The Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) has in the strongest terms, condemned the alleged recent brutal attack meted against one of its National Executive Council members, Cllr. Kukuyon Wleh-Teh by men believed to be workers of the Bea Mountain mining company in Grand Cape Mount County.
The Bar, in its release issued yesterday, May 13, 2023 urged the Ministry of Justice to arrest, investigate and immediate prosecute perpetrators to deters others who might desire to engage in similar conduct.
In its press statement, the LNBA stated that as a result of the attack Cllr. Wleh-Teh has suffered multiple cuts and bruises, and had also spend days in hospital after the mob action which they narrated that was clearly carried out by some yet to be identified attackers.
According to the them, based on information gathered, Cllr. Wleh-Teh who happens to be one of the Legal Counsels of the Bea Mountain company upon an invitation from his aid client, traveled to the New Liberty site on Friday, June 2, 2023 to address some pertinent legal issues.
The LNBA observed that while visiting the mining concession area, on June 3, 2023, Cllr. Wleh-Teh was then informed by the company’s General Manger, Mr. Reza Karimiyan about an incident which had taken place in the concession area that needed their attention.
The LNBA further narrated, “Upon arrival on the scene of the incident, the management was advised by Cllr. Wleh-Teh to contact the police, which was done without delay.
On the same June 3, 2023, the management also learnt that an unidentified worker was inciting workers to stop work without any notice or justification.”
“So, on Sunday, June 4, 2023, while at the power station, Cllr. Wleh-Teh was brutally attacked by a group of workers in a well calculated and premeditated fashion with the intention to kill him but thankfully he survived from their attacks,” he LNBA noted in its release.
The LNBA notes that, “If lawyers who represent their clients under the circumstances described herein are not safe, no citizen will consider his or her life and properties safe under any rule of law regime.”
The release claims that these attacks will also cause unimaginable and inordinate delay in the administration of justice and impact negatively on the livelihoods of members of the LNBA, many of whom are litigators.
The LNBA says it shall firmly resist any attempt by anti-rule of law elements to return the legal profession to the dark days where lawyers conducted their professional affairs in fear, and thereby reminds citizens that lawyers are not their enemies or opponents as they only aid the administration of justice and that the courts of law still remain the lawful and civil forum to ultimately resolve conflicts.
The BAR urges its members to remain security conscious while carrying out their activities, and calls on the Justice Ministry to always protect members of the Bar by making efforts to apprehend and bring to justice anyone who violates the rights of lawyers.
The LNBA also admonishes employers around the country to conduct themselves in ways that will improve industrial relations among tripartite constituents which include government, employees and employers.
“And this can only be achieved from negotiation and signing of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) between employers and employees with attestation by government consistent with law because an effective CBA will always preserve the rights and interest of tripartite constituents and minimize the incidence of conflicts in work places in Liberia,” the Bar release added.
