubling is for a lawmaker who was elected by the popular vote of the Liberian people to be linked to such cruelty emphasizing that the alleged murder must be handled and given serious attention by the government.
The organizations called on the National Legislature, especially the House of Senate to suspend indefinitely and withhold all immunities of Senator Roland Kaine, until he is cleared of all charges.
Touching on the status of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, the organizations noted that the prolong and untimely delay in the reconstitution of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) is totally unacceptable and unhealthy for an emerging democracy.
Against this backdrop, the civil society organizations called on the National Legislature to ensure full participation of every well meaning Liberian in the discussion of any amendment regarding the composition of the commission.
"The reconstitution of the INHCR is very important especially as the TRC tenure is drawing to an end; there is a need to ensure that there is no vacuum created in the transitional justice mechanism," the group noted.
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