By Bill W. Cooper
It was barely 24 hours when President George Weah pronounced his government’s quest to punish perpetrators that some wailing Liberian women supported by men again took to the streets of Monrovia in demand of justice against violence especially rape in Liberia.
Apparently, reminding himself as being the ‘HeForShe Champion’ President Weah told Liberians, in the midst of international partners on January 24, while delivering his annual speech, that his Government will continue to ensure that no perpetrators shall go unpunished but these efforts remain statement-based as calls for justice are increasing on a daily basis against the defiant perpetrators.
This was manifested yesterday with another call for justice for a 13-year old student as well as a 33 year-old woman; both are deceased as a result of the action.
The 33- year old woman was ganged raped just when President Weah was preparing to announce his government’s statement-based efforts while the minor was raped by a man who is still being investigated by police.
The lady ganged raped a fortnight ago was whisked off to Accra, Ghana where she was pronounced dead following doctors’ efforts while little Blessing died on JFK operation bed in the hands of doctors fighting to save her dear life.
Rape as well as domestic violence continues to remain on the agenda of the Liberian society and this menace is being permeated in Liberia’s foreign missions with one occurring in the United Nations and the other at the Embassy premises in Abuja, Nigeria yet the Liberian leader backed by a cloud of cheering squad reports that his government is depending on DNA machines to support evidence of violence against women.
“We have procured DNA machines to aid in evidence gathering of related sexual and gender-based violence cases. This will bring relief and justice to both survivors and alleged perpetrators during the legal proceedings of Sexual and Gender Based Violence cases at the level of the court,” that was how President Weah brought relieve to the hurting parents and relatives as the Ministers of Justice, Internal Affairs and Justice looked on and joined others with applauds
The parading of portraits of females who have fallen prone to such evil menace across the country seems to be signifying that ‘Enough is gradually getting enough’ and that the demand for justice is in sight therefore, if Liberia is to maintain its report to the world, it must make the efforts in preventing the crime action-based.
Yesterday’s protested on the grounds of the Legislature in demand of justice for a 13 years girl sparked the demand as protesters dressed in black at the main entrance of the Capitol Building chanted anti-rap slogan, while others were seen with the placards bearing the inscription, “Sex is a choice, not by force, we need justice for our little Blessing’ and ‘real man don’t rape among others.”
It was reported that little Blessing Molton was allegedly raped severely by a 41-year old man identified as Prince Massaquoi in her Camp Johnson Road Community in Central Monrovia.
According to the narratives, Blessing, a former 4th grade student, had been threatened death by perpetrator Massaquoi so that she remained silent after allegedly committing the act about two or more weeks ago.
According to report, it was later noticed that the late Blessing was being tampered with following some medical examinations which proved that there were series of laceration and uterus provocation, among others.
The medical report also proved that the deceased suffered sodomy which prompted the swelling of her anus thereby protruding pulse and other fluids as well came from her private part continuously prior to the operation, according to doctors at the John F. Kennedy Hospital prescription.
The report added that culprit Massaquoi has now been apprehended and undergoing investigation at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and might later be charged and forwarded to court for prosecution.
The rape survivor died on Monday, January 24 2022 while undergoing operation at the JFK, just when President George M. Weah was delivering his 5th Annual message to the Legislature.
Yesterday’s protesters reminded the government of its failure to produce a data on Rape and other SGBV during the previous years and that inspite of President Weah’s assurance that Sexual & Gender Based Violence cases would be reduced at 30% by 2023 , they believed nothing of such will ever be achievable.
According to them, the attainment of 30% by 2023 is unachievable based on the pressing needs for access to Justice for rape Survivors, as such, there is an urgent need for the Weah led-administration to begin to take practical action as means to remedy the malice.
“What we need now in this country is for government to take more visible action and not just empty or mere talks because we have had several of those speeches and nothing has been done to save our women and girls from being victimized by those cruel and wicked men,” the protesters added.
Meanwhile, the aggrieved protesters including the various activists have also frowned on the Liberian leader’s continuous silence as it relates to the many rape cases that continue to pop up from across the country.
“We are getting tired of this act. We cannot say we have a self-proclaim feminist-in-chief under whose watch these things are happening to our young babies and he sits and does nothing. The time has now come for him to act and it is now,” the protesters warned.
On the Pipeline Road around the Car wash on Sunday January 23, 2022 according to reports, rapists again attacked a 33-year old mother of two children at her residence asking that he gives them whatever she had and she quickly provided LD 10,000 and her killers informed her that said amount was for them to find food at dawn because after enjoyment and satisfaction on a Sunday night, one needs strength in the morning.
According to a family spokesperson, the deceased (not identified) was then raped by all of the men who entered her home as what she could remember before passing out was the leader apparently took along some others referred to as trainees and that the action they were about to carry out was one of their tutorials as they have not yet been qualified for practical.
“They even set up a stop watch for each person that if you ejaculate before the time you’ll be punished severely n the time was between 40-50mins accordingly for a person accordingly as she elapsed at the fifth person after wailing, struggling, fighting and yet couldn’t be left alone. All this happened last night between 11pm-3am,” the family spokesperson had narrated.
According to report, she was later found conscious and she then narrated her ordeal. Judging from her condition, it was recommended that she be flown out of the country hurriedly and based on family consensus, she was taken to Ghana for treatment as the wounds within were severe and that she had relapsed into comma.
It was reported on Monday that she was well received by families and the Military hospital staff but did not survive despite all efforts and that her body has been brought in country as she is expected to be buried today in her home town in Nimba County.
However, those responsible informed President Weah that there is a reduction in Sexual and Gender Based Violence cases in December of 2021 as compared to the reports of 2020 December thereby putting the cause of the increase in 2022 to covid epidemic.
President Weah and his lieutenants who seemed more focus on the preventive measures said in his address that the CDC-led government had been able to raise awareness among communities about the referral systems, the government’s anti-Sexual and the Gender Based Violence Call Center.
“Traditional and religious leaders are also beefing up the efforts to change the story and narratives of survivors and victims, as well as supporting prevention efforts of sexual and gender-based violence. While we all may be aware that “prevention is better than cure”, we will continue to work with our UN counterparts, INGOs, NGOs, and civil society organizations to increase efforts in preventing sexual and gender-based violence,” the Feminist-In-Chief assured.