There had been a dramatic upsurge in crimes in post-war Liberia. Police and UNMIL had launched series of crash surveillance operations to nab criminals red-handed for prosecution. But the upsurge remained unabated, often rising and ebbing with seasons.

The lack of logistics, the LNP had argued, is to blame. But now the UN has stepped in, and it is ordering the new Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the Liberia National Police (LNP) on its marks. The Analyst Staff Writer, reports.

UNDP, last Friday, donated fleet of 18 brand new vehicles to the Liberia National Police (LNP) with the admonition to be ‘every ready’ to deal effectively with crime and issue related to law and order.

Of the 18 vehicles, 17 are pickups while one is an ambulance, equipped to deal with swift emergency responses. The remaining fleet of 12 vehicles is expected in Liberia at the end of August, a UNDP press release said over the weekend.

A UNP release said the programme’s resident representative, Jordan Ryan, delivered the vehicles to authorities of LNP at the Police Academy facilities in Paynesville while calling on the ERU to implement the newly acquired skills.                          

He gave no details of the skills the emergency unit is expected to use in its response to such violent crimes as armed robbery, riots, and other rowdy public protests but he revealed that the vehicles were donated by the government of Ireland.

“The US$1.4 million donation, by the Republic of Ireland, through UNDP, is part of a multi-sectoral project aimed at building LNP’s capacity and addressing some of the systemic challenges impeding the ability of the police to serve the public,” the release said.

It revealed further that the Irish contribution funded the vehicles that will enable the ERU to execute crowd and riot control, curb crime and respond to emergency situations requiring high levels of professional skills.

“Ongoing concerns regarding crime, such as incidents of gender-based violence and armed robbery, highlight the urgency of establishing a more responsive police force,” said Mr. Ryan.

He pointed out that although a lot of progress had been achieved in consolidating peace, there were still many challenges to be addressed in security sector reform and strengthening the rule of law.

In his remarks, according to the release, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Philip A.Z. Banks, expressed appreciation on behalf of the government of Liberia.

“The donation takes the LNP closer to responding faster and more efficiently to emergency situations,” the release quoted the Justice Minister as saying.

PUBLIC SERVICE

The donation, Minister Banks also reportedly said, would improve the quality, performance and response time and bring pride, honor and glory to the police.

The Inspector General of Police Col. Beatrice M. Sieh who received the donation on behalf of the police thanked the government of Ireland and UNDP for the donation, and appealed to other governments to support other sections of the LNP.

She did not name the sections but indicated that they “face many challenges in the performance of their duties – especially the lack of transport and other logistical deficiencies”.

Meanwhile the release said the training of the new officers of the ERU is continuing with the first batch of 143 progressing to the second level of their specialized training.

Defense Ministry Sets Record Straight

The Ministry of National Defense says that at no time has any of its trained and disciplined soldiers been involved in act of Armed Robbery.

The Ministry’s statement was in reaction to a news story published in the Daily Observer Newspaper, volume 12, #151, dated Monday edition, 11 August 2008 under the Captioned “New AFL Soldiers Accused of Armed Robber”

In a press released issued yesterday by authority of  the Ministry of National Defense, international partners and the Liberia people have been assured that there is absolutely no basis of truth established  in the news story carried in the Daily Observer Newspaper.

The ministry also disclosed that there is no truth in said Newspaper report reference to any personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), being involved in the act of Armed Robbery.

“This Article is a misrepresentation of the well trained and disciplined men and women of the AFL. The captioned has no connection to the story as was written by the reporter”, the released said.

The Ministry said it finds unacceptable for any person pr persons to enter any of its military institutions to commit a criminal offense or cause damage to property of the government of Liberia.

The MOD has disclosed that it will continue to engage the press and the Liberian people in the restructuring and development of the AFL under the Security Sector Reform program.

“Please do not hesitate to contact the minister for issues relevant to the AFL or its civilian component”, the release concluded.