–As Montserrado District #17 women petition Lawmaker
By Mark Mengonfia,mmenginfia@gmail.com
The grounds of the Liberian Legislature has again witnessed another protest action, this time against alleged rape of a woman by a Lawmaker, but the purported rape victim has denied ever being raped by Montserrado County District #17 Representative, Hanson Kiazolu.
It was on Thursday, January 16, 2020, when some women gathered to petition their lawmakers about the alleged action of Rep. Kiazolu.
The women, who were believed to have been transported from district 17 by some officials of government, carried plackets with inscriptions such as “Rep. Ziazolu, stop the rape, we want justice, stop violence against women, help protect women against rape.” They walked paraded on the Capitol Building compound of the Liberian Legislature, singing songs and shorting slogan to call the attention of members of the Liberian Legislature.
But the alleged rape victim told a team of Reporters on Thursday that it is absolutely untrue that Rep. Kiazolu ever attempted to rape or raped her. She said she is a grown up woman at the age of 23 who has never been raped and in fact the Montserrado District # 17 Representative is her uncle.
As the protesting women waited on the lawmakers, they continued with their slagon, but were soon countered by a group of young men believed to be supporters of Rep. Ziazolu.
Violent exchanges later erupted between the two groups, as they engaged in serious fight and stone throwing, leaving a number of the women with injuries.
After some time, the violent exchanges subsided, with the intervention of Bong County District#3 lawmaker, Marvin Cole who co-chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Rules, Orders and Administrations.
He told the group of boys and men “listen to me, this places is not is not for violence you people have go outside”, and also turned to the woman and told them to as well be peaceful and wait for their petition to be received by their lawmakers.
The women in their petition told members of the legislature that Rep. Ziazolu had an affairs with a fourteen year old child two years ago and had a child by her.
The women claimed in their petition that the lawmaker statutorily raped the 14 years old kid who has just turned 16.
Reading the petition was Nathaline Surprise Seton who recounted the amount of violence perpetrated against women and girls of Liberia in a short period of time.
The women told the lawmakers about the 1325 resolution that Liberia has ratified and domesticated.
Receiving the petition, Montserrado County district #4 Representative, Rostonlyne S. Dennis acknowledged that rape is a first degree crime and told the petitioners that she as chair on Claims and Petition will transmit their petition to the plenary of the House of Representatives.
The petition was not typed, but written on a white sheet of paper, so the Montserrado County lawmaker told the petitioners to ensure that it is typed and properly addressed; so they she ensure that it appears before full plenary of that body.
Recently, the Unity Party legislative Caucus Chairperson has been in the news for a call made for Liberia footballer president to be impeached over allegation in a recalling to be the voice of Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Chairperson, Mulbah Morlu. He said that the Liberian leader diverted money intended for Liberians to his personal use.
But responding to his allegation of rape, the Montserrado County lawmaker who was surrounded by boys believed to be student of the University of Liberia and streets boys said “he did not rape anyone as it is being claimed by the women.”
Rep. Kiazolu trashed the allegation and pointed accusing fingers at Representatives Munah P.E Youngblood and Assistant Transport Minister Nuowe AD Scoot for gathering women of his district to demonstrate against him.
When contact the accused, Assistant Transport Minister Nuowe AD Scott said they will respond at a later date.