Concerned
Citizens Action Committee of MARYLAND (ccac)
Maryland Avenue,
Harper City, Maryland County
CELL: + 231.
666.6957/771.70498
JOINT PRESS STATEMENT MAY 5, 2010
Of
Chiefs, Elders, Women & Youth Numoweh & Kudemoweh Chiefdoms
Fellow comrades, Government officials
present, members of the senior staff of the United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL), members of other International nongovernmental and Human Rights
organizations, members of the Media, fellow Compatriots, Brothers &
Sisters, Ladies and Gentlemen:
We thank all of you for granting us
an audience by accepting our invitation to be here with us today during our
Press Conference being held in the Hall of the Catholic Mission. We want to use
this time and occasion to express our strongest distaste and discontent with
the unjust, unlawful activities of the Government of the Republic of Liberia
and its accomplices against our people.
We wish to thank UNMIL for its
ongoing advisory role to the Liberian government and our people during these
difficult times. We also thank The
Catholic Justice & Peace Commission (JPC) and the Center for Sustainable
Human Development Inc. including other Human Rights organizations that we
cannot name for lack of space and time. Indeed, we are grateful to all the
people of Maryland and the Republic of Liberia for their ongoing support during
these difficult times. We welcome you
all to this Press Conference.
Who are we
and what do we stand for?
The Concerned Citizens Action
Committee of Maryland County, shortly referred to as, CCAC, is a representation
of the people of the Kudemoweh and Numoweh chiefdoms of the Harper District of
Maryland County. We are the voice of both Chiefdoms. We were established in
March, 2010. We are a creation of the arbitrary, unconstitutional and unlawful
arrests of Maryland citizens couple with the reckless behavior of both National
and local governments in the recent ritualistic killing case in the County. Our
purpose is to protect the interests of both Chiefdoms and all Marylanders in
all matters affecting them and to attain their freedom from all discriminatory
laws and actions whatsoever. To this end, since our establishment, we have endeavored
by every constitutional method to bring to the notice of the Government and
international community the legitimate demands of peace-loving and law-abiding
Maryland citizens, especially those who have been arbitrarily arrested and
arbitrarily detained. We have also repeatedly pressed, in particular, the
inherent rights of those comrades of ours to be directly represented in all
court proceedings regarding the false incrimination and imprisonment of the
arrestees.
This attitude to form the CCAC is a
demonstration not only of the willingness and readiness of peace-loving Kudemoweh
and Numoweh citizens and residents to cooperate with the Government but also
evidence of our sincere desire for peace, harmony, friendship, justice and
tolerance amongst all sections of our population.
Now let’s begin to deal with the
Issue before us:
First, let’s make it very clear to
the whole world and the people of Liberia that we categorically condemn, in no
uncertain terms, the barbaric acts of ritualistic killings with all the
emphasis we can command. No one has the right to murder another person. PERIOD!
In the event murder is committed, it
is our strongest belief the accused killer MUST be immediately arrested under
the guidance of our Constitution. The accused MUST be given a Speedy & Fair
Trial under the Law of Due Process. If that person is convicted through a
competent court of jurisdiction, we believe the Law of the land should and MUST
take its course.
Equally so, we openly and, without
mixing words, condemn with all the emphasis we can command, the arbitrary
arrest of any citizen and/or resident on cardboard box evidence especially so,
when the arrest is determined by a juju man’s “mojo.”.
It is in this spirit we encourage
both the Government and people to respect human life and the Rule of Law.
Recently, the Government of Liberia exercised
a repressive policy of arbitrary arrest, imprisonment, segregation and
Gestapo-styled tactics of treatment of our people in Maryland County. The
Government continues to insult and degrade our citizens and residents that have
been arbitrarily arrested and unlawfully detained by depriving them of their
fundamental human and constitutional rights enjoyed by all democratic people around
the world. The Government categorically rejects offers to respect the
Constitution of this Republic and grant the accused their human and
constitutional rights. The consequence, therefore, has been the gradual
worsening of human relations in Maryland County and a rising tide of bitterness
and tension. Such a position by the Government has aggravated our people more when
it clandestinely, under the cover of darkness, removed the accused from where
they were held in prison to an unknown destination for unknown reasons.
In this situation, we have realized
that the cumulative Gestapo tactics of the Government shows that its sole
intent is to crush potential and emerging leaders of our County. We believe the
Government’s intent in this case is to also destroy the economic position of
all of those citizens who strongly and openly oppose bad governance in the
County. We also realize the Government is making assiduous efforts to deny
these emerging leaders the full capacity to seek elective positions in the upcoming
election of 2011. We consider this approach by Government as a Gestapo tactic
employed by Hitler Germany prior to the World War to silence its opponents. This
Government tactic is also meant to prevent the unity and development of our
County and people especially the Kudemoweh and Numoweh chiefdoms and at the
same time, humiliate them by charging its children of million of “crimes”
committed many years ago.
We have no doubt in our minds that this
current wave of arbitrary arrests in Maryland is politically motivated. It is a
fear and smear tactic employed by both the Government and the Maryland
Legislative Caucus to suppress our good leaders from challenging those who have
currently failed us.
The following points summarize the
events that raised our eyebrows:
1. A month before the arrest of the
accused, threatening cell phone texts (SMS) were sent to a selected few. The
messages claimed the selected few who received those messages were “killers.” And
that they were already known by the Government. The messages continued by
saying the selected individuals would be arrested in due course. Suddenly, a
witch doctor arrived in Harper City and remained in the City for close to a
week without being monitored. Soon he employed his magic pen. His magic pen only
was able to identify the selected individuals who received threatening text
messages prior to his coming. As strange as it was, all the arbitrary arrests
were immediately closed as soon as all the selected names were arrested and
jailed.
2. Was it by accident that at the
completion of the arbitrary arrests 7 Kudemoweh and 7 Numoweh citizens were in
police custody? How and who obtained such a strange balance of citizens from
both chiefdoms? Notice, these two Chiefdoms have been under intense pressure by
the Government and Caucus for a protracted period of time. Why? Because there’s
a thinking in the Caucus and some local government quarters that the Numoweh
and Kudemoweh chiefdoms do enjoy most of the better jobs in the County. And
that these two chiefdoms hold almost all the best educated persons in the
County. Strangely indeed, this Government and Caucus strongly share the belief
that all possible contenders for elective posts in 2011 would definitely come
from both Chiefdoms. And so to keep them out of the race, they had to employ
the Gestapo tactics of Hitler Germany: purge them!
3. During these arbitrary arrests, only
Cllr. Fulton Yancy’s house was searched. When he was taken to court after
mounting pressure from the people and Defense Counsel, the Circuit Court
considered the search unlawful and illegal. Why did the witchdoctor refuse to
search the homes of the balance 16 men and one woman? Was the Government only
aiming at Cllr. Yancy alone? If so, why? Well, Cllr. Yancy was set free on Bail
until reports surrounding items supposedly collected from his home are
professionally examined and made available to the Court.
4. The witch doctor coming to Harper to
perform his mojo was a unilateral decision made by few individuals in the
Caucus and local Government along with their friends. The entire County and its
civil society were not contacted. So no civil society member agreed to the selection
of the witch doctor or partook in the events producing the witch doctor.
5. The witch doctor performed behind
close-door. Besides those who brought him to Harper (some Caucus members and
some Local government officials), he did not perform for anyone else to see how
he derived at the selected names and/or conclusions. This act troubles the mind
of every civilize man and woman on earth!
6. The witch-doctor’s magic pen
understandably named all the culprits but did not remember the name of the
Nigerian pastor. If the pen has such magical power to write the full names of
those arrested, how come it could not write down the name of the Nigerian
pastor? Did it forget? Or those who gave the names did not know the name of the
Nigerian pastor?
7. In the beginning, the Liberian Government informed
everyone that Madam Doeayenen Landford was its “Best” witness who is or was an
“eyewitness” to the murder. But when she appeared in Court, she said she did
not see anyone or anything. And she asked that nobody should force her to lie
on anyone that she did not see commit murder. To date, the lady is now a
suspect instead of being a “State witness” in the case. Why? Is it because she
refused to read the government’s script and refused to falsely accuse innocent
people? To date, Madam Doeayene Landford is also languishing in incommunicado.
8. Amb. H. Dan Morais was arrested along
with others and kept in jail for more than 72 hours without a charge. His and
others’ constitutional rights were violated. When pressure came to bear on the
Government of the Republic of Liberia from the people and legal defense, the
Government decided to set them free. Why in the process of setting Ambassador
Morias free, he was immediately arrested again for the “murder” of one Alphonso
Chelleh. This case of Alphonso Chelleh was never mentioned while the Ambassador
was unlawfully and illegally jailed. But as soon as the Government found that it
had no reason to hold him in jail, it manufactured one case under the cardboard
box. The case was then taken to court. The Harper Magisterial Court found no
merits in the case. And so it dismissed the charges and set the Ambassador
free. Then another attempt to rearrest him and others was made for the murder
of another person. This time, they dragged in the case of the “murder” of Madam
Tumu Weade Allison. Understandably, she was murdered on Lake Sheppard. All in
all, the Government witch-hunting and launching political smear tactics
continued.
9. Mr. Roland Barlea is one of the
followers of the witch doctor and one of those who secretly brought him into
Harper to perform his magic. Mr. Barlea and one of the accused (Lancelot
Clarke) were coworkers at the J. J. Dossen Memorial Hospital in Harper. Mr.
Barlea was chief administrator and Lancelot Clarke was maintenance supervisor.
But a problem developed at the Hospital that involved Mr. Barlea. An
investigation was conducted by the Hospital and the Liberia National Police.
Mr. Barlea was found guilty for motor cycle theft. Immediately Mr. Barlea was
suspended for time indefinite. The Hospital appointed Mr. Clarke as acting
administrator. Since then, Mr. Barlea has developed hatred for Mr. Clarke. As a
result, he pointed Mr. Clarke out for crime of murder to the witch-doctor
during the arrests. As a result of Mr. Barlea’s involvement and influence over
the witch-doctor, Mr. Lancelot Clarke is now in prison. Is this the respect for
Rule of Law or Gestapo tactics?
10.
On
February 5, 2010 a letter was written. The letter requested the immediate removal
from office of Hon. Alfred T. Thompson, district commissioner of the Harper
District. The letter stated clearly that the reason for the request to remove
Hon. Thompson was that he (Hon. Thompson) was “inactive” in joining the secret
effort to arrest citizens who occupy very important jobs in the Harper
District. The author of the letter is a staunch member of one of the
disgruntled groups friendly with the witch-doctor. As a result of this letter, Hon.
A. T. Thompson is now incriminated and now languishing in prison unjustly.
11.
Just
about this same time when the arbitrary arrest was ongoing, Hons. Gloria Scott
and John Ballout were in Maryland. These elected officials have never cared to
come to Harper at anytime when citizens were murdered. But this time,
considering their connection with the witch-doctor and gearing up in a campaign
mood and wanting to crush their potential opponents, they arrived in Maryland
and took part in the arrest one way or the other. They embarked upon speaking
engagements inciting citizens to riot if the accused were ever released from
jail. In fact, our investigation tells us that these two Senators deceived
President Sirleaf into believing Harper City was on fire and that the youths
were burning houses in opposition to the possible release of the detainees.
When the Police arrived from Monrovia to Harper, Harper City was as cool as a
watermelon. The Police realized there was no riots and violence in the City. What
the Senators said was a total a lie! Why are these two Senators deeply involved
in these sad developments and using Gestapo tactics of Hitler Germany? SIMPLE! They
are looking forward to re-election. And because they are unpopular, they MUST
purge everyone else and keep the County under fear.
The CCAC of
Maryland representing the people of the Kudemoweh and Numoweh chiefdoms cannot
remain silent on an issue like this that is a matter of life and death to our
people and patrimony; to do so would be to betray the trust and confidence
placed in us by our people.
At a recent Conference held from the 27th to the 29th
April this year in Bigtown,
Hoffman Station, the whole policy of the Government to
continually & arbitrarily
arrest our citizens and residents on cardboard box evidence
and through a juju
man’s “mojo” was reviewed and after serious and careful
consideration of the
matter, the Conference unanimously resolved to call upon the
Government of the
Republic of Liberia,
as we hereby do today, to discontinue the arbitrary arrests by
NOT LATER THAN THE 9th DAY OF MAY, 2010. Failing
to do so, CCAC will hold
protest meetings and demonstrations on dates of our own
choosing as a prelude
to the implementation
of the plan for the defiance of unjust laws.
1. We pledge to continue promoting
the consolidation of democratic norms, values, and institutions throughout the
County and to enhance accountability and respect for individual & Human
rights.
2. We are determined to rid our
county of any manner of ritualistic killings and disrespect for Law and
Order. We acknowledge President Ellen’s Commitment and Oath to uphold,
Defend and Protect the Constitution of this Republic. We further ask her to
commit herself to the harmonization of our African culture with Eurocentric
ideas consistent with global standards for the advancement of people
3. We agree to increase
cooperation efforts between all the Districts of Maryland as well as all ethnic
groupings. We commit to strengthen this cooperation by engaging all
members of the society including academic institution. We also commit to
strengthen human relations to meet the demands of the 21st century through
partnering with academic institutions and non-governmental groups as well as
through skills training for youth
4. We declare our intention to oppose
the Maryland Legislative wicked tactics to divide our people and sow seeds of disunity
in our various communities.
5. We are disheartened by the ongoing Gestapo tactics
of the National
Government, hands-in-gloves with our Legislative Caucus to
unlawfully arrest,
detained; remove our citizens to unknown destinations. These
citizens exercise
their constitutional, democratic and human rights to compete
in the business
sector and vie for elective and/or appointed post in and
outside government.
What’s wrong when they compete so much so the Government
takes offense?
6. On the occasion of the clandestine removal of our
relatives, love ones and
law-abiding citizens and residents accused of murder to a far
away distance from
us, when as a matter of fact and record they have not been
provided Due Process as provided under our constitution, we condemn both the
National government and our Legislative
Caucus for instituting the activities of Hitler Germany which is fear
terrorism.
We are prepared to take our Local
& Legislative leaders up to task. We strongly believe they are behind this
entire hullabaloo. They need to come clean! Our investigation proves that they
are working with disgruntled elements in our community. And the intent of these
disgruntled elements is to sow seeds of disunity amongst our people. We believe
the National government, local government and Legislative Caucus are executing
the plans of these disgruntled elements just to undermine development and
progress in the County.
We believe the Maryland Legislative
Caucus deceived President Sirleaf to appoint our current Superintendent, Hon.
Gblebo Brown. It is open secret that Hon. Betsy Kuoh from the Barrobo District
was set to become the next Superintendent of Maryland. To our utmost surprise
and dismay, President Sirleaf appointed Hon. Gblebo Brown due to the fact that
the chair of the caucus misinformed the President. She said that Marylanders
rejected madam Kouh. The appointment Of Hon. Gblebo Brown was not up to the taste
of majority of the citizenry of Maryland. But we accepted the appointment on grounds
the Constitution provides that the President can appoint whomever s/he deems
fit for the job. But since the appointment of Hon. Gblebo Brown, the County has
been on the verge of severe problems, division and chaos.
In closing, we are determined to take
those involved in dividing our county and imposing terrorists activities upon
our people up to task.
Until justice is done, the struggle
remains unabated!
