LNBA Pres. Rennie Off To Gambia For ECOWAS Court Conference; Bar Condemns Attack On PYJ’s Church Service
The National President of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), Cllr. Sylvester D. Rennie, has departed the country for a week-long international conference, hosted by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Banjul, The Gambia. The conference is being organized under the theme, “ECOWAS’ Zero Tolerance for Unconstitutional Change of Government”, and will bring together jurists, scholars and other stakeholders from the institutional agencies of ECOWAS and member states of the community.
The LNBA says the relevance of the theme of the conference cannot be overemphasized, as it focuses on the need for participatory democracy and constitutional order in all ECOWAS member states, and in particular on the ECOWAS policy of zero tolerance for unconstitutional change of government.
The LNBA, in a statement released Monday, May 22, 2023, said following the civil war in Liberia, which began in 1989, and which later spread to Sierra Leone, the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in July 1991 adopted a Declaration of ECOWAS political principles, in which they declared their adherence to certain principles, in order to enhance the prospects of advancing “economic cooperation and integration in a political environment of peace, security and stability”. In addition to pleading to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms in all their plenitude, the Heads of State, among other things, declared their determination to “concert efforts to promote democracy in the subregion on the basis of political pluralism and respect for fundamental human rights, as embodied in universally recognized instruments on human rights and on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In another development, the LNBA has condemned the attack on the normal workshop service at the Christ Chapel of Faith Church of Senator Prince Y. Johnson on Sunday, May 21, 2023 by men believed to be partisans of both the NPP and CDC youth wings. The LNBA says this is outrageous and a pure act of provocation to undermine the peace of the country. “The LNBA is utterly dismayed over such cruel act of violence, which has repeatedly marred the political landscape and gravely threatened the civil liberty, freedom of expression and association as guaranteed under the 1986 Constitution,”. The LNBA said in the press statement. “These attacks are intended to harass and intimidate prominent citizens and members of the public in the months leading to the up-coming elections and could have a chilling effect throughout the country.
“The LNBA seriously cautions the Liberian government to take all necessary steps to prevent acts of motivated violence and refrain from all inflammatory actions that could incite similar attacks or deter people from enjoying their civil liberties ahead of the crucial 2023 elections. The Bar assures all of its commitment to fully cooperate with relevant actors to keep the peace by ensuring that the Liberian democracy is kept afloat. The Liberian government is under obligation by law to protect life and property and must ensure that the needful is done consistent with Article 20(a), which provides that ‘No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, security of the person, property, privilege or any other right except as the outcome of a hearing judgment consistent with the provision laid down in the 1986 Constitution in accordance with due process,” the LNBA statement underscored.
Meanwhile, the LNBA has called on the Liberian government to immediately and unconditionally launch a thorough, independent and impartial investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice in fair trials before a court of competent jurisdiction. The LNBA warned that this reckless act by anti-peace elements must not be treated as business-as-usual, as it is only the adherence to the principle of the rule of law that guarantees the peaceful co-existence of all Liberians.
Also, the LNBA urged ECOWAS, AU and the United States government to not sit by to let Liberia degenerate into conflict, especially ahead of a crucial election this year. The Bar also called for monitoring of the actions of anti-democratic elements and the immediate imposition of sanctions and other measures to jealously protect the peace of the country.
“Meanwhile, while the National President of the LNBA is away from the country and in the absence of the National Vice President, the National Secretary General, Cllr. Bornor M. Barmah, will act as National President consistent with the LNBA constitution,” the LNBA statement disclosed.