July 31st, 2015
Citizens Bureau for Development and Productivity / Liberia National Police
The essence of the Citizens Bureau Community Justice Initiative is to establish Community Justice Teams in densely populated urban slum communities and to promote citizens police relation by tracking and reporting incidence so as to minimize inappropriate uses of force. It is happening so we as a nation and people may well take on creative and innovative measure in order to proactively curtail violence and conflict in our society and to eradicate poverty. To achieve this is firstly to understanding that the underlying causes of violence and conflict are the result of people lacking opportunities, in our country. Especially those who are willing and able to work for it which is a justice issue in term of government responsibility to ensure equal opportunities for all.
Because the enabling environment is lacking, the value, worth and potential of our youthful or vulnerable population is as well missing or unnoticed, as they become what could also be considered victims of a situation well decided and orchestrated by politicians. Today, the result is lack of basic opportunities, such as having an education, skills and employment for sustainability. To a large extent, this is due in part to our 14 years of senseless civil upheaval that witnessed the vandalizing of major infrastructure, which if had remained in place, who have jump start economic activities across the country after the war, as opposed to total destruction of these facilities during the war years. Today, from the lack of electricity, pipe boil water, to deplorable farm to market road to messy educational system and corruption just to name few are some of the underlying causes that should matter when talking about justice for all. Yes, it is a matter, given that if every citizen cannot have electricity, pipe boils water, education, skills while others amidst these existing conditions, are living luxurious life through exploitation of wealth, that guaranteed family members to seek education abroad and the rest of good living. And where there exist no middle class, either you have money or you are poor. One may want to know is this Justice when there is no equal opportunity for all? For these reasons above, investment become limited and for which other citizens are being referred to as vulnerable population implying that these citizens could venture into whatever means they can explore as an opportunity to make a living, since they cannot have a share of the country’s wealth, because they are vulnerable? …Why? Should they be squarely responsible for their situations? How do we arrive at policy decision? Is it collaboratively comprehensive to address pressing issues or is it decided without input from those it is meant to benefit? What are we saying about the RR component of the DDRR program in Liberia? Was it satisfactorily accomplished? The answer might be with the politicians or maybe relevant persons/actors, but it is of interest to know, as justice is related to basic human rights being observed at all times, where everyone has a sense of worth. I was told by one community member while writing this blog that it is rational to view these groups of vulnerable citizens as victims of destructive actions by self seeking politicians, war lords and individuals who did not take into accountability future consequences that their actions for personal gains who have resulted to, for which, today those who are willing and able to work are vulnerable due to the lack of viable opportunity.
While others are without basic life skills and education, thereby becoming threat to peaceful and law abiding individuals within our society, should be a grave concern. The fact is when people are lacking opportunities and without skills and education for living they turn out sometimes the wrong way around to make a living at the detriment of their very lives given instances of mob-violence. Nevertheless we sad for our actual victims I mean those tax-payers who are peaceful and law abiding citizens amongst others, that suffered at the hands of mind set criminal individuals, who otherwise, should have contributed positively to the forward match of our society. Certainly, something positive must be done to change the odds of these communities, so that tax-payers and every law abiding persons have the security protection to enjoy the fruits of their labor. It is unfortunate that these are the very people who most often are victim of criminal behavior and these are the very underlying issues that really need to be dealt with for effective justice, peace-building, genuine reconciliation and healing, when we advance economic opportunities for those who are willing and able to work for it.
By so doing, amongst other things, we will be dealing with conflicts at their roots when we empower local residents to report incidences that inform mediation efforts in community and promote peace-building strategies. Once addressed at their roots the result is sustainable. And so, we must look for sustainability in everything we endeavor to achieve. As it is only by that, that the greater good is realized in term of long and lasting solutions that benefit the population in general.
It is from this perspective that the Citizens Bureau of Liberia is dedicated to the promotion of a safer, stronger and trustful community that see police and community member working together to help police do their jobs more safely, to prevent crime and create more economic opportunities for people in densely populated urban slum communities and other disadvantage areas across LIBERIA. We have begun the process so well, indicated by what our interventions have achieved in initiated communities. We have able to resolve disputes emanating from community blocks as well as collaborating with the formal justice system to bring parties together for the satisfactory and amicable resolution of disputes, to the extent that over 100 disputes had been resolved so far with zero recidivism reported as well as saved citizens time and money and the government of Liberia. Our findings have since revealed that over $16,000.00USD was saved to citizens by not having to pay bond fees, writ fees, transportation fees, lawyer fees, and messenger fees, as these are mandatory costs associated with seeking redress through the formal justice system that citizens are most often encountering which make it difficult for the fair, transparent and adequate adjudication of justice, especially for the less fortunate. Whilst saving over 7,000hrs of time waiting at the formal justice system from a citizen perspective, it can also be estimated that for the government it has saved at least $175,000.00USD towards payment of judicial staff, equipment, rent, logistics and operational costs within a single calendar year. It is no doubt that if you don’t have money to pay cost associated with seeking effective justice than of course it means you won’t have justice as justice will be denied which in itself is a critical driver of resentment and continuous conflicts in our communities. “In general reports written over the last five years portray a picture of Liberia as being relatively calm and stable while at the same time continuing to be very fragile” (KAICT policy brief No. 2-February 2014 page 2)
So citizens with the ability and know-how must wake up and take on positive initiative to buttress government efforts in ensuring that our communities or environment in which we live are really protected for the wellbeing of all of its inhabitants as required under the rule of law where JUSTICE MUST PREVAIL NOT for few ELITES and their FAMILIES but for ALL LIBERIANS. At the level of the Citizens Bureau we are of the strongest conviction that we can achieve this, not just by doing it along, but with collaborative efforts involving communities and all potential stake-holders in the process. To ensure that, the greater good our common denominator, MAMA LIBERIA is lifted high above. By so lifting Liberia high above, we will be doing away with our differences and challenges experienced during our encountered as a people with one nation, and propel forward, knowing that, as a REPUBLIC endowed with abundant resources we have ONE DESTINY which must be cherished by demonstrating LOVE for country and one another.
It is from this point of view that we are calling on all Liberians (and our international partners) that this glorious land of liberty is the only Land of ours as Liberians and therefore all must arise above personal differences through demonstrating positive engagement for actions that see quality benefit to our people and nation. While we are taken the lead through the Citizens Bureau Community Justice Initiative we crave the support of our international partners and friends in making our society a just and peaceful place abound with equal opportunities and for Liberty and Justice for all!
Best,
John Kamma
Executive Director
