By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Bong County, County Attorney Jonathan N. Flomo has condemned some soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia who recently allegedly stripped a man and made him to parade the main streets of Gbarnga naked.
Atty. Flomo termed the act as “uncivilized and a gross human rights violation.”
The victim, Dakai Woods is Chief for Operation of the Bong County Commercial Motorcycle Union and a resident of Totota.
He said the inhumane treatment was meted to him by AFL soldiers led by one Staff Sergeant Keita Musa, while searching for a missing motorcycle belonging to a resident of Totota when the soldiers suddenly join the search after being informed by some residents of Totota.
It remains unclear whether the informants were connected to the missing bike or any of the soldiers.
Woods further explained that at the end of the search, apparently without retrieving the bike, the soldiers asked him to accompany them to Gbarnga in order to get to the bottom of the matter.
Immediately upon reaching Gbarnga, the soldiers asked him to strip himself and walk the main streets, Woods narrated.
Without any option, and fearing he might be brutalized if he had refused the order, he undressed and did as he was told.
“We like to condemn in the strongest term this uncivilized and gross human rights abuse of Mr. Dakai and we want to say categorically state that no matter what the allegations were against him, he deserved no such treatment by anyone let alone officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia.”
Meanwhile, the soldiers involved have been detained and that the Justice Ministry is Monday expected to hold a major news conference Monday on the matter, according to the chief prosecutor of Bong County.
Meanwhile, the AFL has sent its Military Police investigators to Totota to begin their investigation.
Over the past couple of days, a lot of consultations has been ongoing in trying to ensure that justice is serve in protecting the rights of Mr. Dakai Woods and punishing the perpetrators of such unwholesome and unwarranted act.
“We must assure you all that the Ministry of Justice by extension the Government of Liberia in no uncertain terms condemns this action and will make sure that justice is done speedily.”
County Attorney Flomo said: “It our opinion that our Penal Law doesn’t provide, in its current state, punishment severe enough for the action of the perpetrators. The perpetrators, being personnel of the AFL, we believe that it is appropriate that the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and other disciplinary rules and regulations which the AFL ascribe to, when used properly, will be enough to render justice in this case.”
“We are aware that the AFL ascribes to the highest standards of human rights thus we have no doubt that stern action will be taken against those who committed this despicable act.”
On the 27th day of February, a high power delegation from the AFL, including the Deputy Adjunct Judge Advocate of the AFL, Attorney Thomas Bombo, the commander of the AFL battalion at Camp Tubman here in Gbarnga visited our office and expressed their deepest sorrow and dismay over the actions of officer Kieta and his associates.
The AFL has already begun reprimanding Officer Keita and his cohorts, who are currently in detention awaiting the necessary legal and administrative actions consistent with the UCMJ. They further assured us that the AFL will leave no stone unturned and will ensure that speedy justice is rendered to bring this matter to a logical conclusion.
In that meeting, he said “we advised that AFL to make a public statement condemning the action of its enlisted men and that further reassurance will be given to our citizens that in as much as the AFL as an institution condemns and deplores such action by any and all of its men and women, all will be done to avoid repeat of such inhumane acts by members of the Armed Forces of Liberia.”
The Bong County Attorney thanked the citizens for remaining peaceful, especially those of Totota, where the victim hails from, and citizens in Gbarnga where the victim was paraded on its main Broad Street.
He also commended the motorcyclists unions and their members, marketeers and members of the Liberian Marketing Association and ordinary citizens alike.
“We appeal to all of you to remain calm as we make sure that all necessary steps are taken to resolve this unfortunate situation,” the Bong County Attorney said.
“We also like to thank all of our human rights and civil society actors, and members of the 4th Estate for the timely and very positive manner in which you have engaged stakeholders during this incident trusting in our ability to deliver and ensure justice for all,” Atty. Flomo added.