By Grace Q. Bryant
The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has termed the recent mysterious deaths and disappearances of peaceful citizens as disrespect for the rule of Law.
Speaking yesterday at a press conference in Sinkor , Commissioner Dempster Brown stated that Article Vll of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Accra on August 18, 2003 provides for the creation of an Independent National Commission on Human Rights as a National institution to promote and protect the rights of citizens to promote democracy to avoid political instability.
“Predicated upon the mandate of the Commission to protect and promote the rights of the citizens, the Commission is concerned about the wave of mysterious deaths and disappearances of peaceful citizens, which is associated with the disrespect for the rule of Law,” Commissioner Brown expressed.
According to Commissioner Brown, in the last week they received a report from monitors, of two mysterious deaths of Princess Cooper in the compound of the FAWAZ Business Store at the ELWA Junction and Melvin Togba who died in his bedroom with bruises on his neck in Jallah Town.
The chairman noted that they observed that the crime scene where the late Cooper was found in the compound was neglected, adding that by operation of the Law, those who were on duty including the Lebanese National should be considered as principal suspects and the building be closed while investigation goes on.
“The suspects should include the Lebanese Nationals that were on job, the private security personnel that were on duty alone should not be persons of interest, “he cautioned.
Chairman Brown explained that in September 2021, the Commission raised the issues of mysterious deaths, disappearances of peaceful citizens and ritualistic killings and therefore called on the Liberian government to increase the strength of the LNP and to empower the police by providing Logistics and incentives to enable them be committed to their duty, adding that the observation and call was taken out of context when the Commission was referred to as anti-government.
The Commission also called on the Liberian government to pay attention to the deteriorating security situation in the country, to attract investors into the country.
“In order for the Liberian government to control the mysterious deaths and disappearances of peaceful citizens, the Commission recommended that the government of Liberia should maintain stay the retirement of experienced security personnel who are still energetic to work for the effective operation of the police and that the government should attract incentives for the police to be dutiful on the job and should augment the strength of the police by providing logistics for night patrol.
The commissioner maintained that the report of the disappearance of Pastor Joseph Blama in Grand Bassa County, while a peaceful citizen also disappeared in Grand Cape Mount County.
The commission also received a report from the Presbyterian Church that one of their pastors was attacked by an unknown person in a Keke on the Japanese Freeway to Red Light and the pastor sustained serious injuries on the head.
