“TOWN TRAP, NOT FOR RAT ALONE”-COOPER
“Every peace loving Liberian should join in solidarity with the people of Grand Gedeh County in condemning the uncivilized collective punishment of innocent Grand Gedeans by security forces under President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Administration,” Says Mr. Cyrus S. Cooper, II.
He pointed out that “Grand Gedeans like any other group of Liberian citizens, have equal rights under the law as guaranteed under the Liberian Constitution as such, peaceful citizens of Grand Gedeh County can no longer tolerate collective punishment by government security agents.”
Mr. Cooper made these assertions in an exclusive interview with the Independent Eye News (IEN), recently. Continuing Mr. Cooper noted, “Our experiences with repressive regimes, have taught us to stand up in defense of our fellow citizens’ rights.”
Referencing the old Liberian adage which says, “town trap, is not rat alone,” Mr. Cooper, who is also a Grand Gedan, stressed, “today it is the citizens of Grand Gedeh County who are being punished collectively with impunity, by the Government of Liberia , tomorrow it could be any other group of citizens.”
He then warned, “a hint to the wise is quite suficient” adding, “We must collectively stop the government now to avoid catastrophe.” Mr. Cooper emphasized by saying, ”while I deeply regrets and condemn the loss of life of United Nations Peacekeepers and innocent civilians in la Cote d” lvoire, I equally condemn in the strongest possible terms, government’s unlawful acts directed at innocent Grand Gedeans.”
He recalled that since the unfortunate June 8, ambush in la Cote d’ lvoire, he has been monitoring the situation through media reports and conversation with local residents in the county, which according to him point to the fact that “Grand Gedeans are being subjected to constant harassment, intimidation and night-time curfew.”
Mr. Cooper disclosed that he was constrained to condemn the Government’s action on behalf of those he described as “innocent Grand Gedeans” who he believes, “have absolutely nothing to do with the war in the la Cote d ’livoire.”
Based on what he referred to as credible information gathered from the county, Mr. Copper said, ”I am urging the Grand Gedeh Legislative Caucus to promptly conduct its own independent investigation into the allegations of involvement of Grand Gedeans.”
He noted that his concern stems from his conviction that “the Johnson-Sirleaf Administration has a history of protecting Human Rights violators, rather than the other way, which is the protection of the victims, whose rights are being violated.”
Mr. Cooper stressed that the suspicion surrounding government’s actions of what he described as ”jumping to conclusions, raises several unanswered questions.” To buttress his allegations, Mr. Cooper went ahead to cite several incidents.
In early June this year, Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) report on Liberia, accused the Liberian government of being aware of the volatile situation regarding the conflict between supporters of former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo and the current Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara.
However, Cooper continued, “With the porous border with Cote d’ Voire, what measure did the Government of Liberia put in place to ensure the security of Liberians living in the border towns prior to the June 8, 2012 incident?” He asked.
“It takes well trained and equipped police and immigration forces to provide 24 hours protection and cross border monitoring of civilian movement across the borders.” He observed.
“In February 2011, Ghanaian security forces stormed the Bujemburam refugee camp and allegedly gun-down and arrested several Liberian refugees. What has the government done to address the plight of those vulnerable Liberians who were forced out of their mother land by the brutal civil war?” Cooper wondered.
“After the barbaric June 8, attack in la Cote d’ Voire, the government rushed to judgment and accused several citizens of Grand Gedeh County of participating in the raid, without clear and convincing evidence that would lead to conviction. What is the legal basis of the government claims?” He again asked.
The 2011 police raid at the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Headquarters, resulting in the death of peaceful supporters of the party and the unfortunate G. W. Gibson student bloody raid by Police with impunity. What has the government done to ensure justice for the victims? He questioned conclusively.
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We’re watching very closely the two governments and the international community’s decision to harshly put iron hand on the county.
The environment in the county is so intense that our people are no longer attending to their farms work, mostly for people living around the bordering towns.This action will again see the county face with hunger and outbreak of disease.
We’re peaceful citizens and we don’t support any act of violence or individuals that will engage in such act. We’re not ungreatful and we will never be. We and the people of the Ivory coast (moyen cavally) are kinsma.
We were welcomed in their homes during the time we were chased out of our county. How can we be ungreatful to distabilised their homes?
I strongly condems the killings of the peaceful peacekeepers. we should know that the two governments had secret agenda for the people of Grand Gedeh. Time shall tell.