In Hitler Germany, the Nazi
Police State was to ensure that everybody in Germany did as they were told - or
paid the price.
What “price”? You can figure that out from the story!
The Nazi Police were
controlled by Heinrich Himmler and his feared secret police - the Gestapo. Our
police are controlled by Christopher Massaquoi and his feared secret police The
“Emergency” Response Unit. ERU in short. In Germany, the Gestapo did as it
pleased. In Liberia, the ERU does what it pleases including extrajudicial
killings without judicial review.
In Nazi Germany, children’s
loyalty could be developed with a policy of indoctrination via education and
the Hitler Youth movement. Time and planning spent in these areas would bring a
suitable reward for Hitler.
As was in Hitler Germany, in
Liberia, the police see certain individuals as constant “thorn” in the flesh of
Authorities unless they are dealt with. For us as social justice advocates, the
police have developed a policy of intimidation. Fear is a by-word for those of
us who speak out on issues affecting our common people who cannot speak for
themselves. Any wrong comment overheard by ERU has very serious consequences.
In today’s Liberia like in the
most recent past, the police, ERU specifically, are allowed to arrest people on
suspicion that they are about to do wrong. This gives the police huge powers. Local
police units draw up a list of people in their locality who might be suspected
of being "Enemies of the State". This list goes to the ERU. So the ERU
has the power to do as it likes. Its leader – Christopher Massaquoi - is one of
the most feared men in today’s Liberia. His immediate chief is Cllr. Christiana
Tah. Both of them run their respective branches with ruthless efficiency.
I know this because in Harper
City, Maryland County where I temporarily work, The Liberia National Police
threatened to arrest me for planning a peaceful mass protest demonstration meant
to draw the attention of the National government on several shipwrecks that took
innocent lives of men, women and children. Also, the then superintendent
(Governor of the State) Gblebo Brown and some Legislators gave the police a
green light to shoot me if I made any attempt to speak out against the Status
Quo. The former Minister of Internal Affairs, Harrison Karweaah, informed the
Executive Mansion that I am against the Status Quo. By so doing, he placed my
life in serious danger. What he failed to comprehend is that I have not been against
any government of Liberia as I am not against any human person. I am only
against vices.
At one point, there was
information within the police circle for me to be whisked off the street. I
remember the head of The Central Investigation Division, CID in short, met me
in the street and informed me that he and the police needed to see me at the
Headquarters. I told him to give me chance to get home and drop off my
groceries. As soon as I did, I promised him I would report to the police
Headquarters. I guess he wanted to do this secretly. So if he insisted I go
with him that very moment, crowd would gather. And this would be national news.
So he allowed me to go home. At home I picked up my tooth brush, shower
slippers, cover cloth and a mat and reported to the Headquarters. Prior to
that, I placed a cell phone call to The Catholic Justice & Peace Commission
coordinator (Thomas Marwolo) and informed him of what was obtaining. Upon my
arrival at the Headquarters, the police was shocked. Because I had with me my
overnight bag. The then head of the CID, Amos Darpo, who is now head of the
local police force, invited me to his office for questioning. I had no idea
what this man was asking me. And so I plead the FIFTH. I couldn’t answer any of
those questions he was posing to me aggressively for fear I would incriminate
myself. I asked to speak with my lawyer. Suddenly, he set me free. But I was
placed in their book as one of those to “watch” for. That means I am placed in
the category of “Enemy of the State.”
The news circulated that I was
taken to the police Headquarters. Suddenly, the police Headquarters was full
with women, men and youth to ascertain the information. By then, I was released.
From inside scoop, the police brutality
against me on the sweltering afternoon of June 29, 2012 in Pleebo City was
premeditated. How can I not believe this inside scoop if the inside informant
was once inside the top brass of the very police when all these crazy police
things happened to me? I don’t believe in the Conspiracy Theory. But what
choice have I? This is Liberia. And strange things happen here.
In Liberia, they say God made
three people: 1) the White man, 2) the Black man, and 3) the Liberian man. And
there are three ways of doing things: 1) The right way, 2) The wrong way, and
3) The Liberian way. Put all these loose ends together and tell me if police
brutality against me was not premeditated as per the inside scoop
Extrajudicial killings of two
young men, merciless flogging of innocent and armless citizens and robbing of
their goods and the daylight rapes of young girls by the ERU in Harper and
Pleebo are cases that received no judicial review.
Why?
Police brutality must stop!
And right now!
THIS IS MY WORD!
I am Thomas G. Bedell speaking
and working on the ground in Liberia.
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