LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT MUST RELEASE DETAINED GRAND GEDEANS

PRESS STATEMENT

LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT MUST RELEASE DETAINED GRAND GEDEANS

Liberian media reported Wednesday, August 15, 2012, that the government of Liberia has clarified that no Liberians have crossed into neighboring la Cote d’Ivoire to launch any form of attacks as alleged by the government Alhassan Ouattara. Several newspapers and radio stations quoted Defense Minister Brownie Samukai as saying that the wave of attacks in various parts of Ivory Coast is the work of Ivoirian dissident forces. The Government says as proof that it was Ivoirians attacking their own security forces, the Liberian security forces have arrested six Ivoirians who participated in the recently attack on the Ivoirian side of the Liberia-Ivory Coast border, about 29 kilometers from Toe’s Town in Grand Gedeh.

The news that Liberians are not involved in the attacks in Ivory Coast is welcome news, but we are greatly appalled and sadden that the Government of Liberia security forces had already arbitrarily arrested and detained at least seven young men from Grand Gedeh County for no just cause. Three weeks ago since the Grand Gedeans were arrested and detained, they have not been charged, lest to talk about being brought before a court of competent jurisdiction to face their accusers—the Government of Liberia. Most draconically and ruthlessly, sources have informed us that the seven Grand Gedeans are being tortured in the “dark cell” of the National Security Agency (NSA). Their family members are also being denied access to them, and NSA agents are said to be forcing confession out of them.

Recently, Liberia government security forces arrested and detained the seven Grand Gedeans at interval times. Those arrested and detained without charges included Neezee Barway (sometimes called Joseph Dweh); Isaac Taryon, Bobby Sarpee, Morris K. Cole (sometimes called Edward K. Cole, and three others and incarcerated them at secret cells in Monrovia. These Grand Gedeans are common preys of the Sirleaf administration’s naked witch-hunt drive against the people of Grand Gedeh county.

Not only that the fundamental rights of the Grand Gedeans are being violated, the Constitution of Liberia is being flouted by the Sirleaf Administration, especially when the prosecution arm of government has blatantly failed to come up with indictments to prosecute the accused individuals. This is a travesty of justice, and a flagrant abuse of power by President Sirleaf and national security authorities. We cannot imagine that President Sirleaf who advocated for rule of law and respect for human rights, and condemned every Liberian president for their excesses will sit at the throne of authority and allowed some vicious and witch-hunting and egomaniac evil incarnates to terrorize the people of Grand Gedeh County.

We must state in no uncertain terms that we demand that the Government of Liberia release from further detention those victims of tyranny without delay. Not only that the government must release them from jail, but the government must also send them to hospital for thorough medical checkup to ensure that they are healthy, safe and sound.

The Sirleaf Administration crossed the line and Madam Sirleaf will be held personally responsible for the safety of the seven Grand Gedeans. The people of Grand Gedeah have exercised extreme tolerance and patients not out of weakness, but out of strength. The people of Grand Gedeh County will hold President Sirleaf, her children and her children’s children accountable if anything happens to those sons of Grand Gedeh. Even if it takes hundred years, the Sirleaf family will pay dearly for their iniquities against the people of Grand Gedeh County, as that will be paying in the Sirleafs’ own coin.

Gibson W. Jerue

For and on behalf of Concerned Grand Gedeans in the Americas

STOP THE WITCH-HUNT!

PRESS STATEMENT

STOP THE WITCH-HUNT!

The Concerned Grand Gedeans in the Americas are appalled by the continuous holding of seven Grand Gedeans in detention without charges. We believe this is shed witch-hunt and a recipe for chaos. Grand Gedeans are fed up with this attitude of the Sirleaf Administration to unjustifiably victimize their sons for something that the Government is incapable of proving in the court of law.

Liberia Defense Minister Brownie Samukai told the public recently that Liberia was not involved in the crisis in the la Cote d’Ivoire, and warned that neighboring country to stop pointing accusing fingers at Liberia. That was a salient statement coming from the man who sits on top of military information. We believe every word of his, and we too have no reason to believe that Liberians have anything to do with the sporadic attacks in la Cote d’Ivoire.

While we condemn any and all attempts by vicious and callous individuals causing trouble in the Ivory Coast, we cannot allow that country to drag our people into their internal mess, created and nurtured by themselves. They are biting their own fingers and we don’t see how Liberia will be embroiled with the Ivorian infighting. Even more appalling the loss of lives in all those intermittent attacks along the Liberia-Ivory coast border areas, in Yopougon in Abidjan, in Arkoudo near Abidjan and other areas when dissident forces have been attacking.

However, even though the government of Liberia says Liberia is not involved in the Ivorian crisis, the government is still holding in secret cells seven (7) Grand Gedeans arrested and detained more than four weeks ago. Nezee Barway, Isaac Taryon, Michael Cole, Bobby Sarpee, and three others were arrested in connection with the Ivorian crisis. The Grand Gedeans have been in jail for more than four weeks without charges, lest to talk about being tried in a court of competent jurisdiction.  This is not only a gross violation of the rights of those victims of brute power, but it is also a violation of the Constitution of Liberia. The Constitution provides that a suspect arrested for alleged crimes must be charged and sent to court within 48 hours. In these Grand Gedeans’ case, they have been in detention for 672 hours now without charges. This is unacceptable, and we condemn the government’s action to victimize these citizens.

We want to say here in no uncertain terms that the Government of Liberia is witch-hunting Grand Gedeans. This is not the first time the Government has arrested and detained Grand Gedeans for prolonged period of time without charges. The Sirleaf Administration ordered the National Security Agency (NSA) to arrest of Col (rtd) Andrew Dorbor who was then residing in Abidjan, la Cote d’Ivoire. Government security brought him down to Monrovia under a different name and jailed him at the NSA for six (6) months without charges. The Government also jailed the late Charles Julu for three (3) months at the same NSA without charges. When the media forced the government to take them to court, the government did and lost the case because it had absolutely no evidence to prosecute them.

Here we are again with seven people, all of them Grand Gedeans jailed for more than four weeks without charges. This case is no different from the Dorbor and Julu case. The Government of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is doing everything within her power to victimize Grand Gedeans because of political differences. We believe Madam Sirleaf is paying Grand Gedeans back because they did not support her presidency in the 2005 and 2011 general and presidential elections. It is wrong for the President to think that everybody will subscribe to her politics. Grand Gedeans don’t support people who are vindictive.

We call on President Sirleaf to stop witch-hunting Grand Gedeans. We are people of peace and we believe Liberians have gone through so much that it is un-necessary for the government of Liberia to single out one group of people and harass, intimidate and witch-hunt them. We are demanding the unconditional release of those seven Grand Gedeans without further delay.

We are even more concerned with news that those detainees are being tortured by government security forces. Beside some physical and psychological torture, and the government is said to be denying them food. Our inside sources have said that the detainees are being fed with crumbs and that sometime they do not eat for an entire day. This is wickedness. The detainees had complained of severe hunger to their family members through third party. Deputy Police Commissioner Abraham Kromah has confirmed that the detainees had not been fed.

The Sirleaf Administration crossed the line and Madam Sirleaf will be held personally responsible for the safety of the seven Grand Gedeans. The people of Grand Gedeah have exercised extreme tolerance and patients not out of weakness, but out of strength. The people of Grand Gedeh County will hold President Sirleaf, her children and her children’s children accountable if anything happens to those sons of Grand Gedeh. Even if it takes hundred years, the Sirleaf family will pay dearly for their iniquities against the people of Grand Gedeh County, as that will be paying in the Sirleafs’ own coin.

We call on all journalists, human rights groups, and all peoples of peace to pressure the Sirleaf Administration to release our brothers from further detention. It is a gross violation to keep them in jail, while government looks for evidence to prosecute them in the future. Already, they have been victimized for more than four weeks, they can take no more, and we are appalled by the Government’s action.

Gibson W. Jerue

For and on behalf of Concerned Grand Gedeans in the Americas

UN Human Rights Commission Makes Decision on my Letter of Complaints

At 12:05pm Central Time, my wife brought to me a package containing the decision of the UN Human Rights Commission Petition Unit. I leaped with excitement. The containing the Petition Unit's decision or official response was both good and bad news. The news is the Commission said the following:
                                                                                                                   
"Dear Sir:

Navanethem Pillay - UN Human Rights High Commissioner

After careful consideration of the contents of your communication, we sincerely regret to having to inform you that the Petitions Unit of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is not in a position to assist you in the matter you raise, for the reasons indicated on the back of the this letter...[THE OBJECT OF YOUR PETITION FALLS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE RELEVANT TREATY]. Accordingly, your petition is being returned to you.

Please accept our apologies for not replying in a more personal manner. You may understand that, while we appreciate your reasons for writing to us, the existing procedures require that it is ascertained whether certain preliminary criteria are satisfied before proceeding with the examination of a petition.

For information about the procedures for the examination of individual petitions on human rights violations, please consult our website: www.ohchr.org

, direct link: http.//www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/petition/index.htm.
In you have difficulty accessing our website, please write to the UNHCHR, Information Office PW-RS-011, 1211 Geneva 10, and ask for Human Rights Facts Sheets Nos. 7, 12, 15 and 17

Yours Sincerely,
The Petitions Unit."

This is one of best communications I have got from any organization recently. The good news is, the UN Human Rights Petitions Unit directed me to where I will read the procedures to refile this petition or other petitions in the future. And when I read, this is what I got:
"Anyone who is a victim of a human rights violation, or who is representing such a victim, can file a complaint under the treaty body complaints mechanism.
If you wish to file a complaint on behalf of someone else or a group, you must submit a written consent from each of the victims you wish to represent. A relative can represent, without written consent, a person who is not in a position to provide an authorization. The reason for this must be explained. The Committees do not examine complaints about a general situation filed on behalf of a general class of persons, who cannot be individually identified."

Now that I know what to do, I will channel my petition through the proper procedure and get the UN Human Rights Commission to help investigate what is going on in Grand Gedeh County. I am elated and I thank the UN for the educational response.

Gibson W. Jerue
Journalist/author

Government of Liberia Holds Grand Gedeans In Jail Without Charges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 18, 2012

PRESS STATEMENT

The author

In less than 24 hours, we have learned that the Government of Liberia has arrested three people, said to be “people of interest” in the recently shooting at the Liberia-ivory Coast border that led to the murder of seven UN peacekeepers and two Ivorian security personnel. Those arrested according to media reports were Neezee Barway (sometimes called Joseph Dweh); and Morris K. Cole (sometimes called Edward K. Cole).

All Grand Gedeans around the world welcome the progress being made to address the incident at the border, and must assert that they are peace-loving people, and are interested in living their lives in peace. That is why Grand Gedeans were always the first to embrace for peace. They are cognizance of the indispensable need to live peaceably with their neighbors. By loving peace and working for it, they will welcome any scrupulous means by which trouble makers are directly targeted and rooted out from among the innocent and law-abiding citizens.

However, Grand Gedeans are aware of the enormous pressure being exerted on them by external forces to subdue them. They have and continue to experience un-necessary incrimination and recrimination from both government and none-state elements. This has caused them not to rush to conclusion when any of their kinsmen are accused or arrested for any alleged criminal acts.

What we have been advocating for is for the Government of Liberia to be responsible and professional in dealing with the situation in Grand Gedeh County. Yes, we agree with some commentators that the arrested and detention of Charles Julu (the late) and Andrew Dorbor created a bad image for the Sirleaf administration. Grand Gedeans were traumatized by that blatant act of abuse of the rights of their kinsmen. The Government should not have arrested and detained Julu and Dorbor in the first place. More interestingly was the fact that the government could not lift a valid evidence against them, hence the sedition charges tumbled upside-down. This was a bad memory for all Grand Gedeans. We must make it very clear that we are watching with eagle's eye as the Sirleaf regime has arrested yet another batch of Grand Gedeans.

We must remember that those arrested are only persons of interest. They have not been charged, they remain innocent until proven guilty in the court of Competent jurisdiction. At the same time, we do not expect the Government of Liberia to keep them in detention for more than 48 hours without being formally charged and/or indicted for prosecution.

Keeping them in jail for one minute beyond 48 hours is a violation of their rights, and we will condemn same. In fact, as persons of interest, they have not been accused yet. Describing them or characterizing them as criminals will be a gross violation of their fundamental rights. They cannot be considered guilty and must prove themselves innocent. That is not what the laws of Liberia call for. They must be treated with dignity and respect.

Meanwhile, we will hold the Sirleaf administration, UNMIL, and all members of the four parties collaborating responsible if those Grand Gedeans are mistreated, violated, and dehumanized for any reasons. Their lives will be personally required of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Meanwhile, we are talking to lawyers to ensure that if Isaac Taryon; Neezee Barway (sometimes called Jospeh Dweh); and Morris K. Cole (sometimes called Edward K. Cole) are kept in jail one minute beyond the statutory period of 48 hours and not charged, we will take advantage of the legal process to demand their living bodies. This is a caveat!

Gibson W. Jerue

Journalist, Author & Grand Gedean

President, North Dakota Chapter of Grand Gedeh

Association in the Americas

[Note: I don’t speak for National GGAA or the national administration]

Sending accused Liberians to face trial in I. Coast is a diplomatic blunder and a violation of huna rights law

By James Kokulo Fasuekoi

August 8, 2012

In this file photo is the burnt vehicle in which U.N. soldiers were killed in June 2012 following an attack in the southwest, in Ivory Coast near the border with Liberia. Credit: Issouf Sanogo / AFP - Getty Images

When one reads this type of story below where unknown gunmen are reported to have killed close to a dozen Ivorian soldiers in Abidjan two days in a row, and then hears that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is sending accused Liberians to that country to be trialed there for alleged involvement in the June 8, 2012 murder of Niger's U.N. Peacekeepers, one wonders where Liberia is heading.

With the latest gun violence in Abidjan, how sure are we that the killings of the Nigerien U.N. Peacekeepers were the work of freelance Liberian gunmen or former fighters? How? And why did the Ivorian authorities blame other armed attacks on displaced camps that followed the murder of the U.N. troops on bandits moving around their country and not Liberians.

What are the facts and evidence did the Ivorians provided to substantiate their claims? Now what can they say of these latest incidents in their capital, Abidjan? Were those acts carried out by Liberians? Why not?

In the absence of evidence, is there a way to tell the difference between attacks by Liberian gunmen and those of Ivorian bandits or disgruntled military personnel?

If the answer is no, why then our government succumbed to the Ivoirians in this case?

Why is it that our government is quick to take responsibility of international crimes thereby incriminating its own citizens in questionable situations that require thorough investigation?

Who is the Liberian Government trying to appease or impress? Where are the so-called advisers, the Sawyers, the Tipotehs and the Fanbullehs and so on?

The "Iron Lady" is no longer the "Iron Lady" Liberians knew in the 80s, the same “Iron Lady,” who is also on record for not uttering a word when she worked for and supported a regime that segregated local native majority before a 1980 military coup, which changed the course of history.

Today, it seems the proverbial "Iron Lady" has become the "Weakest Lady." Not only that, she is fast earning a spot in world diplomacy as the "Begging Queen" thereby bringing endless shame to Liberians everywhere. She is quick to get on her knees and beg without knowing the facts of the matter. Could this behavior have something to do with her frail age?

This is purely poor diplomacy at its best! And my fear is that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf may be leaving a very bad legacy for Liberian women, something that may discourage Liberians from electing another woman-president in the future if nothing is done to correct her diplomatic blunders.

Take for example, the rape case against four Liberian refugee children few years ago in the state of Arizona that made world headlines. Ellen Johnson immediately started begging the Americans even before investigations were concluded in the case. It didn't end there, she sent a high ranking official from the Liberian Mission in Washington DC to Phoenix, AZ to make an apology.

Up till now, many Liberians in Phoenix, AZ are still baffled by how the alleged rape case against the Liberian children was treated. Many Liberians in Arizona still think that certain things about the rape case weren’t right. They complained that first the alleged rape case was heavily overshadowed by media publicity, which they believed may have played a role for ruling handed down in that case. Secondly, it was one of those rare cases or perhaps the first time where underage children, (all Liberian refugees) were paraded on American national television including the CNN in total disregard to age and other privacy rights.

As a student attending college in Phoenix, AZ at the time of the incident, several dailies contacted me for interview in the alleged rape case especially to offer a cultural perspective but I declined for personal reasons. From that experience, I now know how public opinion as well as cultural and language barriers can affect legal proceedings outside of our homeland. As a result, today, some of us don't know for sure the truth in or what exactly transpired that led to the arrest of the Liberian children. But yet the begging queen, President Johnson Sirleaf admitted quilt by her early apology on behalf of Liberia.

About a year ago, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf again compromised the fate of several Liberian refugees killed by Ghanaian police who stormed the Liberian refugee camp at Gomoa Buduborrum and opened fire on Liberian refugees following an incident involving the refugees. In providing justification for their action, the Ghanaian police alleged Liberian refugees created the situation which prompted their ruthless action leaving several refugees dead.

Once the accusation was leveled, again, our leader, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf didn't care to know the details or the rest of the story but anyhow went on to offer an apology instead having those who murdered our citizens to do so. So when and where does the interest of Liberia matter?

From all indication, the incident involving the killings of some of Niger’s peacekeepers in the Ivory Coast months ago was just again one of those vague situations where the Liberian Government had enough room to argue her case since in fact the location of the attack is infested with various militia groups and seemingly a no man’s land.

Unlike Liberian Government that doesn’t care for its citizens let alone maintain territorial control of her country, the Ivoirians staged counterattacks against Liberian villages along the Liberia-Ivory Coast border and their maneuvers were videotaped and beamed via the worldwide web for all to view.

Long live the Ivory Coast for defending her people whether right or wrong. Long live the people of Ivory Coast. They have truly proven to be an independent country.

So, where Madam President are you coming from with this apology culture? Why apologize when there neither solid proof nor is surety that Liberians are guilty of the crimes being leveled against citizens.

In world politics, when last did you Madam President see any of the great countries of the world publically or privately apologize on behalf of their respective armies regarding civilians casualties in air strikes attributed to their men even in the face of glaring evidence?

Where is Liberian diplomacy?

I am yet to understand the logic or legal ramifications on extradition treaties involving Liberia and other countries because, if for example the United States for reasons best known to them, couldn't send back Liberia's own citizen like Mr. Charles Taylor to face trial at home, why then should our president be so excited about sending a Liberian citizens to a French speaking country to face a trial there when in fact the French judiciary system may be different from those of English or our modeled after those of America?

If your act of sending “accused” Liberians to a war torn country like the Ivory Coast, which is no doubt the main source of our 14-year- civil war to face prosecution isn’t a pure act of conspiracy to sell out your own people, what then should Liberians call it?

Isn’t it shameful and embarrassing that the commander in chief has been reduced to a bagging queen while Guinean troops take chunks of land from Liberia along the Yeala-Guinean border, the same way the Guinean Government has seized the Makona River in Foya, Lofa County and continues to encroach on Sierra Leonean territories?

Madam President, the trouble in the Ivory Coast, though far from over, isn’t something that calls for a quick fix nor will it disappear by your issuing of countless apologies. The Ivoirians are the root cause of their own problems we see today and everyone including you, Madam President, one of the sponsors of Liberia’s war knows this fact. Therefore, Liberia and Liberians can’t be held responsible for their unfortunate predicament.  

The Ivoirians have a very complicated situation at hand more than people think and with numerous loose rebel units in search of loots coupled with the level of armed violence taking place daily in that country, it certainly may take years before any legitimate government there will be able to take full control of the country. That may be possible through reconciliation and the extension of whatever wealth and blessings the country may have to other parts of the country. Until then, it is foolhardy for anyone to be claiming sole responsibility of every incident taking place in the Ivory Coast; after all, they brought trouble upon themselves and not Liberians.

  In light of the foregoing analysis, it can be concluded that under human rights law the Liberian government had violated the rights of the accused Liberians. Under human rights law, Ivory Coast is not safe to extradite anyone there including Ivorian citizens. Liberian government violated human rights law under international law that applies to extradition. Accordingly, Liberia is under legal obligation to duly follow the relevance of human rights law to the process involving extradition of its nationals to a state that may torture or inhumanely treat the person(s) concerned. It is evident Ivory Coast is in a political turmoil, and violent political rivalry continues between government and forces loyal to deposed Laurent Gbagbo. It can be recalled that U.S. government refused to extradite Charles Taylor because the government in charge was a military government. They feared he would not get a fair trial and he would be tortured. In addition, offenses of political character are excluded in extradition. The only exception is terrorist activities, and states have the right to refuse to extradite their nationals insofar they have the wide power and or jurisdiction to prosecute nationals for offenses committed abroad Liberia has that wide power and jurisdiction. Therefore, the government of Liberia should rethink its decision as it contradicts international law. The Liberian government must stop the extradition or retract it if the extradition process is completed.