Kennedy L. Yangian [email protected]
Monrovia-Human Rights lawyer, Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe, has been rated by a pro advocacy group, the Human Rights Lawyer Gongloe Receives Human Rights Award
Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) as human rights lawyer for the year 2015/2016 in the country.
The award, backed by a certificate, was offered the lawyer by the National Chairman of PAL, Mamadee Keita, at the Gongloe’s and Associates Law Office on Ashmun Street in Monrovia on Wednesday afternoon.
Before presenting the certificate to Cllr. Gongloe, the pro advocacy group head stated that the group decided to certificate the human rights lawyer for his continual role and rededicated efforts in fighting against human rights violation in the country over the years.
He said that while the judiciary lacks independence, Cllr. Gongloe continues to fight his way out to ensure that the rights of Liberians are not violated.
“Gongloe is a strong opposition to injustice in Liberia and that Liberia needs more Gongloes”, Keita said.
As the PAL National Chairman presented the certificate of honor, he called on the human rights lawyer to remain steadfast in his quest to fight for human rights in the country.
At the occasion witnessed by friends and office staff of the honoree, Cllr. Gongloe thanked the pro-advocacy group for the honor which he says came as a shock to him though he said he has received several awards for his fight to promote human rights both at home and abroad.
He promised to take the award to his mother, as his father is dead, as an appreciation for the level of support given him in his educational sojourn, indicating that when one receives an award home, it is more interesting than abroad because at home, one activities are monitored.
According to lawyer, he started advocacy at the age of 22 when he was jailed with other prominent Liberians, including Senator Commany Wesseh, by the late President William R. Tolbert when he condemned the President for President Carter visit to Liberia for only an hour and a holiday was declared while he spend three days in Nigeria when America refers to Liberia as its traditional friend.
On the question of human rights, Cllr. Gongloe also stated that each citizen should have equal right.
“Liberia can have all of the developments but if there is no respect for human rights and social justice the country cannot go anywhere” said Cllr. Gongloe.
Commenting on the Global Witness 2016 Report that have indicted prominent Liberians for bribery, Cllr. Gongloe indicated that the country don’t need Global Witness Report to fight corruption. “We don’t need the Global Witness Report to fight corruption, Government only act based on foreign consent, what happens to the GAC report” said Cllr. Gongloe. He father said those accused in corruption saga should speak for themselves and Liberians should learn not to shield people who do wrong.
Cllr. Gongloe said President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took oath as president to uphold and protect the Constitution and not be the ones to speak and accused person of corruption.