PHOTO: Ruben Joe Town where the herbalist is based in Grand Bassa County
By King Brown, sarwahking@gmail.com
BUCHANAN, Liberia- A popular traditional herbalist of Ruben Joe Town, District #2, in Grand Bassa County is calling on the Liberian government to lift the ban on the traditional practice of trial by ordeal, locally referred to as “Sassywood”—trial by ordeal.
Mr. Joe Jeff claims that the essence of sassywood is to expose evil doers, ensuring that they don’t go with impunity.
Trial by ordeal is a human rights violation and is not only vehemently opposed by human rights advocate, but is forbidden by law. The practice is seen as laden with abuses of the rights of accused persons. It is also considered as falling short of the minimum standard of due process.
But Jeff argues that heeding his call to lift the ban would curb the wave of gruesome killings and disappearances that have been resurfacing in recent days, as the sassywood would respect the rule of law.
He further pointed out that unscrupulous elements in society were taking disadvantage of the abolition on trial by ordeal to indulge in wicked acts including murder because they think there is no way they can be exposed or brought to book.
Mr. Jerff claims he is a licensed and certified herbalist and has worked with the Ministry of Internal Affair for more than seven years.
He told our reporter on Monday, March 1, 2021 that the government needs to see reason to give traditional chiefs and elders chance to identify perpetrators allegedly linked to mysterious deaths and disappearances of people and walking away scot free.
He has at the same time blamed government for the gruesome killings and disappearances due to its failure to nab, investigate, prosecute and punish them.