The Ministry of Internal Affairs has condemned all forceful initiations in the country’s traditional schools as alleged by people in recent time across the country.
The Ministry and the National Council of Chiefs said the act of forcefully taking peaceful citizens into initiation (The Poro and Sande) is a violation to their constitutional rights thus leaving them into fear of assembling and moving freely.
Speaking at a news conference yesterday at the Ministry, Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf said those involved in such acts claiming to be Zoes or traditional leaders should desist immediately, because this is against the administrative regulations and guidelines that govern the conducts and operations of the societies in the country.
“The repeated violations of these guidelines in key sections of Liberia have caused and continue to cause embarrassment to the government and people of Liberia,” Min Sirleaf said.
He stated further that all Zoes and traditional leaders operating in the country should not initiate anybody who is a student which will interfere or disrupt the normal school activity to cause an impediment for the student.
The minister added, “No Poro and Sande Zoe, Elder, Chief or local Government official shall establish a Poro or Sande grove within the legally established city limits in Liberia. All groves, Poro and Sande so established, shall be clearly identified and marked”.
According to the minister, while the traditional chiefs are asked to protect the citizens’ rights; all those that are not members of the society should stay away from all proximities of shrines so that an encroachment cannot be suspected.
He maintained that there should be no road blocks set up in any part of Liberia as a means of calling public attention to any issue emanating from the society confirming that anyone doing such will be punished accordingly.
He used the General Circular No. 12 of 2015, No. 13 of 2014, saying, ”No. 14 of 2019 which states the forceful initiation of any person (child or adult) into a cultural practice or a traditional ritual is also prohibited without supervision of the individual duly approved by the Bureau of Customs and culture.”
He described the punishments to be faced by members of the traditional council who will flout the rules of the council as dismissal if in the employ of government as well as the closure of their Sande and Poro Schools.