Corruption, Bad Labor Practice, Unethical Issues, Insecurity Top RAL’s Human Rights Reports

By Reuben Sei Waylaun

Rescue Alternatives Liberia (RAL), a national human rights organization in the country has released its 2017 ‘Human Rights Situation Report’ (HRSR) with corruption, unethical behaviors Within the security sector of the country, bad labor practices still topping in the country.

Rescue Alternatives Liberia 

Rescue Alternatives Liberia (RAL) formerly the Prisoners Assistance Program (PAP) is a national human right, prison reform and anti-torture advocacy and torture victims’ rehabilitation NGO.

The 2017 HRSR is in fulfilment of RAL’s objective to update the general public, government and relevant national institutions, regional and international partners of the human rights situation in Liberia through investigation, monitoring, documenting and reporting human rights abuses and violations.

In the report, 2017 was captured as a year of challenge to the law enforcing officers, especially the Liberia National Police since the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) turned security of the state over to the Liberian Government in the face of 2017 presidential and legislative elections.

Cases documented in the report for the year 2017 include murder, mob violence, corruption, crimes, pollution, prisons, bad labor practice, security, child abuse and judiciary matter as well as human rights abuses and violations in the country.

Unprofessional Attitudes of Police officers:

The report captured the unprofessional behavior of police officers. During the year under review, police officers are said to have deserted their posts moving into the streets harassing commercial vehicles and street vendors and at the same time roaming the streets.

According to the report, those officers were arrested, disciplined on the order of then deputy police director for operations, Abraham Kromah.

Police officers were also dismissed for their involvement in various crimes, Patriotic Entrepreneurs of Liberia (PATEL) wrote a complaint against police officers for inhumane treatments inflicted against sellers, brutal behaviors toward protesters (MVTC), some dismissed and reinstated among others.

The report also highlighted the ill-treatment of Sonah James resulting to blindness after injury on her right eye, the arrest of LNP officers Jusu Kanneh, 48, Clapton Jacob by officers of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Kakata, some members of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) destroying their homes in camp Kessely Barack in Margibi, AFL officers brutalizing community residents, EPS officer (Dalus George) caught in crime among others.

Riot Police in Liberia

Crimes:

In 2017, various crimes were committed in the country. They include the murdering of Frank Tarlue by Dominic Bility in Johansen Community, Bendu Dwalu beating her nine-year son (Arthur Barclay) to death in Peanut Community in Weala, Margibi County, the arrest of parents in Bong County for beating their daughter to death, the sentencing to death of a 65year Oldman identified as Roosevelt Toe, a sheriff at the Kanweakan magisterial court in Maryland County for murdering his wife, Etta Toe.

Others include the killing of Fedesco Chea by an officer of the Zone six police depot in Brewerville, the ten years sentencing of Emmanuel Swen for stabbing his friend, Jerry Lewis, the killing of a security officer by two guys in Paynesville, six persons charged with murder for killing Abdullah Jalloh, brother murdered brother among others.

Meanwhile, mob violence still remains a major challenge facing the country.  Six persons were arrested for torture. More than fifteen (15) ritualistic killings were also reported during the year under review.

Corruption:

Corruption remains endemic according to the RAL’s report. The report captured the corruption web at LIBTELCO involving its former boss, Sebastian Muah, corruption syndicate involving former House Speaker, Alex Tyler and others, illegal contracts during Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s regime, corruption at the National Investment Commission (NIC), allegation of corruption against NEC boss, Jerome Korkoyah, corruption at Finance Ministry, lawmakers establishing illegal company, arrest of three auditors of LACC, LRA, illegal issuance of Liberian passport to Indian national among others.

Rape:

Rape was also captured, showing that the menace remains serious across the country. More than twenty rape cases were reported including the one allegedly carried out by former Grand Gedeh district two Representative Morais Willie.

Prisons:

Terrible situations at prison facilities across the country cannot be overemphasized as captured in the RAL’s report. The report captured the problems at all prison facilities across the country. Such situations continue to cause the judicial system a problem.

Bad labor Practices:

The issues continue to confront the Liberian labor sector every year with the case being reported at almost all companies across the country.

Rock Crushers in Liberia and street venders

In a report signed by the organization’s Program Coordinator for Liberia, Sam Nimely, Rescue Alternatives Liberia (RAL) is calling on the current Liberian Government and its partners to ensure that issues highlighted in the report are addressed properly.