Monrovia – Claims of sexual harassment is being directed at officers of the Liberian National Police by occupants of the Palm Grove Cemetery on Center Street in the middle of Monrovia.
Report by: Edwin G. Genoway, Jr. [email protected]
“They can arrest us for smoking drugs, and when they are carrying us to the Police station, they always put fear in us that they will put us in jail for long time, when we hear that we can start begging them but they can say no, and the only way they can release us; is for them to have sex with us in the graveyard and me I can agree because I want to be free”- Patience Dixon, Palm Grove Cemetery Area
The Cemetery regarded as one of the largest graveyards was shut down in 2007 by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf because it was being used as a criminal hide-out.
As part of a clean-up operation, she ordered that the Cemetery not only be fenced in, but bodies buried on the pathways be exhumed and interred in proper graves.
The Cemetery was since fenced after a massive clean-up exercise that was followed by calls for the Cemetery to be relocated.
The fact that some homeless and drug-addicts are using the Cemetery as a home has mesmerized many Liberians unsure why human beings have chosen to use the Cemetery as a place to live.
It is unclear how many stray residents call the Cemetery home. But despite the outrage, the graveyard has become a favorite haven for Monrovia’s underworld after makeshift structures in and around Monrovia and its environs were demolished and squatters evicted.
Since the closure of the Cemetery by the president, the Palm Groove Cemetery has now turned into a dwelling place for the living mainly drugs users who do not have place to rest at night.
In recent months, female Drug Users like Patience have been raining accusations against the Police officers whom they accuse of gross sexual abuse. The females described the Police action as ungodly and evil.
A recent visit to the area by FrontPageAfrica, a reporter found females living in the Cemetery stoned on drugs. Many of them sell drugs to fellow drugs users in the fenced Cemetery.
Patience recalled a particular instance in Monrovia where according to her; four Police officers sexually abused her on account that she was engaged in prostitution and drug trade.
Patience could not identify any of the Police officers but says the Cemetery residents are living in fear. ”They can arrest us for smoking drugs, and when they are carrying us to the Police station, they always put fear in us that they will put us in jail for long time”.
“When we hear that we can start begging them but they can say no, and the only way they can release us; is for them to have sex with us in the graveyard and me I can agree because I want to be free.”
Princess Dolo, another Cemetery resident explains that she prefers for Police officers to have sex with her so that she can have edge over her colleagues when she falls into trouble.
“For me I don’t have problem with Police people having sex with me. I am only doing it for tomorrow just in case they arrest me, I will have someone to talk for me. Yes! The Police people can sometimes come here to smoke with us and they can sometimes bring us food like bread and other small-small things,” she explained.
Cemetery residents like Princess say, the Police officers chase criminals into the center street graveyard for many different reasons but mainly when they are caught by the Police committing crime.
According to them, Police officers have sex with them for freedom when they are arrested for a crime. Some drug-users told FrontPageAfrica that Police officers normally enter the Cemetery to take in drugs and at the same time request for sex from female drug users.
Girls between the ages of 18 and 20 have been seen with pregnancy living in the graveyard. Some male drug addicts also confirmed living with their fiancée in the Cemetery as they always carry on their hustle in the day by sometime snatching valuable items from passersby on the streets of the city.
On the nearby street corners, some residents of central Monrovia say they sometimes witness the transaction between the Police and the drug users at the famous center street graveyard.
Steven Morris, a scrap dealer on Center Street says he normally sees Police officers mainly from the Metro Police station chasing criminals into the Cemetery but are later seen coming out adjusting their belt on their trousers.
“I really don’t know what can happen between the Police them in there, but many times the Police can arrest the girls from the graveyard and later release them when they enter the graveyard fence,” he explained.
Some of the residents put the number of people slipping in under the cover of darkness to sleep at the Palm Grove Cemetery at more than 100.
Thomas Kawosu is resident of center Street who sells bread at night around the famous Exodus Entertainment Center, he says the Palm Groove Cemetery is normally busy at night as people are seen entering the Cemetery fence and back.
Bulk of the male Drug addicts expressed willingness to leave the Cemetery but ask Liberian Authorities to assist them with rehabilitation programs.
When contacted Police Spokesperson Sam Collins told FrontPageAfrica that the allegation is grave but said it is the media that is bringing it to the attention of Police and as such an investigation will be launched.
“You are just bringing it to our attention, so we are going to investigate”, said Collins.