Legal Build-up For 27 Grand Gedeans

Information received today, Friday, January 11, 2013, from Monrovia suggests that there might be a formidable legal team for the 27 Grand Gedeans detained at the Monrovia Central Prison, otherwise known as “South Beach”.

Grand Gedeans in detention at South Beach in Monrovia

According to our sources, there will be a 9-man legal team. On the list and with whom negotiation is ongoing include Cllrs. T. Dempster Brown, Tiawan Gongloe, Arthur Johnson, and Sayma Syrenius Cephus.

Others are Cllrs. Dexter Teah, Nicholas Edward, and two others only identified as Cllr. Sheriff and Cllr. Sesay. When contacted to confirm the information, the President of the Gbarzon District Youth, Arthur Tenty told me today that he met with Cllr. Johnson who confirmed that frantic negotiation is ongoing with the lawyers to form part of the defense team.

According our sources and confirmed by Mr. Tenty, the lawyers have been divided into two separate parts: Cllrs. Dempster Brown, Arthur Tenty, Tiawan Gongloe, Cllr. Sheriff and Cllr. Sesay will be taking on the extradition hearing against an equally crack government prosecution team.

For the main case that begins by next week, Cllrs. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, Cllr. Brown, Cllr. Johnson, Cllr. Dexter Teah and Cllr. Nicholas Edward will be at the Criminal Court “A” to defend the legal interest of Oforie Diah, Nezee Barway, Bobby Sarpee Julu and others.

Also confirming the information, Cllr. Arthur Johnson told me on phone today that the lawyers have consented to forming part of the defense team. “All my colleagues I talked to have agreed to form part of our team,” Cllr. Johnson said.

The lawyers have so far reserved comments. If the negotiation comes to fruition, it is expected that the 27 Grand Gedeans will get a reasonably good legal representation. However, there are indications that most if not all of them may form part of the team.

In a related development, it has been confirmed that 20 of the 27 Grand Gedeans have been formally charged. Of the 20 that were charged and/or indicted, the government of Liberia is seeking legal permission to extradite seven of them. The prosecution’s application at the lower court seeking permission to transfer the seven detainees is being challenged by the defense team. The hearing of the extradition petition is expected to take place next week.

Our sources said the remaining seven of the 27 are yet to be charged but are still in detention at the Monrovia City Court. It is not known what their charges will be, but our lawyers are certain that they may as well be charged with murder, rape, and other similar charges levied on the 20 already indicted.

Meanwhile, the Gbarzon District Youth President, Mr. Arthur Tenty has been meeting with senior and opinion leaders Grand Gedeans in his effort to galvanize broad-based support for campaign to obtain justice for the 27 Grand Gedeans. Mr. Tenty has so far met with Mr. Thomas Nimely Yaya, former head of the defunct MODEL, Dr. George Boley, former political leader of the defunct LPC, and he and other youths are expected to meet with Mr. Bai M. Gbala today, Saturday, at Mr. Gbala’s residence. Details of his discussion with the senior Grand Gedeans are being kept on low key, but he said soon the details will be made known.

Gibson W. Jerue

For and on behalf of Concerned Grand Gedeans

I'm Slowing Down on the 27 Grand Gedeans Issue

Hi everyone, as of today, I am slowing down on the plight of the 27 Grand Gedeans in jail, some without charges. I am getting the signal that the Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas (GGAA) has set up a committee, and some representatives of the Association are making efforts to get to the bottom of the situation. This is good news and I welcome it. Although we may have used our energy, resources, time and put our reputation, profession and everything on the line to stand up to the government, we do not feel the dividend must be personal.

The GGAA is the singular organization that we all subscribe to. Hence, if there are issues with Grand Gedeans and the administration is making efforts, whether slow or fast, there is a need to give the administration a chance to have a smooth sailing. My sources tell me that Mr. Tilman Collins is getting engaged with the process and that is a very welcome news. In a way, he should have his way of approaching the situation to find solution the way he knows best as administrator. That too is a good thing.

Since June this year, I and others have been keeping the issue of our brothers afloat. This is not about us. It is about Grand Gedeh County and its citizens. There is no special glory we seek in this. It does not mean if we start the process, we should end it. In fact, by our own way of dealing with issues, it may complicate the work of the GGAA; hence, we must give way to the larger organization to take over for now. That does not mean we are completely disengaged. We are not far and if need be we will do what can do best.

In the process of advocating, and in our activism, we may have hurt some people along the way that we don't intend. In advocacy, you have to destroy everything that may stop you or serve as a bottleneck to achieving you objectives. If we are fanning off the attacks and characterization from outsiders, we don't expect our own people to call us names that outsiders call us. The same stick we use to beat off the detractors out there will be used to beat off anyone who use words that outsiders use against us. Personally, I love every Grand Gedean I can stick my neck for anyone of them any day. But I cannot stand to see one of them destroy me while I am trying to rescue our brothers. On this note I would like to apologize on my own behalf and any members of the Concerned Grand Gedeans who may have done or said anything to hurt anybody. It is not on purpose.

I am appealing to all Grand Gedeans to lend their support to the GGAA administration in whatever way, financially, materially, as you have always done. I must quickly say also that all Grand Gedeans working for the government should please serve as a bridge to achieving justice for our brothers. You cannot destroy us before you try to help out.

To the President of GGAA and the administration, we are available to assist in ways that we could. Like I told Doris Jarlee when I provided those phone numbers to her to make the contacts she is making, this thing concerns us, not one person. Honestly, I am overwhelmed too about these troubles, having to deal with all the loyalists of government and Madam Sirleaf. I like to cool off and concentrate on my family and redirect my family business.

My special thanks to all members to the Concerned Grand Gedeans, and those who have encouraged us to stick in there. I cannot imagine your support. My wife, though from Nimba County and has been supportive of me, is very proud of Grand Gedeans handling their own business. She wants me to thank you all.

NOTE: I AM NOT GONE FAR!

Thanks
Gibson W. Jerue,
Journalist. Author. Advocate.

Gedeh Youths Host Mass Meeting Sunday In Monrovia

I talked to the President of the Gbarzon District Youth, Mr. Arthur Tenty, who is also senior member of the Grand Gedeh youth consortium, and he told me that the youths of the county will be hosting a mass meeting on Sunday, January 6, 2013 in Monrovia.

The meeting is expected to bring together youths from the three districts of the Grand Gedeh County, all of whom are concerned about their brothers in prison. Cardinal issue to be discussed is the plight of the 27 Grand Gedeans, currently detained at the Monrovia Central Prison. Nine of the 27 have been formally charged, while 18 of them are yet to know their charges. The issue of funding the two lawyers will also be high on the agenda.

According to Mr. Tenty, the Sunday meeting will be graced by Miss Doris Jarlee, a member of the Grand Gedeh Association who is visiting Monrovia, and who is said to be gathering facts about the detention of the Grand Gedeans.

Mr. Tenty said radio announcements are running currently to encourage large attendance of the Gedeh youths. "Mr. Willie Dweh gave us some money to pay for announcements," Mr. Tenty told me. He spoke highly of Doris and Mr. Dweh's engagement with the process.

If everything goes as planned, I have asked to speak with the youths via phone to give them my perspective. I have participated in similar meetings in the past and spoken to the youths.

Meanwhile, I am asking the President of the GGAA, Mr. Tilman Collins, to call in and speak with the youths. I offer to contribute an unlimited phone call to connect the GGAA president to the meeting for one hour, and more if he desires. This is my way of contributing to the process, and is in no way suggesting that the GGAA president cannot foot his personal phone call. To avoid personality contest, I would prefer not to speak with the youths if the President will be addressing them, that is I am positive he will.

Update On 27 Detained Grand Gedeans

Oforie Diah-Grand Gedean

There are some good news coming out of Monrovia concerning the detained 27 Grand Gedeans. Cllr. Dempster Brown, the lawyer the Concerned Grand Gedeans contacted to represent the detainees, has filed a Motion for Advancement at the Criminal Court "A".

A motion for advancement is filed to advance or bring up the case on the court's docket. A docket usually has many cases lined up for trial. Most judges would go by first come first serve. But if the a case is graver than another, the judge may agree to advance that case before another.

For example, a murder case could be advanced before an aggravated assault. It does not mean the other case is not important. So, the reason for the motion is for the case of the 27 to be heard in the February Term of the Criminal Assize Court A.D 2013.

If the motion is approved by the judge, the case may commence by next week or the next. And that means the case will be on trial for at most 45 days, the time required for a criminal trial. In rare cases, the trial goes beyond that 45 days.

If the case begins in one or two weeks, lawyers of the party litigants will select the 15 impaneled petite jurors (usually 12 will decide and 3 are alternate in case one of 12 juror falls sick or drops off). Cllr. Brown and I talked sometimes ago and he said the case would be a jury trial. He will have to request for jury trial the first day of court sitting, when legal issues are being disposed.

That means, the decision to convict the 27 Grand Gedeans will be in the hands of 12 jurors--12 Liberians, who must all agree that the defendants are guilty. If one person disagrees, the case will go retrial. A retrial is not as bad but it means prolonged detention for the guys.

On the other hand, all the jurors must also agree to acquit them. If one person disagrees the case goes into retrial as well. And that is what the government would be fighting for. That is if the government realizes that it has no case against the defendants, it will seek to make at least one juror disagree so that the case will go to retrial and then those guys will have to remain in jail. Let's hope justice is done either the men and guilty and the law punish them or they are innocent and the law grant them their freedom.

Clarification: So far, only nine people have lawyers. We contacted Cllr. Brown for the first seven then added Oforie and Bobby. Luckily for us, Oforie Family hired the services of Cllr. Arthur Johnson. However, Arthur has been there for everyone. We thank the lawyers for their time and commitment.

Things to know: The government of Liberia pays each juror $15 Liberian Dollar per day. within 45 days each juror earns $1,125 Liberian Dollar. If you convert that to US Dollar, that means each juror will earn US$15.63 (Exchange rate: 72LD to 1USD). With this amount for someone sitting on a case for 45 days, you don't go home, nobody is allowed to talk to you, the temptation to take bribe from prosecution is very high. But there are record to show that responsible jurors have decided fairly before and we think responsible jurors can still do now.

Part I: Presaging Liberia After Sirleaf Regime

-An Introspective Post-Ellen Analysis

By Gibson W. Jerue

Late Liberian President Samuel Doe

It was 133 years, eight months and 12 days when 17 enlisted men of the Armed Forces of Liberia seized political power by force on April 12, 1980. The regime change was not from bad to good, rather it was from bad to worse, from the educated to the novices, and the consequences were enormous and grave. Seventeen half-baked semi educated hardcore infantry soldiers assumed political power that crack politicians often fumble with. Their mentors were the likes of Dr. Togba Nah Tipoteh, Gabriel Baccus Matthew (the late), D. Karn Karlor, Dr. Geroge S Boley, and an array of the progressives of the 1960s. These mentors were later fled into exile, either in self-impose exile or government triggered exile.

By the time the People Redemption of Council of the enlisted AFL men spent four years, their numbers had reduced drastically—most were executed for alleged plot to overthrow the regime, others died from mysterious and/or violent circumstances. The tension and political feud that developed consumed every one of the coup makers that they became enemies of themselves. Decrees one to five of the PRC declared, “Anyone who attempts to overthrow this government must be executed…” Whether or not the conspicuous absence of “will be prosecuted” was probably the bottom-line for the disregard to rule of law, pundits are still wondering how fast the heroes on the morning of April 12, 1980 became so engrossed with the “water dry fish eats fish” mentality.

Every PRC member became a monster, and law and gospel, in himself; Samuel Kanyon Doe was too, and with every ounce of his life and powers to protect himself and his government, he dared anyone raised a finger. Before ten years elapsed, Doe had made for himself enemies from within and without. He struggled with compassion and iron fist rule. While he was ordering his defense minister and chief of staff to quell university students' riot with a strongly worded command—“move or be remove—he was pardoning Kaloungo Luo and seven others accused of coup plot and Nimba Raid in 1983. He tried to turn around his political outlook when he sat under the tutelage university professors, who were themselves hypocrites playing in Doe’s pockets. Truly they were working for the money, and it did not matter if Doe learned anything from their tutorial. Doe did learned but it was late to turn around the perception of the populace; hence, the war and his assassination on September 9, 1990.

All this time there was one female voice. It was that of Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, nicknamed “Iron Lady” for her defiant and strong stance against human rights abuse, flagrant disregard to the rule of law, disrespect for human dignity, violation of democratic tenets, among other vices. Her voice sank deep into the hearts of Liberians, and the more she spoke the people loved her. She was the singular beckon of hope for true democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights and dignity, good governance and social justice, no more, no less. Watch out for part II.