Prisoners Protect Over Bad Sharpe Of Prison Compound
In Monrovia
By: Martin C. Benson
The Inquirer
Monrovia, Liberia
Distributed by
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
Posted November 24, 2003
"Human rights man! human rights man! We’re suffering here-o! No
food, no water! No speedy trial! We’re just here dying-o!!!" were
the shouts of one of the inmates of the cell at the Police Headquarters, when
he caught sight of the international police chief Commissioner
Mark Kroeker who and entourage were being led by police director Christ Massaquoi
on a guarded tour of the facilities of the police headquarters.
Commissioner Kroeker and party apparently pretended not have been listening
to the inmate loud voice that echoed in the corridor of the police headquarters
almost overshadow the conversation between the visitors and Director Massaquoi
but the ears of the visitors were certainly wide opened as the unrelenting
inmate amid applause by his fellow prisoners resounded their plight especially
on the issue of prolong detention without trial something which is very common
among human right advocates reports on Liberia.
Prior to the touring of the police headquarters facilities, the head of the
international police under the aegis of the United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL) Commissioner Mark Kroeker who and party had come to assess for the
putting into play a mechanism that will lead to an effective police force
in the country conferred in a closed door meeting with police director of
the Liberia National Policed (LNP), Christ Massaquoi and senior officials
of the Ministry of Justice but it is not cleared if the complaints of the
inmates were discussed.
However, LNP director in his brief remarks at a press conference following
the closed door meeting said he is cautiously optimistic that the international
police will built a professional police that will work to ensure that justice
prevail in the country at all times.
Director Massaqoi expressed how happy he and the rest were to have the United
Nations Commissioner of police visiting them, emphasizing that their priority
will be the building of a professional police force that will involve recruitment,
training, planning and importantly to successfully prosecute criminals with
regards to the rise in the crime rate in Liberia
. The police boss told reporters before the watchful eyes of the visiting
police chief and 6-man guest that the professional police envision will also
include arrest, search, seizure in compliance with the constitution of Liberia.
Director Massaquoi assured that based on the corporation from the United Nations
police and his counterpart, Commissioner Kroeker, he will do everything humanely
possibly to ensure that justice and equality will prevail through the due
process of law.
For his part, Commissioner Kroeker said he was delighted to be part of the
process to built a professional police devoted to the concept of the police
service in order to restore the right to every person to be free from crime
and the fear of crime.
He said the first measure to be take will be the developing of the police
through certification curbing of robbery and preventing the rise in the number
of deaths being reported.
He said already, they have received reports of areas like West Point, Gardnersville,
New Kru Town, SugarHill among other comminutes and neighborhoods in Monrovia
where the crime rates are high. and that an immediate action will be taken
to arrest the situation.
Commissioner Kroker, although fell short of disclosing the number of police
that will be certificated, however, said the police force will be well equipped
and possess the requisite training adding, "for too many years Liberia
has been struggling with hostilities. We do not want those hostilities to
give way to criminalities. We want to replace war with peace and peace in
the neighborhood as well." he said.