The NEWS (Monrovia)
30 April 2008
editorial
Monrovia — violence, a significant segment of the public seems to be in support of mob violencMob violence has come on the increase since the civil war more than 14 years ago. And despite numerous public awareness campaigns against mob e.
The effect of mob violence is common knowledge. Recently about nine persons sustained injuries in New Kru Town when during an attempt to mob a suspected criminal, peacekeepers of the United Nations Mission in Liberia fired warning shots "into the air" and "successfully dispersed the crowd".
In many other mobbed incidents, the victims are sometimes killed in the attacks.
Proponents of the internationally accepted best practice of due process usually find it unacceptable when supporters of mob violence refer to it as 'mob justice' for there is no such thing as 'mob justice'.
Indeed, mob violence is a blatant violation of the due process.
Notwithstanding, whenever a suspect is apprehended but is later released on bail in the face of glaring evidence, a segment of the public usually lost confidence in the due process and thus resort to mob violence for instant justice, thereby contributing to the increase in mob violence.
This situation creates bitter apprehensions when suspects involved in heinous crimes such as armed robberies are released on bail in the face of glaring evidence.
Thus, mob violence has also been attributed to weak laws, and therefore, if mob violence must be curtailed, the laws must also be proportionally strong.
Against this background, some members of the House of Representatives have submitted a draft bill calling on their colleagues to amend chapter 14 and 15 of the new panel code to make armed robbery, terrorism and hijacking an unbailable offense.
According to the act, in the event of death during the commission of an armed robbery, terrorism or hijacking, the accused convicted under section 14.54 and 15.32 and 15.33 shall be sentenced to death by hanging in public place designated by the trial court or life imprisonment without parole.
Given the gravity of such offenses we urge that it should be seen as being in the best interest of the due process that suspects be denied bail.
We therefore call upon the public to fully support the passage of the bill. The passage of the bill we believe will not only curtail armed robbery and other forms of terrorist acts but would also curtail mob violence.
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Well, I believe that the only cure for mob justid in post war Liberia is, awareness to the rules of law.second, the next thing that an institution can think on now is to find out scientifically the causes of mob justice. It can be done by force severe punishment on perpetrators.I beg to continue later.