Just within the last few weeks alone almost every known Liberian news outlets have been reporting on the seemingly uncontrollable crime wave sweeping the now war-wrecked country, especially, in the Monrovia area.

One top news headline on the apparently government-leaning Daily Observer website read:”’General Security Situation Bad’” quoting the crippled country’s imperial President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf [10 July, 2008]. Thank God that the Madam President has finally come around to acknowledging this major problem in the country.

But so far the government’s immediate response to this very disrupting trend has been the offering of a single resolution, i.e., “get at the criminals wherever they are and who ever they are” to quote Acting Information Minister Cletus Sieh as he announced new measures in Monrovia recently “aimed at diminishing the [current] crime [wave]” in the war-battered nation.

Disappointed again
As I patiently read through the FPA article, “To Curb Armed Robberies, Liberia Launches ‘Operation Dismantle and Disrupt’”, that was posted on www.frontpageafrica.com [07/15/08 – FPA Staff Report], I was hoping to see what new social or economic programs the government was putting into place along side its security measures as a means of encouraging would-be criminals to choose a different path in life other than engaging in serious crimes. But again, to my disappointment there weren’t any!

Also, I don’t recall ever reading any recent news story in which President Sirleaf herself had announced new social or economic programs geared towards “seriously” rehabilitating the thousands upon thousands of former rebel child soldiers who may well still be feeling neglected because the government has not yet reached out to them as they had expected. Again, this is not an excuse but a way of putting things in their correct perspectives as Liberians are now rightfully calling for vengeance (even the Death Penalty in some cases) for senseless high crimes currently being committed in the country.

UNMIL Can Do So Much
And mind you, the President is admitting that the “General Security Situation [in Liberia today is] Bad’ even with reasonably well-armed UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia) forces still on the ground. So, can you imagine if they were to pull out any time soon – something that is inevitable? There would certainly be total chaos in the country from the way I see things going these days. Don’t you also think?

More so, doesn’t the fact that some alleged criminals would be running amok in Liberia even in the presence of UNMIL troops tell us something? I surely think it does! What it tells us is that the international community can do so much for Liberia but Liberians will ultimately have to take full responsibility for their country pretty soon than they may realize.

It is truly sad that there still appears to be serious cracks in the nation’s security system even after spending thousands and thousands of donor dollars on supposedly reviving the state’s highly demoralized security apparatus.

"The general security situation is bad. The reason is that our own security for several reasons has not been effective. Certain police officers have just been arrested as the result of their own participation in some of these crimes," the Liberian leader was quoted as saying on Liberian radio [Fear on the rise as crime wave hits Liberian capital, Yahoo news, Mon Jul 14, 10:44 PM ET].

Except for those who for their own selfish reasons have chosen to keep their heads buried deep in the sand forever I just can’t imagine why some Liberians couldn’t see this coming with the failure of this government to fully address the needs and concerns of the nation’s general population - many of whom are still severely impoverished and, yes indeed, hopeless.

As I said previously, it’s not that I’m trying to find excuse (s) for what is presently occurring in Liberia with respect to the growing crime wave (whatever it may be) threatening citizens and foreigners alike there on a daily basis. For I personally would never tolerate crimes in any of it’s shape or form. And I think no sober-minded person would either.

Adapting New Attitude

To the contrary, all I’m saying clearly here is that Liberians need to adapt a completely different kind of attitude when it comes to fighting crimes in the now war-torn country. I sincerely wish they could start right now – this very moment!

That attitude must involve getting to the bottom of the problem by finding out what is contributing to it in addition to taking normal security measures to ensure that the lives and properties of all Liberians and foreigners [obviously not just a few] are adequately protected at all times. This is the primary responsibility of any “real” government, including, Liberia’s.

Naturally, there are various reasons why people would commit crimes and it could be said that abject poverty and hopelessness are undeniably two main contributing factors.

Although it can be logically argued that poverty alone doesn’t necessarily breed criminals as my good-old friend, Martin Scott, of LU (University of Liberia) days strongly emphasized in his letter to the editor [which earned his piece the coveted status as Letter of the Day I may add – Liberian Govt. Should Allow Citizens to Bear Arms, 07/16/08, FrontPageAfrica], but no one can deny notwithstanding that it (poverty) does play a big part especially in a country like Liberia. That is why we need to change our attitude in dealing with this growing problem head on if we are really serious about finding a lasting solution.

In discussing Dutch criminologist, Dr. William Adrian Bonger’s acclaimed work “Criminality and Economic Conditions” [Boston – Little, Brown, and Company as translated by Henry P. Horton of Ithaca, New York, 1916], Professor J. L. Gillen wrote the following in the Journal of Social Forces [http://www.jstor.org/pss/3006211].

“Moreover, Bonger argues that poverty predisposes to crime and furnishes the motive for it. It [then] leads to alcoholism [and quite possibly drugs], which is [usually] the cause of violent crimes. It drives persons who cannot find work to vagrancy and begging, which also are preparatory schools for crime [s]. It brings pressure even to those who cannot provide honestly for their needs and causes them to steal [kill and maim others]”. So, there it is!

Some Liberians concern only about themselves

But as far as some Liberians are concerned, the rest of the country’s wretched population could go on being neglected forever as long as their personal lives and well-being weren’t disrupted or threatened in any manner.

These are the type of Liberians who continue to build their huge gated mansions right in and on the outskirts of Monrovia [sometimes with “crooked monies”] turning a blind eye to their neighbors’ plight.

I mean, these folks live right next door to them in abject poverty and squalor with no hope in sight despite earlier promises from the President, that if elected, “Papa would be coming home” to put smiles on the faces of his family members, especially, the children. I guess, Papa is taking a snail walk home!

Yet, it clearly doesn’t dawn on this particular group of Liberians [some of whom love to flaunt their ill-gotten wealth right before the eyes of the ‘masses’ who are continuing to suffer] that doing absolutely nothing to help bridge the increasingly growing disparity between the “haves” and “have nots” in Liberia today could jeopardize their very own way of life at any time no matter what sorts of fortresses they’re building.

I definitely won’t be surprised if some of them were already feeling the heat right now. I surely hope it would be hot enough to wake them up for good this time around.

Coming out with fancy words and phrases, such as, “Operation Dismantle and Disrupt” just won’t cut it this time

The government could well go right ahead with its “Operation Dismantle and Disrupt” plan, but sooner rather than later, it will definitely realize that it is only going around in circles as long as the miserable conditions the Liberian people continue to live in unnoticed exist.

Should Citizens Bear Arms?

Meanwhile, a few Liberians like Scott (Martin) are advocating for the government to allow citizens to carry arms in order to protect themselves particularly in the instance of armed robberies.

In his letter which I referenced earlier above, Scott, who has become something of a folk hero for writing pointed and sometimes sarcastic letters to various Liberian media outfits wrote: “In the past, to curb armed robberies, they've performed ‘Operation Thunder Storm’, ‘Operation Sweeping Wave’ and now they're performing, drum roll please,’Operation Dismantle and Disrupt’...Ok, ok, please hold your applause.”

He then went on: “With the crime rate so high, why wouldn't our elected leaders allow law-abiding citizens to possess firearms when they themselves have armed guard protection 24/7?”

Well, Martin, you should know the answer because it is very simple – they’re apparently secured and indifferent towards other Liberians - that’s why. Personally, I have no problem absolutely with Liberians or even foreigners bearing arms to protect themselves, especially so, if the government can’t. My only requirement would be that all guns (firearms) must be registered officially with the state. In other words, all guns must be licensed.

Agreeing with Martin

In a way, I honestly do agree with Scott on the citizens should be allowed to be armed issue when the government fails to protect them. But I only hope that he would also agree with me that this government should get to the root cause of the problem and find a permanent fix to it.

Simply, what this means is this – that the government must take a holistic approach in finding a lasting resolution to this problem if it is really serious about doing something about it. Taking the necessary security measures is good but it shouldn’t be the government’s only point of focus. Every other factor must be equally taken into consideration.

And so, if the Johnson Sirleaf administration is failing in its primary duty to fully protect Liberians and foreigners alike then they’d have no other choice but to do it for themselves with or without the regime’s approval. Moreover, they would well be within their rights

The government must therefore act accordingly and soon in addressing the poverty situation in the country which I have no doubt is an integral part of the present problem related to crime and insecurity there.

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