“No Room For New Warlords In Liberia”–Rights Advocate Warns; Urges Gov’t To Investigate Arms Discovery At Freeport
The Secretary General of the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia, Adama K. Dempster, says the human rights community of Liberia is concerned over the discovery of the huge tons of arms and ammunition at the Freeport of Monrovia.
The Liberia National Police recently announced the arrest of a container carrying a huge consignment of arms and ammunition at the Freeport of Monrovia, and concluded the search of the container on Friday, January 6, 2023. On Monday, January 9, 2023, Police Spokesman, Moses H. Carter, disclosed that additional arms and ammunitions were found in the container, and issued strict measures for the public to adhere to as the country moves to national elections.
Carter expressed fear that the intent of those brining the guns is unknown, but vowed that they will face the full weight of the law. He warned the public to behave accordingly. He noted the LNP is about to begin arresting cars plying the streets with tinted glasses that do not have the permission to do so from the Ministry of Justice.
According to Dempster, the discovery of these arms and ammunitions has again briefed the atmosphere of fear among the Liberia people, thereby reminding them of the echo of wars the country suffered in the past.
He stated that this is worrisome because Liberia and Liberians went through back-to-back civil wars in the 1990s, which claimed the lives of over 250,000 people in cold blood and no one has been held accountable.
“Given the devastating account of Liberia’s civil wars history, Liberians are not prepared for a third round of civil war, neither the emerging of new war lords… There is no room for new war lords in Liberia,” Dempster noted.
Meanwhile, the human rights community of Liberia is calling on the Government of Liberia (GOL) to attach premium and grave importance to this matter by investigating the arms and ammunition issues with vested care and interest of the state and Liberian people and those living within the state.
Following this statement, Dempster said the human rights community and civil society will pay a visit to the Liberia National Police (LNP) this week for immediate updates into its investigation.