Monrovia – Sinoe County Electoral District #2 Representative, Simpson Wiah, has reported a recent infamous incident in which personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) allegedly deserted their assignment to intimidate ordinary citizens and disrupt ongoing traditional activities.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
Rep. Wiah reported that the AFL personnel, who were originally deployed to protect illegal mining and poaching at the Sapo National Park, instead allegedly abandoned their posts to engage in illicit transactions with miners and move into civilian communities.
Speaking at a news conference held at his Capitol Building office in Monrovia on Wednesday, January, he explained that tensions peaked when the military reportedly violated local traditions by disrupting a sacred initiation ceremony.
This, he said, led to an episode of violent intimidation and gunfire against peaceful residents.
The Use of “Terror Tactics” Against Civilians
He described the situation as deeply disturbing, explaining that live ammunition was fired near a traditional hut from Sunday evening until the following morning.
Rep. Wiah believes intones that this was not a tactical operation against an enemy; rather, it was the discharge of lethal weaponry in a civilian center to intimidate elders, women, and children.
At the news conference, the Sinoe County lawmaker displayed pictures of what appeared to be dozens of spent shell casings (empty metal shell), which he said were gathered by citizens as evidence to refute any future denial by the military.
Violation of Traditional and Cultural Rights
Rep. Wiah pointed out that the alleged act of the military personnel severely violates the cultural traditions and human rights of the locals.
He accentuated that the AFL’s intervention in a sacred initiation ceremony is not merely a “misunderstanding”; it is a violation of the cultural sovereignty of the Jedepo people.
During the fracas, the Co-Chair of the House Maritime Committee furthered that the AFL soldiers reportedly took offense at traditional protocols (the “devil messenger’s” instructions) simply because those protocols inconvenienced their social activities.
“A national military must exist to protect the people, not to use firepower to settle personal grievances or demand social access. By declaring that “no door should be closed in their presence, the AFL personnel positioned themselves above the local laws and customs they are sworn to uphold.”
“Our people of the district and Sinoe at large deserve better. The act of AFL soldiers is a complete violation of our traditional and the people’s basic human rights. As you can see here, these are pieces of physical evidence of the gunfire used to terrorize a town.”
Why An “Apology” Is Insufficient
Accordingly, Rep. Wiah indicated that while the Commander in person of Chesson Jawah admitted guilt and pleaded for forgiveness, as the political leader of the people of District 2, he’s unconvinced that apologies cannot replace accountability.
“In a democracy, the military cannot shoot first and apologize later. Such behavior undermines the trust between the government of President Boakai and the rural populations of Sinoe County.”
Formal Demands for Redress/Investigation
Consequently, Rep. Wiah, on behalf of the district, specifically the affected community, is demanding a formal investigation and court-martial for the personnel involved.
The lawmaker is also seeking the immediate removal of the troops from their towns and by extension, the park, to restore safety and respect for their cultural heritage.
“On behalf of our people, we are sounding this urgent plea for the government to initiate a court-martial investigation and restore the military’s integrity by ensuring soldiers fulfill their duty to protect citizens rather than exploit them,” he asserted.
“To restore justice and ensure these actions are never repeated, I call for Commander Chesson Jawah to face a disciplinary hearing. An apology to elders does not satisfy the legal requirements for the unauthorized discharge of firearms in a residential area. I call for an immediate review of AFL deployments in traditional districts. The military must not be stationed in a manner that interferes with communal rites or daily traditional life.”
“Also, there is a need for mandatory civic education in our schools. All AFL personnel should undergo intensive training in Civil-Military Relations (CMR), specifically regarding respect for Liberian traditional protocols and rural governance,” he added.
The post Liberia: Sinoe Lawmaker Wiah Condemns AFL Gunfire in Southeastern Liberia, Calls for Independent Probe appeared first on FrontPageAfrica.
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