[allAfrica.com] [Africa_2004] Calm Returns to Monrovia, But... The Inquirer (Monrovia) NEWS November 2, 2004 Posted to the web November 2, 2004 Monrovia ...Several Thugs, Curfew Violators Arrested; 200 non- English speaking men grabbed Calm is returning to Monrovia following three days of lawlessness that engulfed the city. The violence which started last Thursday evening in the Paynesville Redlight area, quickly spread to other parts of the city as hooligans roamed the streets, setting ablaze Churches, Mosques and other facilities. To bring some relief to the weary and starving Monrovians, shops, stores and market places were opened for people to get food and other essentials. However, government issued a statement for schools and banks to remain closed until an order to do is issued. A 24-hour curfew that was imposed by the National Transitional Government of Liberia(NTGL) on Friday morning was reduced to run from 4:00 p.m to 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, and the United Nations Mission in Liberia(UNMIL) to enforce same to the letter. The United Nations Secretary General Special Representative to Liberia, Ambassador Jacques Paul Klein in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC) said UNMIL was given a shoot-to-kill order in a bid to enforce the curfew. While the crisis was said be a conflict between Muslims and Christians, it became apparent that it was the work of some hooligans who were using that as an alibi to engage in a looting and stealing spree. In calling for calm, NTGL Chairman Gyude Bryant urged all Muslims and Christians to continue to observe their usual religious rituals. Chairman Bryant called on Muslims to continue observing the Holy Month of Ramadan and for Christians to go to their usual places of worship for prayers In a related development, the violence that erupted last Thursday has brought the city virtually to a standstill. And reports said a large cache of arms and ammunition was seized by UNMIL's joint patrol in the Jacob Town, Black Gina Community area, while several persons reportedly connected to the arms deal were arrested by the security forces. Radio Veritas quoting the Liberia National Police Director early yesterday, said 20 bottles of home-made petrol bombs and other cache of weapons were seized from homes in the Airfield Shortcut area. Some of arms which include heavy machine guns and light weapons were on Sunday afternoon discovered and seized from the home of a former senior commander of the former LURD warring group, General Philip Kamara, in the Jacob Town, Black Gina Community by the joint security forces assigned in the area. Following the discovery of the arms at the home of Gen. Philip Kamara, his home and other houses in the vicinity were left at the mercy of hooligans who went on the rampage and vandalized the entire community. However, before the acts on Sunday, the Jacob Town area had witnessed grave destructions that included the burning of religious houses and private homes including most of the business entities in the area. Among places destroyed as catalogued by our reporter are a modest Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses, the Foursquare Gospel, the Ark of Jesus Christ, a Mosque and other business houses and schools in the area. Other places either burnt or vandalized during the riot are the homes of Mrs. Aisha Keita Conneh, Transport Minister Vamba Kanneh's house and Mosque that was located within it vicinity, the home of Justice Minister of Kabineh Ja'neh located in the Du-port Road area. Other places destroyed as a result of the riot are the Muslim Congress on Mechlin Street, Newport Street Mosque, etc. In a related development, the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC), said it is deeply concerned about the riots which have raged in the Liberian capital since Thursday night and have led to the loss of lives, injury and the destruction of property. In a release, ICRC said it is alarmed by the quick escalation of violence, and urges communities to remain calm and to refrain from acts of reprisal. She said, over 60 casualties have been treated in the ICRC supported trauma unit at the John F. Kennedy Hospital since the onset of event, while, at the same time it has visited over 140 persons held at the police headquarters and the central prison in Monrovia, as well as the Kakata central prison. While going to press, reports filtered that several curfew violators and thugs believed to be perpetrators of the grave incident have been arrested. Among the arrested persons are 200 men who were found to be non-English speaking, according to Police Chief Chris C. Massaquoi. Addressing a news conference yesterday at the Police headquarters, Director Massaquoi said those arrested have been charged with crimes raging from murder, terroristic threats, arson, rioting, among others. Also speaking at the press confab, Immigration Commissioner Abraham Mitchell, attributed the on-going problem to people entering the country illegally . Commissioner Mitchell said the country's border points were manned by non-stake actors adding "just recently the Bureau of Immigration, with the help of UNMIL, began taking over the border points." Meanwhile, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, George Oppong Manneh Weah has called for calm in Monrovia and parts adjacent in the wake of the incident which has led to the burning of Churches, Mosques as well as schools and private establishments. As calm returns to Monrovia, The Liberia National Lotteries says its Grand Raffle Draw will still be held on November 6, 2004. The management of the National Lotteries said despite the smashing and subsequent destruction of the first prize which is a red 1.4 Nissan Sony, the draw will still go ahead with the replacement of the damaged first prize. Speaking on behalf of the management, the Liberia National Lotteries manager, Cora E. Taylor said her agency is not deterred by the destruction of its first prize award, and rather called on the general public to continue buying their as tickets already bought still remain valid.   =============================================================================  Copyright © 2004 The Inquirer. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). =============================================================================