PHOTO: Jefferson Knight, Program Director, United Methodist Human Rights Monitor
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The United Methodist Church Human Rights Monitor has strongly criticized the expulsion of Yekeh Kolubah as the Representative of Montserrado County District #10 saying it is unconstitutional and lack of due process.
Since the controversial expulsion of Rep. Kolubah, there has been mixed reactions from various quarters of the Liberian society.
Now, the United Methodist Church through its human rights monitor has joined the fray
Addressing a press conference during the weekend, the UMC Monitor’s Program Manager, Jefferson Knight, disclosed that the House of Representatives has violated its own rule and those of the Liberian Constitution.
Article 38 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia says that each house of the Legislature (Senate and House of Representatives) must adopt its own rules of procedure, enforce order, and may expel a member for cause with a two-thirds concurrence.
Article 38: “Each House shall adopt its own rules of procedure, enforce order and with the concurrence of two-thirds of the entire membership, may expel a member for cause. Each House shall establish its own committees and sub-committees; provided, however, that the committees on revenues and appropriations shall consist of one member from each County. All rules adopted by the Legislature shall conform to the requirements of due process of law laid down in this Constitution.”
But, speaking in an interview with news reporters, Knight pointed out that the altitude of the lawmakers has the propensity to undermine the rule of law in the country.
According to Mr. Knight, the laws governing the House of Representatives do not supersede the Liberian Constitution.
But, the House of Representatives claimed that it met the two-third requirement and as such, it acted in accordance with its rule and those of the Liberian Constitution.
According to House it did not receive any communication from the Supreme Court of Liberia halting the impeachment proceedings during the impeachment of Representative Kolubah.