GOL Denies CDC Claims

 

By: Lewis K. Glay

 

Forum
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted April 19, 2006

 

The Liberian Government has denied media reports that it arrested CDC first standard bearer George Weah at the Roberts International Airport last Sunday while en route to Nigeria.

Immigration Commissioner Chris Massaquoi in conjunction with NSA Deputy Director for Operations, Lemuel B. Sherman, Solicitor General Tiawan Gongloe and Information Minister Johnny McClain made the clarification yesterday at 12:00 noon during a joint press conference on Capitol Hill in Monrovia.
The government officials said Mr. Weah who was traveling out of the country was being accompanied by four persons, two of whom were allegedly traveling with Liberian diplomatic passports which they refused to handle over to state security for inspection at the RIA.

Deputy NSA Director, Sherman in particular clarified that those who possessed the diplomatic passports could not cooperate with state security instead they “bulldozed” and boarded the flight thereby indicating a criminal intent for which immigration, NSA personnel were instructed to put down the two aides of Mr. Weah.

At this junction, Mr. Weah reportedly protested never to travel again because his aides were barred from traveling with him.
“Weah decided not to travel without his aides but he was not arrested,” Commissioner Massaquoi clarified.

Cllr. Gongloe for his part, noted that government has not revoked Mr. Weah’s diplomatic passport neither has he been scrapped of such immunity as reports in the media have insinuated.

He said what transpired at the RIA in the case of Mr. Weah and his associates was precipitated by an act that portrayed disregard for the rule of law. He explained that this government has vowed to uphold the rule of law as a cornerstone for human rights and good governance, as such attempts on the part of anyone to exhibit an act of impunity will not be tolerated.


© 2006: This article is copyrighted by the Forum newspaper (Monrovia, Liberia) and distributed by The Perspective (Atlanta, Georgia). All rights reserved. Forum can reached at: Forum@theperspective.org