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In Violent Riots: 60 Casualties Confirmed - Govt Calls for Calm

The NEWS (Monrovia)
NEWS
November 1, 2004
Posted to the web November 1, 2004
Monrovia
Violent riots which started off as a land dispute, but later spread across the
city and its suburbs left scores of persons dead and religious places and
schools among other properties destroyed.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has so far reported more
than 60 casualty figures in Monrovia and its surrounding suburbs.
The ICRC said the 60 casualties, including deaths, were treated at its trauma
unit at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center since the beginning of the riots
last Thursday.
In a release Sunday, the ICRC did not state specifically the number of persons
killed following violent riots.
The International group said it is collaborating with the Liberian National Red
Cross Society (LNRCS), to assist Liberians, including 250 people freshly
displaced in various places across Monrovia.
The ICRC added that blankets, sleeping mats, cooking sets and clothing have
been provided people freshly displaced as a result of the violence.
According to the release, the ICRC said it has visited some 140 persons held at
the headquarters of the Liberian National Police Headquarters and the central
prison in Monrovia as well as at Kakata central prison.
In collaborating with the National Red Cross, ICRC said it is also helping
children, who lost their relatives in the confusion over the weekend.
The ICRC further that it is working with authorities to ensure that conditions
of detainees are adequate.
The latest eruption of violence in Monrovia and surrounding suburbs, began
about 72 hours before the official end of the voluntary disarmament exercise.
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) had set October 31 as the end of
the disarmament process, and that it would begin search for arms in location
deemed necessary.
The Transitional Government had said that anyone caught with arms following the
October 31 deadline would be arrested and treated as a criminal. The Government
has imposed a curfew which it said is in full force from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m.
According to the Transitional Government, anyone who violates the curfew will
be dealt with.
Much of the violent riots remain at the city center and the eastern suburbs of
the capital, with Churches and Mosques being set ablaze by thugs.
Some elements, behaving as thugs, burned down Churches in the suburbs of the
city, along the Somalia Drive route, including the Calvary Temple AG Church,
Victory Chapel among others. Similarly, Mosques in central Monrovia were set
ablaze.
Thugs who rampaged central Monrovia at the weekend, burned the Muslim Congress
High school, the Newport and Front Street Mosques among others.
In the Jacob Town, Paynesville and Doe community areas where much of the riots
occurred, at least two persons were reportedly hacked to death Sunday while en-
route for church service.
Meanwhile, soldiers of the United Nations in Liberia (UNMIL) have reportedly
arrested at least 100 persons in the Jacob Town /Gardnesville areas.
Local media reports monitored said those arrested were detained in connection
with violent activities.
Last Thursday, during a land dispute, in the Jacob's Town area, one of the
disputing parties mobbed and severely flogged the other. Non-partisans to the
land dispute heard of the incident and violently went in defense of the victim,
thereby sparking off the riots.
Meanwhile the Head of State of Liberia, Gyude Bryant has called on Christians
and Muslims alike to continue to observe their usual religious rituals and
holidays.
In a release issued Sunday, Chairman Bryant said Muslims should continue to
observe the Holy Month of Ramada, and Christians should go to their places of
worship.
Chairman Bryant who himself went to Mass Sunday, said the city is generally
returning to calm.
He expressed concern that there is a vigilante group in the city using scare
tactics to intimidate people.
The Liberians leader reminded such individuals that the order to use lethal
force was still in place, and that the tactics of these vigilante groups were
being closely monitored.

   

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