MONROVIA – The Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security, Defense, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs, Senator Momo Cyrus, has implored new measures to help curtail or minimize the growing wave of security threats in post-conflict Liberia.
By Obediah Johnson
Senator Cyrus, who is representing the people of Lofa County in the 55th National Legislature, is a trained security expert and founder of the SEGAL Security Firm in Liberia.
According to him, violent protests at some concession companies operating in the country continue to pose a security threat to Liberia, and as such, his committee has stepped up intelligence to prevent reoccurrences.
He made the disclosure in an interview with reporters at his Capitol Building office in Monrovia, shortly after his committee was recognized and appreciated as the “Best Committee of the first quarter of the Senate first sitting”.
Senator Cyrus disclosed that his committee would not sit and allow citizens to stage protests at their various work places or elsewhere to increase fears or security threats.
However, he added, that his committee will engage aggrieved groups to listen to and find solutions to their plights or other issues affecting them.
“What we been doing is that, our intelligence have been working very hard. We preferred to abort occurrences rather than damage control. If we see or heard that somebody or a particular group is aggrieved, we approach that group to see what the issue is about and we resolve it behind the scene rather than going public or for them striking or demonstrating,” he said.
By doing this, Senator Cyrus stated that the committee will be preventing violent occurrences and protests.
How Kinjor violence was resolved
The Senate Committee on National Security, Defense, Intelligence and Veteran was recognized and appreciated by the Senate Leadership, through Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence for the role played in resolving the incidents of the aggrieved AFL soldiers wives and widows and the recent violent protest which claimed lives at the Bea Mountain Mining Company (BMMC) in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County.
Senator Cyrus said though the violent clashes between Emergency Response Unit (ERU) officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the aggrieved employees and residents amounted to a security threat, the intervention of the Senate, through its relevant committee prevented the incident from escalating.
He pointed out that he and other members of the community used their security expertise and negotiation skills to satisfy all sides of the conflict.
Senator Cyrus emphasized that the committee remains focused on ensuring that concession agreements signed between government and foreign companies are adhered to, in a bid to prevent disgruntled behavior and protests at concession operational sites.
He said citizens residing in the affected communities must benefit from those concession companies that are operating there to prevent security threats to the nation and its people, noting that, “as we get the intelligence we will work to make sure that those issues don’t escalate to violence.”
“I was shocked when the Honorable Pro Temp Senator Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence named our committee as the best committee for the first quarter of the legislative sitting. I want to use this time to appreciate her as head of the Senate for her farsightedness and her recognition to this committee.”
“The fact that the Pro Temp can recognize our efforts as a committee; this has given us additional appetite to do more for the Senate, Lofa County and the country.”
He also extended thanks and appreciation to all the remaining 14 members of the committee for their level of support and cooperation during the period under review.
Senator Cyrus, however, revealed his ascendancy to the Liberian Senate is to utilize the passion he has in working for his people.
“This is a clear indication that less than four months in the Senate the committee for which I chaired was announced as the best committee for the first quarter. I want to give this appreciation to God, my family, office staff and most importantly the people of Lofa County for their decision to have elected me to represent me at the Senate.”
He also recounted the tremendous role being played by the Liberian media in elevating the workings of his committee.
Senator Cyrus used the occasion to assure his constituents and Liberians at large that he would not disappoint them at the first branch of the Liberian government.
He vowed to serve with diligent and continue to “speak truth to power on the floor of the Senate irrespective of who is involved,” void of disrespect to anyone.
On war crime court resolution
Sometimes ago, the Plenary of the Liberian Senate mandated its Committee on National Security, Defense, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs to scrutinize a resolution from the House of Representatives calling for the establishment of war and economic crime court in the country.
It also requested the committee to look into a communication from Senator Albert Chie of Grand Kru County reminding Senators of the previous decision taken by them during the 54th National Legislature.
Senator Cyrus pointed out though the committee is yet to report to Plenary, it has been holding consultations on the matter with key stakeholders.
According to him, the committee is getting closer to making a determination that would be announced by Pro Tempore Lawrence.
He, however, observed that the peace and stability of Liberia is gradually improving as compare to the past.
He made specific reference to decline in harassment of peaceful citizens and people going about their normal businesses without being hijacked, though there are concerns of citizens exercising their rights through peaceful protests.
“The security system is calm though there are challenges that we should be working on. But, it’s not anything that could lead to national instability.
Senator Cyrus further underscored the need for the elevation of more women in leadership positions at various security agencies in the country.
He said gender balance in the security sector would further advance and help strengthen security in Liberia.
