Press Release from the Eminent Women of the Women’s Situation Room (WSR) of the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace, and Security.
- We have received with shock the recent news of the series of assaults (February 8, 2023, February 9, 2023, and February 22, 2023) on the home and the life of the former Chief Justice, Her Hon. Gloria Musu Scott— the latest resulting in the death of her daughter, and serious injuries to other members of her family.
- We have over the past years recurrently petitioned in writing and in person, both the Minister of Justice, Republic of Liberia, as well as the international community via the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia, raising incontrovertible concerns about egregious attacks on our shared humanity. Our critical interventions followed the gruesome deaths of several auditors: Director General, Internal Audit Agency, Emmanuel Barten Nyenswa, George Fanbutu, Gifty Lama, and Albert Peters. Rapidly following in the aftermath of these murders, Liberians were subjected to the trauma from successive reports of more horrific deaths of Rev. William R. Tolbert, III, (Liberia’s Peace Ambassador) and Maude Elliot (an immigration officer). Some of these individuals were hacked to death in their own homes. All of them were public servants. It is beyond the pale that none of these cases has been thoroughly investigated, let alone resolved. There are numerous other citizens whose lives have been senselessly cut short, including a Central Bank employee, a journalist, an EPS officer, and a number of private citizens.
- The most recent victim of senseless violence, former Chief Justice, Gloria Scott has worked assiduously, along with other eminent women of the Angie Brooks International Centre, to advocate for justice and seek resolutions through interventions. Justice Scott was one of the signatories to nearly all such interventions. The latest of these interventions was late last year at the one year memorial service on the murder of Liberia’s Peace Ambassador at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Bentol. At that occasion, the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) made the following observation: “we lamented the fact that closure remain outstanding on several of the murders and deaths while we asked the international community why they had continued to remain silent on our appeal to them to enhance the Government of Liberia (GOL)’s capacity in the investigations needed.”
- The GOL bears the primary responsibility to protect and provide security for its citizens. However, as the country strives to rebuild after the protracted civil war and to consolidate democratically, we call on our development partners for international assistance. Various multilaterals and bilaterals that have stood with us since the end of the war recognize that a Liberia in turmoil has dire consequences for global security. It is tragedy to allow the country to disintegrate. These assassinations constitute a significant threat to international order. Thus, partners like the US, UN, EU, ECOWAS and others must join their voices and resources to strengthen local capacity for rigorous investigations. The assault on the former Chief Justice widens the window for urgent action.
- As the 2023 Election Season is upon us, it is imperative that the Government and citizens do all that is necessary to avert the escalation of violence to ensure that we conduct and conclude a free and fair elections.
- In view of the foregoing, we are strongly recommending that the Government of Liberia takes the following steps:
that the Government of Liberia, through a public statement, provides a status update on all the unresolved homicide cases we have articulated in paragraph #2;
- that the President of Liberia makes a public statement on his position on the attack against the Former Chief Justice, Gloria Musu Scott, to allay the fears of citizens and assure the public that the GOL is taking this matter seriously.
- that the Government of Liberia requests the assistance of the United Nations in keeping with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Transition Plan. The Plan provides for contingent intervention from Ivory Coast in the event of crisis. The time is now as insecurity is at its highest level and we the citizens are living in terror. The security challenge the nation now faces is serious. The government’s capacity needs to be enhanced to protect its citizens. We therefore strongly urge the government of Liberia to request assistance under the UNMIL Transition Plan above referenced.
We join the Liberian National Bar Association, the Liberian Association of Female Lawyers, the Liberian Senate, and others demanding independent investigations, with ABIC’s request for international oversight, given the precedent set during the past administration.
Mr. President, we urge your government to consider and make such a request to the United Nations. Not only would this prove a positive move towards credible elections that is essential, but it would enhance the citizens’ security, which is at its lowest.
Respectfully Submitted,
