NTGL Launches Investigation into Last October Violence

 

By: Lewis K. Glay


Forum
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted January 11, 2005

The National Transitional Government of Liberia has finally set into motion a National Commission to trace perpetrators of 29 October 2004 violent disturbances in Monrovia and beyond.

More than a dozen reputable Liberians chaired by the Executive Director of Center for Democratic Empowerment (CEDE), Ezekiel Pajebo, were recently given the gavel of authority at the Executive Mansion to immediately begin a thorough investigation into the core of the violence.

Transitional Chairman Gyude Bryant challenged members of the Commission not to leave any stone unturned as the investigation marks the onset of genuine insurance of the rule of law.

Chairman Bryant stressed that the Commission must painstakingly unearth the criminal intent of the incident, noting. “the government would implement any recommendations drawn from the Commission’s investigation without fear or favor.”
Before the induction ceremony, Justice Minister Kabeneh Ja’neh recounted the negative impact of the lawlessness, which he recalled included the loss of more than twenty lives while over one million US dollars worth of property destroyed.
The NTGL, he said, immediately set up a security committee which comprised the Ministries of Justice, Defense, National Security, the Bureau of Fire Service, National Security Agency, amongst others, to preliminarily investigate the incident before constituting the Commission.

He urged the Commission to ensure that its investigation covers the cultural, security, social economic and political implications of the incident in order to avoid the reoccurrence of such ugly situation in the future.
The Commission’s chairman, Ezekiel Pajebo, assured Chairman Bryant and the Liberian people that everything will be done ensure justice. He regarded the task as a drive toward the principle of the rule of law and good governance which constrains everyone to be responsible for their own action.

Mr. Pajebo then urged the government and its partners in progress to support whatever it entails to conduct such investigation in a free, fair and transparent manner, adding, “we will hit the ground.”
Meanwhile, the Commission is expected to file in its report within sixty days.

© 2004: This article is copyrighted by the Forum newspaper (Monrovia, Liberia) and distributed by The Perspective (Atlanta, Georgia). All rights reserved.