IPNews-Monrovia: President George Manneh Weah has broken silence over the rampant increase in Rape and other sexual gender based violence cases across Liberia following series of anti-rape protest in Monrovia and others parts of the Country.

President Weah appearing on state radio Thursday August 27, 2020 said he is concerned about the sharp increase in the number of rape cases from all corners of the country but promise to implement tougher measures to ease the situation.

Currently, there are over of 992 cases of rape reported so far across the country dating January 2020 to present.

The feminist President noted that it is his government’s responsibility to address the situation which they are trying to do.

“What I can do as chief executive is to get the needed equipment at the various health centers but at the end of the day it’s an issue of law because we are talking about penalties. It’s not the president, it’s the law.”

The President also dismissed allegation that he is a dictator. “A Lot of people believe that I am a dictator but I follow the law that is why anything I do is in accordance with the law. I applaud Liberians who came to the street sincerely to talk about rape. People who are serious about rape need to start engaging the legislature and the Police.”

On the issue of the police brutality against citizens, the former AC Milan and PSG star turn President averred that he condemns the police’s action against peaceful protesters thereby instructing the Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue to probe those involved.

“I condemn police brutality but security forces go to the street during a protest to protect protestors and the police will always go to the street to pull out people who go with different motives. If it is true that people were maltreated I warn that it doesn’t happen again” the Liberian leader noted.

During the protest, Police were accused of seizing cell phones from protesters as well.

Things got ugly on Thursday morning when officers of the Police Support Unit (PSU), a paramilitary unit of the Liberia National Police (LNP), began to stop the protestors from gathering at Vamoma Junction where they gathered on the first two days of the protest for their onward march to the Capitol Hill.

The protestors were barred from using the Tubman Boulevard; they were also diverted to the Airfield Road l, Fish market site, while the majority were completely stopped from crossing Vamoma Junction thereby forcing them to gather at Fish Market, opposite the residence of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The police in their quest to stop the protestors from using the Tubman Boulevard carried out random arrest, allegedly brutalized protestors and chased the crowd into nearby communities.

This left several protestors disenchanted and disappointed in the police drew several condemnations.

Weah however, pointed out that if he sends out a messenger who is disrespected then it sends a negative image to the outside world frowning at the disrespectful action carried out against Gender Minister Williametta Saydee-Tarr and Assistant Minister Mamensie Kaba on the first day of the protest.

“When the President sends someone to the people to represent him they should see that person as their messenger. The person should not be booed or disrespected. Anyone that goes to represent me for a petition they should give them that respect” he said.

“It’s not about the paper, it’s the message. I don’t have to be there. I could be busy. In 2017, I was in the street marching from city hall to where we were gathering against rape. This is a country of law, we need to sit around the table and discuss it. We should not see others as more against rape than the others. I have deputies and representation. They should respect me. If they can’t, then they don’t respect their own government. It’s not that I don’t care. I do but I have been busy” he President argued.

The President who also took aim at what he described as ill-treatment against former and first female Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf frowned at some protesters raining insults on him.

“I watched the TV, people were insulting the President. We are talking about rape why insult the leadership. We need to know who are the protesters and where are they from.”

The President said he is willing to meet with leaders of the protesters recommending that they should also channel their grievances with existing and relevant government institutions.

Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf told newsmen during the protest on Thursday that rape has always been a major problem in Liberia that needs to be addressed.

“Rape has always been a problem, it was before my administration, it was in my administration and it’s still with us today. The women, given the kinds of cases that have recently come up – young babies, three months old, young children, 10 years old violated, sometimes, by old men, sometimes by young men, is something that the women felt they had to act and they had to act in a manner in which one does in peaceful protest,” she said.

Former President Sirleaf also told reporters that she could not sit and watch the women from her compound without showing solidarity for an issue that has always been of national concern.

“I cannot sit in my house, stay in my yard, see all those women out there demonstrating for something that is good for the country and not go there to show solidarity with them. So, my idea was to just go across sit with them, talk with them to make sure that they keep the peace that we fought for when I was President in all those years; to tell them we don’t want to see any violence,” she said.

Furthermore, Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee being horrified with the action of the LNP moved hard on the Weah-led administration for the stance of the police against the demonstrators, describing the police action as a crack down on nonviolent protestors.

Gbowee described the cruel actions against the anti rape protesters as a total shame on the Weah-led government.
She noted that it is unimaginable for government to use force on armless citizens who peacefully gathered against the unprecedented increase in the number of rape cases in the country.

Meanwhile, Plenary of the House of Representatives has mandated its top committees on Gender, Health, Judiciary, security and Finance to review a landmark petition submitted by a coalition of anti-rape and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) advocates for possible actions.

Plenary took the decision based on a motion by Rep. Johnson Gwaikolo of electoral district#9 in Nimba County.
The joint committees are to report to the House of Representatives within two weeks.