Aloysius Toe Escorted to the Police Headquarters, Charged with Treason

Press Release

4th November, 2002 Monrovia - The National Human Rights Center of Liberia, a consortium of nine local human rights groups, pursuant to its respect for the rule of law, escorted its Project Officer, Mr. J. Aloysius Toe, to the Police Headquarters today's morning in response to government's demand that Mr. Toe is wanted.

According to a release issued by the Center, Mr. Toe was escorted to the Police Headquarters by Father Robert Tikpo of the Catholic Church, Cllr. Elizabeth Boyenneh, Board Chairman of the Center, Sheik Kafumba Konneh of the Interfaith and Attorney Dempster Browne, Mr. Toe's Lawyer. The Human Rights Activist was later charged for treason by the Government of Liberia just few minutes following his turn over.

It can be recalled that on Tuesday, October 29, 2002, the government of Liberia in a press statement issued by the Justice Department accused Mr. Toe of collaborating with the dissident LURD group, which is currently fighting to unseat the Taylor government. Mr. Toe's arrest was ordered a day after the Liberia Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (comprising 19 groups) held a prayer service in solidarity with the plights of fellow detained human rights defenders, Journalist Hassan Bility, Sheikh K.. M. Sackor and others who have been detained for over four months without charge. The human rights groups' action came as a result of the government's persistent refusal to honor several writs of Habeas Corpus filed in behalf of the detainees.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Center says it hopes that Mr. Toe will be accorded speedy and fair trial, and not be detained for a protracted period without trial in contravention of the laws of Liberia, as has been the case with several others.

Signed: A. Blamoh Sieh

Acting Coordinator/NHRCL