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Meet Head-On The Wanton Slaughters

The Analyst (Monrovia)
EDITORIAL
July 14, 2005
Posted to the web July 14, 2005

LIBERIANS, AS WELL as foreign residents in the country, have seen another form
of human slaughter at its worse in the last few months. Persons believed to be
agents of ritualistic masterminds have increased their vile murders around the
country, leaving behind scores of corpses in our streets and communities. Both
in urban cities and rural hamlets, the story is the same: "heart-men" are on
killing spree and the population is submerged in fear and terror.
OFFICIAL LETHARGY, EXPRESSED in the absence of practically active security
operations in response to the seething national tragedy, has given more grounds
for the pervasiveness of heart-men activities in the country. Chairman Charles
Bryant in a well-publicized radio broadcast sounded tough, promising to sign
the death warrant of anyone caught and found guilty of ritual murder. But
probably because the warning is merely spoken words not yet backed by concrete
actions, it seems the criminals have intensified their slaughter machines.
Nowadays, every part of Liberia, even including Monrovia which is the seat of
government and headquarters of a 15,000 strong force of UN military mission,
stories abound about death and attempted murders attributed to heart-men.
WHAT IS EQUALLY frightening and disgusting about the ongoing insecurity in the
country is the lackluster attitude of the transitional government and the
international stabilization force. These two bodies to whom Liberians and
foreign residents owe their safety and happiness don't seem to appreciate that
the magnitude of the situation calls for quick action. The United Nations
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), despite clear provisions regarding its objectives-
to restore peace and security in Liberia-have invariably made the excuse that
it does not have the mandate to effect arrests and do other things germane to
security of the local populace. The transitional government, on other hand,
laments the lack of logistics and argues that it has no armed security
personnel to deal with situations of serious threat to security.
ALL OF THE disclamations by UNMIL and NTGL, in our view, are insubstantial
because they have no bearing in the various instruments that created them.
While the CPA gives the NTGL normal state functions in addition to other
mandates bordering on the restoration of peace and security in Liberia, United
Nations Security Council Resolution 1509 (2003) mandates UNMIL, amongst other
things, to " protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence."
WHATEVER THE CASE, and whatever the excuses, the current insecurity prevailing
in the country, occasioned by wanton homicides by heartless men, is something
that should awaken even the hardhearted.
UNMIL and NTGL, the two shepherds entrusted with the people of Liberia to
oversee their transition and recovery from the hell of war to the safe haven of
peace and security, cannot remain indifferently indifferent.
IN FACT, WE believe that the whirlwind of pervasive manhunt and murder
perpetrated by bloodthirsty individuals deserves the declaration of state of
emergency; for the situation obtaining is nearly a replica of the heydays of
the civil conflict where marauding thugs turned Liberia into a killing field
with impunity.
We implore both UNMIL and NTGL to grasp the enormity of the unfolding
insecurity and come out with increased speed, strategy and power to curb the
situation. Lives are being lost every single day, leaving behind orphans and
other mourners. For nearly 14 years, Liberians never knew genuine security and
happiness. Intermittent wars, coupled with the despotism of the day, claimed
untold lives and subjected the people to terror. The people can no longer bear
the cruelties of bad men. They need peace.
They also deserve security and happiness.
IF UNMIL DOES not intent to take a frontline position in tackling the new waves
of banditry and uncouth murder in Liberian communities, let it embed and equip
the interim national police as ECOMOG did with Black Berets in times past
against the common foe. Or let community residents be encouraged to form watch
teams or vigilante groups. UNMIL, NTGL and the people have equal stake and
responsibility in containing the danger hovering over the nation. We just
cannot continually accord the prevailing situation cold-shoulders permanently.
Because if we all do not do something now, quickly and decisively to eliminate
this anarchic ritualistic culture called gboyo, it will eliminate all of us.

   

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