Elite Police Unit Takes Shape
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Vol. 5, No.UNMIL 01 FOCUS September - November 2008 Elite Police Unit Takes Shape Rice, More Rice? - Exclusive Interview Together as One MARTTI AHTISAARI Message from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General urgent security incidents, and to give Liberia. She urged Member States to con- operational support to the Liberia tinue to support UNMIL until peace is National Police. properly consolidated in Liberia to pre- The government of Liberia has taken vent a relapse into conflict as has hap- commendable steps since the end of the pened elsewhere in the world. civil war in spurring economic growth As Liberia emerges, slowly but and improving public financial adminis- steadily, as an inspirational story of how tration and better management of the a shattered nation can put its troubled country’s natural resources. The past behind and embrace a promising Government of Liberia and the UN future, the international community must Country Team are working together to continue to assist the nation’s develop- ensure the successful implementation of ment efforts as peace without develop- the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), ment is unsustainable. Moreover, eco- the blueprint for the country’s current nomic and infrastructural development is development agenda. crucial for reducing the high level of Some progress has also been made in unemployment, especially among the strengthening and rebuilding national youth, who are most vulnerable and sus- security institutions. Efforts aimed at ceptible to detracting factions. turning the Liberia National Police into a UNMIL remains committed to fulfill- fully independent and operational institu- ing our mandate to maintain peace and briefed the UN Security Council in tion are continuing and capacity-building stability in Liberia at this critical stage in September on the Secretary- initiatives are being implemented to tack- the country’s peace building process. We General’s 17th progress report on le systemic logistical and management will continue to support and boost the Liberia, highlighting the achieve- challenges facing the security sector. Government’s rebuilding efforts, while ments and challenges in delivering However, a lot still remains to be done. enhancing the capacity of Liberians to Ithe peace dividend to Liberians, while Inadequate infrastructure, outdated take ownership of their nation’s develop- preserving the gains made so far. I also legal frameworks, shortage of qualified ment. seized the opportunity to visit personnel and other limitations in the During my recent visit to New York Washington D.C. to meet with some US country’s judicial and correctional sys- and Washington my message to the Administration Officials and members of tems need urgent attention. Such limita- Council members and my interlocutors in Congress. tions are often reflected in widespread Washington was that Liberia has come a In late September, the Council unani- public frustration, resulting in extra-judi- long way in the past five years since the mously adopted a resolution to extend the cial measures and mob violence. Further, end of the conflict. There is, however, a mandate of UNMIL for another year. It gender-based violence, especially rape, lot more to be done in order to consoli- endorsed the Secretary-General’s recom- continues to be disturbingly high and is date on the gains that have been achieved mendation to reduce by 1,460 UNMIL often perpetrated on very young girls. thus far. It is therefore not yet the time to military personnel, including troops, offi- In her address to the General declare victory and leave Liberia, rather cers, observers, and engineering and Assembly in September, President Ellen it is time to redouble our collective administrative units. At the same time, it Johnson Sirleaf highlighted the critical efforts (Government of Liberia, UN and also approved the proposal to increase role of UN peacekeepers and the interna- members of the international community) the number of police personnel from 605 tional community in revitalizing the to ensure that the peace process becomes to 845 to provide strategic advice and economy, rebuilding infrastructure and truly irreversible. expertise in specialised fields, to react to consolidating peace and security in Ellen Margrethe Løj Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Liberia 2 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2008 IN THIS ISSUE 04 Elite Police Unit Takes Shape 06 On a Night patrol 18 Armed Forces Activate First Battalion 10 Weeding Out Marijuana 12 Interview: Martti Ahtisaari 14 More Liberians Return 16 Together As One 18 A New Chance 20 Interview: Henrietta Mensa-BBonsu 24 Rice, More Rice? 26 From Guthrie To Sinoe 28 Battling for Survival Elite Police Unit Takes Shape 30 It’s not about us... 4 An elite special police unit is being trained to deal with violent 34 Training Accountable Leadership crimes as part of strengthening the Liberia National Police (LNP). The Emergency Response Unit officers will also deal with riot 37 Legislative Internship Set to Begin control, engage in anti-crime patrol and provide assistance in 38 Liberians Speak major disaster situations. Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Liberia Ellen Margrethe Løj Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Recovery and Governance Jordan Ryan Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Rule of Law Henrietta Mensa-BBonsu Chief of Public Information George Somerwill Editor and Head of Publications 24 16 Mathew Elavanalthoduka Staff Writers Sulaiman Momodu Rice, More Rice? Together as One Carly Learson J. Wesley Washington Despite plenty of rainfall and abun- As the UNHCR embarks on local Design and Graphics dant fertile land, Liberia heavily relies integration in the West African Paddy Defoxy Ilos, II on imported rice, its staple food. As region, Sierra Leonean refugees in Thomas Blidi the sharply rising food prices begin Liberia have begun to live together to bite ordinary Liberians, the Food with their local hosts. The pilot proj- Photos and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ect in Low Cost village, on the out- Christopher Herwig is assisting Liberian farmers to skirts of Monrovia, is becoming a increase productivity of their rice model for local integration of Published by the Public Information farms. refugees. Office, United Nations Mission in Liberia Printed by Buck Press Ltd., Accra, Ghana September - November 2008 UNMIL FOCUS 3 [email protected] Elite Police Unit Takes By J. Wesley Washington At the graduation ceremony, President able to respect the law. I expect you as a Ellen Johnson Sirleaf reiterated her gov- citizen to do the same,” she reminded the midst persisting concerns ernment’s determination to build a profes- new graduates. over armed robberies in sional security agency that will respect The ERU officers are trained to deal Monrovia and its environs, human rights while enforcing the law. She with crimes which may require the use of an elite special police unit said those charged with enforcing the law firearms -- specifically the arrest of armed is being trained to deal with must first obey the law themselves in order criminals, violent crimes in progress, Aviolent crimes in Liberia. Recently, the to win the trust and confidence of the peo- hostage situations and armed terrorist first group of 139 officers of the ple. “You are the ones to uphold the law; activities. They will also deal with riot Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the you are the ones expected to enforce the control, engage in anti-crime patrol in Liberia National Police (LNP) graduated law; therefore, you yourself must obey the crime prone areas and provide assistance after completing eight months of intensive law so that when you stand to tell some- in major disaster situations. By June 2009, classroom and physical training at the body that they had violated the law, you the ERU is expected to reach its target of National Police Training Academy. can say because I know the law and I’m 500 trained personnel. 4 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2008 more support to the ERU and the LNP, of law, their conduct must follow standard noting that the UN understands the impor- operating procedures (SOPs) so that tance of training and equipment, but they Liberians will not only feel safe and secure are not the only ingredients for a success- but also respect and appreciate them. ful future. “The successful future of the UNPOL Commissioner Henrik ERU depends on the success of the entire Stiernblad said he was very pleased with LNP which will bring a brighter future by the progress being made by ERU person- improving security.” nel. He underlined that they are expected The United States Chargé d'Affaires, to live up to the highest professional stan- a.i., Brooks Robinson, on behalf of her dards, especially when it comes to use of government, noted that the US is assisting force. “Very strict SOPs have been devel- in the process because security for all oped and agreed between the Justice Liberians is essential for the country to Ministry, LNP and the UN, and the unit end the cycle of violence, injustice and will be held accountable for all its actions poverty, and move forward on the path of as they will be carefully monitored by an development. “Without peace and securi- UNPOL ERU Advisory Unit,” he said. ty, there cannot be development,” she “Their weapons will be controlled, noted. every weapon will be accounted for; The US Government has committed checked in and out daily and will only be more than US$7 million to the ERU proj- available when they are on duty. All ect. It has provided specialized trainers, weapons will be kept in our control until protective and tactical equipment, firearms such time when we are ready to deploy the and is now constructing the new ERU men basically only in emergency situa- The US Government has committed more than US$7 million to the ERU project.