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Unmil Withdraws Security Personnel From Top Govt Officials

The NEWS (Monrovia)
NEWS
November 12, 2004
Posted to the web November 12, 2004
Monrovia
With the exception of Chairman Gyude Bryant and Vice Chairman Wesley Johnson as
well as former President Moses Blah, the United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL) has confirmed that it has withdrawn its security personnel from senior
Liberian government officials.
A spokesman of UNMIL, James Botang, confirmed this Thursday when he spoke with
The NEWS.
According to Botang, the withdrawal was feasible due to the improved security
situation in the Country.
Botang said UNMIL has no mandate to provide personal security protection for
senior Government officials except for any Liberian who is under imminent
danger. UNMIL's mandate, according to Botang, includes the security protection
of sensitive Government installations such as telecommunications facilities,
air and sea ports.
The UNMIL spokesman said prior to the disarmament of the former warring
factions, UNMIL had to provide personal security protection to the faction
leaders and other senior officials due to the unstable security situation in
the Country at the time.
But Botang said with the conduct and subsequent end of the disarmament
exercise, armed factions "no-longer" exist and thereby pose no imminent danger.
Botang made these known when the Speaker of the Transitional Legislative
Assembly, George Dweh, disclosed that UNMIL, acting upon the orders of
Ambassador Jacques Klein, has withdrawn military personnel assigned him.
News about the withdrawal of UNMIL security personnel from Speaker Dweh was
disclosed during plenary Thursday when the Chief Clerk of the Transitional
Legislative Assembly read a letter from Speaker Dweh, dated November 11, 2004.
In the letter, Speaker Dweh said based on policy differences, Ambassador Klein
has withdrawn the UNMIL security assigned to him. He argued that it was a clear
violation of Article II and III of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) for
UNMIL to withdraw security personnel from him, because the CPA mandates the UN
to provide security for senior government officials.
"I bring the dictatorial behavior of the UN Ambassador to your attention for
appropriate action as a Liberian. Our beloved country may be war-weary and
poor, but she is an independent and sovereign state," the letter said.
The Speaker also added, "We are not a protectorate of the United Nations and if
a Representative of the Secretary-General misbehaves we must take the necessary
action in keeping with national and international laws, since indeed Liberia is
a founding member of the UN."
Speaker Dweh accused Ambassador Klein of "unwarranted interference" in the
exercise of the Legislative Assembly's functions and responsibilities.
Another case in point, according to the Speaker, is a recent meeting with
representatives of the UN and officials of the National Elections Commission
(NEC), from which he quoted Ambassador Klein as saying the he (Klein) was more
Liberian than any other Liberian, including members of the NTLA in protecting
the rights of the Liberian people.
In the same letter, the Speaker alleged that Ambassador Klein, allegedly
threatened the leadership of the Assembly with sanctions if they did not
enforce and accept his agenda.
Speaker Dweh said the threat of being charged with sanction was made in the
presence of other Assembly members including Deputy Speaker, Eddington Varmah,
Conmany B. Wesseh, Dr. Charles Clarke and Mr. Rennie Jackson.
Members of the Assembly resolved to file a complaint against Ambassador Klein
through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, the UNMIL is expected to issue a statement today (Friday) on the
matter.

   

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