PHOTO: (L-R) CENTAL Executive Director Anderson Miamen Gbarpolu County Senator, Amara Konneh and LNBA President, Cllr. Juah Lawson
Monrovia–Leading experts from government, civil society, and the media have warned that unless an independent panel is established to investigate illicit drug trafficking, ongoing efforts by government and international investigators risk a serious credibility deficit.
Speaking as panelists at the relaunch of the Edward Wilmot Blyden Intellectual Discourse of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), veteran journalist Aaron Kollie, Anderson Miamen of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), and Senator Amara Konneh of Gbarpolu County questioned the independence of current investigations, said a PUL press release.
The argued that institutions and actors allegedly linked to the drug cartel cannot credibly investigate themselves.
By contrast, Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. Oswald Tweh insisted that while government does not oppose an independent panel, the ongoing investigations cannot be abandoned.
Journalist Aaron Kollie
He emphasized the progress already achieved in arrests and prosecutions, noting that international partners such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security, and FBI are actively involved and have commended Liberia’s investigative processes.
“Independent investigation, yes, that might come later. But right now, we don’t see it. Everything was open to our partners – all the evidence, all the leads – and they applauded us,” said Cllr. Tweh.
The President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), Cllr. Juah Lawson, stressed that Liberia’s national response must be firm, coordinated, evidence-based, sustained, and lawful.
Perspectives on Reform
- Cllr. Oswald Tweh (Justice Minister): “If narcotics can move through a chain of handling, screening or transportation, then that chain must be examined and strengthened. That is why the Government’s response cannot end with celebration. We must identify weaknesses, investigate possible facilitation or corruption, strengthen screening and intelligence, improve coordination among law enforcement agencies, and ensure that criminal networks are dismantled rather than merely interrupted. This is the institutional challenge contained in today’s theme. Strong institutions are not institutions that claim perfection. Strong institutions are institutions that can detect failure, correct it, investigate wrongdoing and continue to improve.”
- Senator Amara Konneh (Gbarpolu County): “I want to focus on win-win. I really want our country to win. I want everybody to win. Selective justice kills trust. Full, equal justice for everyone builds trust. … The fastest way to provide the rule of law is not selective justice but to apply the same standards to everyone, uniformed or not, and prosecute quickly. I will say 90 days, Mr. Attorney General, if you can’t. This is a special thing for our country. … I believe given the magnitude of this situation, if you were to, through the President’s request, for special financing to help you prosecute this case quickly, you will have the full support of the Legislature. The second win is the win for the security institutions I want to talk about. A swift public trial clears innocent officers and permanently removes compromised ones. It tells the honest police officers, the system will protect you. We should push for that so that our people don’t lose confidence in the institutions that our laws have created to protect them. … Win-win number two: make the investigators more credible than the suspect.”
- Cllr. Juah Lawson (LNBA): “The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Liberia National Police, Ministry of Justice, Financial Intelligence Agency, Customs and Immigration authorities, and the Judiciary must be adequately resourced, professionally staffed, institutionally independent, and effective coordinated. Drug trafficking thrives where institutions are weak, investigations are compromised borders are porous, evidence disappears, prosecution fail, and criminal networks are able to purchase influence.”
- Mr. Anderson Miamen (CENTAL): “As part of the recommendations, we have to make: it is for the government to continue to support the security sector institutions … They still need resources, logistics, and technologies. The process has to open up. Wholistic and participatory reforms are needed to ensure we don’t only focus on securing logistics, vehicles and other supplies, but we are doing enough to make processes around recruiting profile security personnel independently and inclusively. … We need to amend the law creating the LDEA [Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency] so that the processes around recruiting people to that institution are inclusive, transparent and participatory. We need independent panel just as we have been doing with integrity institutions.”
- Aaron Kollie (Veteran Journalist): “You can construct all the roads, all the market buildings, and all the political projects. If you do not address the fundamental problem and the root cause of the drugs problem affecting the foundation of our country, the young people, it will all be meaningless. This is why serious efforts ought to be made toward the re/construction of a rehabilitation center. Talking about strengthening institutions – the Drugs Enforcement Agency [LDEA] and other institutions connected [with the drugs fight] ought to be properly resourced, and the vetting of individuals associated with it; so, that they are incentivized that they don’t sellout to protect our country’s national and international image.”
Relaunch of the Blyden Forum
The Edward Wilmot Blyden Intellectual Discourse, the flagship forum of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), was formally relaunched by Mr. Gabriel Williams, former PUL President, who called for a collective fight against illicit drug trafficking.
PUL President Julius Kanubah applauded the panelists for their expertise and factual analyses, noting that their perspectives will enhance public understanding, advance transparency and accountability, and elevate reforms in Liberia’s collective efforts to rid the country of illicit drugs.
Signed:
Julius Kanubah
President