Appearing live on radio Bushrod D—15, 98.1 FM District spotlight on March 10, 2018 Mr. John Kamma, as executive director discussed the workings and operations of the Citizen Bureau for Development and Productivity in Liberia collaboration with Accountability Lab preventing violent through peaceful resolution of conflict in slum communities in Monrovia and the outlying counties, a synopsis:
To promote peaceful co-existence we deployed our mediators to resolve conflicts before escalating to violence. The mediators seek to bring together conflicting parties for an amicable resolution deem satisfactory to the parties. The consequential damages of violent are explained, bought and the parties become grateful for the opportunity that they can be heard and mutually resolve their misunderstandings. Several cases we mediated range from property or domestic disputes to theft, rape and witch craft.
About the importance of our work, Mr. Kamma referenced a report published by the World Bank president Dr. Jim Kim, revealing that:
“violent conflicts today are complex and increasingly protracted, involving more non-state groups and regional and international actors. It is estimated that by 2030----the horizon set by the international community to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals---over half of the world’s poor will be living in countries affected by high levels of violence. Information and communications technology, population movements, and climate change are also creating shared risks that must be managed at both national and international levels.
Pathways for peace, is a joint United Nations—World Bank Group study that originates from the conviction that the international community’s attention must urgently be refocused on prevention. A scaled up system for preventive action would saved between US$ 5 billion and $70 billion per year, which could be reinvested in reducing poverty and improving the well-being of populations. The study aims to improve the way in which domestic development processes interact with security, diplomacy, mediation and other efforts to prevent conflicts from becoming violent. It stresses the importance of grievances related to exclusion-----from access to power, natural resources, security and justice, for example---that are the root of many violent conflicts today”.
Before this report, in Liberia the Citizen Bureau for Development and Productivity (CBDP) a Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) which developed from the restructured of the Liberia National Police (LNP) took on Community Justice Initiative in 2013 and with seed funding from the Accountability Lab established community Justice Teams in West-Point and Logan Town, two densely populated urban slum communities in Liberia.
Whether for lack of time or money, or the ubiquitous presence of corruption, the formal justice systems are not available or trusted for many Liberians in these communities and those similar to them and are often subjected to mob justice. The condition results to people being unfairly punished and sometimes killed or property destroyed.
Our intervention strategy include community tour, town hall meetings, foot-ball matches, used of sound systems, skit all gear toward awareness creation so that community residents are discouraged about mob violence while encouraging them to make use of our nearby mediation centers for amicable resolution of conflict as the lack of affordability, accessibility and timeliness of the formal justice system remain a critical driver of resentment.
We asked Liberia’s new government administration to recognize this work and recommend the Liberian National Police to refer certain cases wherever our mediation centers are located, in Montserrado, Margibi and Bong Counties. We want to avoid people dying or being raped in jail for alleged criminal offences for which they were not accorded the due process of law to establishing guilt.
Our intervention not only prevent violent from occurring but also saved time and money that could be reinvested for the upkeep of families and children education. Since 2013 to date we have resolved well over 500 disputes saving over sixty thousand United States Dollars and countless hours of time as opposed to navigating the formal justice system with its bureaucratic hurdles, especially for the poor people.
That said the #CitizensBureau remain grateful to its partner the Accountability Lab, to have secured funding from the UNDP/UNMIL called for proposal for Civil Society organizations (CSO) contribution in strengthening the Rule of Law in Liberia and to increase community access to justice and security for the Liberian people. Today, we can expand our intervention from West Point and Logan Town in Monrovia to Margibi and Bong counties so that more people can benefit from our work.
In conclusion the executive director, Mr. Kamma indicated that this effort correlate with his stated reason for being selected as a Liberia National Police in 2004, as shown in the following lines:
"I want to join the Liberia National Police to demonstrate my readiness for active citizenship. Besides I uphold the true values of justice....and the police institution being related to justice I find it satisfying and desirable in accomplishing my pursuits. More importantly to contribute my quota to the peace building process, through the enforcement of law and order for which I believe to a greater extent will influence the economic growth and development for the betterment of the entire citizenry, others and the prosperity of Mama Liberia".
