Voice of Liberia
Fighting for Justice for all Liberians
Press Release
ASSOCIATION OF RIGHTS-GROUPS FOR THE PROMOTION OF PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN LIBERIA
- A COALITION OF INTEREST GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER LIBERIA
24 STREET, SINKOR
MONROVIA, LIBERIA
Mobile @ 06626209
PRESS RELEASE
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) | 22 January 2007
Our attention has been drawn to the ongoing crisis in the House of Representatives which, if not addressed in a timely fashion, could incapacitate the central government and ridicule our basic political document, the constitution of the republic of Liberia.
While we respect the integrity and honorability of the National Legislature, we also think the ongoing divisions in both Houses, coupled with allegations of bribery, have the tendency to cause irreparable damage to the image of that august body.
We believe the continuous wrangling in the upper and lower Houses, and all the negativities attached thereof, is a sad departure from the norms and ethics governing congressional rules of procedure and deviates from the interests of a masses yearning for eco-social change.
It is in consonance with this line of thought that we support calls made by the International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL) for the House to respect the due process of law and to adhere to the rules of procedure of the House to resolve procedural as well as organizational matters.
We also wish to support the ICGL in its urge for “all allegations of bribery of members of the House of Representatives to be investigated in an independent and transparent manner, in accordance with international best practice.”
In this regard, persistent accusations levied against the Executive Branch of government as being a partner in the bribery allegations, renders the Solicitor general’s investigation as unacceptable and may not operate independently.
We are therefore calling on the Executive branch of government to set up an independent panel of investigators to include religious leaders and forensic experts to investigate allegations of bribery in the House of Representatives.
Having stated the supra, we hereby announce a sit-in strike action on Tuesday, January 23 at 9 AM at the Centennial memorial pavilion and the Unity Conference center, respectively. This action is necessitated by our desire to see Lawmakers conduct the business of the House under one roof consistent with the statues of procedure governing them.
Signed:_________________________
Sampson Tweh
VICE CHAIRMAN / ADMINISTRATION
Approved: _______________________
Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr.
CHAIRMAN
Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) |
16 January 2007
On the Arrest of Mulbah K. Morlu and Government’s Cancellation of all Demonstrations
Ladies and gentlemen of the press;
You will remember that a press conference like this one was called recently to announce the holding of a peaceful demonstration in support of a petition to impeach President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for acts of bribery, corruption and other constitutional violations.
Even though the Minister of justice and Chairman of the Joint Security declared a cancellation on the eve of the planned peaceful demonstration, an approval letter sent us under the signature of the Justice Minister’s office, renders her (Justice Minister’s) action totally unconstitutional and unwarranted. We hence intend to provide details of the interaction between this institution and the Justice Ministry prior to the day of the planned Peaceful demonstration. .
In the first communication, dated 8 January 2007, we officially acknowledged the Justice Minister of our desire to hold a peaceful demonstration on 16th January 2007. On the same date, the Justice Minister, writing through her Special Assistant, advised us to choose an alternative date arguing that to hold a demonstration on the 16th would coincide with the President’s inauguration commemoration.
Subsequently, having carefully pondered the matter, we again officially acknowledged the Justice Minister through a letter dated 10 January 2007 in which an “alternative date” was chosen for the peaceful march; in that letter, we chose Monday as the day of the peaceful demonstration and provided details to the Minister of Justice.
Unfortunately, while our people quietly gathered for a peaceful march to petition the impeachment of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the leader of the Forum for the Establishment of a War crimes Court in Liberia, Mr. Mulbah K. Morlu, jr. was arbitrarily arrested without charge. The arrest took place on the morning of 15 January 2007, at 8:05 A.M. It was a kidnapped-style arrest carried out by unidentified plain-clothe security agents of the Intelligence Unit of the Liberia National Police; an unlicensed pick-up and another accompanying vehicle, rushed him off sandwiched in the back seat between several armed agents.
Mr. Morlu was then taken to the Headquarters of the Liberia National Police where he was kept for several hours. Afterward, he was transferred to a remote part of Brewerville. During his detention in Brewerville, he was intimidated, assaulted and insulted by plain-clothe security men who claimed it was a part of their job to use such methods to get information. During his arbitrary arrest, he was never charged. Though Mr. Morlu was later released during the evening hours of January 15, he’s currently undergoing medical check-up as a result of mal-handlings while in the hands of armed security agents.
It has also come to the attention of this institution that several other persons coming to the peaceful march were similarly arrested and incarcerated in various police cells.
Hence, the Forum for the Establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia and its alliance members, considers government’s action in the arbitrary arrest of Mr. Morlu, and others, and its cancellation of a peaceful demonstration as a constitutional violation. It hereby condemns the action and call for the unconditional release of the arrested persons.
Furthermore, the Forum for the Establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia will still go ahead with the planned demonstration and will announce a subsequent date shortly. Consequently, it calls on the Justice Minister and Chairman of the Joint security to unconditionally lift the ban on all public demonstrations. It therefore calls on its members and all Liberians to remain calm as the campaign for the establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia and, the advocacy against sociopolitical ills for the prevention of war, continues unabated.
Lastly, the Forum for the Establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia, wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the rule of law at all times and can never be a part of any act that undermines Liberia’s basic political document (the constitution). Nevertheless, it equally wishes to stress that it is not obliged to obey dictates and mandates of individuals and officials of government acting outside the constitution of the Republic of Liberia.
Thank you.
Signed: ______________________
Sampson Tweh
Vice Chairman/Adm.
Approved____________________
Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr.
Chairman
