AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

View the digitally signed version of this alert.

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 21 March 2001, Liberian security forces beat dozens of university students during a protest rally in Monrovia. The students were peacefully protesting the continued detention of four independent journalists who were arrested one month ago and charged with espionage after publishing an article that was critical of the government. The article specifically criticized the government for spending money on spare parts for helicopters while delaying paying months of wages for civil servants. Amnesty International considers the journalists to be prisoners of conscience, and is calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

The Liberian Special Operation Division (SOD), a unit of the security forces often implicated in human rights violations, including torture, entered the university campus to stop a student rally on behalf of the detained journalists. According to Amnesty International the SOD unit moved into the campus at the request of the university authorities, which had reportedly not authorized the gathering.

While breaking up the rally, the SOD indiscriminately whipped and beat students and professors, injuring several. The SOD reportedly stripped naked some of the female students. Security officers beat a journalist covering the event, and tried to seize his camera. At least twenty students were arrested and taken to the National Police Headquarters. They were subsequently released without charge.

Amnesty International reports that some of the students were taken away by an elite unit of the security forces, the Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU). The ATU has frequently been implicated in political killings and cases of torture and operates with impunity. Four of the students taken to a local ATU base were released after a local priest intervened. There is concern that other students may still be held incommunicado by the ATU.

The Liberian government has stepped up a campaign of intimidation against those who question its policies and practices. Students and other civil society groups that are critical of the government, including the media, human rights defenders, and political opponents, have been subject to increasing internal repression in Liberia and verbal and physical attacks against them are becoming increasingly common. The government became even more sensitive of criticism since the release of a December 2000 United Nations report about Liberia's involvement with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), the armed opposition group in neighboring Sierra Leone. The report stated that the Liberian government has been providing military support to the RUF, an armed group that has been responsible for widespread human rights violations in Sierra Leone. The report also linked the government to an illegal diamonds trading ring run by the RUF. Profits from the black market diamond trade have been underwriting the war in Sierra Leone. On 7 March 2001, the UN Security Council introduced a ban on diamond exports from Liberia and imposed travel restrictions on Liberia's senior government officials. The ban will come into effect in May unless Liberia complies with Security Council demands, which include ceasing military support to the RUF, expelling RUF members from Liberia, and stopping the illegal import of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone.

Last July, SOD forces attacked the leadership of the University of Liberia Student Union (ULSU) on the campus of the university. The SOD arrested Alphonso Nimene, one of the student leaders, after he publicly expressed concern on several issues including the UN accusations of Liberia's involvement in the Sierra Leonean conflict. Nimeme and the other ULSU student leaders were severely beaten while held at the National Police Headquarters in Monrovia. The students were subsequently released without charge. Police denied allegations of torture.

(Sources of information for this case include: Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch 2001 Annual Report for Liberia)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 7: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
• Article 9(1): Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.
• Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Article 12: (1): The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. (2): The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for: (c) The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases; (d) The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
• Article 05: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telegrams, faxes, airmail letters or emails: Visit the AAASHRAN homepage at http://shr.aaas.org/aaashran for sample letters of appeal.

• Calling on the Liberian authorities to ensure that no student is held incommunicado or tortured and to release any student immediately who is still arbitrarily detained, unless there is credible evidence of a recognizably criminal offense; and
• Calling for a formal investigation of the incident and urging that any Liberian security officers who are found responsible for the torture and ill treatment of students be immediately brought to justice.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

His Excellency Dr. Charles G. Taylor
President of the Republic of Liberia
Office of the President, Capitol Hill
1000 Monrovia 10
Liberia

COPIES SENT TO:

His Excellency William V.S. Bull
Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia
Embassy of the Republic of Liberia
5201 16th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20011
Tel: (202) 723-0437
Fax: (202) 723-0436

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6796; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals re to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program