PHOTO: Three of the latest alleged torture victims
What seems to be a serious issue without any remedy found so far is the constant practice of jungle justice being meted out against citizens in southeastern Liberia, especially Sinoe County in recent times.
As Garmah Never Lomo reports, this has become the order of the day, where some elements have taken the laws into their own hands in flagrant disregard for the criminal justice system.
The latest incident occurred two weeks ago when a lady who works with the big oil palm company, GVL came out early in the morning to light fire and she mysteriously disappeared in Tartweh town, Sinoe County for two days, only to later be found behind a church but in an abnormal condition.
According to County Attorney, Daniel T. Dweh, while the missing woman was being searched for, traditional Zoes and elders arrested four persons and accused them of being responsible for the woman’s disappearance.
The four accused were taken to their traditional Zoe bush where they were again tortured severely resulting to the death of one person.
Torture is a human rights violation and is a crime both in Liberia and internationally, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) signed by Liberia and many other countries in 1948. Article 5 of the UDHR states: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.”2 As torture has devastating consequences for its victims, the international prohibition against it is absolute. 2 United Nations Office of the High Commission for Human Rights.”
During the process of their torture in Sinoe County, the individuals mentioned above were severely beaten, fire spread on their skin on the order of the paramount chief in the area identified as Peter Kon.
After the perpetrators’ alleged actions, they all fled the scene and police are currently in search of them. It can be recalled in August of last year, a 60 years old identified as John Wreh was again victim of another torture in Jedepo Town, Sinoe County where his houses were broken down and his leg was broken.
Background to the latest incident
Back in July last year, another Nigerian National identified as Chuman Dennis also fall victim of traditional Zoes torture for selling drug in the area as if the traditional Zoes were Liberia Drug enforcement agency employees.
Also in 2018, three women were also stripped naked and paraded in Jonny town over an alleged witchcraft allegation resulting to the death of them who was three months old pregnant but the perpetrators were sentenced to 45 years in prison each.
Sinoe County in southeastern Liberia has become one of the hottest spots for jungle justice and usually the perpetrators go with impunity.