UNMIL Official Raps On Poro, Sande Societies

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ROBERTSPORT, May 1 (LINA) - The Human Rights Officer of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Grand Cape Mount County section, Daniel Achireko, has called on members of the Poro and the Sandy societies to respect the Constitution of the country.UNMIL Official Raps On Poro, Sande Societies

 

ROBERTSPORT, May 1 (LINA) - The Human Rights Officer of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Grand Cape Mount County section, Daniel Achireko, has called on members of the Poro and the Sandy societies to respect the Constitution of the country.

He observed that nations have traditional culture and values the people practice, but noted that it should be done in accordance with the laws of the country to avoid confrontation between government and the societies.

The UNMIL human rights officer made the statement on Tuesday, when he paid a courtesy call on the citizens of Ducor Bongoma Town in Tewor District, Grand Cape Mount County.

He said taking the law into one’s own hands under the guise of enforcing traditional society rules, with no regard for the laws of the country, is wrong and should be stopped to avoid confusion.

Mr.Achireko emphasized that such attitude on the part of leaders of traditional societies in the country is in violation of the Liberian Constitution.

According to him, those who commit crimes in towns, cities and villages should be taken to courts of competent jurisdiction, and not to leaders of traditional societies.

Mr. Achireko’s statement comes in the wake of an order issued by Poro society leaders in the area to arrest of a woman they accused of allegedly breaking the traditional law of the village forbidding women to insult in public.

The woman was fined L$1,500, but upon refusal to pay, she was allegedly forced into a certain part of the town and raped by two men.

The matter is before the police. 

Meanwhile, the UNMIL Human Rights Officer has urged people of Ducor Bongoma Town to respect the Ebola prevention measures announced by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to avoid contracting the deadly virus.

LINA DIR/JGT/TSS/PTK