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UNMIL Vows to Protect Guthrie

The Inquirer (Monrovia)
NEWS
September 11, 2006
Posted to the web September 11, 2006

By Charles B. Yates

The Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), General
Isaac C. Obiakor, has vowed to protect the Guthrie Rubber Plantation in order
to prevent another lawlessness on the part of the ex-combatants.
General Obiakor made the disclosure over the weekend when a high-powered
military delegation of the United Nations Mission (UNMIL) toured the Guthrie
Rubber Plantation.
The General's visit came in a wake of the recent shooting incident that
occurred at the plantation between the ex-combatants and the Namibians UNMIL
troops.
During the tour, the mission force Commander expressed great dissatisfaction
over the recent disorderly behavior of the former soldiers on the plantation.
General Obiakor said that he was betrayed by the ex-combatants's recent action,
most especially when he, (Obiakor), had been saying good things about the
former Combatants prior to the incident.
The Nigerian general told the Guthrie Rubber Plantation residents that the
plantation was the property of the Liberian Government and not any one else's.
He pointed out that any of the citizens of the farm could go and tap any amount
of rubber and sell it at his/her volition, rather than what it has been in the
past.
According to information gathered from the tour, the ex-combatants have been
the middlemen between the tippers and the buyers some thing that the mission
force Commander declare as the source of the trouble on the plantation.
At the same time, the force commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia,
General Obiakor, has declared the chairman of the ex-combatants, Mr. Sumo
Dennis wanted.
UNMIL force Commander said that Sumo Dennis, along with the perpetrators of the
recent shooting incident be arrested because he is the boss of the
perpetrators.
He said that if Sumo Dennis is arrested, he (Sumo) would be able to identify
his men who committed the act.
Gen. Obiakor said the recent shooting incident by the Ex-Combatants is a
violation of the laws of Liberia and also a disregard to the peace agreement
signed between the international community and the Liberian people, and as
such, people who have caused such lawlessness be arrested and brought to book.
General Obiakor also used the occasion to challenge the ex-combatants and
called on them not to be used by people who are not in their interest.
The UN military man told the former fighters that there are certain people who
just want to use them to cause panic in the country and leave them to languish
perpetually.
He assured the ex-fighters that no one was driving them away from the
plantation as long as they remain law abiding.
"There are lots of opportunities coming on this plantation for all Liberians,
and you guys are not exceptional; just be peaceful and those opportunities will
come, but if you continue to cause trouble in this plantation, no NGO will come
here and there will be no livelihood here for you people," he narrated.
For their part, the former fighters said that they would work along with UNMIL
security to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The ex-combatants pointed out that they would do everything possible to
maintain their good character at all times.
Meanwhile, the ex-fighters have filed in a complaint to the force commander of
the UNMIL about the constant embarrassment of some Namibians UNMIL Soldiers and
Liberian National Police in the area.
The Former Fighters said that on several occasions, members of the Liberia
National Police harassed their homes and women at night, while the Namibian
troops carry on constant patrol on the plantation in non-military uniform,
something they said at times worries them because of the un-identity of those
arm man
The ex-fighters also appealed to the UNMIL Force Commander for the release of
some of their senior members that were arrested.


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