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Mob Action Not Justifiable -- UNMIL Warns Perpetrators

The NEWS (Monrovia)
NEWS
January 27, 2006
Posted to the web January 30, 2006

By Jimmey C. Fahngon
Monrovia
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has expressed concern about what
it calls vigilante-ism or so called people's justice that continues to be a
serious problem that is threatening the rule of law in the country.
UNMIL, through its Spokesman Douglas Coffman said that people's justice is not
justifiable but mere mob justice which is a serious crime and has no place in
today's Liberia. As such, Liberians must desist from this unwholesome practice.
Mr. Coffman gave the warning Wednesday at the Mission's regular press briefing
held at its Headquarters in Sinkor, Monrovia.
The UNMIL Spokesman said that mob actions only make a bad situation worse and
endangers other innocent people.
Making reference to the traffic accident that occurred on Sunday in the St.
Paul Bridge area, in which a vehicle struck and injured a pedestrian, he
explained that a hostile mob quickly formed and sought mob justice against the
driver.
Sensing that her life was endangered, Mr. Coffman said the driver attempted to
speed off thereby resulting to the death of four persons and injuring several
others.
Another incident he said occurred on Monday in the general vicinity of Tubman
Boulevard on 5th Street in which a mob beat and stoned an individual who was
accused of being a thief.
Fortunately for him, he said the Liberian National Police was able to respond
to the scene in time to rescue the individual and thus preventing any further
casualties.
The UNMIL Spokesman pointed out that it is the responsibility of the LNP and
not the public at large to identify and apprehend suspects and it is the
responsibility of the Liberian judicial authorities to determine a person's
guilty or innocence.
He reminded the people of Liberia that if one participates in mob violence such
person would be aiding and abetting an array of charges including assault and
murder adding " obviously lengthy prison sentences can be imposed for such
crimes."
Mr. Coffman then encouraged anyone who is a witness to mob violence to report
it to the police as soon as possible.

   

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